Crossroads for Women recently wrapped up its participation in the Strengthening Treatment Access and Retention-State Implementation (STAR-SI) Initiative. STAR-SI, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was initiated in 9 states, including Maine, over 3 years with the goal of improving access and retention in outpatient (OP) substance abuse treatment. The agencies used the Network for Improving Addiction Treatment (NIATx) Process Improvement model.
The 3-year grant was so successful, the director of the Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) in Maine, Guy Cousins, is recommending the state of Maine continue to use the NIATx model. Here are some of the successes the state of Maine has seen through participation in the STAR-SI grant:
- Wait times for OP substance abuse treatment were reduced by 71% in the first year
- Admissions were increased by 41% in the first year, 10% in the second year and 90% per month in the third year
- 57% of the STAR-SI admissions were completing treatment in the first year
- Retention in services improved by 52% in the second year
- Clients staying in treatment for 28 days or more increased by 27% in the third year
These are all great accomplishments for the state of Maine’s substance abuse treatment providers. Crossroads for Women continues to use the NIATx model as a way to continually improve its access and retention to all of its programs. We have seen tremendous results by making simple changes in the way we provide services to women.
Read more about a few of the changes Crossroads for Women has implemented using the NIATx model:
Positive Incentives Help People Stay in Treatment Longer
Breaking Barriers and Increasing Access to Substance Abuse Treatment for Women
