our work
CREATING A NEW PARADIGM FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT
Through our project work, we delve into all aspects of the substance use treatment ecosystem to discover innovative solutions that challenge the staus quo in order to help our clients reach their treatment goals. The projects below represent just a few examples of our recent work.
To view our project library, click here.
PROJECT:
New Hampshire Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (NH DSRIP)
PROJECT TYPE:
Research
GOAL
The overall goal of the NH DSRIP Demonstration is to improve the care for New Hampshire’s Medicaid Beneficiaries with behavioral health disorders by addressing workforce and infrastructure shortages, improving care transitions, and integrating physical and behavioral health. In New Hampshire, as part of the Demonstration, seven distinct Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) were established to facilitate care integration and transitions for beneficiaries.
Process
The Cutler Institute served as the independent evaluator for NH’s DSRIP program. Using a mixed methods approach, the Cutler Institute assessed both the implementation process as well as process outcomes of the initiative, and the impact of DSRIP on quality outcomes, efficiency, and cost. As part of our evaluation of the Demonstration the SURE team conducted surveys, interviews and analyzed administrative programmatic and clinical data ups to assess quality, cost, and efficiency outcomes. In addition, we provide measures coding, analysis, and technical assistance to NH DHHS to support the DSRIP evaluation and are responsible for all activities related to measures calculation and statistical analysis for the CMS required Interim Report and Summative Reports.
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Read More:
New Hampshire Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP): Interim Evaluation Report
PROJECT:
University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction (CORA)
PROJECT TYPE:
Technical Assistance
GOAL
The CORA is a Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) funded center of excellence that is based out of the University of Vermont and is a partnership between the University of Vermont, the University of Southern Maine, and the University of New Hampshire. CORA’s mission is to expand addiction-treatment capacity in HRSA-designated rural counties, with a specific focus on Northern New England, by providing consultation, resources, training, and evidence-based technical assistance to healthcare providers and other staff.
Process
Cutler Institute staff collaborate with our partners in VT and NH to use epidemiological methodologies to identify current and future SUD treatment needs and barriers in rural counties with direct input from providers, clinicians, patients, families, and policymakers. The center leverages the information we gather through our evaluation and surveillance activities to identify and disseminate best practices for addressing substance use disorders in rural communities. We regularly work with health systems, providers and state governments, to provide ongoing assistance in monitoring and understanding state- and regional-level needs. In addition, CORA uses data from our assessment activities to provide technical assistance to organizations and providers in rural counties using innovative technologies, education and individual consultative services.
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Read More:
Maine Baseline Needs Assessment: First Responders Data Brief
Maine Baseline Needs Assessment: Rural Practitioners and Stakeholders Data Brief
Maine Baseline Needs Assessment: Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Barriers and Beliefs Data Brief
Maine Baseline Needs Assessment: Rural Practitioners and Stakeholders [Full Report]
Opioid use disorder treatment in rural settings: The primary care perspective
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Rural Practitioners’ Perceptions of Substance Use Disorders and Treatment during COVID-19
PROJECT:
Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project
PROJECT TYPE:
Evaluation
GOAL
The Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) aimed at expanding access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) living in rural Downeast Maine with a specific focus on vulnerable populations including individuals leaving carceral settings and the uninsured.
Process
Using the CDC framework for program evaluation as a guide, the SURE team worked to build knowledge and provide feedback to inform the implementation and refinement of the Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project. Our process and outcome evaluations were designed to: (1) document implementation strategies and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation; (2) examine the efficacy of the Hub and Spoke Model at increasing access to MAT in rural and underserved communities; and (3) assess the impact of the intervention strategies on patient engagement and outcomes. The evaluation used a mixed-methods evaluation design where multiple qualitative and quantitative data sources were collected over time and the data were analyzed, triangulated, and reported throughout the life of the project. To ensure a robust and multi-dimensional understanding of the project, data collection efforts systematically examine the resources, activities, and processes affecting the implementation, adoption, and efficacy of the Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project. The SURE team also worked closely with project partners to provide technical assistance related to collecting and reporting Government Performance and Results Act data as required by SAMHSA grantees.
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Read More:
Downeast Maine Medication Assisted Treatment Expansion Project: Year 1 Data Summary
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Downeast Maine Medication Assisted Treatment Expansion Project: Year 2 Data Summary
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Downeast Maine Medication Assisted Treatment Expansion Project: Year 3 Final Data Summary
PROJECT:
RACE to Recovery Program Evaluation
PROJECT TYPE:
Evaluation
GOAL
The Healthy Community Coalition Rural Opioid Response Program, RACE to Recovery, is a HRSA grant aimed at transforming the model of care for individuals with opioid use disorder.
Process
The SURE team has provided technical assistance and evaluation services to the RACE to Recovery project partners. The SURE team is employing a flexible, stakeholder-centered evaluation approach in tandem with rapid cycle feedback to help inform program development and refinement as well as track programmatic outcomes and impact. The SURE team has leveraged project partners data to design and implement a comprehensive evaluation of the collaboratives efforts to improve prevention, treatment and recovery services for individuals with opioid use disorder in Franklin County. The SURE team is employing a robust mixed-methods evaluation including designing and implementing standardized data collection systems and protocols to support the local and national evaluation; using customize data dashboards to promote data collection and quality across the primary project partners; analyzing and interpreting the study data to evaluate the efficacy of the activities; and assisting with dissemination efforts including the creation of reports and presentations. To track programmatic outcomes, the SURE team used tradition evaluation methods in tandem with rapid cycle feedback to help inform program development and refinement. In addition, the SURE team has provided technical assistance to the RACE to Recovery program including grant writing support and assistance meeting HRSA federal reporting requirements.
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Read More:
What our clients are saying...
“The SURE group has provided us with evaluative support in terms of needs assessments, formative assessment of project implementation, and conducting additional qualitative and quantitative research to inform our program design and delivery. They have also provided guidance and assistance to our project team and to our grant partners around the required data collection and reporting on these federal grants. We have found them to be responsive to our needs, and more than willing to adapt to any changes in our work that require retooling of their approach and contracted deliverables.”
JEAN BASSETTE, PROJECT DIRECTOR HRSA RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE GRANT
