STRENGTHENING TREATMENT ACCESS AND RETENTION – STATE IMPLEMENTATION   

New York is one of nine states participating in STRENGTHENING TREATMENT ACCESS AND RETENTION-STATE IMPLEMENTATION (STAR-SI), a national program jointly funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Through this three year grant, the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) is introducing process improvement methods developed by the Network for Improvement of Addiction Treatment, Inc (NIATx) to a total of 18 downstate outpatient (OP) treatment centers. The initiative will assist in building the state’s capacity to improve our service system at both the state and local levels.   

NIATx promotes systems changes and innovation with a focus on four aims: reducing wait time, reducing no shows, increasing admission and increasing continuation in treatment from the first to fourth treatment session. Participating STAR-SI providers each apply process improvement methods to address service delivery challenges at one OP program site. For example, each New York provider establishes a multidisciplinary team tasked with identifying and addressing challenges experienced within their programs.  These teams use rapid cycle process improvement projects to introduce changes that improve services and client outcomes. More information on NIATx methods can be obtained at www.NIATx.net.

STAR-SI participating providers receive a range of technical assistance to support these efforts.  This includes peer mentor coaching, participation in learning collaboratives with other outpatient treatment programs and assistance with data management decision-making related to system change.  A new web based data collection module compatible with the OASAS Client Data System was launched in July, 2007 for use by participants to support timely monitoring of project progress.

Current STAR-SI Participants include:

Year I:   BASICS, Inc.; Bridge Back to Life Centers, Inc.; Health and Hospitals Corporation/ Elmhurst Hospital Center; and the Riverdale Mental Health Association

Year II:  DAYTOP Village, Inc.; Long Beach Medical Center; Southeast Nassau Guidance Center, The Long Island Home South Oaks Hospital; The Pedersen-Krag Center; and Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center

Additional providers from New York City will be added in 2008-9. Providers are selected for participation through a competitive application process.

For additional information on STAR-SI, contact Bonnie Primus Cohen, STAR-SI Project Coordinator at 518 485 0455 or at BonnieCohen@OASAS.state.ny.us.  

Participating STAR-SI providers each apply process improvement methods to address service delivery challenges at one OP program site... collaboratives with other OP treatment centers and