VA continues to strive toward ending chronic homelessness among Veterans. Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (COD) are one of the most common clinical problems among homeless Veterans – and threaten long-term housing stability and general substance use and mental health recovery. Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach, and Networking-Veterans Edition (MISSION-Vet) is an evidence-based intervention developed within VA, with partial funding by HSR&D, and is included in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) to address COD among homeless individuals.

A kickoff meeting for the newly awarded MISSION-Hope grant took place at the Franklin County Justice Center on Friday, November 10, 2017. Attendees included members from the UMass Medical School Addictions Team, staff from the Franklin Family Drug Court, Congressmen Jim McGovern and Richard Neal, as well as the Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. The meeting was closed by a moving speech delivered by Eric Kovalchick. Domenic Poli of the Greenfield Recorder was also in attendance to document the excitement. 

For the first time, the MISSION model will be embedded into a family drug court as part of the newly awarded MISSION-Hope project. Joshua Solomon of the Greenfield Recorder recently spoke with Dr. David Smelson about the excitement, expectations, and uncertainties that come with the task of applying an individual-based treatment model to a family unit.

The grant awarded to the Massachusetts Trial Court will serve 175 parents, 240 children, and 180 caregivers during the five year course of the grant. The program, being called MISSION-Hope, will employ two case managers, two recovery coaches, a social worked, and a part-time nurse to deliver MISSION-Criminal Justice Services. MassLive.com's Shira Schoenberg reports on the details and interviews the key players involved with landing the grant.

The Massachusetts Trial Court recently announced that it has been awarded a five year, $2.1 million grant to address the effects of the opioid crisis on families in Western Massachusetts. The program, referred to as MISSION-Hope, will embed the MISSION-Criminal Justice model into the Franklin County Family Drug Court. Joshua Solomon of the Greenfield Recorder covers the details.

The Barnstable, MA Drug Court formally initiated the commencement of the MISSION-Cape project at a recent kickoff ceremony. The kickoff meeting represents the start of a three year, $975,000 federal grant that will provide wraparound recovery support services to individuals enrolled in the Barnstable Drug Court. The Cape Cod Times' Haven Orecchio-Egresitz captured the highlights of the meeting.