Sarah B. Hunter

RAND Experts on Veteran Mental Health Respond to the White House Mental Health Research Priorities

The White House identified eight research priorities to better manage America's current mental health crisis. RAND researchers highlight why each area is critical for veteran mental health and how RAND is contributing to address them.

Los Angeles Mayoral Debate Misleads on Approaches to Homelessness

They may not mean to, but Los Angeles politicians continue to imply that there is a primary “fix” for homelessness, be it temporary shelters or permanent supportive housing. But those are just pieces of a very complex puzzle. The region needs a robust continuum of care. Although some efforts exist, they have not been scaled up to meet the need.

Camping Bans and Group Shelters Unlikely to Solve Homelessness Crisis

Should Los Angeles continue to direct most resources toward creating permanent housing with services? Or should it try to rapidly add more group shelters and shared tiny homes which would allow the city to enforce camping bans in certain areas? There are compelling arguments for both approaches.

On Veterans Day, There Are Still Thousands of Homeless Vets in L.A. We Followed 26 to Find Out Why

An estimated 3,900 veterans live unhoused in Los Angeles. The city has the largest VA medical center in the nation. There are federal housing programs exclusively for veterans. So why hasn't Los Angeles been able to make a dent?

Access to Mobile Technology Could Help to Alleviate LA's Homelessness Crisis

The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness have cell phones, which often serve as their lifelines. Providing technological supports, such as Wi-Fi access and opportunities to charge devices, could result in better access to social services and, ultimately, better quality of life and outcomes.

An Uncertain Future for Jail Reform in Los Angeles

There is momentum in Los Angeles County to do the difficult work of criminal justice reform. This will take considerable investments of time and resources, as well as a commitment to implementing new strategies and evaluating their effectiveness along the way.

Defund the LAPD? Garcetti Budget Proposal Takes a Step in That Direction

Calls to “defund the police” have grown common and urgent in the wake of police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and numerous other Black Americans. Research and community activists agree: Public safety can be improved by investing more public dollars in a social safety net, and less in policing and incarceration, in Los Angeles.

Emergency Homeless Services During the COVID-19 Crisis

The recently passed $2 trillion stimulus package includes a suite of measures designed to support households that are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. But policymakers may want to consider what protections the package offers to a particularly high-risk group: people experiencing homelessness.

Housing for Health: Los Angeles County's Department of Health Tackles Homelessness with an Innovative Housing Program That Saves Money

Los Angeles County's Housing for Health program addresses an important public health issue by providing housing and supportive services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. The program also saves taxpayers money.

Support for Implementing Home Visiting Under the Affordable Care Act

One groundbreaking provision of the Affordable Care Act is its funding for home visiting programs that match the parents of young children with trained specialists who provide information, social support, parental skill instruction, and more.

Teen Employment May Not Always Be a Boon for At-Risk Youth

For all teens, and especially those who have already experienced problems related to alcohol and drug use, it is essential to monitor the quality of work experiences and keep in mind that some work environments might increase risk for substance use.

Promoting Success: Using Data to Inform Decision Making

Many organizations that we have worked with indicate that this approach has helped improve reporting and communication both within and external to their organization, writes Sarah Hunter.

Report

An Evaluation of Crime-Free Housing Policies

The authors evaluate proponents' and critics' claims regarding the effects of crime-free housing policies (CFHPs), examine the implementation and enforcement of CFHPs, and assess how CFHPs affect the lived experiences of tenants in California.

Journal Article

Comparing Organization-Focused and State-Focused Financing Strategies on Provider-Level Reach of a Youth Substance Use Treatment Model: A Mixed-Method Study

This study compared two US federal grant mechanisms, organization-focused and state-focused grants, on organization-level implementation outcomes for the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach, an evidence-based practice for youth substance use.

Report

Recent Trends in Housing Cost Burden Among U.S. Military Veterans

This report provides estimates of the number of U.S. military veterans who experience financial burden from housing costs. It also offers context for how these estimates have changed over the course of the past 15 years.

Tool

Exploring the Feasibility of Building a Housing Stock Tool to Address Homelessness in Los Angeles

The authors describe the process of combining data from various agencies to develop a housing stock tool and discuss the context of their work from interviews conducted with relevant stakeholders.

Journal Article

Somewhere to Exist: Understanding the Landscape of Daytime Services for People Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles County

The study, undertaken between November 2022 and April 2023, reviewed Los Angeles County’s landscape of daytime services for people experiencing homelessness to inform UWGLA’s investment strategy in this sector.

Journal Article

Addressing Homelessness Among People With Justice Involvement: Los Angeles County's Just in Reach Pay for Success Demonstration Project

This article provides an overview of the implementation and outcomes of Los Angeles County’s first Pay for Success (PFS) initiative.

Report

Implementation and Outcome Evaluation of Project imPACT — A Proposition 47–Funded Program in Los Angeles: Cohort 2 Final Evaluation Report

This report presents findings related to individuals served by Project imPACT, an employment-focused reentry program, between June 2020 and September 2022, demonstrating how service providers helped Fellows achieve several of the program's goals.

Research Brief

Wraparound Services Are Key to Helping Justice-Involved Los Angelenos Get and Keep Jobs

A team of researchers from the RAND Corporation and Harder+Company Community Research partnered with the Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Reentry to evaluate Cohort 2 of Project imPACT. This brief highlights program implementation and outcome findings.

Report

Living Wages in Los Angeles County's Homeless Response Sector

This report documents the challenges associated with not paying workers in the homeless response sector a living wage and highlights the potential impacts of higher pay for these workers.

Report

Recent Trends Among the Unsheltered in Three Los Angeles Neighborhoods: An Annual Report from the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey (LA LEADS) Project

This report presents findings from a study of unsheltered homelessness in three areas of Los Angeles: Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice. The results indicate growth in the number of Angelenos experiencing unsheltered homelessness over 2021 and 2022.

Journal Article

Comparing Two Federal Financing Strategies on Penetration and Sustainment of the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach for Substance Use Disorders: Protocol for a Mixed-Method Study

The project will advance understanding of effective financing strategies to support the implementation and sustainment of evidence-based practices for the treatment of adolescent substance use disorders.

Journal Article

Restructuring Personal Networks with a Motivational Interviewing Social Network Intervention to Assist the Transition Out of Homelessness: A Randomized Control Pilot Study

This study is the first pilot test of a Social Network Intervention (MI-SNI) customized for assisting the transition out of homelessness to test for personal network changes.

Report

Just in Reach Pay for Success: Impact Evaluation and Cost Analysis of a Permanent Supportive Housing Program

This report examines a Los Angeles County initiative to provide long-term housing and supportive services as an alternative to jail for individuals with a history of homelessness and chronic behavioral or physical health conditions.

Research Brief

A Los Angeles Supportive Housing Program Interrupted the Cycle Between Jail and Homelessness—and Largely Paid for Itself

This brief examines a Los Angeles County initiative to provide long-term housing and supportive services as an alternative to jail for individuals with a history of homelessness and chronic behavioral or physical health conditions.

Report

Los Angeles County's Preparedness for California's Edible Food Recovery Mandate (SB 1383): An Examination of Food Recovery Logistics and Other Challenges

The authors review food recovery in Los Angeles County and specific challenges relating to Senate Bill 1383 implementation, and they suggest ways in which the mandate could be turned into an opportunity for innovation and capacity-building.

Journal Article

Opioid Use Disorder Among Clients of Community Mental Health Clinics: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Treatment Willingness

The authors examined the prevalence of co-occurring opioid use disorder and willingness to engage in treatment among clients of eight Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health outpatient clinics.

Journal Article

Supportive Housing for Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals With Criminal Justice Histories: Challenges and Opportunities Identified by Providers and Clients

To explore the service needs of sexual and gender minority individuals, we interviewed providers and clients from eight supportive housing organizations working with SGM populations in L.A. County.

Report

Recent Trends Among the Unsheltered in Three Los Angeles Neighborhoods: An Interim Report on the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey (LA LEADS) Project

The researchers present interim results from a longitudinal study in which they are conducting counts of unsheltered individuals in Los Angeles and surveying them on their demographics, history of homelessness, and housing needs and preferences.

Journal Article

Perspectives Regarding Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among Individuals with Mental Illness

Clients at publicly-funded mental health clinics support MOUD treatment, signaling a need to expand access and build awareness of MOUDs in these settings.

Report

Pima County Housing First Initiative: Final Evaluation Report Fall 2021

The authors present the final evaluation of the Pima County Housing First Initiative, which offers permanent supportive housing and case management for individuals who are involved with the criminal justice system and have experienced homelessness.

Report

Twenty-Six Veterans: A Longitudinal Case Study of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles, 2019–2020

In this report, the authors describe a longitudinal study conducted in 2019/2020 that recruited 26 veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and followed them monthly for a year to learn about their experiences finding housing.

Report

Implementation and 12-Month Health Service Utilization and Cost Outcomes from a Managed Care Health Plan's Permanent Supportive Housing Program

This report presents an implementation and outcome study of a permanent supportive housing program—including service utilization and associated costs review—operated by a not-for-profit Medicaid and Medicare managed care plan in Southern California.

Commentary

Transforming the Housing Choice Voucher System in California: A Path to Universal Housing?

In this Perspective, the authors review the impact and shortcomings of the housing choice voucher (HCV) program and outline three pathways to transform the HCV system in California that could significantly reduce homelessness across the state.

Report

Examining Implementation of the Los Angeles County Office of Diversion and Reentry Supportive Housing Program

The authors describe the implementation of the Office of Diversion and Reentry's Housing Program in Los Angeles County, a jail-based diversion program for those with mental health diagnoses.

Research Brief

Helping Los Angelenos Involved in the Criminal Justice System Get and Keep Jobs

The authors summarize findings of a process and outcome evaluation of Project imPACT, an employment program for individuals who have been involved in the criminal justice system, which provided services from July 2018 to December 2020.

Report

Project imPACT Cohort 1 Final Local Evaluation Report

The authors summarize findings from a process and outcome evaluation of Cohort 1 of Project imPACT, an employment program for individuals who have been involved in the criminal justice system, which provided services from July 2018 to December 2020.

Tool

How to Integrate Pharmacotherapy for Substance Use Disorders at Your Mental Health Clinic: A Step-By-Step Guide for Screening and Treating Adults with Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Alcohol and/or Opioid Use Disorders with Pharmacotherapy in Mental Health Clinics

RAND researchers provide a toolkit to support the delivery of effective, evidence-based pharmacotherapy for clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and simplify care implementation in mental health clinics.

Journal Article

Organizational Capacity and Readiness to Provide Medication for Individuals with Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorders in Public Mental Health Settings

Organizational capacity and readiness constraints impede the delivery of medication treatment for alcohol use disorder in a large mental health system.

Journal Article

The Relationship Between Quality of Housing and Quality of Life: Evidence from Permanent Supportive Housing

This study describes a PSH program administered by a Medicaid managed care plan, serving individuals experiencing homelessness with complex medical histories, and outlines participants' perceptions on the relationship between quality of housing and QOL.

Journal Article

Clinician Perspectives on Methadone Service Delivery and the Use of Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

To explore the impact of the pandemic and accompanying policy changes on service delivery, we asked OTP clinicians about changes in care patterns and perceptions of impacts on access and quality.

Journal Article

Perceived Care Coordination Among Permanent Supportive Housing Participants: Evidence from a Managed Care Plan in the United States

The study explored patient perceptions of care coordination in a permanent supportive housing program operated by a large health plan in Southern California.

Report

Health Service Utilization and Cost Outcomes from a Permanent Supportive Housing Program: Evidence from a Managed Care Health Plan

The authors assess the short-term effects of a permanent supportive housing (PSH) program—operated by a large not-for-profit managed care plan—in Southern California for adult enrollees experiencing homelessness who have chronic health conditions.

Report

Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Social Services for Vulnerable Populations in Los Angeles: Lessons Learned from Community Providers

The authors of this report conducted interviews with social services organizations in the city and county of Los Angeles to assess how service providers are responding to COVID-19 and to compile lessons learned and innovative strategies.

Report

Health Service Utilization and Costs at the Outset of a Permanent Supportive Housing Program: Baseline Evaluation Report

This report presents a baseline assessment of an innovative permanent supportive housing program to help address homelessness, examining demographic and clinical characteristics of enrollees and health care service utilization and costs.

Journal Article

Practical Factors Determining Adolescent Substance Use Treatment Settings: Results from Four Online Stakeholder Panels

This study aimed to identify practical factors that stakeholders find most critical to consider when planning adolescent substance use treatment.

Tool

Getting to Outcomes® Operations Guide for U.S. Air Force Community Action Teams

This Getting To Outcomes guide will help with the planning, implementation, evaluation, continuous quality improvement, and sustainability of U.S. Air Force Community Action Plans.

Report

Breaking Barriers: A Rapid Rehousing and Employment Pilot Program for Adults on Probation in Los Angeles County: Evaluation Report

This report presents early findings on the progress of the Breaking Barriers program, which provides Los Angeles County adults on probation with a time-limited housing subsidy, case management, and employment supports.

Research Brief

Los Angeles County Jails Could Divert More Individuals to Community-Based Mental Health Services

Summarizes findings of a report in which researchers estimated the percentage of individuals with mental health disorders in Los Angeles County jails who could be diverted from traditional criminal justice processing to community-based care.

Report

Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Program for Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth: The Pilot Program at Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center

In this report, the authors present the results of a process and outcome evaluation of a trauma-informed pilot program run by the Colorado Division of Youth Services (DYS) in one of their residential youth facilities.

Report

Estimating the Size of the Los Angeles County Jail Mental Health Population Appropriate for Release into Community Services

Researchers studied the Los Angeles County jail mental health population to identify those who would likely be eligible for diversion based on legal and clinical factors with the aim of providing them with needed care and reducing recidivism.

Journal Article

What Influences Evidence-Based Treatment Sustainment After Implementation Support Ends? A Mixed Method Study of the Adolescent-Community Reinforcement Approach

Our findings lend empirical support for implementation theories in that multiple factors appear to be associated with long-term delivery of an evidence-based treatment.

Report

Los Angeles County Office of Diversion and Reentry's Supportive Housing Program: A Study of Participants' Housing Stability and New Felony Convictions

Los Angeles County is home to the largest jail system in the world and an acute homelessness problem. This report presents generally favorable early interim findings about an initiative that provides housing coupled with case management.

Journal Article

Program Capacity to Deliver Prevention Services to Children of Adult Clients Receiving Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Most of the publicly-funded SUD-treatment programs in this study reported delivering prevention and early-intervention services for children of their adult clients.

Journal Article

Drivers of Continued Implementation of Cultural Competence in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

This study examines whether the key characteristics of organizational decision makers predicted continued implementation of five different practices that represent organizational cultural competence in one of the most diverse substance use disorder treatment systems in the United States.

Report

The Welcome Baby Program: An Implementation and Outcomes Evaluation

This report presents the findings from an evaluation of First 5 LA's Welcome Baby home visitation program.

Report

Local Evaluation Report for Los Angeles County's Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR) Program

RAND researchers assessed a Los Angeles County program to improve outcomes for individuals suffering from mental health disorders who are returning to the community after incarceration.

Journal Article

Sustaining Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in Primary Care: A Mixed Methods Study

Access to external funding and staff support are two important factors for the sustainability of substance use disorder treatment provision within primary care clinics.

Journal Article

Patient Predictors of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Initiation in Primary Care

Primary care clinics are opportune settings for the delivery of substance use disorder treatment, but little is known about which patients initiate treatment in these settings.

Journal Article

A Pilot Test of a Motivational Interviewing Social Network Intervention to Reduce Substance Use Among Housing First Residents

Helping formerly homeless people identify members of their social network who trigger alcohol and other drug (AOD) use may motivate them to reduce high-risk AOD use in the transition to permanent housing.

Journal Article

Initiation and Engagement as Mechanisms for Change Caused by Collaborative Care in Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders

This research sheds light on how collaborative care (CC) may work to increase abstinence in a sample of primary care patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders (OAUD).

Journal Article

Predictors of Treatment Initiation for Alcohol Use Disorders in Primary Care

This study suggests that either treatment may not be delivered equitably or that patient preference may be an important factor in determining who gets what treatment.

Research Brief

Housing for Health: A State-of-the-Art Program for Reducing Homelessness in Los Angeles County

This research brief summarizes the findings of a report on Los Angeles County's Housing for Health program and its effects on county costs and on the physical and mental health of people experiencing homelessness.

Report

Evaluation of Housing for Health Permanent Supportive Housing Program

Los Angeles County's Housing for Health provides supportive housing to patients experiencing homelessness with complex medical and behavioral health needs. This report assesses program structure and goals and effects on service use and expenditures.

Journal Article

Measuring Sustainment of an Evidence Based Treatment for Adolescent Substance Use

Two composite assessments of quality - one with treatment staffing and delivery elements and the other with clinical supervision elements - can be used to measure the sustainment of evidence-based treatment.

Journal Article

Factors Associated with an Evidence-Based Measure of Implementation for the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach

This study found two correlates to an evidence-based measure of substance use treatment (A-CRA) implementation.

Journal Article

Barriers to Integrating the Continuum of Care for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders in Primary Care: A Qualitative Longitudinal Study

Some perceived barriers to implementing the continuum of care for opioid and alcohol use disorders in primary care clinics persist over time, but most barriers decreased.

Journal Article

Building Capacity for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI): A Pilot Study

We designed and tested the feasibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of CQI approaches in substance use disorder treatment settings

Journal Article

Collaborative Care for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders in Primary Care: The SUMMIT Randomized Clinical Trial

Among adults with opioid and alcohol use disorders, a collaborative care intervention—which integrates behavioral health care into primary care—increased both access to treatment and abstinence.

Tool

Getting To Outcomes® Guide for Community Emergency Preparedness

This Getting To Outcomes guide will help with the planning, implementation, evaluation, continuous quality improvement, and sustainability of community emergency preparedness programs. It includes instructions, completed examples, and blank tools.

Journal Article

Predicting Evidence-Based Treatment Sustainment: Results from a Longitudinal Study of the Adolescent-Community Reinforcement Approach

Providers' ability to sustain A-CRA programming beyond initial implementation support depended on factors such as the level of implementation success, staff perceptions toward the intervention, funding stability, and community support.

Report

Impact of Proposition 47 on Los Angeles County Operations and Budget

This report recommends how to measure the impact of Proposition 47 (and future legislative mandates) on Los Angeles County operations and budgets and what metrics should be tracked.

Journal Article

Relationship Between Provider Stigma and Predictors of Staff Turnover Among Addiction Treatment Providers

Addiction treatment providers are less likely to be satisfied with their work if they hold negative views towards patients with substance abuse disorders.

Journal Article

Continuous Quality Improvement in Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities: How Much Does It Cost?

The costs of implementing continuous quality improvement activities in substance abuse treatment facilities are relatively low overall.

Journal Article

Developing Adaptive Interventions for Adolescent Substance Use Treatment Settings: Protocol of an Observational, Mixed-Methods Project

Adaptive interventions (AIs) - sequences of decision rules for altering treatment based on an individual's needs - would benefit substance abuse treatment for adolescents.

Report

Preventing, Identifying, and Treating Prescription Drug Misuse Among Active-Duty Service Members

This report presents the framework of an analytic tool that can help the military predict future trends in PDM based on current demographics of active-duty service members and rates of injury and prescribing of prescription drugs.

Journal Article

Implementing the Chronic Care Model for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders in Primary Care

This paper describes the process of planning and developing an intervention for delivering treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders in primary care.

Journal Article

Feasibility of a Computer-Assisted Social Network Motivational Interviewing Intervention for Substance Use and HIV Risk Behaviors for Housing First Residents

A motivational interviewing approach that targets social networks to reduce risky behavior was found to be helpful in a focus group of residents and staff of Housing First, a permanent supportive housing organization for formerly homeless people.

Journal Article

Toward Evidence-Based Measures of Implementation: Examining the Relationship Between Implementation Outcomes and Client Outcomes

The number of discrete procedures implemented in this evidence-based practice for adolescent substance use is associated with better client outcomes.

Journal Article

A Systematic Review of the Prevention and Treatment of Prescription Drug Misuse

Guidance on how to prevent or treat the misuse of prescription drugs in the U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Administration is similar to directives outside the military system, and tends to focus on opioids.

Journal Article

A Computer-Assisted Motivational Social Network Intervention to Reduce Alcohol, Drug and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Housing First Residents

This pilot study will assess whether coupling social network visualizations with motivational interviewing can help Housing First participants transition away from homelessness and high-risk behaviors, such as substance use and risky sexual activity.

Journal Article

Bayesian Restricted Spatial Regression for Examining Session Features and Patient Outcomes in Open-Enrollment Group Therapy Studies

Group-based interventions have been developed for treating patients across a range of health conditions.

Journal Article

Introduction to the Special Issue on the Studies on the Implementation of Integrated Models of Alcohol, Tobacco, And/Or Drug Use Interventions and Medical Care

National efforts are underway to integrate medical care and behavioral health treatment.

Tool

Promoting Success: A Getting To Outcomes® Guide to Implementing Continuous Quality Improvement for Community Service Organizations

Describes practical steps for conducting continuous quality improvement in community service organizations.

Journal Article

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Employment and Substance Use Among At-Risk Adolescents

This paper explores the longitudinal association between employment and alcohol/other drug (AOD) use and consequences among an at-risk youth sample with a first-time AOD offense.

Journal Article

An Organizational Readiness Intervention and Randomized Controlled Trial to Test Strategies for Implementing Substance Use Disorder Treatment Into Primary Care: SUMMIT Study Protocol

Millions of people who need treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) do not receive it.

Journal Article

Longitudinal Family Effects on Substance Use Among an At-Risk Adolescent Sample

Adult and peer factors may influence whether adolescents use alcohol and other drugs (AOD). This longitudinal study examined the direct effects of adult monitoring, perceived adult AOD use, and cultural values on adolescent AOD use.

Journal Article

Getting to Outcomes®: Evidence of Empowerment Evaluation and Evaluation Capacity Building at Work

This book chapter describes Getting to Outcomes (GTO), an approach to capacity-building that supports empowerment evaluation, and discusses GTO's relationship to empowerment evaluation and evaluation capacity building.

Journal Article

The Effects of Mental Health Symptoms and Marijuana Expectancies on Marijuana Use and Consequences Among At-Risk Adolescents

Youth with depressive symptoms who believe marijuana will lead to positive effects are more likely to experience negative consequences of use, such as missing school or work or having difficulty concentrating.

Journal Article

Provision of Mental Health Services as a Quality Indicator for Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities

The study tested whether adolescents receiving substance abuse treatment at facilities offering full or partial mental health services have better 12-month substance use and mental health outcomes than youths at facilities with no mental health services.

Journal Article

Examining the Sustainment of the Adolescent-Community Reinforcement Approach in Community Addiction Treatment Settings: Protocol for a Longitudinal Mixed Method Study

Gaining a better understanding of the factors that influence the evidence-based treatment sustainment may lead to more effective dissemination strategies and ultimately improve the quality of care being delivered in community-based addiction treatment settings.

Report

Process Evaluation of the New Mexico Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Competitive Development Grant

This report describes the evaluation of the New Mexico Home Visiting Competitive Development Grant, which aimed to pilot test the use of implementation supports to improve the development and implementation of home visiting in high-need communities.

Journal Article

Does Group Cognitive–behavioral Therapy Module Type Moderate Depression Symptom Changes in Substance Abuse Treatment Clients?

In this paper, the authors examine module theme in relationship to depressive symptoms reported during and post-treatment among clients receiving concurrent substance abuse treatment in either a residential or outpatient setting.

Journal Article

Temporal Associations Between Substance Use and Delinquency Among Youth with a First Time Offense

Substance use and delinquency among adolescents have been shown to be positively associated; however, the temporal relationship is not well understood.

Report

Substance Use Treatment and Reentry (STAR) Program: Final Evaluation Report

Homeboy Industries, Inc., collaborated with Behavioral Health Services, Inc., and the RAND Corporation to provide recovery services to newly released juvenile offenders in Los Angeles through the Substance Use Treatment and Reentry (STAR) Program.

Journal Article

Assessing the Generalizability of the CSAT-sponsored GAIN Dataset: Are the CSAT Sites Representative of Adolescent Treatment Programs in the U.S.?

CSAT-funded programs had higher rates of comprehensive mental health assessments, discharge planning, HIV, STD and TB testing, and HIV/AIDS education and support.

Journal Article

The Cost-Effectiveness of Depression Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders: A Clinical Trial

The authors aimed to determine the economic value of providing on-site group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression to clients receiving residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.

Journal Article

Treatment of Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorders and Depression with Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing: A Meta-Analysis

Combined cognitive-behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing for clinical or subclinical depressive and alcohol use disorders has a small but clinically significant effect in treatment outcomes compared with treatment as usual.

Journal Article

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Addiction Treatment Settings: Design and Intervention Protocol of a Group Randomized Pilot Study

Few studies have designed and tested the use of continuous quality improvement approaches in community based substance use treatment settings. Little is known about the feasibility, costs, efficacy, and sustainment of such approaches in these settings.

Research Brief

How to Develop Home Visiting Programs: A Guide for Communities

Describes the Getting To Outcomes® for Home Visiting manual, a ten-step guide for planning, implementing, and evaluating home visiting programs aimed at improving outcomes for families with young children.

Journal Article

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Group Motivational Interviewing Intervention for Adolescents with a First Time Alcohol or Drug Offense

Group motivational interviewing (MI) interventions that target youth at-risk for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use may prevent future negative consequences.

Tool

Getting To Outcomes® for Home Visiting: How to Plan, Implement, and Evaluate a Program in Your Community to Support Parents and Their Young Children

Describes the ten-step Getting To Outcomes® process for planning, implementing, and evaluating home visiting programs aimed at improving outcomes for families with young children.

Journal Article

Perceived Norms Moderate the Association Between Mental Health Symptoms and Drinking Outcomes Among At-Risk Adolescents

The current study used a sample of 193 at-risk youths with a first-time alcohol and/or other drug offense in the California Teen Court system to explore the moderating role of perceived peer alcohol norms on the association between mental health symptoms and drinking outcomes.

Journal Article

Training Addiction Counselors to Implement an Evidence-Based Intervention: Strategies for Increasing Organizational and Provider Acceptance

This article makes recommendations for selecting and training addiction counselors to deliver group-base cognitive behavioral therapy for depression and provides suggestions for the structure and process of their ongoing clinical supervision.

Journal Article

The Effects of Employment Among Adolescents At-Risk for Future Substance Use

This paper explores the association between work intensity, alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) use, and related risk factors and consequences among an at-risk youth sample that has received a first-time AOD offense.

Journal Article

Do Client Attributes Moderate the Effectiveness of a Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Addiction Treatment?

The study goal was to determine whether client attributes were associated with outcomes from group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression (GCBT-D) as delivered in community-based addiction treatment settings.

Journal Article

Evaluating Treatment Efficacy

The authors discuss behavioral treatment efficacy (non-pharmacological) for substance use.

Journal Article

Intervening with Practitioners to Improve the Quality of Prevention: One-Year Findings from a Randomized Trial of Assets-Getting to Outcomes

This article reports interim findings from a randomized controlled trial evaluating Assets-Getting To Outcomes (AGTO)

Journal Article

Treating Depression and Substance Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To meet the call for more "transportable" interventions, the authors conducted a pilot study to test a group cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression and substance use that was designed for delivery by outpatient substance abuse treatment counselors.

Journal Article

Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Clients with Major Depression in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

Group cognitive behavioral therapy was an effective treatment for major depression for clients in residential substance abuse treatment, thus extending the effectiveness of group CBT for major depression to a new setting, patient population, and type of provider.

Journal Article

Assessing Motivational Interviewing Integrity for Group Interventions with Adolescents

This study demonstrates that it is possible to determine whether group motivational interviewing (MI) is implemented with integrity in the group setting and that MI in this setting is different from what takes place in usual care.

Journal Article

Assessing and Improving Organizational Readiness to Implement Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Primary Care: Findings from the SUMMIT Study

An organizational readiness intervention improved some implementation outcomes related to integrating treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders in primary care, but not all.

Journal Article

The Effectiveness of Community-Based Delivery of an Evidence-Based Treatment for Adolescent Substance Use

This study evaluates the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy–5 (MET/CBT-5) when delivered in community practice settings relative to standard community-based adolescent treatment.

Journal Article

Assessing the Sensitivity of Treatment Effect Estimates to Differential Follow-Up Rates: Implications for Translational Research

The authors developed a new tool for assessing the sensitivity of findings on treatment effectiveness to differential follow-up rates in the two treatment conditions being compared.

Journal Article

Employing Continuous Quality Improvement in Community-Based Substance Abuse Programs

This article aims to describe continuous quality improvement (CQI) for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs in a community-based organization setting.

Journal Article

Establishing and Evaluating the Key Functions of an Interactive Systems Framework Using an Assets-Getting to Outcomes Intervention

Community practitioners can face difficulty in achieving outcomes demonstrated by prevention science.

Journal Article

The Moderating Effects of Group Cognitive–behavioral Therapy for Depression Among Substance Users

This study examined the prospective longitudinal relationship between changes in depressive symptoms on alcohol and or drug use among addiction participants in treatment, and whether group cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression (GCBT-D) moderated the relationship.

Report

A Fidelity Coding Guide for a Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

Description of fidelity rating tools for the Building Recovery by Improving Goals, Habits, and Thoughts (BRIGHT) and BRIGHT-2 interventions for depression and substance abuse, interrater reliability of measures, and a training plan for coders.

Journal Article

An Effectiveness Trial of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients with Persistent Depressive Symptoms in Substance Abuse Treatment

Providing group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression to clients with persistent depressive symptoms receiving residential substance abuse treatment is associated with improved depression and substance use outcomes.

Journal Article

Analysis of Rolling Group Therapy Data Using Conditionally Autoregressive Priors

This article describes a new approach to analyzing client outcomes when a rolling admissions policy is used in group therapy.

Journal Article

Group Alcohol and Drug Treatment

Group treatment for teen alcohol and drug disorders can be enhanced by motivational interviewing, a technique that may be ideally suited to addressing barriers to treating teens in groups because it is inherently collaborative, focusing on achievable approaches for change.

Journal Article

Training Addiction Counselors to Implement CBT for Depression

Training addiction counselors to deliver group therapy can bring effective mental treatment to depressed individuals who are also substance abusers.

Journal Article

Developing a Group Motivational Interviewing Intervention for First-Time Adolescent Offenders At-Risk for an Alcohol or Drug Use Disorder

This study found that using group MI can be an acceptable approach for youth at risk for alcohol or other drug offenses.

Report

National Evaluation of the Demonstration to Improve the Recruitment and Retention of the Direct Service Community Workforce

Evaluates ten demonstrations to increase recruitment and retention among direct service workers -- workers who provide personal assistance or nonmedical services to people who need help with activities of daily living.

Journal Article

Technical Assistance as a Prevention Capacity-Building Tool: A Demonstration Using the Getting to Outcomes Framework

Demands on community-based prevention programs for performance accountability and positive outcomes are ever increasing in the face of constrained resources. Relatively little is known about how technical assistance (TA) should be structured to benefit community-based organizations and to lead to better outcomes. In this study, data from multiple sources were used to describe an effective TA model designed to improve the capacity of community-based organizations to plan, implement, and evaluate prevention programming.

Journal Article

A Comparison of Two Depressive Symptomatology Measures in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Clients

Comorbid depression is common among substance abusers, making routine assessment of depression critical for high-quality care. The authors evaluated two of the most commonly used depressive symptomatology measures in a sample of clients in residential substance abuse treatment settings.

Journal Article

Promoting Evidence-Based Practices: The Adoption of a Prevention Support System in Community Settings

Prevention support systems (PSSs) are designed to help communities implement evidence-based practices (EBPs).

Journal Article

The Getting to Outcomes Demonstration and Evaluation: an Illustration of the Prevention Support System

Communities are increasingly being required by state and federal funders to achieve outcomes and be accountable, yet are often not provided the guidance or the tools needed to successfully meet this challenge.

Report

Getting To Outcomes™: 10 Steps for Achieving Results-Based Accountability

This summary of the Getting To Outcomes (GTO) process provides step-by-step guidance to those in need of a concise, overview-style approach to GTO as they plan, implement, and evaluation substance abuse prevention programs.

Report

Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program: Progress During 2004 and 2005

Evaluates the progress of Arkansas' seven health related programs funded by the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

Journal Article

Threatened By the Unexpected: Physiological Responses During Social Interactions with Expectancy-Violating Partners

Individuals who violate expectations increase uncertainty during social interactions.

Draft

A Collaboration Between Researchers and Practitioners to Improve Care for Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

Describes a community-based intervention trial intended to address the gap in effective service provision for clients in substance abuse treatment programs with co-occurring disorders.

Research Brief

Getting To Outcomes™: Improving Community-Based Substance-Use Prevention

This research brief summarizes research to create Getting To Outcomes (GTO), a science-based model and support tools to help local groups develop or improve substance-use-prevention programs.

Journal Article

Acculturation and Driving Under the Influence: A Study of Repeat Offenders

Acculturation may be a risk factor for repeat DUI convictions.

Report

Acculturation and Driving Under the Influence: A Study of Repeat Offenders

Finds that among a sample of Hispanic drivers in California with repeat driving under the influence (DUI) offenses, the less-acculturated members were more likely to report a repeat DUI conviction at two-year follow-up than more-acculturated ones.

Report

Sexual Readiness, Household Policies, and Other Predictors of Adolescents' Exposure to Sexual Content in Mainstream Entertainment Television

Identifies predictors of adolescents' exposure to the sexual content of television using a national telephone survey of 1,762 adolescents ages 12-17.

Draft

Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program: Program Advancement in 2005

The Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act, a referendum passed by Arkansans in the Settlement Agreement funds in seven health-related programs. The act also created the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission (ATSC) to monitor and evaluate the performance o...

Draft

Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program: Program Advancement in 2005

The Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act, a referendum passed by Arkansans in the Settlement Agreement funds in seven health-related programs. The act also created the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission (ATSC) to monitor and evaluate the performance o...

Report

Improving Contracting at the City of Los Angeles Airports, Port, and Department of Water and Power

Presents an analysis of a 90-day study to find ways to make the purchasing, contracting, and leasing activities of the Los Angeles World Airports, the Port of Los Angeles, and the Department of Water and Power more transparent and efficient

Journal Article

Developing a Community Science Research Agenda for Building Community Capacity for Effective Preventive Interventions

Research has shown that prevention programming can improve community health when implemented well.

Journal Article

Research-practice Partners Assess Their First Joint Project

Advisability of consulting collaboratively with clinic staff during the planning of studies and the pretesting of study protocols.

Journal Article

Review of Treatment Recommendations for Persons with a Co-Occurring Affective or Anxiety and Substance Use Disorder

The authors review and evaluate the literature and guidelines on care for individuals with a co-occurring affective or anxiety disorder and substance use disorder.

Journal Article

Training Substance Abuse Treatment Staff to Care for Co-Occurring Disorders

This article describes an intervention to improve the quality of mental health care provided in outpatient substance abuse treatment programs.

Report

Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program: Progress from Program Inception to 2004

Evaluates the progress and implementation of the Arkansas tobacco settlement program.

Report

Defining Needs and Managing Performance of Installation Support Contracts: Perspectives from the Commercial Sector

This study describes an analysis of best commercial practices in purchasing facilities services and food services and how buyers and providers apply performance-based practices in their contracts.

Report

Organizational Policy Levers Can Affect Acquisition Reform Implementation in Air Force Repair Contracts

Describes a study of the implementation of innovative practices in Air Force depot maintenance contracts.

Research Brief

Applying Performance-Based Practices to Installation Support Contracts

A new PAF study suggests that as the Air Force extends its use of performance-based practices to contracts for food and facilities services, acquisition planners should consider principles derived from best practices used in the commercial sector.

Research Brief

Does Watching Sex on Television Influence Teens' Sexual Activity?

Two recent studies led by RAND Health behavioral scientist Rebecca Collins examined the impact of TV sex on teenagers' sexual beliefs and activities.

Report

Getting to Outcomes: A Community-Based Participatory Approach to Preventive Interventions

Describes a prevention process and corresponding technical assistance package for substance abuse prevention programs.

Journal Article

Prevalence and Characteristics of Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

Identifying people with probable mental health disorders as they enter treatment may increase access to care among those with limited prior access.

Research Brief

Speeding Acquisition Reform in the U.S. Air Force

RAND Project AIR FORCE (PAF) was asked to identify the organizational levers that could motivate acquisition personnel to adopt CREP reforms more quickly.

Journal Article

Watching Sex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of Sexual Behavior

Early sexual initiation is an important social and health issue.

Journal Article

Entertainment Television as a Healthy Sex Educator: The Impact of Condom-Efficacy Information in an Episode of Friends

Television is often decried as a negative influence on the sexual attitudes and behavior of America's adolescents.

Journal Article

Challenge and Threat During Social Interactions with White and Black Men

This research examined the extent to which minority or devalued group members engendered threat reactions from interaction partners.

Report

Implementing Performance-Based Services Acquisition (PBSA): Perspectives from an Air Logistics Center and a Product Center

How an Air Logistics Center and a Product Center apply performance-based practices in their service contracts for weapon systems development and sustainment and installation support.