Project RISE expands and strengthens access to treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders (mental health and/or trauma) for homeless families temporarily housed in Department of Housing and Community Development emergency family shelters, motels and temporary housing throughout Massachusetts.

The Project RISE Family Care Coordinators provide outreach to English- and Spanish-speaking families at risk for substance use, mental health and trauma. While working with families to decrease the stress in their lives, the Family Care Coordinators screen and assess, provide early recovery counseling, and care coordination for substance use and co-occurring disorders which may also include mental health, trauma and interpersonal violence issues. Through building trust and a working alliance, RISE staff engage families to help them understand the complex issues that may be undermining housing and work stability and family preservation. The staff also provide technical assistance and consultation to local shelter and housing staff, Department of Housing and Community Development personnel on identification, intervention, treatment, relapse and recovery of substance use and co-occurring disorders, mental health and trauma/violence issues. Each year, services are provided to approximately 1,000 sheltered families; and support to participating families continues for up to three months post shelter stay.

Project RISE staff include a Master’s level Project Director, Master’s level Clinical Supervisor and ten full-time Family Care Coordinators. The Family Care Coordinators are Bachelor’s and Master’s level staff with clinical experience and knowledge of homelessness, substance use, mental health issues, trauma and integrated service delivery for co-occurring disorders. Family Care Coordinator services include a family-based assessment, treatment planning, early recovering counseling, psycho educational groups and assisted referrals to appropriate treatment, including family and children’s services, as needed.

Project RISE staff are sited across the state: at IHR headquarters in Cambridge, as well as at satellite offices in Taunton, Lowell, Worcester and Holyoke.

For more information, please contact Susan Dargon-Hart, LISCW, Project Director.