Initiatives

New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) (2018-2024)

New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) (2018-2024)

The New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) provides training and technical assistance services to the professional and volunteer prevention workforce within the New England states. The New England PTTC is developing a diverse program with multiple modes of training and information dissemination. This includes collaboration with states to hold live, in person trainings featuring the latest prevention science, but also multiple opportunities for distance learning to maximize the reach of technical assistance in the region. CCSME is coordinating distance learning for the New England PTTC, which includes webinars, online courses, and Project ECHO distance learning programs. The New England PTTC is administered by Adcare Educational Institute of Maine, Inc.

MeHAF Discretionary Grant (Nov 2017–Apr 2018)

MeHAF Discretionary Grant (Nov 2017–Apr 2018)

Expanding Medication-Assisted Recovery Services & Building a Stronger Recovery‐Oriented System for Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Maine

Project Summary
CCSME conducted a planning process to identify strategies for expanding access to Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) to support a goal of creating a statewide, networked system of care in Maine for people with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) with a focus on improving care for uninsured and vulnerable populations. The project began with an assessment of current statewide and regional efforts to expand access to MAR services, aiming to identify key program elements that have contributed to the success of, and/or presented challenges to offering and expanding MAR services. It also included an assessment of policy opportunities for expanding access to MAR services, including payment, treatment, and legislative policies, and a review of pending relevant Maine legislation and successful policy initiatives in other states.

As part of this process, we convened key stakeholders to provide input on developing a plan for expanding access to MAR services and creating a statewide, networked system of care for SUD. The ultimate goal of the project was to produce an initial plan outlining potential options for expanding access to a consistent, statewide set of high-quality MAR services in Maine and identifying a range of potential funding sources to support the costs of implementing the proposed plan, as well as looking at opportunities to leverage existing funding sources.

Collaborators & Partners
This effort was led by Project Director, Lisa Letourneau MD, MPH, working in partnership with Catherine Chichester at CCSME. Project partners included Eric Haram (Haram Consulting), serving as consultant and content expert in addiction treatment. Key collaborators included Maine Quality Counts (QC) and the Maine Medical Association (MMA), both of which have been strong advocates for addressing the opioid epidemic and have links to medical providers and primary care practices statewide. We also engaged state partners, including leaders from Maine DHHS, MaineCare, Maine SAMHS, and Maine CDC, and partnered with health systems and practices that are building systems to provide MAT services to identify factors that support or detract from their ability to provide such care. Additionally, we partnered with the Maine Alliance for Addiction & Mental Health Services to link with Maine’s SUD treatment community, and the Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery to link with the recovery community.

Project Report & Plan

Presentation: Maine’s Opioid Epidemic: Building a Stronger, Statewide, Recovery-Oriented System of Care

Peer Recovery Centers (2016–2017)

Peer Recovery Centers (2016–2017)

Research and Needs Assessment

In 2016, the Maine State Legislature passed LD 1537, “An Act to Combat Drug Addiction through Enforcement, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery” (Public Law 378), which provides funding for the establishment and expansion of peer support recovery centers, among other initiatives. As a result of this legislation, the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS) asked AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, Inc. (AdCare), who worked with the Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine (CCSME) and the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, Maine (AAMHS), to conduct a needs assessment of recovery services and supports in each of Maine’s nine public health districts.

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Project Reentry (2014–2017)

Project Reentry (2014–2017)

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is partnering through a Bureau of Justice Assistance, Second Change Co-Occurring Reentry grant, Project Reentry, with CCSME, Maine Pretrial Services, Inc., Catholic Charities of Maine, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, My Sister’s Keeper, University of New England, Department of Corrections Probation and Parole, and Family Crisis Services to prepare 100 inmates who have co-occurring disorders for release and transition into the community with on-going services and monitoring as they put their lives back together.

NIMH Outreach Partnership (2011–2016)

NIMH Outreach Partnership (2011–2016)

The Outreach Partnership Program is a nationwide initiative of the National Institute of Mental Health. As partners in this program, CCSME and NAMI Maine conducted statewide mental health outreach and education programs to deliver up-to-date, science-based information to the public, a broad range of health professionals, and traditionally under-served populations.

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program (2011–2016)

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program (2011–2016)

CCSME has been instrumental in developing and delivering the annual MSPP Beyond the Basics Conference for NAMI Maine. From 2011 through 2014, CCSME collaborated with NAMI Maine and the Maine Primary Care Association to deliver the spectrum of training programs offered by MSPP. The program goals are to increase public awareness about suicide prevention, reduce suicide behavior among Maine residents, and improve access to approporiate prevention and intervention services.

The MSPP recommends a comprehensive approach. Multiple program strategies reach the general public and people who are at risk. Community and school-based program components will be conducted in coordination with existing prevention efforts.

The program is housed at the NAMI Maine office in Augusta and is led by the Maine CDC in the Department of Health and Human Services with partners from the Departments of Education, Public Safety, Corrections and Labor.

Quality Counts Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Consultant (2014–2016)

Quality Counts Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Consultant (2014–2016)

CCSME provided technical assistance to Quality Counts to support the adoption of the SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) in Health Homes in Maine through a Learning Community.

SBIRT is an evidence based set of clinical guidelines used to screen, reduce substance use risk and to referral to specialty addiction treatment as needed. This work was made possible with funding from the Maine State Innovation Model Initiative.

Adult Drug Treatment Courts (2011–2015)

CCSME assisted Maine’s Adult Drug Treatment Courts with training and implementation of three specific evidence-based models applicable to the court population: Seeking Safety, Thinking for a Change and Moral Reconation Therapy.

Seeking Safety is an integrated treatment intervention program for trauma and substance abuse to reduce trauma symptoms, substance use, program retention and psychopathology. Thinking for a Change and Moral Reconation Therapy are cognitive behavioral curricula which address interpersonal communication skills and thought patterns that lead to problem behaviors.

Moving Integration Forward (2013)

CCSME assisted an initiative of the Maine Primary Care Association (MPCA) funded by the Jesse B. Cox Foundation to advance behavioral health and physical health integration in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Maine. As part of this initiative, CCSME with MPCA held three regional networking forums anchored by FQHCs. These forums brought together key leadership from the FQHCs and their community behavioral health partners to enhance the patient-centered medical home environment through the on-going development of community partnerships and began the process of defining guidelines and standards to guide interactions.

Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) Training (2012–2013)

Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) Training (2012–2013)

CCSME provided professional education and technical assistance to improve the Maine behavioral health workforce’s understanding of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse, health issues, and trauma.

CCSME also worked to improve the Maine behavioral health system. To accomplish this goal, CCSME participated in multiple initiatives, including but not limited to:

  • The Accelerating Behavioral Health Information Sharing Strategic Action Task Force
  • The Maine Trauma-Informed Expansion Grant “Expand ME” Statewide Leadership Group
  • The OSA Prevention Task Force
  • The Behavioral Health Integration: Steering Committee and Task Force

Health Care Reform Education Project (2012)

Amistad, Inc., in partnership with the Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine, NAMI Maine, and the Consumer Council System of Maine, developed and implemented a Health Care Reform Education program which reached out to, connected with, and educated peers and individuals in recovery throughout the state of Maine about the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on mental health and substance abuse services. This project was funded by a small grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the end of 2012.

Maine Health Reform Learning Collaborative Project (2012)

As part of an effort to build state coalitions and educate mental health and substance use stakeholders on health reform implementation, SAMHSA invited state mental health and substance use consumer and peer organizations, recovery community organizations, family member organizations, provider organizations, and other behavioral health stakeholder organizations to participate in CCSME’s Health Reform Learning Collaborative project.

CCSME participated in the coalition together with Maine Parent Federation, Inc., Amistad, Inc., Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine, NAMI Maine, Maine Mental Health Connections, Dirigo Counseling Clinic, LLC., Counseling Services, Inc, Preble Street, Youth MOVE Maine, and Milestone Foundation, Inc..

Resources developed and shared through eight coalitions nationwide were made available to other stakeholder groups and behavioral health coalitions across the country.

Mentor ME (2010–2012)

This grant from the U.S. Department of Justice was used to expand and enhance My Sister’s Keeper’s mentoring ministry and offer vocational services through Goodwill to female offenders at the Cumberland County Jail in Portland, Maine.

The two-year grant supported the Mentor ME program, serving 40 adult female offenders. The goals of the Mentor ME program are to reduce recidivism rates among female offenders and to increase public safety. By developing healthy relationships with offenders, mentors can provide hope, guidance and support.

CCSME collaborated with My Sister’s Keeper, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

Initiatives Quick Links