The Commonwealth is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. The number of confirmed cases of unintentional opioid overdose deaths for 2015 (n=1379) represents an 8% increase over 2014 (n=1282) and the 2014 number (n=1282) is a 41% increase over cases for 2013 (n=911). In February 2015, Governor Baker charged an 18-member working group with developing specific, actionable recommendations to address and respond to the opioid epidemic crisis. The workgroup established a set of 65 recommendations to address the crisis across various sectors on touch points. Specifics of the Governor’s Opioid Working Group’s plan can be found at www.mass.gov/stopaddiction. The availability of treatment resources is a critical part of any effective response to the epidemic of opioid addiction in Massachusetts. The Department of Public Health/Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (DPH/BSAS), in response to recommendations developed by the Governor’s Opioid Working Group, is seeking to provide a range of treatment services, including Family Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Services (FRT).
The overall goal of the FRT is to provide a structured and comprehensive rehabilitative environment that supports family recovery from trauma and the effects of substance use disorders, and encourages movement towards an independent lifestyle. Programs are expected to provide a therapeutic, safe, structured, and developmentally appropriate environment for parents and their children. Treatment is individualized to the needs of each resident, but also incorporates a culture of community to support recovery. Scheduled goal-oriented rehabilitative services are provided in conjunction with ongoing support and assistance for developing and maintaining both interpersonal and life skills necessary to lead an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle, and parenting skills necessary for a healthy family life. Programs are expected to incorporate promising or best practices as part of the treatment model. Although the FRT Programs share a similar overall goal and will incorporate required treatment elements, programs may develop treatment models or domains based on cultural, linguistic, gender responsive treatment and best practices that meet the diverse needs of the families entering their programs.
The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) seeks proposals from licensed substance abuse treatment qualified applicants to provide FRT to parent(s) recovering from addiction to alcohol, opioids and other drugs, who are pregnant, or have custody of at least one child, or have a verified physical re-unification plan with at least one child within 30 days of admission. Eligible applicants must indicate in the RFR application that they either have a license with BSAS for this service or have the ability to achieve licensure, including site control, by the beginning of the contracting period. Awardees that do not achieve licensure and site control by the beginning of the contract period may end up forfeiting the award. A start-up cost reimbursement contract can be awarded to new FRT applicants, with the expectation that awardee will begin enrolling clients within six months of award at which time the contract will be converted to a unit rate contract.