Isaiah House Workforce Training and Placement

Dear Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, The University of Kentucky College of Education Evaluation Center is committed to supporting the Isaiah House Treatment Centers Recovery Workforce Support Program under the 2020 Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grant, FOA Number TI-20-013. We understand that the goal of this program is to implement evidence-based programs to support 1,665 young people and adults over a 5-year period in substance use disorder treatment and recovery throughout Kentucky to live independently and participate in the workforce. Individuals who qualify for this program will consist of high-risk, unemployed and/or low income young people and adults age 18 and up who are seeking treatment and recovery for drug and/or alcohol addiction and dealing with other vulnerable factors, such as mental health conditions and/or disorders, HIV/AIDS, traumatic brain injuries, chronic homelessness, mental health conditions, and/or criminal justice involvement. The overall goal of this program is to enhance recovery, independent living, self-esteem, and life skills for participants by 40%, to increase positive sober networks for program participants by 75%; and to increase access to career services, job training and/or placement for Kentucky’s recovery community by 30%. The University of Kentucky College of Education Evaluation Center is an evaluation group providing culturally competent evaluation services. The Evaluation Center’s mission is to provide collaborative mixed-methods evaluation services which gather solid data, improve data utilization, increase knowledge, enhance decision-making, and strengthen policy development for education and human service organizations. The Center has a history of evaluation of substance abuse prevention and treatment programs including those funded by SAMHSA. Examples include: The Assertive Adolescent and Family Treatment (AAFT) Program and The Cooperative Agreement for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (CABHI). The Center is well-versed in the utilization of a range of data entry systems and the proper collection and reporting of GPRA data, and is able to meet the rigorous follow- up data collection requirements for SAMHSA grants. The University of Kentucky College of Education Evaluation Center will support Isaiah House Treatment Centers by acting as the Principle Investigator under this program. In that role, we will support the Project Director in all data collection and performance measurement activities so that SAMHSA can meet its obligations under the Government Performance and Results (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010. Through our expertise, we will ensure all data elements and reports to enable SAMHSA to determine the impact of the program on opioid use, and opioid-related morbidity and mortality. We will take on the key role of reporting client-level data on elements including but not limited to: demographic characteristics, substance use, diagnosis(es) services received, types of MAT received; length of stay in treatment; employment status, criminal justice involvement, and housing. We will also track all gaps and activities of the statewide Recovery Network and the unduplicated number of individuals receiving job linkages, trainings and employment opportunities through this grant. We will ensure all data reported to SAMHSA are accurate, utilizing GPRA interview processes for all clients. We will work closely with the Project Director and Program Staff to ensure all clients participate a GPRA interview and achieve a follow-up rate of 80 percent. Per the grant requirement, we will periodically review the performance data and report to SAMHSA, assess their progress, and use this information to improve the management of their grant project and report on our progress addressing the goals and objectives identified listed above. We are committed to submitting a progress reports at midpoint of Year 1 (i.e., at 6 months post award) and an annual report at the end of each grant year. This progress report will showcase project progress, barriers encountered, and efforts to overcome these barriers. We will ensure all other data collection, performance assessment and quality improvement requirements outlined in this grant, Section E of the Project Narrative and our Job Description. In exchange for this support, Isaiah House Treatment Centers agrees to pay us $60,000 per year for five years.