|
|
|
By Terry Higgins 
hile projects COMBINE and MATCH have brought CABHR headlines in Wisconsin and around the world, the center has compiled a lengthy history of research in its first decade. Other ongoing research projects include:
• Project ARRIVE. This project explores the relationship between the alcohol or drug use of severely mentally ill adults and their and their exposure to HIV infection. HIV prevention strategies will be studied for effectiveness in this population. The project is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and is being conducted by the Medical College of Wisconsin and CABHR.
• "Cutting Back” Project. Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this program is evaluating an alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) program in primary care settings of HMOs. The five-year, six-site national research project will evaluate the implementation, effectiveness, and cost-benefits of two different SBI models. • Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET). The Medical College of Wisconsin and CABHR will study whether a brief MET intervention can help prevent the spread of STDs in vulnerable populations. The project will be funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. All three projects build upon basic research strengths of the center. HIV prevention and skill-building has been a key component of CABHR activities since its inception, and center researchers continues to study HIV risk behaviors and interventions at area sexually transmitted disease clinics. The “Cutting Back” brief interventions are based on CABHR research on the effectiveness of brief interventions in a variety of settings. Finally, the center has a history of research in alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) assessment and interventions among specific populations, including the homeless, adolescents, pregnant women, and people in emergency medical settings. The key to all these studies, as well as a number of other past and present projects, is wide-ranging collaboration, according to Lance Longo, M.D., of Sinai Samaritan Medical Center. Longo is also medical director of CAHBR’s Clinical Trials Unit for Project COMBINE.
CABHR has also been chosen to evaluate the development, implementation and outcome of a new system of care for Milwaukee County residents experiencing problems from their use of alcohol or other drugs. The Milwaukee AODA/TANF Coordinated Care Project involves a collaboration among treatment organizations and human services systems. The consortium came together in December 1999 to respond to a request for proposals from the state to coordinate care and expand AODA treatment capacity for TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)-eligible individuals and families, particularly vulnerable women and children. “This is an opportunity to provide the kind of coordinated service we have talked about a lot,” said evaluation director Susan Rose last year in CABHR’s newsletter. “It encourages participants to put aside their individual interests and work together.” Rose is associate professor in the School of Social Welfare and a CABHR Executive Committee member. The AODA/TANF network is composed of a group of agencies that provide pre-screening, screening, assessment, treatment and evaluation of care for persons requesting AODA services. A broad range of community service providers serves as a resource for care as well as an entry point for service users. Surrounding this primary core of services, 28 other community service providers, including child welfare, corrections, health systems and W-2 and employment-based organizations, have agreed to screen their clients for AODA problems. In addition, other community resource organizations, including faith-based organizations, are being used to support treatment and recovery. CABHR’s role in the AODA/TANF project is to gather information about how people proceed through the system and their success after leaving it. The information will help determine which approaches work best and develop practice models based on those approaches. 
|
