ES 7

ES 7. Link People to Needed Personal Health Services, and Ensure the Provision of Health Care when Otherwise Unavailable

Core Function: Assurance

How can we identify those populations with barriers to personal health services? What is the best way to link people to appropriate personal health services, including services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate?

Local health department staff are often instrumental in identifying vulnerable populations or those who are experiencing barriers to care and may serve as an entry point into the health care system. Often, local governmental agencies, including the public health department, can coordinate provider services or provide information, referrals, transportation, and other services, addressing barriers and ensuring that people can access the care they need, when and where they need it. Local health department staff should know what prevention, intervention, and treatment resources exist statewide and in their own communities. Below is a list of statewide and national resources for identifying and accessing a broad array of addiction services.

Addiction Treatment and Recovery Resources

  • Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Addiction Services Bed Availability webpage lists the current bed availability of DMHAS-funded detox programs, residential treatment facilities, recovery houses, and sober houses.  https://www.ctaddictionservices.com/
  • LIVE LOUD (LIVE Life with Opioid Use Disorder) connects individuals seeking treatment, their families and the general public with information on and resources for Opioid Use Disorder. Resources include information on Opioid Use Disorder, support groups, treatment options, and the opioid crisis in Connecticut. LIVE LOUD is supported by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). https://liveloud.org/  
  • Beacon Health Options has a webpage with links to maps of CT providers offering Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), the MAT Provider Locator and the Medicaid Provider Locator, as well as MAT resources for providers. http://www.ctbhp.com/medication-assisted-treatment.html
  • 2-1-1 of Connecticut provides information on many Substance Use Disorder resources, including a 24/7 Access Line, an anonymous, online mental health screening, Substance Use Disorder Walk-In Assessment Centers, treatment information, and education and prevention information.2-1-1 is a program of United Way of Connecticut and is supported by the State of Connecticut and Connecticut United Ways.  https://uwc.211ct.org/categorysearch/substance-abuse/
  • Access Health CT is Connecticut’s health insurance marketplace that offers subsidized and unsubsidized health insurance plans to individuals and small-business employers, which may be used to cover addiction treatment services. www.accesshealthct.com
  • Connecticut Recovery Oriented Support System for Youth (CROSS) statewide substance use recovery support system is specifically oriented to the needs of youth aged 16-24 years. The statewide network of CROSS program sites offers mutual support groups for youth and young adults, as well as opportunities for fun activities, new friendships, and skill development with peers in a substance-free setting. https://www.ctclearinghouse.org/topics/connecticut-recovery-oriented-support-system-for-youth-cross/   
  • Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTARR) supports recovery residences in Connecticut in practicing national quality standards for recovery residences. CTARR inspects and certifies Connecticut recovery homes, provides training and maintains a forum for exchanging ideas, solving problems and providing guidance. http://ctrecoveryresidences.org
  • Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) is a centralized resource for all things recovery and supports five Recovery Community Centers across the state. Telephone support services are also provided and programs are free. https://ccar.us/
  • Connecticut Clearinghouse provides links to state-wide and national mental health and substance use services, treatment facility locations, hotlines and warm lines. https://www.ctclearinghouse.org/find-help/treatment-facility-locator/
  • Addiction Resources Center (ARC) is a project of the Addiction Policy Forum, a non-profit organization committed to eliminating addiction as a public health issue. ARC hosts a search tool for Connecticut-based treatment and recovery options. https://www.addictionresourcecenter.org/find-local-resources/connecticut
  • Connecticut’s Network of Care for Behavioral Health is committed to promoting access to behavioral health care information for all residents of Connecticut and offers information on finding behavioral health services, behavioral health topics, behavioral health-related legislation, insurance, and support and advocacy. http://connecticut.networkofcare.org/mh/index.aspx
  • Capacitype hosts a searchable database, their “Recovery Resource Hub”, that lists a wide variety of substance abuse support services, resources and programs by state. Users can store their searches and add new resources to the listing. https://www.recoveryresourcehub.org
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a directory of substance use and opioid treatment providers in each state. The information is available via a national hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889 (TTY) or through their website. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help

Harm Reduction Programs

With an emphasis on public health and human rights, harm reduction programs provide essential health information and services while respecting individual dignity and autonomy. Harm reduction programs recognize that many individuals who use drugs are either unable or unwilling to stop, do not need treatment, or are not ready for treatment at a given time. Their focus is on limiting the risks and harms associated with unsafe drug use, which is linked to serious adverse health consequences, including HIV transmission, viral hepatitis, and death from overdose.

  • CT Center for Harm Reduction offers harm reduction and drug user health services throughout Connecticut. The Center educates individuals, social service providers, and communities on the techniques to reduce overdoses, sites to receive clean syringes and dispose of used ones, and practices that reduce the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other transmissible infections. The Center is a division of AIDS Connecticut, Inc. http://www.naloxone-ct.org/index.html
  • Healthy Lives CT, a collaboration between state agencies and non-profit organizations, provides information and tools for maintaining or regaining emotional, physical, holistic, and financial wellness and recovery from addiction. Healthy Lives CT also hosts anonymous, confidential online mental health self-screening tools. https://www.healthylivesct.org/
  • The Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition (GHHRC) provides a complete array of harm reduction services. GHHRC operates a Drop-In Center open 7-days a week for individuals to access: syringe exchange services, safer use tools, techniques, overdose prevention education and free Narcan distribution, onsite access to medication-assisted treatment and peer support. Additionally, GHHRC along with partnering organizations provide mobile harm reduction services statewide through the operation of our Mobile 1 RV and The Rover, a fully equipped portable syringe exchange unit. Call (860) 250-4146 or visit the website http://ghhrc.org/ 

Programs on Role of Prevention After Nonfatal Overdose