Massachusetts

The Family Recovery Collaborative in Massachusetts established a mission to: “Improve outcomes for children and families affected by substance use by enhancing collaboration among child welfare, substance use services, tribal, and juvenile court systems.” The major product goals for which there was a significant level of accomplishment were:

Memorandum of Understanding (PDF - 85 KB) – Signed by the Department of Social Services, the Department of Public Health, the Juvenile Court, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) at the Family Recovery Collaborative State Team meeting on April 19, 2006.
Statement of Shared Principles and Values (PDF - 83 KB) – This was included in the MOU and disseminated broadly to stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth.
Family Engagement Model Concept Paper (PDF - 41 KB) – accompanied by an implementation and funding strategy that will link child welfare system clients to substance abuse treatment services. The Institute of Heath and Recovery was funded to implement an engagement model in three DSS Area Offices as part of the child welfare system of care.
Focus Groups - Convened to solicit recommendations from DSS-involved families in recovery as to how to most effectively engage and retain families in treatment and how services could be improved. Pre-treatment and interim services were subsequently incorporated in the Engagement Model concept paper referenced above.
- Family Engagement Consumer Focus Group Summaries (PDF - 186 KB)
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head “Aquinnah” (Available Soon)
At the end of the IDTA process, the Massachusetts team succeeded in establishing the Family Recovery Collaborative as a standing sub-committee of the Governor’s Inter-Agency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention to coordinate statewide activities related to substance abuse, family systems, and child welfare issues.