Opioid Experience

Stemming the opioid crisis requires a deep understanding of the root causes and a wide capability in marshalling best practices and creating massive systems change—qualities that AHP brings to every project. We work at the policy level down to the practical, hands-on application of solutions, transforming approaches to OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery across networks, providers, and service settings. Download our brochure now.

Our mission is to improve health and human services systems of care and business operations to help organizations and individuals reach their full potential.


For several decades AHP has supported federal and state behavioral health agencies with many high-priority initiatives. Our nationally recognized staff are experts in making systems change related to the opioid crisis, with a track record of success in combatting the opioid epidemic. We work with your team to plan and implement in the following service areas: 

Provide Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Programs in Community and Correctional Settings 

AHP provides expertise and services to plan, deliver, and evaluate MAT programs. We can help you identify the best MAT models for your state/community/institution and provide model protocols, procedures, regulatory material, and pertinent performance measures to give immediate feedback and ensure successful implementation. 
 

Close the Gaps to Better Serve Vulnerable Populations: Projective Population Modeling(TM)

With AHP’s Projective Population Modeling(TM), clients can analyze historic claims, demographic, epidemiological, and other data sources to forecast how specific population characteristics will impact utilization; model how new benefits, services, and evidence-based practices translate into utilization; and identify access and availability gaps in the system of care. 

Design and Implement a Robust Recovery Support System 

When you work with AHP, we’ll help you identify gaps and resources to best offer recovery supports in your state. From there, we will help you expand access and improve your community-based recovery support services. We analyze what types of recovery supports are available and needed and then provide a range of solutions, from training and technical assistance to developing a comprehensive Access to Recovery (ATR) program. 

Collaboration and Coordinate with Key Stakeholders 

AHP supports clients in cultivating stakeholder consensus toward the goal of making decisions and facilitating the multiple state agencies that address the needs of individuals with OUD. We help plan, manage, guide, and host virtual stakeholder meetings, ensuring expert, unbiased facilitation. AHP can help states build consensus and develop specialized plans to address their specific needs around the opioid crisis. 

Integrate Primary Health, Behavioral Health, and Social Services for OUD Populations 

AHP works with clients to assess, identify, and address gaps; create partnerships; and implement successful programs to redesign systems of care and integrate all efforts at the policy and practice level. AHP assists states by applying our Population Behavioral and Social Needs Assessment (PBSNA) to assess and create a plan for transforming community response to the opioid epidemic. 

Reach and Connect Special Populations with OUD Services 

AHP excels at helping providers and systems understand and engage with special populations who are often underserved, vulnerable, and at risk, such as people living in poverty, trauma survivors, people in abusive relationships, isolated tribal communities, LGBTQ+ youth, veterans with PTSD, people with mental illness, and youth exiting foster care who often lack health insurance or a support network. AHP understands the unique challenges that prevent these special populations from getting help with OUD. 

Conduct Evaluation and Data Collection 

Offering an impressive array of evaluation skills, content knowledge, and experience working directly with individuals with OUD, AHP works with clients on a wide range of evaluation and outcome studies, as well as on data collection and reporting. We can help you respond to mandated data collection requirements and develop evaluations to assess program impact. 

Utilize Cutting-Edge Virtual Technology to Save Costs and Expand Reach 

To save costs and expand reach, AHP provides comprehensive virtual technology to support state opioid initiatives. Virtual meetings and trainings are cost-effective, allow larger and more diverse audiences, and can be recorded and placed online for continued viewing access. AHP offers expertise in skillful moderation, technical expertise and hosting platforms, and experience hosting virtual activities.


Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT): AHP developed for the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance the first national training and technical assistance (TTA) program for federally funded Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) programs. In this role, AHP became the national leader in the expansion of MAT to corrections, completing the first training video on model prison and jail MAT programs that was distributed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to all state correctional administrators and drafting the national standards for criminal justice MAT programming. 

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC): The SAPC employed AHP’s Projective Population Modeling (PPM) approach to anticipate the impact of the state’s Medicaid waiver, a requirement for all California counties. LA County and AHP identified significant need for provider network enhancements, given the explosive growth in the covered population and the wide range of new services covered by California's Medicaid (Drug Medi-Cal). For example, we were able to forecast tremendous demand for prescribers and licensed SUD providers, as well as sober living beds across the county. This forecast was used to justify reimbursement enhancements to promote provider investment and subsequent growth in the provider network. 

Access to Recovery (ATR): AHP has been implementing the Access to Recovery (ATR) program for eight consecutive years in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  This program gives people in early recovery wide access to community services and fills the gaps of a typical treatment service system. ATR has helped close to 18,000 individuals, with significant outcomes in abstaining from drugs and alcohol, avoiding arrests and involvement with the criminal justice system, securing employment and stable housing, and avoiding relapse and overdose. 

Illinois State Opioid Action Plan: In Illinois, AHP convenes statewide stakeholder working groups that are addressing several opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery issues including MAT, criminal justice-involved populations, and prescribing guidelines. We also helped create Illinois’ State Opioid Action Plan, the strategic plan that guides policymakers and providers in reducing fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses. AHP also helped develop the Implementation Report that outlines stakeholder recommendations for implementing initiatives that address action plan strategies. 

Cowlitz County in Washington State: AHP conducted a behavioral health gap analysis for uninsured individuals and those on Medicaid to guide future behavioral health programs. Data collected included quantitative sources, extensive key stakeholder interviews with consumers and providers, and a consumer survey. The analysis identified service gaps on both the demand side (e.g., the unmet behavioral health needs) and the supply side (e.g., service provider capacity). Working closely with the county, we developed a plan that included moving consumers through the continuum of care and ensuring they received the specific behavioral and social services that supported successful treatment and recovery. 

Training Tool Box for Addressing the Gender-Specific Service Needs of Women with Substance Use Disorders: AHP developed this Tool Box for SAMHSA and has trained hundreds of physical and behavioral health providers, policymakers, educators, peer specialists, and others in gender-responsive, trauma-informed care to enhance their ability to best serve the needs of women, girls, and their families. 

Moms Do Care, Massachusetts: AHP evaluates this program designed to expand access to MAT for pregnant and postpartum women with OUD and to enhance the services they receive. AHP worked closely with the single state agency and program staff to design the evaluation to meet local data needs and to track and report regularly on program performance, including reaching the complex and underserved population and achieving local and GPRA outcomes. 

SAMHSA Behavioral Health and HIV Technical Assistance Center (BH-HIVTAC): AHP developed and implemented virtual conferences for Minority AIDS Initiative grantees. Each conference included plenary sessions with SAMHSA and other high-level federal agency staff, as well as keynote addresses on topics of high importance and concurrent tracks. In 2018, we held a three-day virtual conference for 350 people with three tracks and 10 virtual poster sessions. All sessions are archived and made available on an ongoing basis. 


AHP stands at the ready to join your efforts in combatting the opioid crisis and helping people with OUD reach their full potential. Contact us now to help your organization or agency create plans and programs. Download our brochure now. 

Rich Landis, Co-Director, AHP Center for Technical Assistance and Training, 240-912-3842, rlandis@ahpnet.com

Carol Bianco-Miller, Co-Director, AHP Center for Technical Assistance and Training, 518-729-1226, cbianco@ahpnet.com

Patrick Gauthier, Director, AHP Healthcare Solutions, 508-395-8429, pgauthier@ahpnet.com

Terri Tobin, Director, AHP Center for Research and Evaluation, 978-261-1436, ttobin@ahpnet.com

 

 


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