2024 – 2028
Principal Investigator:
Timothy Hunt, PhD (contact)
Co-Investigator:
Dawn Goddard-Eckrich, EdD
Project Summary
Background: The HEAL (Helping End Addiction Longterm) Western NY project, funded by HRSA through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Impact Initiative, addresses the urgent need for coordinated treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in six rural counties of Western New York. The initiative utilizes the Communities That HEAL (CTH) model, a data-driven, coalition-led framework developed under the NIH HEALing Communities Study.
Objectives: From 2024–2028, the project will (1) expand access to prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services for more than 4,500 residents; (2) strengthen the SUD/OUD workforce, including peer and clinical providers; (3) enhance coordination with supportive social services to address social determinants of health; and (4) develop sustainable strategies that extend beyond the grant period.
Methods: This mixed-methods study will evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and cost of adopting the CTH intervention in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Livingston, Steuben, and Wyoming Counties, with additional focus on adaptation within the Seneca Nation. Casa-Trinity, Inc. serves as lead agency, in collaboration with county coalitions and technical assistance partner Columbia University School of Social Work. The Columbia team, led by Timothy Hunt, PhD, Associate Director of the Social Intervention Group (PI), with Dr. Dawn Goddard-Eckrich, Ed.D. (Co-I), will direct the implementation study, provide training, external facilitation, and evaluation. Quantitative outcomes assess fidelity, service expansion, and cost, while qualitative data capture adaptation and community perspectives.
Expected Outcomes: HEAL Western NY aims to reduce opioid-related deaths, expand evidence-based practices, and create a sustainable regional model for addressing SUD and OUD in rural and Native American communities.
