Statewide Strategic Planning Process to Integrate HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and Addictions Services In Massachusetts (HHASI)

The Health and Disability Working Group provided consulting services to the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS), the HIV/AIDS Bureau and the Center for Disease Control Bureau of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to coordinate a joint planning effort around the integration of HIV, Hepatitis and substance abuse treatment services. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration sponsored this planning effort through September 30, 2001.

The goal of the project was to develop a strategic plan to integrate HIV and hepatitis prevention and treatment services into substance abuse services through a community planning process in three major cities of the state, with the aim of replicating this model statewide. In order to achieve this goal, the project convened an HIV, Hepatitis and Addiction Services Integration (HHASI) planning committee to assess the current status of service integration and to devise a strategic plan for implementation. The focus of this grant was on people of color (specifically Latinos and African-Americans) who are at high-risk for or currently suffering from addiction, HIV and Hepatitis C infections.

Project Staff: The Health and Disability Working Group’s role was to serve as project coordinator. Key staff for this project included Carol Tobias, MMHS, principal investigator and Viviana Abuchar, M.S.W., the project coordinator.