The following suggestions are intended to help SAPs prepare in making meaningful treatment referrals: • Compile treatment directories that include location, intake criteria, hours of operation, payment options, treatment modality, specialservices, and any additional information that may be helpful to participants; be sure to update the information regularly. • Cultivate personalized contacts with local drug treatment centers, which can help with intake and availability. • Ask people for feedback about their experiences at different treatment programs to share with other participants making treatment decisions. • Investigate public health insurance/Medicaid treatment limits and restrictions. • Ensure that staff understand the full range of treatment options available, including: detox, short- and longterm inpatient/residential,outpatient, methadone, buprenorphine, 12-step, harm reduction support groups, and therapeutic communities.
C O M M UNI TY ENGA GE MEN T A ND SUPPORT In addition to treatment-related referral networks, SAPs can benefit from proactive engagement and involvement with other community groups as well. IDUs often have a complex range of needs that may not be directly related to their drug use, but are certainly likely to have an influence on their stability and overall quality of life. SAPs can engage with the community in several ways, including: • Building referral networks • Advocacy and community activism • Public Service Building Referral Networks IDUs are likely to seek assistance with a range of issues. While some SAPs may obtain additional funding to incorporate ancillary services into their programming, all SAPs can build networks with community providers that will assist in meeting participant needs. SAPs should create a referral directory that includes information about issues such as: • Housing programs • Food pantries • Public showers • HAV and HBV vaccination sites • Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing • HIV/AIDS and HCV testing and health services • General health referrals (clinics with free or sliding-scale fee schedules, local hospitals, etc) • Legal assistance • Public benefits assistance • Faith-based services and organizations • Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners It is important to include referral options that treat participants from a harm reduction perspective, and to inform participants when this may not be the case. It may be possible to negotiate ways of providing harm reduction/ syringe access training and technical assistance to other community groups, especially in areas where there are few harm reduction referrals available. SAPs can also establish individualized relationships with service providers. It may be possible to obtain a list of registered community and civic groups to help identify possible partners. A representative of the SAP can visit community organizations and give a brief presentation of SAP services and achievements. Maintain a list of contact information for specific individuals involved in the various agencies that are supportive of the SAP. Emphasize the mutual benefits of working together when building relationships with community players. Remain consistent, update community organizations on SAP changes, and always follow-through on commitments to provide additional -62-
