JULY 29, 2005 | When a Northwest Arkansas drug and alcohol treatment program wanted federally funded research that would track its homeless clients, it came to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

A $2 million grant was awarded to the Springdale-based treatment program, Decision Point, based on an application supported by UAMS.

On July 1, Nicola A. Conners, Ph.D., of UAMS’ Partners for Inclusive Communities program, began leading the five-year research project, which will evaluate homeless clients with substance abuse problems and those who may be both substance abusers and mentally ill.

Decision Point Executive Director Larry Counts praised UAMS for its community outreach efforts.

“I just want to give UAMS credit for its vision and interest in studying substance-related disorders in Arkansas, which is sorely lacking,” Counts said. “Their work enables us to provide better care, not just Decision Point, but for programs statewide. I think it makes a great statement for UAMS.”

Each homeless client will be monitored for a year, with about 80 such clients expected to go through the program each year.

Treatment of such a vulnerable group of people is not new, but the research is.

Last year the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration put the word out that it wanted to fund treatment services for homeless people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol and/or have a mental illness, and to study the impact of those services on homeless individuals, Conners said.

Decision Point, which has operated for 31 years, was among several treatment programs nationally to receive a grant, and is collaborating with UAMS to conduct the research study.

“This is a unique program because it is designed specifically to target the homeless population,” Conners said.

Decision Point will provide comprehensive treatment  in four phases: detoxification, intensive residential treatment, transitional living and aftercare. It also will ensure that clients have housing and employment when they leave treatment.

Counts said he hopes the research will show that a comprehensive use of the best treatment practices will show the public and policy-makers the effectiveness of such programs. Beyond that, he said, he hopes the research will identify gaps in the treatment services.

“It’s not just simply a production of outcomes; it also helps in guiding our program development,” Counts said.

UAMS’ Partners for Inclusive Communities program receives federal funding for research, education, training, technical assistance, information and services to people with disabilities, their families, students and professionals involved with disability related programs.

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