NCJ Number
179803
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 1999 Pages: 273-278
Date Published
September 1999
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Evaluation outcome findings are presented on the impact of centralized intake and referral on drug treatment client outcomes in 10 Target Cities projects.
Abstract
The Target Cities projects were designed to improve access to drug treatment in cities throughout the United States. Each city planned a centralized intake unit that would access clients using standard procedures, match clients to the most appropriate treatment services, and refer clients to treatment in the community. Each project was a citywide effort to adapt managed care practices to the treatment of drug abuse, with the goals of improving access and outcomes and containing costs. Taken together, the projects represented a national experiment in applying private sector health services management strategies to the problems of publicly funded drug treatment. The projects demonstrated the general feasibility of creating systemwide centralized intake and referral services within historically fragmented and competitive drug treatment systems. In broader terms, and leaving aside the issue of centralized intake, the projects demonstrated that publicly funded treatment systems can undertake health services reorganization if given practical guidelines and adequate financial resources. Overall, the projects allowed providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to apply innovative health services approaches to their local problems. 12 references