By Merin C. MacDonald  | Date published: July 12, 2024

David Smelson Receives Funding to Test Implementation Strategies for a Mental Health Treatment Model and Services for Homeless Population in Western Massachusetts 

David Smelson, PsyD, professor of medicine in the Division of Health Systems Science, has received funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for his project, “Supporting Treatment Access and Recovery for Homelessness (STAR-H).” 

The study, due to commence in October 2024, will test implementation strategies to get MISSION, a co-occurring substance use and mental health treatment model, into practice and offer its specialized services to 175 individuals who are chronically homeless and have a co-occuring mental health and substance use disorder in the Springfield, Massachusetts area. This region has limited funding for homeless services, and few behavioral health resources, and has disproportionately suffered from the pandemic.   

STAR-H is a partnership between UMass Chan Medical School, Behavioral Health Network (a clinical provider in the region), and the Mayor’s Office in Springfield, Massachusetts.  

In addition to Dr. Smelson who will serve as principal investigator, the study team includes the evaluator, Paige Shaffer, PhD, and co-investigators, Abby Helm, PhD, Jennifer Harter, PhD, Michael Andre, MPH, Rose Evans, MSW, and Gerry McCafferty, MSW.