New SAMHSA Website Provides Tools to Address Co-Occurring Disorders and Homelessness

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the availability of a new website to help SAMHSA grantees, health professionals and the public address problems of homelessness and co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.

The website, Co-Occurring and Homeless Activities Branch (CHAB), features an on-line library of tools that are designed to advance the field and improve the effectiveness of prevention, treatment and recovery programs operated by SAMHSA’s CHAB and other service providers.

The CHAB website provides a platform for creating an interactive community of providers, consumers, policymakers, researchers, and public agencies at federal, state, and local levels working to prevent and treat homelessness and co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders.

“Persons who are homeless often have to contend with a wide range of issues including medical, pharmacological, and psychiatric issues, substance use, and other disabling conditions,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “The CHAB Web site provides valuable new tools to develop more comprehensive and effective means for serving this population.”

The website also provides users with the opportunity to read interviews with experts, engage in social networking, interface with others to exchange information about effective approaches to common problems, and learn about upcoming events.  The CHAB site integrates Web 2.0 functions for facilitating information sharing and other activities.