title: Relational systems change: implementing a model of change in integrating services for women with substance abuse and mental health disorders and histories of trauma.
abstract: This article describes the "relational systems change" model developed by the Institute for Health and Recovery, and the implementation of the model in Massachusetts from 1998-2002 to facilitate systems change to support the delivery of integrated and trauma-informed services for women with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders and histories of violence and empirical evidence of resulting systems changes. The federally funded Women Embracing Life and Living (WELL) Project utilized relational strategies to facilitate systems change within and across 3 systems levels: local treatment providers, community (or region), and state. The WELL Project demonstrates that a highly collaborative, inclusive, and facilitated change process can effect services integration within agencies (intra-agency), strengthen integration within a regional network of agencies (interagency), and foster state support for services integration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Recovery, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. lauriemarkoff@healthrecovery.org
authors.forename: Laurie S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Markoff
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kammerer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kreiner
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Prost
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008404:Massachusetts; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*