title: The BMC ACCESS project: the development of a medically enhanced safe haven shelter.
abstract: This paper describes the development and implementation of the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Advanced Clinical Capacity for Engagement, Safety, and Services Project. In October 2002, the BMC Division of Psychiatry became the first such entity to open a Safe Haven shelter for people who are chronically homeless, struggling with severe mental illness, and actively substance abusing. The low-demand Safe Haven model targets the most difficult to reach population and serves as a "portal of entry" to the mental health and addiction service systems. In this paper, the process by which this blended funded, multi-level collaboration, consisting of a medical center, state, city, local, and community-based consumer organizations, was created and is maintained, as well as the clinical model of care is described. Lessons learned from creating the Safe Haven Shelter and the development and implementation of the consumer-informed evaluation are discussed as well as implications for future work with this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Sociology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. al.lincoln@neu.edu
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Espejo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plachta-Elliott
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamanka
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delman
authors.forename: Patty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012449:Safety; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation