| The Portal Project is
one of nine research studies across the country that is investigating
the issues of co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness in
women who have also experienced violence and trauma. Knowledge acquired
through this research will help advance national, state and local
policy that affects how various service systems assist women and
children in this population.
A research team from Hunter College’s School of Social Work,
under the leadership of Dr. Andrea Savage, conducts the evaluation
on how Palladia’s programs and services address violence and
trauma issues and assist women and children. A policy advisory committee
of representatives from the multiple systems and agencies involved
in women’s lives meets quarterly to define and shape policy
issues, barriers and upcoming practices that better link systems
and services. Additionally, multi-disciplinary teams meet monthly
to review cases of selected clients and the effectiveness of the
models of service that these women are receiving. The Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the
sponsor of these studies, providing funding and ongoing support
to each site.
Guiding Principles
Palladia is an agency of many doors or portals… as clients
pass through, we will work to connect them to their individual and
collective healing using the best of what we have and know.
• Focuses on service intervention, system integration, and
knowledge development. For example, cross-system collaboration that
supports the promotion of building better understanding among the
family courts, treatment programs, child welfare, housing agencies,
and mental health service providers.
• Provides referral and consultation regarding trauma to staff
and network collaborators.
• Involves key representatives of related systems, service
providers and consumer survivor recovering persons.
• Provides consultation to programs on the needs of children.
• Supports knowledge development and transfer within the field
of human services through the dissemination of training information
and best practice in the area of trauma, substance abuse and mental
illness.
• Adds to knowledge of the field through research and evaluation
of this interdisciplinary treatment community.
• Encourages community partnerships that open doors for women
referred by Palladia. Such partnerships help enlarge the foundation
of support for both the human services systems involved in helping
women as well as the women. Includes services to residential Palladia
clients in targeted programs.
Management
Our interdisciplinary team of professionals is among the finest
in the field. The quality of research and care we provide women
and children includes seasoned managerial, supervisory and direct
service staff that are licensed specialists.
Sharon M. Cadiz, Ed.D.
Principal Investigator and Chair of the National Steering Committee
for Women and Violence Study
|
