Families Flourish Northeast Inc

ARP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - AT THE END OF 2021, FAMILIES FLOURISH NORTHEAST AND ALICE PECK DAY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT TO LEASE AND RENOVATE APD’S HOMESTEAD BUILDING. DURING FFNE’S PROJECT, THE HOMESTEAD BUILDING WILL BE RENOVATED INTO A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING WOMEN SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THE RECONFIGURATION WILL ALLOW WOMEN TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM DURING TREATMENT, WHICH ENHANCES FAMILY FUNCTIONING, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND THERAPEUTIC ENGAGEMENT WITH PEERS. RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS WILL ALLOW FOR STABILIZATION, ACTIVE TREATMENT, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, AND TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENT, COMMUNITY-BASED RECOVERY OVER THE COURSE OF THE 9–12-MONTH PROGRAM. RENOVATIONS WILL MODIFY THE SPACE TO MEET PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS AND COMPLY WITH ALL NH LICENSURE AND COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES (CARF) REQUIREMENTS. ONCE THE LOI WAS SIGNED, FFNE WORKED WITH THE LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGENCY, TWIN PINES HOUSING, TO BEGIN PROCUREMENT OF AN ARCHITECT TO CONDUCT A PRELIMINARY ARCHITECTURAL FEASIBILITY STUDY, INITIAL SCHEMATIC DESIGNS, AND COST ANALYSIS FOR THE PROJECT WITH A GOAL TO THEN CREATE FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS AND CONSTRUCTION PLANS. FFNE HAS ALSO BEGUN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND HISTORIC REVIEW PROCESS TO HELP PREPARE FOR RENOVATIONS TO START IN QUARTER ONE OF 2023. FOLLOWING INITIAL PLANNING STEPS, FFNE WILL RECONFIGURE THE ENTIRE BUILDING TO INCLUDE A NEW ENTRANCE, WAITING AREA, ADMIN OFFICES, SMALL LAB SPACE FOR URINE SCREENINGS, ONE EXAM ROOM, LAUNDRY FACILITIES ON EACH FLOOR, AN ARRAY OF BATHROOMS INCLUDING TUBS TO BATH CHILDREN, AN ARRAY OF GROUP THERAPY ROOMS, A MEETING CONFERENCE ROOM, A COMMERCIAL STYLE KITCHEN AND DINING AREA, A CHILDCARE SPACE, STAFF OFFICES AND A VARIETY OF SINGLE WOMEN AND FAMILY DESIGNED ROOMS FOR RESIDENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. RENOVATIONS WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE, PRIVACY FENCE, REFURBISHMENT FR ONT ENTRANCE AND THE PAVING OF THE PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE BUILDING TO ALLOW FOR AMPLE STAFF AND VISITOR PARKING. ALL RENOVATIONS WILL BE COMPLETED WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED DESIGN IN MIND TO ENSURE A WARM AND WELCOMING SPACE FOR WOMEN SEEKING RECOVERY. FFNE PLANS TO HAVE RENOVATIONS COMPLETE BY THE END OF 2023 TO ALLOW FOR A GRAND OPENING OF THEIR PROGRAM DURING QUARTER ONE OF 2024.

RURAL NORTHERN BORDER REGION NETWORK PLANNING PROGRAM - FAMILIES FLOURISH NORTHEAST (FFNE) PROPOSES THE FAMILIES FLOURISH NORTHEAST RECOVERY NETWORK INITIATIVE, A REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BY DEVELOPING A COORDINATED, FAMILY-CENTERED CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING WOMEN AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT’S NORTHERN BORDER REGION. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN ACCESS TO COORDINATED HEALTHCARE SERVICES, PARTICULARLY THE ABSENCE OF FAMILY-CENTERED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT WHERE WOMEN CAN REMAIN WITH THEIR CHILDREN WHILE RECEIVING CARE. PREGNANT AND PARENTING WOMEN WITH SUD OFTEN FACE STIGMA, FEAR OF FAMILY SEPARATION, LIMITED ACCESS TO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, HOUSING INSTABILITY, WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, AND FRAGMENTED HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. THESE CHALLENGES ARE AMPLIFIED IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, WHERE FAMILIES FREQUENTLY NAVIGATE MULTIPLE DISCONNECTED PROVIDERS ACROSS MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, RECOVERY, FAMILY SUPPORT, HOUSING, AND SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS. AS A RESULT, WOMEN EXPERIENCE DELAYS IN TREATMENT, INCONSISTENT REFERRALS, AND DISRUPTIONS IN CARE THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT BOTH MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE INITIATIVE DIRECTLY ADVANCES THE NORTHERN BORDER REGIONAL COMMISSION RURAL HEALTH NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BY BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHILE CREATING SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS LONG-TERM HEALTHCARE DELIVERY. FAMILIES FLOURISH NORTHEAST WILL SERVE AS THE REGIONAL COORDINATING ORGANIZATION, BRINGING TOGETHER HOSPITALS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, HOUSING PROVIDERS, PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, ACADEMIC PARTNERS, HEALTHCARE PAYERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT STANDARDIZED REFERRAL PATHWAYS, REGIONAL CLINICAL TRIAGE, COORDINATED CARE MANAGEMENT, SHARED GOVERNANCE, AND A REGIONAL CLOSED-LOOP REFERRAL AND CARE COORDINATION PLATFORM. THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH THE OPERATIONAL, CLINICAL, PARTNERSHIP, AND REIMBURSEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH AND SUSTAINABLE OPERATION OF A UNIQUE FAMILY-CENTERED ASAM LEVEL 3.5 RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING WOMEN, INTEGRATING THIS CRITICAL LEVEL OF CARE INTO A COORDINATED REGIONAL CONTINUUM OF CARE. RATHER THAN DUPLICATING EXISTING SERVICES, THE INITIATIVE STRENGTHENS THE CONNECTIONS AMONG PROVIDERS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER TREATMENT, IMPROVING CARE TRANSITIONS, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION, AND ENHANCING LONG-TERM RECOVERY AND FAMILY STABILITY. THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA INCLUDES RURAL AREAS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT, REFLECTING EXISTING HEALTHCARE REFERRAL PATTERNS ACROSS THE UPPER VALLEY AND NORTHERN BORDER REGION. BY THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT PERIOD, FAMILIES FLOURISH NORTHEAST WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED AN IMPLEMENTATION-READY REGIONAL HEALTHCARE NETWORK WITH FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS, STANDARDIZED CARE COORDINATION PROCESSES, PAYER ENGAGEMENT, GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES, PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS, AND SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES, STRENGTHEN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, AND SUPPORT HEALTHIER OUTCOMES FOR RURAL MOTHERS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES.