Summary of Evidence-Based and Research-Based Practices
at Committee on the Shelterless (COTS)
Heather Larkin, Ph.D., LCSW-R

Assistant Professor
School of Social Welfare, University at Albany (SUNY)
May 27, 2011

COTS uses the following generally recognized evidence-based and research-based practices:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Brief Strategic Therapy
• Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
• Girls Circle
• Therapeutic Communities
• Case Management
• Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care

The full service case management program provides ongoing assistance to individuals and families in each of the shelter and housing programs, helping people to develop individual action plans, access community resources, solve problems, and track progress. Social service literature demonstrates that case management continues to be an important helping intervention (Bedell, Cohen, & Sullivan, 2000; Brun & Rapp, 2001), and research reveals that case management contributed to success of the HEART Project’s job skills training program for homeless people (Goetz, 1996).

In the mental health field, movements toward both evidence-based practice and recovery orientations have gained momentum (Bledsoe, Lukens, Onken, Bellamy, & Cardillo-Geller, 2008; Starnino, 2009). While an emphasis on research supports social workers’ development of competence in mental health service provision, the recovery focus on social connectedness, hope, and self-efficacy are consistent with social work values highlighting empowerment and attention to human relationships (Carpenter, 2002). Bledsoe and colleagues (2008) call for policies that promote recovery-facilitating evidence supported interventions (ESI) and the integration of recovery supporting mental health systems within ESI .

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has placed a priority on developing “recovery-oriented systems of care” (Sheedy & Whitter, 2009). Sheedy & Whitter (2009) define recovery-oriented systems of care in the substance abuse treatment field as “networks of organizations, agencies, and community members that coordinate a wide spectrum of services to prevent, intervene in, and treat substance use problems and disorders” (p.3). This same definition can hold for mental health issues. Jacobson & Greenley (2001) argue that recovery-oriented systems of mental health care include “…services directed at symptom relief, crisis intervention, case management, rehabilitation, enrichment, rights protection, basic support, and self-help” (p.484).

Consistent with research demonstrating the effectiveness of therapeutic communities (NIDA, 2002), COTS includes staff and recovering community members as change agents within social networks mobilizing peer influence in the development of social skills and a culture of recovery. Greater degrees of personal and social responsibility are developed as people served by COTS graduate from one COTS program to the next.