STEP2: Dads in recovery unmet SUD service needs assessment

Research question

In order to justify funding for men's services, we would like to show a needs-based assessment answering to the number of men engaged in child reunification with a substance use disorder, and services needed, to include SUD treatment (Residential and Outpatient), domestic violence resources, co-occurring mental health services, trauma counseling, parenting resources, life skills, housing and employment. What are current services available, and what funding streams are available locally for parenting men. We have the following questions that can be addressed during the project. Final question selection will be made with the selected awardee, mentor and STEP2 community partner:

  1. How many men would benefit from STEP2 SUD outpatient services?
  2. What wrap around services are needed in addition to SUD (DV, trauma, mental health, parenting education or housing)?
  3. How many children are in the reunification track with dads?
  4. What alternative funding resources are available (to avoid duplicate services)?
  5. What measurable benefit, such as reunification, sustained recover, housing, employment, could a father obtain from our program?

Moving forward, we would also be interested in help assessing:

  1. A Feasibility Assessment to determine whether the need of services would justify the funds needed for service delivery
  2. A Pilot Program Study that would include surveys and follow-up with families receiving STEP2 services at 3-, 6-, and 12-month benchmarks, during and after program completion, to assess the outcomes of recovery and reunification status
  3. Aid in the development of a measurement tool for continued analysis of program efficacy.

Background

Since 1986, it has been STEP2's mission to break the cycle of addiction and violence in families. STEP2 serves an average of over 200 women and their families per year, providing them with safe shelter, food, clothing and comprehensive counseling and emotional support services, while offering holistic evidence-based substance abuse treatment and domestic violence support and services.

Over the past 36 years, STEP2 has helped improve the lives of more than 4,600 women and their families. STEP2 is the gold standard program in Northern Nevada, providing treatment and services for substance use disorders, domestic and sexual violence and stable housing while allowing women to maintain (or regain) custody of their minor children.

In 2021, our clients were the parents of 277 minor children, and 46% of those mothers had children with Child Protective Services involvement. While STEP2 has maintained a strong collaboration with Washoe County Human Services Agency in support of our mothers' reunification plans with their children, our services have not been provided to men with children.

STEP2's goal is to create a program offering substance abuse disorder services to men, expanding support to include single moms, co-parents, and single dads – with the mission of breaking the cycle of addiction and domestic violence in all families.

Deliverables

The applicant will deliver statistics obtained as:

Excel spreadsheet showing statistics of the number of fathers on reunification plans, number of fathers on reunification plans with substance use disorders, number of children, single or co-parent, and data to include domestic violence, mental health, homelessness and life skills assessments.

Word document report describing the need, lack of funding sources to obtain services.

Suggested skills

The applicant should have some experience with research projects (i.e., know how to conduct an online search, write and implement a survey, tabulate and analyze data). Applicant should be proficient in Microsoft Office products: Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Representative contact information

Shannon Jensen
sjensen@step2reno.org
(775) 787-9411