Support For Treatment Services

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Proposal Guidelines

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Table of Contents

• Purpose
• Proposals
• 1. Needs Assessment
  
  • 1.1 Executive Summary
  • 1.2 Introduction
  • 1.3 Methods
  • 1.4 Limitations/Caveats
  • 1.5 Contextual Factors
  • 1.6 Assessment of Treatment Needs and Gaps
  • 1.7 Conclusion
  • 1.8 References
  • 1.9 Appendices
    
• 2. Service Delivery Plan
  
  • 2.1 Introduction/Summary of the Service Delivery Plan
  • 2.2 Overview of the Youth Substance Abuse Treatment Delivery System
  • 2.3 Contextual Factors
  • 2.4 Relevance and Scope
  • 2.5 Goals, Objectives and Expected Results
  • 2.6 Target Population
  • 2.7 Services/Activities
  • 2.8 Project Evaluation Plan
  • 2.9 Sustainability Plan
  • 2.10 Dissemination Plan
  • 2.11 Budget
  • 2.12 Work Plan
  • 2.13 Other Supporting Material

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to assist provinces and territories in developing proposals for funding consideration under the Treatment Services Component of the Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP).

Proposals must address the following essential criteria:

• target at-risk youth between the ages of 12-24 (ie. youth whose use of illicit drugs constitutes an early, developing or established problem) in high needs areas;
• identify new and/or enhanced early intervention treatment services; and
• address illicit drug treatment needs of at-risk youth (note: while treating illicit drug use is the primary focus of federal funding, Health Canada recognizes that individuals may present with multiple substance use (e.g. cannabis and alcohol) and, as such, new/enhanced early intervention treatment services will be delivered using a client-centered approach).

Proposals

Proposals shall consist of two documents:

1. A Needs Assessment that describes the nature and scope of treatment needs and gaps for youth engaged in illicit drug use.
   
   
2. A Service Delivery Plan that describes the new or enhanced early intervention treatment services that will be made available with DTFP funding in order to address the needs and gaps identified in the Needs Assessment.

The following should be used as a guide for developing proposals.

1. Needs Assessment

The needs assessment is a requirement for consideration of funding under the Treatment Services Component of the DTFP. The needs assessment will also provide contextual, baseline information for the evaluation of the DTFP. A needs assessment is defined as the process of measuring the extent and nature of the needs of a particular target population so that services can respond to them (Hooper 1999). A needs assessment study provides a comprehensive and unbiased documentation of the needs of a target population.

1.1 Executive Summary

• Provide an executive summary of the needs assessment (approx. three pages).

1.2 Introduction

• Provide a brief introduction to the needs assessment (approx. one paragraph).

1.3 Methods

• Describe how the needs assessment was prepared, e.g. describe any research that was undertaken to carry out the needs assessment, such as scans, gap analysis, key informant interviews, literature and documents reviewed, methods for obtaining the views and perspectives of the target population, service providers, and other stakeholders (approx. 2-3 pages).

1.4 Limitations/Caveats

• Describe any limitations or caveats that should be considered, e.g. limitations of data (approx. half page).

1.5 Contextual Factors

• Provide an overview of any specific, contextual factors that should be considered to yield a picture of the area/region/community, e.g. distance to travel to treatment services, variation in the range and availability of treatment services (approx. one page).

1.6 Assessment of Treatment Needs and Gaps (approx. 15-20 pages)

• Geography/Youth Population. Provide a description of the geographical area covered in the needs assessment and the youth population within that area.
• Mapping of Existing Services. Describe the type of organizations/facilities used to deliver services. Describe the range of services delivered by these organizations/facilities to meet the needs of youth. Describe the workforce (ie. 3 type of worker/professional designation) in place to deliver youth services. Describe the referral points (e.g. general practitioner, self, criminal justice, other) into the treatment system; the number and characteristics of youth that are flowing into and out of services/agencies during the course of treatment (if available, include details such as ethnicity, gender, age, type of illicit drug use); and how individuals leave treatment (i.e. planned vs. drop-out). Identify where there are gaps in services, under utilization of services, blockages in the system (and any other relevant service capacity issues such as out of province/territory/region referrals), as well as the related reasons.
• Prevalence of illicit drug use. Describe the nature, prevalence and scope of illicit drug use. Provide an estimate of the level of youth engaged in treatment services vs. groups not in treatment. Identify the methodology and data used to estimate prevalence and unmet needs.
• Workforce Training Needs. If applicable, identify training gaps/needs in relation to unmet treatment needs.
• Gap Analysis. Provide an analysis of the gaps. Identify any additional data sources that may have been used to carry out the analysis. If helpful, classify the needs of the target population into smaller categories, e.g. drug-specific needs, health-related needs such as mental health, offending-related needs such as the need for an increased focus on offending within care planning and group counselling.
• Prioritizing the Needs. Decisions about actions will depend on defining priorities within the resources available and ensuring actions address local/regional/provincial/ territorial priorities. Describe the priority needs, including the process for evaluating and prioritizing the needs.

1.7 Conclusion

• Provide a conclusion around current treatment services, gaps and priorities for action identified through the needs assessment.

1.8 References

• Include full citations for all references used in the needs assessment.

1.9 Appendices

• Include appendices as appropriate.

2. Service Delivery Plan

The development of a service delivery plan is a requirement for consideration of funding under the Treatment Services Component of the DTFP. The service delivery plan should provide a detailed description of: the objectives and expected results of the new and/or enhanced early intervention treatment services; how these new and/or enhanced services will address the priority needs of youth identified in the needs assessment; how the services will be evaluated (evaluation plan); how, when and by whom activities will be carried out (work plan); the budget required to implement the service delivery plan; how services will be sustained once federal funding runs out (sustainability plan); and how results will be shared with other communities of practice/jurisdictions (dissemination plan).

2.1 Introduction/Summary of the Service Delivery Plan

Provide a summary of the service delivery plan (approx. one page).

2.2 Overview of the Youth Substance Abuse Treatment Delivery System (approx. two pages)

Provide an overview of how substance abuse treatment services for youth are delivered in your province/territory. Describe the treatment services for youth that are provided in the geographic region/area/community covered in the service delivery plan. Using 2007-08 figures, provide an estimate of resources currently dedicated to these services.

2.3 Contextual Factors

Provide an overview of current challenges, policies, strategies or initiatives planned or underway that might impact the implementation of the service delivery plan.

2.4 Relevance and Scope

• How will the service delivery plan address the priority gaps/needs identified in the needs assessment?
• How will the service delivery plan contribute to new and/or enhanced treatment services?
• What is the service delivery plan's population reach (e.g. mainstream youth, street youth, Aboriginals, pregnant youth) and geographical scope?
• What is the service delivery plan's illicit drug focus (e.g. all type of illicit drugs, crystal meth, cannabis)? How will the service delivery plan address poly-drug use, including alcohol use?
• Are any of the services/activities in the service delivery plan contingent upon or linked to system enhancement activities funded through the DTFP? If so, provide details.
• If applicable, how will the approach to new and/or enhanced services described in the service delivery plan generate lessons and evidence that will be of interest and use to other jurisdictions?
• In the case of an applicant other than a provincial/territorial government, describe how the service delivery plan aligns with provincial/territorial government's treatment priorities and objectives.

2.5 Goals, Objectives and Expected Results

• What are the goal(s) and objectives of the new and/or enhanced treatment services/ activities funded through the DTFP?
• What are the expected outcomes?

2.6 Target Population

• What are the characteristics of the target population, e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, size, problem drug use, etc.?
• How will the target population be identified and engaged in treatment?

2.7 Services/Activities

What

• What range of treatment services/activities will the service delivery plan address?
• How do these services/activities fit with the broader continuum of care?
• What best or promising practice evidence was used to support the range of treatment services/activities in the service delivery plan? Include full citations for all references used.
• In what setting(s) will services/activities be delivered (e.g. school-based, mobile, outreach, office-based, etc.)?

How

• What new and/or existing infrastructure will be used to support service delivery?
• What new/additional human resource staff (by type, professional designation) will be needed to implement the new and/or enhanced services/activities? What training requirements, if any, will be provided?
• Through what organization/agency will services/activities be delivered? For example, through government agencies such as regional health boards, district health authorities, or through other means such as community-based organizations, general practitioners, etc. In the case of a non-governmental organization, describe the organization's mandate, governance structure, service and delivery capacity, etc.
• What is the role, mandate and legislative authority of the organizations/service agencies delivering the services?
• What are the accountability requirements between Provincial/Territorial Ministry of Health and the service agency(ies) in regards to the service plan? What are the roles and responsibilities, including financial roles and responsibilities? What are the provisions for ongoing monitoring by the Provincial/Territorial Ministry of Health to ensure the service plan is being implemented in line with expectations?
• What linkages will be established between the new and/or enhanced service/activities and those within other sectors such as the specialized addictions sector, mental health, justice, education, housing, etc.

When

• When will services/activities be implemented? Describe any challenges or factors that may impact the pace and timing of implementation. What is the strategy to mitigate these challenges/factors?

2.8 Project Evaluation Plan

Does the evaluation plan include:

• what will be evaluated (i.e. objectives, outputs and results);
• how it will be evaluated (what indicators will be used, what information will be collected, how the information will be collected and from whom and when). Note: the needs assessment will serve as baseline information for the evaluation of the project.
• an evaluation schedule. Note: five-year projects must plan for one interim and one end of project evaluation;
• a budget allocation. Note: the budget amount allocated to project evaluation should represent a minimum of 10% of the project's overall budget.

Describe how the project evaluation plan is consistent with the DTFP Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan (refer to Appendix A of the DTFP Framework)

2.9 Distribution of Funds to Third Parties

• What is the provincial/territorial ongoing strategy for sustaining services after federal funding ends March 31, 2012? Note: the viability and strength of the sustainability plan will be a key factor in the assessment of proposals.

2.10 Dissemination Plan

• What is the plan to disseminate results (when, to whom, how)? Note: The DTFP will develop broader dissemination plans that may include repackaging and releasing project results (over and above project-specific dissemination plans).

2.11 Budget

• Does your budget include a summary of the empirical evidence for the costing of your proposal?
• Does the budget outline the anticipated expenditures by budget category (refer to project budget summary template) for the full service delivery plan?
• Is the budget in line with the activities described in the work plan? Please explain.
• Is the budget consistent with eligible expenses under the DTFP (refer to Attachment 6 for a list of eligible and ineligible expenses).
• Will the project be financed through sources other than the DTFP? If yes, please describe the funding source and identify the funding amounts by budget category.
• Does the budget include costs related to evaluation and dissemination activities?

2.12 Work Plan

Does the proposal include a detailed work plan outlining how, when and by whom (including professional designation) activities will be implemented?

2.13 Other Supporting Material

• Does your proposal include a statement regarding your organization's compliance with the following:
  • Conflict of Interest and Post Employment Code for Public OfficeHolders (PDF Version - 703.43 K)
  • Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service.
• Does your proposal include:
  • the name and full mailing address of the person(s) authorized to sign the contribution agreement;
  • the name and full mailing address of the person(s) authorized to sign amendments to the contribution agreement;
  • the name and full mailing address of the Project Authority; and
  • the contact person for financial matters (e.g. payments, financial reports, etc.).