National Comorbidity Project, Improved Services Initiative description
Improved Services for People with Drug and Alcohol Problems and Mental Health Illness
The Department of Health and Ageing funded 27 Victorian Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Non-Government Organisations (NGO) to build organisational capacity to better identify and treat people who experience comorbid substance abuse and mental illness.
The Department of Health and Ageing has funded VAADA, to support Improved Service Grant recipients and to coordinate a statewide approach as part of the Council of Australian Governments' National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011 the National Comorbidity Project.
The Improved Services Initiative aims to build the organisational capacity of AOD NGO treatment services to respond to people experiencing comorbid drug and alcohol and mental illness issues.
The Improved Services Initiative has two key components
- Capacity Building Grants to AOD NGO treatment services
- Grants to state and territory based Peak Bodies
VAADA will support funded NGO treatment services in Victoria, to build linkages and strategic partnerships and undertake organisational change to better meet the needs of clients experiencing comorbid substance abuse and mental illness.
Drug and Alcohol peak bodies in all states and territories of Australia were funded for an 12 month period with the prospect of an additional two years funding, to complement the Improved Services Initiatives as part of the Cross Sectorial Support and Strategic Partnerships Project (CSSSPP) designed to complement the Improved Services Initiatives.
Find out more about the other the National Comorbidity Initiative that aims to improve service coordination and treatment outcomes for people with coexisting mental health and substance use disorders.
Contact:
Merissa Van Setten, Project Manager
Edita Kennedy, Clearinghouse Project Officer
ekennedy@vaada.org.au
Phone Number 9412 5607
