INTRODUCTION

Housing First is an approach that prioritizes providing permanent, stable housing to individuals experiencing homelessness without requiring them to meet preconditions like sobriety or treatment. It operates on the belief that housing is a basic human right and serves as a foundation for individuals to address other challenges, such as health, employment, and substance misuse.

The Housing Continuum is a model that offers a range of housing options, from emergency shelters to transitional housing and eventually to permanent housing, based on an individual's level of need and readiness. This approach supports people as they move through different stages of housing stability, with services tailored to help them progress toward independent living.

Harm Reduction is an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs and equipping them with life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives. Harm reduction is a key pillar in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Overdose Prevention Strategy. 

SMART is a helpful acronym for developing objectives and goals as part of case management model that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

The ASAM Criteria uses six dimensions to create a holistic, biopsychosocial assessment of an individual to be used for service planning and treatment across all levels of care.  

 The ASAM Criteria strength-based multidimensional assessment takes into account a patient's needs, obstacles and liabilities, as well as their strengths, assets, resources, and support structure. This information is used to determine the appropriate Level of Care (LOC) across a continuum.