Evidence-based, whole-person care for co-occurring disorders
MISSION combines several evidence-based practices into a comprehensive system of care — developed at UMass Chan Medical School to treat co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and link people to lasting community support.
Why MISSION exists
"When I started in the field 30 years ago, treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use — often called COD — was not integrated." David Smelson, Psy.D. — developer of the MISSION model
People living with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder were treated for one diagnosis at a time — in separate programs, by separate providers, often in sequence. This led to fragmented care. Over the decades that followed, the field moved toward treating both conditions together, concurrently.
But integrated treatment, on its own, did not reach everyone. Many people kept cycling in and out of emergency rooms and crisis care — held back not by a lack of effort, but by homelessness, criminal justice involvement, food insecurity, and other social services needs. The hard part was not starting treatment, but staying engaged long enough to have a recovery foundation. Unfortunately, care continued to remain fragmented by people's multiple care needs.
MISSION — Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach, and Networking — was developed in 2001 to close that gap. Rather than a single therapy, MISSION blends several evidence-based components — including Dual Recovery Therapy, Critical Time Intervention, and peer support — to keep recovery on course.
It is built on a conviction that has guided the work from the start: recovery is possible.
Based at UMass Chan Medical School
MISSION is developed and advanced by the MISSION Behavioral Health Lab in the Department of Medicine at the UMass Chan Medical School, in collaboration with the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts. Our research has been funded through the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Leaders in co-occurring disorders treatment and research
The MISSION team is made up of leaders in the field of co-occurring disorders (CODs) treatment and research, working to increase the effectiveness of COD treatment services across the country and committed to improving the lives of the individuals struggling with these disorders.
Past Team Members
Amy Cardolino · Ayorkor Gaba, Psy.D. · Lexi L. Williams, B.A. · Bailey Pridgen, B.A. · Dara C. Drawbridge, Ph.D. · Hannah S. Lipper, M.P.H. · Camilo Posada Rodriguez, B.A. · Juan-Sebastián González Martínez, B.S. · Kelsey Clary, B.A. · Mary Kate Duffy, B.A. · Ian Farquhar, B.A. · Nathan Guevremont, B.A. · Autumn Harnish, B.A. · Rachel Mullins, M.S.W. · Kathryn O'Connor, B.A. · Elizabeth Aaker Orvek, M.S., M.B.A. · Pooja Patnaik, B.A. · Leon Sawh, M.P.H. · Odile Scherrer, B.A. · Julianne Siegfriedt, M.A. · Stephanie Singer, M.S. · Stefan Sprinckmoller, M.P.A. · Max Trojano, B.A. · Sigella Vargas, M.D. · Roshani Vanmali, B.A. · Jennifer Vessella, L.C.S.W. · Brittany Walker, B.A.
To learn more about opportunities to join the MISSION team, please contact us.
The organizations we work with
We value our relationships with a vast array of organizations and agencies dedicated to improving co-occurring disorders treatment. Below is a list of our current and past partners and collaborators.