219: Knowing What We Know Now: Place-Based Considerations in Evaluating Efforts to Support People with Substance Use Disorders and Their Families in Mississippi

A retrospective of a program evaluation conducted for the Center for Innovation and Discovery in Addictions (CIDA) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). Their grant-funded Mississippi Horizons project combined evidence-based practice with attention to unique individual needs in expanding treatment for Mississippians impacted by SUDs. Efforts included expanding access to telehealth and medications to support therapy, a lecture series featuring experts in the field, and Motivational Interviewing and CRAFT training to health practitioners and families across Mississippi. As a predominantly rural state, Mississippians are in a unique position to benefit from a narrowing of the gap between research and education, and accessible care and treatment. The unique needs of this population also presented challenges to program delivery compared to successful SUD supports modeled by other states. We discuss anticipating these challenges for future projects through a place-based evaluation approach, as well as adapting definitions of program 'wins.'