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What are Program Models?

The Brandeis Opioid Resource Connector provides a curated, frequently updated selection of community-focused programs on interventions that address the opioid crisis. These programs can serve as models for interventions that may be applicable to your community. Related resources on the response approach, targeted population, or stakeholder group are included for each program model.

Program models were selected that had a scientific rationale, used an evidence-informed approach, and contained publicly available material. Most have peer-reviewed or independent evaluation data. Based on this criteria, the website's curated collection is not an exhaustive list of all program models to address the opioid crisis, but is a comprehensive inventory of high-quality and innovative community-based programs that can be replicated in other communities. 

Continuum of care

Program models are categorized across the continuum of care:

Interventions can fall into one or more continuum categories.  Programs that include all four categories are labeled full continuum of care.

Response Approach

Program models are organized by response approach: the specific type of initiative that the program model encompasses. Some examples are:

Type of Evidence / Criteria for Inclusion

We have summarized the type of evidence for each program model:

Peer-reviewed evaluation

Has had one or more peer-reviewed evaluations published in the scientific literature that documents the effectiveness of the program. Materials have been reviewed by experts for quality of research and adherence to scientific standards in a scholarly publication.

Report with evaluation

Has a formally documented evaluation report available in the unpublished, grey literature.

Expert opinion

Has a documented consensus of expert perceptions concerning the value or effectiveness of the program model but has no published or unpublished evaluation.

Replicated

Has been replicated in at least one other setting.

Implemented

Has been implemented in a real-world setting and has a sound scientific rationale. No peer-reviewed, published evaluation, unpublished evaluation report, or expert consensus on the effectiveness of the program is yet available.