Lauren Coleman co-presented with DHS/SSA and the Frederick County START Team at Maryland's Office of Overdose Response Best Practices Conference on March 31.
Lauren Coleman (The Institute), Sharon Pilachowski (Department of Human Services/Social Services Administration, Kim Kyle (Frederick County Health Department) and Heather Strosnider (Frederick County Department of Social Services) presented From Evidence to Impact: Implementing the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) Model in Maryland at the 2026 Best Practices Conference hosted by the Maryland Office of Overdose Response. The presentation highlighted Maryland’s ongoing implementation of the START model, including current strategies to strengthen treatment access, enhance peer support integration, and support fidelity to the evidence-based framework. Presenters discussed lessons learned from implementation across six jurisdictions, emerging outcomes, and how START promotes family preservation and reduces the need for out-of-home placements by addressing substance use early and holistically.