Supportive workplace changes to keep residential addiction treatment workers and patients cared for
Official title: Supporting and retaining residential addiction treatment providers to improve client care: A cluster-randomized controlled trial of a participatory workplace intervention
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11401225 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study in Massachusetts tests a participatory program to improve working conditions for residential addiction treatment staff, with the goal of keeping workers on the job and improving patient care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $422,611 |
| NIH project number | 5R61DA063638-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401225 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are residential addiction treatment facilities and their staff, with patients benefiting from more stable and supportive care environments.
✕Less likely to help
Facilities with extreme staffing shortages or those outside the study region may see limited direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project tests how a structured, worker-centered program called WISP can be used in residential addiction treatment centers to reduce burnout and turnover while improving the quality and continuity of care for people in treatment. Facilities receive training, an intervention toolkit, and ongoing technical support to implement practical changes. Researchers partner with state public health officials and community treatment providers to measure effects on staff wellbeing and patient care outcomes over time. The study combines real-world implementation with rigorous evaluation to understand what helps organizations sustain high-quality treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help treatment centers retain skilled staff, reduce wait times for care, and improve consistent, compassionate care for people in recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous implementation studies in healthcare settings show that participatory, organization-level interventions can improve staff wellbeing and care processes, though results vary by context.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sabbath, Erika Lehr — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Sabbath, Erika Lehr
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.