Advancing the science on recovery community centers to support persons treated with medications for opioid use disorder

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Project Summary The goal of this administrative supplement is to provide Ms. Diadora Finley-Abboud with a 2-year full-time fellowship to contribute to the activities of the parent grant (R24 DA051988), and to engage in career development activities within the context of this project. We are submitting this proposal in response to PA-21- 071 “Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)”. Ms. Diadora Finley-Abboud is a senior at Worcester State University, graduating in 2022 with a major in Psychology with a concentration in mental health services, and a minor in communication. Her plan is to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology or related area enabling her to conduct research examining structural inequalities, and how they pertain to the development and treatment of mental health and substance use disorder. Currently, Ms. Finley-Abboud is a part-time undergraduate clinical research intern in Dr. Bettina Hoeppner’s lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Hoeppner is one of the two M-PIs who lead R24 DA051988. Dr. Bettina Hoeppner will serve as her primary mentor during her proposed 2-year fellowship. Dr. John Kelly, M-PI of the parent grant together with Dr. Hoeppner, will also be involved in this training plan. The goal of this fellowship is to provide Ms. Finley-Abboud hands-on research experience through her involvement in all aspects of the parent grant, while also providing targeted educational activities, including a mentored research study that builds directly on the infrastructure created by the R24. Namely, R24 DA051988 is a research infrastructure building project to advance the science on recovery community centers (RCCs). RCCs are recovery-oriented sanctuaries anchored in the hearts of communities, which provide a range of recovery- oriented, peer-delivered services. Despite recent rapid largescale investment in their growth, empirical data on their functioning and outcomes are extremely limited. Thus, our team is engaging in research-advancing activities on a national level to engage multiple stakeholders and produce actionable deliverables. Ms. Diadora Finley-Abboud will support these activities, while also engaging in an individualized training plan designed to achieve eight training goals, falling into three broad categories: (1) research skills (i.e., gain applied statistical skills, learn about qualitative research methods, conduct mentored research project), (2) substantive knowledge (i.e., become an expert in recovery community centers, learn about recovery support services in general); and (3) career development (i.e., navigate the graduate school application process, gain insight into clinical care career paths, gain insight into grantsmanship). The breadth of the training plan is in line with Ms. Finley-Abboud’s career stage, where she seeks to further explore different possible paths. Together, these activities will optimally prepare Ms. Finley-Abboud for her next career step to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology or related area enabling her to conduct research examining structural inequalities.