About

The Massachusetts Strategic Plan for Early Psychosis (Mass-STEP) was developed in a group effort by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Massachusetts Psychosis Network for Early Treatment (MAPNET), the Laboratory for Early Psychosis (LEAP) Center, and the Northeastern University Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research (IHESJR). With guidance from experts in the community, including those with first-hand experience of psychosis, we outline a set of priorities to create a high-quality system of care for people living with psychosis in Massachusetts.

What is a Strategic Plan?

A strategic plan is a written document that defines an organization’s goals, as well as the actions or resources needed to achieve these goals. The Mass-STEP provides an evidence-based rationale for investing in early intervention for psychosis, and outlines a set of priorities for the next 10+ years of funding and program development through the DMH and beyond. A key step in strategic planning is to hear from stakeholders around the state — people who use services, family members, clinicians, social workers, and others — to make sure that our goals align with priorities in the community. The Mass-STEP represents a commitment to continuous quality improvement driven by the people who are most impacted by these services.

Background & Development

The Mass-STEP’s development began in early 2020. We started by sending a survey to clients and families in first-episode psychosis (FEP) programs across Massachusetts and conducting a series of individual and focus group interviews. An inaugural conference was held in November 2020, followed by a second conference in November 2021 to assess progress towards these goals. After completing the initial plan, we launched this site in 2022 to make these goals available to the public. We consider this to be a living document that will change along with the landscape of services in MA. All perspectives are welcome to add or edit the goals included here!

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