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The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) has joined forces with key organizations such as NASADAD, NPN, APSI, CADCA, and PIRE's Prevention Research Center to lead the Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) National Coordinating Center (NCC). This collaborative effort is dedicated to serving SAMHSA, the 10 Regional PTTCs, and the broader substance use prevention field nationwide. The demographic profile of the NCC and PTTC Network mirrors that of the US: White, 75.5%; Black or African American, 13.6%; American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%; Asian, 6.3%; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.3%; Two or More Races, 3%; Hispanic or Latino, 19.1%; White, not Hispanic or Latino, 58.9%. The NCC serves as the backbone of the PTTC Network, focusing on strengthening the capacity and impact of the PTTCs themselves. Since our primary audience is the PTTC Network the NCC anticipates serving 640 individuals over the course of 5 years as follows: Y1-100; Y2-120; Y3-130; Y4-140; Y5-150. We aim to enhance the quality of substance use prevention initiatives through a coordinated, Network-wide approach grounded in implementation science. Our primary goals include developing strategic alliances among diverse practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to optimize resources and promote culturally responsive practices; expanding opportunities for PTTCs to enhance the prevention workforce and implement evidence-based prevention strategies; establishing a coordinated Network-wide approach grounded in implementation science to enhance the quality of substance use prevention initiatives; applying culturally and linguistically appropriate prevention services to address health disparities among underserved populations at risk of developing Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). To meet these goals, we have established the following objectives: In the first year, during Q2, month 5, our goal is to create and implement an engagement strategy. This strategy involves segmenting market users, leveraging technology for personalized outreach, aligning content development efforts, and producing user-friendly materials. We aim to achieve a 15% increase in Network event participation rates within the five-year grant cycle. Regular updates to engagement targets and metrics will optimize our outreach effectiveness. Additionally, in Year 1, Q1, month 4, we'll enhance nationwide substance misuse prevention by establishing a collaborative network approach among PTTCs (Prevention Technology Transfer Centers) and coordinating with other SAMHSA-funded training and technical assistance entities. We'll measure success through increased collaboration metrics, reduced duplication of efforts, and improved resource sharing. Furthermore, we'll prioritize access and equity in substance use disorder prevention by creating a culturally and linguistically appropriate online platform. We aim to boost resource utilization among diverse populations by at least 20% over the grant period. We'll actively engage community-based organizations to address disparities in access to critical information and services, aligning with SAMHSA's equity-focused goals. Lastly, we'll raise awareness and engagement of SAMHSA's PTTC Network among diverse stakeholders by developing a SAMHSA GPO-approved communication and marketing plan. Our targeted communication and outreach strategies will have measurable goals to track progress and effectiveness throughout the grant period. Additionally, we'll strengthen the dissemination and accessibility of PTTC Network resources, including online courses, by upgrading existing infrastructure.

UW Madison's Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) will serve as the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC), offering research-based training and technical assistance (TTA) to the substance misuse prevention workforce in HHS Region 5. We aim to enhance workforce skills and knowledge, address health disparities, and promote culturally responsive and effective prevention practices across diverse communities. Serving as the Great Lakes PTTC since 2018, we have offered research-based TTA at the national (via PTTC workgroups and conferences), regional, state, and local levels tailored to the prevention workforce needs. Our success is reflected in consistently high attendance and positive evaluations. In 2023, feedback from 3,716 respondents revealed a 95% satisfaction rate with Great Lakes PTTC events. Additionally, 94% expected personal/community benefits, 92% anticipated improved effectiveness, and 97% would recommend our events. Through our efforts in the current grant cycle, we have established a culturally responsive infrastructure that will seamlessly support the activities outlined in this grant application. Our populations of focus for this project are substance misuse prevention professionals, pre-professionals, community coalitions, and prevention organizations. A special emphasis will be addressing the needs of underserved populations and reducing health disparities. Our outreach strategies will engage preventionists serving LGBTQI+, rural/urban, low socioeconomic, tribal, refugee/immigrant/asylum seeking, diverse ethnic/racial, and other communities. Over the course of the project, we will serve a total of 12,000 individuals, starting with 2,000 in Year 1 and 2,500 individuals each year in Years 2 through 5. Our goals for this project include the following. Measurable objectives have been identified for each goal and are detailed in the application. 1. Annually assess substance misuse prevention workforce needs to inform workplan, identify linguistic/cultural needs, leverage resources, and prevent duplication in Region 5. 2. Provide TTA to Region 5 substance misuse prevention professionals and pre-professionals, enhancing competency to implement culturally appropriate, evidence-based practices across the lifespan. 3. Promote collaboration across Great Lakes states, the PTTC NCO, regional PTTCs, and SAMHSA T/TA centers to support the SAMHSA mission/goals/objectives and to reduce duplication of effort. 4. Increase diverse audience engagement accessing Great Lakes PTTC services and resources. 5. Provide regional and national training, TA, and resources on Implementation Science (IS) for substance misuse prevention to bridge the gap between science and practice. 6. Implement a Prevention Fellowship Program to increase the number of well-trained and knowledgeable prevention professionals from underserved communities. 7. Evaluate and report on project activities for funder/partner accountability and CQI. A tested comprehensive Data Collection, Performance Monitoring, and Improvement system will be applied to collect, manage, monitor, and use data for the project. Data collected will enhance the project through the NIATx model, an ongoing CQI process. Our CQI process will also include 30-day follow-up impact evaluation interviews with a sample of 25% of targeted and intensive TTA participants.

The overall goal of the proposed Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PSPTTC) is to advance prevention workforce competencies in HHS Region 9 (R9) that improve the implementation of effective substance misuse prevention interventions and advance health equity for underserved, underreached populations. To accomplish this, PSPTTC will deliver high-quality, innovative training and technical assistance (TTA) services and resources to build prevention competencies; leverage and expand regional alliances among culturally diverse prevention professionals; and engage in continuous quality improvement (CQI). The PSPTTC will serve the R9 substance misuse prevention workforce: prevention professionals, pre- professionals, organizations, and others in the community who work across the lifespan to prevent substance misuse among many underserved/underreached populations: Pacific Islander, African American/Black, Hispanic Latino(a), Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, LGBTQI+, and rural/frontier residents and other stakeholders. The PSPTTC will increase prevention professionals' prevention science knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based interventions/practices (EBI/Ps) and advance health equity through high-quality, innovative TTA services and function as prevention resource at regional and national levels by developing and disseminating learning resources and products. Also, the PSPTTC will advance and sustain a well-trained and diverse workforce; foster local, regional, and national communication and collaboration; and enhance its services' reach, relevance, impact, and effectiveness through evaluation and CQI. The PSPTTC will deliver a spectrum of low- to high-intensity TTA services, standardized and tailored training, individual and group technical assistance (TA) consultations, and micro academies using in-person and web-based modalities. To increase overall impact and utility, TTA will be sequenced using a mix of delivery methods grounded in adult learning theory, prevention and implementation science, and IC&RC Prevention Specialist certification domains. TTA topics will span a breadth of areas, such as the Strategic Prevention Framework, using data in prevention, engaging diverse populations, strategic messaging, and comprehensive planning. The PSPTTC will develop, test, and distribute learning resources, guidance documents, tip sheets, self-paced online courses, and micro training modules delivered via text messaging. Section 508/ADA compliant versions of each resource and product will be available on the PSPTTC webpage, shared through social media, and disseminated by regional partners. Select products will be translated into languages other than English. An annual needs assessment and guidance from regional partners will inform TTA service and product topic selection. Implementing an engagement strategy will increase reach to new partners across the continuum of behavioral health, while a communication plan will continuously expand the promotion and marketing of PSPTTC products and events. Annually, to increase the diversity experience and the prevention workforce, a Prevention Fellow will be hired, placed at a prevention agency for practical field experience, and mentored in the national PTTC Building Our Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) program. The PSPTTC’s national specialty area will be in epidemiological needs assessments, data collection/use for strategic planning, and evaluation through the development and dissemination of training and resources focusing on data-related topics. Over the course of the 5-year project, the PSPTTC will serve no less than 2,875 unique individuals, excluding online course participation (annual unique individuals: Y1: 525; Y2: 550; Y3: 575; Y4: 600; Y5: 625).

Abstract - NOFO No. SP-24-002. The Southwest Prevention Center (SWPC), at the University of Oklahoma (OU), will serve as the South Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (SSW PTTC) for HHS Region 6, encompassing Arkansas (AR), Louisiana (LA), New Mexico (NM), Oklahoma (OK), and Texas (TX). The SSW PTTC will provide training and technical assistance (T/TA) to the prevention workforce, emerging prevention professionals/pre-professionals, prevention organization and system leaders, and affiliates and partners who support the work of prevention with children, youth, young adults, families, parents, and other adults. Services will be designed to increase the competency level of the prevention workforce in states, tribes, and communities and will intentionally be relevant and accessible to prevention professionals working in underserved and historically under-resourced communities. We propose to serve 2100 individuals in year 1, 2350 individuals in year 2, 2500 individuals in year 3, 2750 individuals in year 4, and 2900 individuals in year 5, for a total of 12,600 individuals served over the life of this cooperative agreement. The goals of this proposal are to: 1) Build the capacity of prevention organizations to provide culturally responsive and equitable implementation of evidence-based and promising prevention strategies to improve prevention outcomes for historically underserved communities. 2) Increase capacity of prevention leaders for systems integration and practice change around health equity to build systems that effectively serve all community members. 3) Build the partnership of faith communities and prevention professionals to increase engagement of community systems that are more approachable to diverse communities. 4) Build capacity of prevention systems to use comprehensive & equity-focused needs assessments to identify risk factors to improve implementation of prevention science. 5) Build the capacity of prevention professionals to use SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to improve the quality & effectiveness of prevention services. 6) Increase the sustainability of epi workgroups and data partnerships to support the use of epidemiological data to inform prevention strategies. 7) Support the development, planning, and delivery of foundational training for new prevention professionals to increase the number of certified professionals in the field. 8) Develop the capacity of the prevention workforce to work across the spectrum of behavioral health interventions (Spectrum) to increase productive partnerships with pre-addiction, harm reduction, mental health, and recovery support initiatives. 9) Develop the capacity of prevention programs to link prevention communication strategies with policy change efforts to improve the effectiveness of message development on substance misuse prevention, including alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use. The objectives that will be implemented to support these goals include: 1) developing and delivering in-person and virtual trainings, 2) creating toolkits and guidance documents, 3) facilitating networking and learning communities, 4) establishing regional advisory groups, and 5) providing intensive TA. Topic areas for these services include: implementation of evidence- based and promising prevention practices; use of the SPF; use of epidemiological data to inform planning; equity in prevention planning, implementation of prevention science; engagement of the medical community; development of comprehensive community prevention activities; stigma reduction messages; message development on alcohol and drug misuse prevention including marijuana and tobacco; and the use of social marketing.

This application builds on our current Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center (SE PTTC) for Region 4, which consists of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The focal populations are all individuals and organizations in need of prevention services in Region 4. Our comprehensive approach to providing high-quality technical assistance (TA) and training services that are data-informed and collaboratively planned and implemented combines being responsive to the reported needs of Region 4, as well as proactively integrating and promoting new developments in prevention science. Our special area of expertise is local policy change and implementation science, which we are committed to providing TA and training on to the Southeast Region, as well as nationally. We have identified three goals for the SE PTTC. These goals reflect our knowledge of and attention to the distinctive populations and needs of the region and proposes tailored capacity development for planning and implementing evidence-based strategies to prevent substance use and misuse. The first goal is to increase the professionalization of the substance misuse prevention workforce in the SE region, including those who operate within underserved and historically under-resourced communities, faith sectors, and youth serving agencies. The second goal is to increase the capacity of individuals in the substance misuse prevention field in the SE region to identify community behavioral health disparities and effectively plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based strategies to reduce or eliminate them. The third goal is to increase the capacity of individuals in the substance misuse prevention field to effectively apply evidence-based policy strategies. To achieve the three goals, we will (1) develop and deliver three distinct curricula, (2) build communities of practice (COP) for each of the three content areas addressed in our goals, and (3) provide intensive TA and training. Additionally, we will support at least one fellow each year to participate in our existing Prevention Fellowship Program. We propose to reach 7,500 unduplicated individuals in this project: 1,000 in Year 1, 1,250 in Year 2, 1,500 in Year 3, 1,750 in Year 4, and 2,000 in Year 5. Wake Forest University Health Sciences has served as the lead agency PTTC for the SE Region since the PTTC initiative began in 2018. The team has collaborated for over 15 years conceptualizing, implementing, and evaluating multi-community prevention trials aimed to prevent substance misuse and associated harms. Partnering organizations have extensive experience and are internationally recognized for providing high-quality outcomes-focused technical assistance and training. We have formed a Region 4 PTTC TA/Training Network with expert consultants, a Health Equity Advisory Board, and valued partnerships with state, regional and national collaborators who provide important input and feedback to the SE PTTC. Collectively, the SE PTTC draws on a range of expertise as well as institutional commitment to provide equitable and community collaborative delivery of TA and training services.

The project Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: Elevating Substance Misuse Prevention Across Region 7 aims to enhance substance misuse prevention strategies across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, with a special focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by rural communities in HHS Region 7. It leverages innovative technology and evidence-based practices to improve the reach and efficacy of prevention efforts. Through proven training and technical assistance systems, PPSI will utilize its extensive experience and expertise to develop and disseminate tailored training modules and comprehensive technical support. This will involve coordinating with local, state, and regional partners to ensure that the training and resources provided are relevant and effectively address the specific substance misuse prevention needs of the communities served. PPSI will also implement cutting-edge e-learning technologies and interactive platforms to deliver accessible, high-quality training to prevention professionals, regardless of their location. This approach will not only enhance the skills of these professionals, but also ensure that they are equipped with the latest knowledge and best practices to tackle substance misuse effectively within their communities. Goal 1: Increase capacity for the implementation and sustainability of substance misuse prevention programs and strategies through the enrichment of a Region 7 training and technical assistance (T/TA) infrastructure. Obj 1.1 By 11/30 (each year), conduct a regional-based Needs Assessment and Action Planning process; success measured by formal approval of Director. Obj 1.2 By 10/1/2025 increase access to substance misuse prevention resources by expanding current clearinghouse of resources by at least 100 resources. Obj 1.3 By 10/1/2025, offer T/TA to 300 professionals in evidence-based practices for substance misuse prevention for a minimum of 1 hour per professional as measured by attendance logs and feedback surveys. Goal 2: Increase cross-sector partnerships and collaboration through comprehensive communication and engagement strategies. Obj 2.1 By 1/1/2025, formalize a regional PTTC Advisory Group with representatives from all four states and at least five different professional sectors as measured by commitment letters, membership lists, and meeting attendance. Obj 2.2 By 3/31 each fiscal year, develop an annual communication and outreach plan with focus on evidence-based strategies and culturally appropriate/accessible information; success measured by the Directors approval of the plan. Obj 2.3 By 9/29/2027, increase engagement of prevention professionals in Region 7 by 200% from the baseline year (FY25) as measured by web-based engagement metrics. Goal 3: Advance the prevention workforce to effectively apply knowledge, skills, and best practices in substance misuse prevention. Obj 3.1 By 3/31/2025, publish curricula on special expertise area of Monitoring and Evaluation for Decision-making and Process Improvement, measured by dissemination of curriculum in training website. Obj 3.2 By 9/15/2029, graduate 20 Guardsmen (4 per year) from the Prevention Fellowship Program (PFP) as measured by fellow project completion and Director approval. On average, this project will serve 1,250 prevention professionals per year in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska through training and technical assistance provision.

Every year, Region 10 communities lose millions of dollars and thousands of bright futures to alcohol, tobacco, other drug use, suicide, violence, and crime. The Region 10 Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (NWPTTC) aims to advance the substance misuse prevention workforce's ability to activate community prevention by applying prevention and implementation science principles to select, implement, and evaluate equity-informed approaches that reduce substance misuse and its' harmful consequences. Through this Center, the IMProving Prevention Through ACTion (IMPACT) Research Lab at Washington State University, in close collaboration with the Social Development Research Group at University of Washington, and the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies at the University of Nevada, Reno, will serve the substance misuse prevention workforce in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, including 271 Federally Recognized Tribes, and hundreds of community coalitions and Certified Prevention Specialists (CPS) by providing consistent access to high quality, culturally sensitive training and technical assistance (TTA) that enables them to address disparities in the access, use, and outcomes of behavioral health prevention. The NWPTTC aims to serve 5,625 individuals by the end of Year 5 (1,125 per Year, Years 1-5) through in-person and distance training workshops, one-on-one and small group technical assistance consultations, online self-paced courses, a prevention fellowship program, a leadership academy, and other TTA events and products. We will accomplish this by building upon and extending the successful partnerships and TTA developed over the past six years to achieve five primary goals: 1) Effectively and efficiently collaborate and communicate with local, regional, and national prevention partners on an ongoing basis to identify regional prevention workforce needs, enhance the effectiveness and reach of TTA, and reduce duplication of efforts; 2) Deliver innovative basic TTA to improve Region 10 prevention workforce knowledge and awareness of prevention science-informed practice that promotes health equity and addresses disparities in the access, use, and outcomes of behavioral health prevention; 3) Deliver innovative targeted TTA to improve Region 10 prevention workforce skills in substance misuse prevention that promote health equity and address disparities in access, use, and outcomes of behavioral health, and increase the number of Region 10 CPS; 4) Deliver innovative intensive TTA to sustain and increase prevention leaders and organizations’ capacity to address disparities in the access, use, and outcomes of behavioral health prevention; and 5) Develop and execute a data-driven continuous quality improvement approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the NWPTTC TTA products and services.

The Rutgers University Center for Prevention Science (CPS) proposes to continue operation of the Northeast and Caribbean Prevention Technology Transfer Center (NeC PTTC) for HHS Region 2 (R2), which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and multiple federally recognized Tribal Nations. Its mission is to strengthen capacity of the substance misuse prevention workforce through the delivery of multifaceted training and technical assistance (T/TA) designed to increase knowledge and skills grounded in prevention science, health equity, evidence-based and promising programs and practices, and cultural and linguistic responsiveness. The NeC PTTC will provide T/TA to a diverse workforce, distributed across geographic areas with unique and overlapping prevention needs. We will develop webinars to transmit dense, didactic content to a higher number of participants; self-paced, online courses; individualized and intensive TA; and face-to-face participatory events covering key skill building prevention topics. CPS key activities, guided by SAMHSA’s current core principles of equity, trauma-informed approaches, commitment to data and evidence, and recovery, will include the following: 1) conduct annual workforce needs assessments; 2) implement an engagement and communications plan to ensure broad access to resources; 3) disseminate the latest preventions science knowledge, guidance and opportunities related to emerging issues, best practices, behavioral health disparities, and newly published data; 4) develop T/TA services that will guide the prevention workforce in their efforts to reach historically under-resourced communities; 5) develop culturally and linguistically responsive approaches, especially when working with communities in our region whose first language is Spanish; and 6) collaborate with national SAMHSA-funded TA centers and provider leadership to national PTTC Network workgroups. The NeC PTTC proposed two additional efforts to advance the prevention field in R2. First, we will provide tailored T/TA in our specialized prevention subject area which focuses on data-driven models to guide community-level prevention efforts aimed at changing conditions to support healthy living and health equity. This includes use of environmental scanning and geographic information systems to implement data-driven prioritization processes and select culturally and linguistically responsive community and environmental strategies. Second, we propose we will implement the Building Our Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) Prevention Fellowship Program by supporting a full-time Fellow, placed in a prevention organization in R2 annually. The BOLD program, coordinated nationally with multiple regional PTTC’s and the National Coordinating Office, will focus on prevention efforts within historically oppressed and under-resourced communities. Our team is well positioned to serve the diverse needs of the substance misuse prevention workforce, our population of focus, which includes an expansive group of professionals, organizations, and other collaborative partners in the prevention field across R2 including: prevention coalitions; community-based organizations; SAMHSA/other funded prevention grantees; state/jurisdiction/territory-level agencies; public health professionals; epidemiological outcomes workgroups; community-level prevention practitioners; Tribal Nations; credentialed prevention practitioners; LGBTQI+-focused agencies; people who use drugs; people with lived experience; family members; harm reduction specialists; health care agencies; faith-based organizations; social service providers; school personnel; and other related audiences. The NeC PTTC will continue to provide specialized T/TA for prevention professionals that help to increase reach to historically oppressed or under-resourced communities. The NeC PTTC will serve 2,100 unduplicated individuals each year and 10,500 over the lifetime of the five-year grant.

SUMMARY: The Danya Institute, Inc. (the Institute) is applying to continue as SAMHSA's Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) for the Department of Health and Human Services Region 3 (Region 3). With 22 years of experience providing Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA), we will build the capacity/competency of the substance use prevention field to provide services based in prevention science and employ Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs). PROJECT NAME: Central East PTTC POPULATIONS SERVED: The PTTC will assist the Region 3 prevention workforce through virtual/in-person T/TA to impact the diverse populations they serve. Region 3 includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Within the prevention workforce, 65% of professionals identified as White, 32% as Black/African American, 4.3% as Hispanic/Latino, 4.3% as American Indian/Alaska Native, and 3.7% as Other/Mixed Race. Top populations served by this workforce comprise African Americans (71%), adults (71%), adolescents (60%), under-resourced communities (58%), transitional-age youth (58%), LGBTQ individuals (56%), Hispanics/Latinos (56%), children (54%), educators (54%), and persons experiencing homelessness (50%). American Indian/Alaska Native (36%) and Other/Mixed Race (35%) persons had the highest rates of past-year illicit drug use, followed by African Americans (24%), Whites (23%), Hispanics/Latinos (19%), and Asian Americans (11%). STRATEGIES/INTERVENTIONS: We will leverage technology transfer strategies to advance EBP adoption/implementation, with methods including skill-based training, targeted/intensive TA, learning communities, online courses, toolkits, virtual meetings, and technology-driven engagement models. GOALS: Our goals for Region 3 include (a) reducing the impact/prevalence of service barriers; (b) improving strategic planning/EBP identification; (c) increasing the effectiveness of efforts to address opioid misuse/overdoses; (d) increasing the effectiveness of efforts to address substance-related suicides; (e) increasing the effectiveness of addressing substance use trends; (f) increasing the number of prevention professionals of marginalized identities; (g) improving workforce cultural/linguistic competencies; and (h) improving workforce use of innovative technologies. OBJECTIVES: Key objectives to achieve by the end of 09/2029 include (a) Region 3 prevention professionals report a 50% or more reduction in the prevalence of jointly selected service barriers to prevention efforts; (b) by end of each year after 09/2025, PTTC provides two (2) additional specialty area T/TA for prevention professionals based on needs assessment and feedback; (c) Region 3 state leaders will report a minimum 50% adoption of effective strategies to address opioid misuse and overdoses; (d) Region 3 prevention professionals will report a minimum 50% increase in effective strategies to address substance-related suicides; (e) Region 3 prevention professionals will report a minimum 50% increase in the utilization of effective strategies to address substance use trends; (f) Region 3 will train five (5) prevention professionals of marginalized identities; (g) at least 80% of TA recipients will report adapting EBPs for cultural competency; (h) Region 3 workforce professionals will report minimum 50% increase in the proportion of the TA recipients using innovative technologies NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: The Institute will serve 3,000 prevention professionals in Year 1; 3,200 in Year 2; 3,200 in Year 3; 3,500 in Year 4; 3,500 in Year 5; and 16,400 for the entire project.

The Providence Overdose Prevention Project will support first responders, with a focus on Emergency Medical Services, citywide overdose prevention efforts among adults 18 years of age and older in the urban catchment area of Providence, Rhode Island. The Overdose Crisis continues to affect the City of Providence disproportionately. While Providence accounts for less than a fifth of the State population, over a quarter of overdose fatalities occurred there in 2022, totaling 110 lives lost. Providence is also disproportionately affected by non-fatal overdose, with a rate that is consistently 1.5 to 2 times higher than Rhode Island. The Providence Overdose Prevention Project will use an evidence-based integrated public health approach, based on Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration's Connecting Communities to Substance Use Services: Practical Approaches for First Responders guide to support Emergency Medical Services’ efforts to increase the capacity of first responders to implement approaches that reduce the rate of fatal and non-fatal overdoses among adults in Providence. The project proposes to serve 1500 unique individuals in Year 1 and 7250 total by the end of Year 4. With over 189,000 residents, 80.3% over 18 years of age, Providence is the capital of Rhode Island and accounts for 17% of the state population. The population of Providence is the most diverse in Rhode Island, with only 45.6% of Providence’s residents identifying as White, alone compared to 82.8% statewide. In addition, 42.6% identify as Hispanic compared to 17.6% statewide. There are more than double the statewide percentage of foreign-born residents and households speaking a language other than English, over 35 different languages, in Providence at 31.6% and 48.4%, respectively. Of the 39 census tracts in Providence, almost 59% have a Social Vulnerability Index between 0.75 and 1, meaning more than half the City’s residents are considered the most vulnerable. The City of Providence is located in Providence County, Rhode Island, and has an overall Social Vulnerability Index of 1. The Providence Overdose Prevention Projects goals are (1) increasing the capacity of Providence Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to implement evidence-based practices that effectively engage People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) and connect them to substance use services (2) Decreasing the rate of fatal overdose in Providence by implementing Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) with first responders and members of other community sectors to aid in the administration of Naloxone during suspected overdose (3) Decrease the rate of nonfatal overdose to a rate similar to the statewide rate through connections to appropriate treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other psychosocial support services. This will be achieved through partnerships with Providences’ Housing & Human Services Department, Emergency Medical Services, service providers, and community anchors implementing a range of public health strategies, including Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution, Referral, Active Outreach, Post Overdose Outreach, and Community Paramedicine, and Diversion programs.

The County of Essex's Division of Community Health Services' (DCHS) County CARA Project will focus on: 1. Strengthening Opioid Overdose Response and Prevention Efforts in Essex County by Providing Comprehensive Training, Education, Resources, and Post Overdose Rapid Response; and, 2. Fostering Community Engagement and Collaboration to Address Substance Use Disorder in Essex County. For DCHS's County CARA Project, we will partner with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, and University Hospital EMS (UHEMS), located within our catchment area, in Newark, New Jersey. DCHS will ensure substance use disorder and opioid use disorder programs and services provided by ensuring that it can provide training and resources for first responders and members of other key community sectors (i.e., faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, schools) on administering and distributing naloxone; and establishing processes, protocols and mechanisms for warm hand-off referrals to appropriate treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other psychosocial resource support services throughout Essex County, New Jersey. Specifically, the project will target Essex County first responders, community groups, and local residents in need of trainings to prevent/reduce opioid overdoses; and, Essex County residents with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or those who experience a non-fatal, opioid-related overdose, with a focus on underserved populations severely impacted by OUD and overdoses, specifically African American and Hispanic/Latino residents. Utilizing a combination of a Post-Overdose Response Team, Naloxone/Basic CPR Trainings, expanding Naloxone distribution, and implementing a countywide OUD hotline, the DCHS County CARA Project will strengthen our opioid overdose response effort throughout Essex County and enhance the opportunities for SUD/OUD continuum of care programming to be available to those in need.

The City of Nogales, Arizona lies along the U.S. border with Mexico. With its international port of entry, the area experiences high volumes of drug trafficking, placing its community members in a vulnerable situation. From 2017 to date, among 173 accidental deaths in Santa Cruz County, 59 were drug related, the highest category for accidental deaths- more than motor vehicle crashes, falls, or drownings. Nogales is the county seat for Santa Cruz County, the smallest, southernmost county in Arizona. According to the HRSA Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, all locations within the county are considered rural. Community members face challenges common in rural communities, including no public transportation and gaps in behavioral health services such as no in-patient treatment facilities and no dedicated housing/shelter for people with substance use disorders. As such, the entire community is underserved with respect to behavioral health services and social determinants of health related to housing and transportation. Further, Santa Cruz County has a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) Score of 0.9449, indicating high vulnerability. Census tracts in the Nogales area have SES Arizona SVI scores between 0.91 to 1.0, with most residents living below federal poverty levels. To meet the needs of the community, the City of Nogales is applying to the SAMHSA FY24 FR-CARA program with the overall goal to decrease the number of deaths due to overdose by increasing the capacity of law enforcement and community response. The project will be led by the Nogales Police Department in collaboration with two local technical assistance providers, HOPE, Inc. a peer support organization, and Mariposa Community Health Center, the only health center in the county serving over half of county residents (over 26,000). Two Community Anchor partners- a local hair salon and a local barber shop- will participate in the project to build the capacity of non-traditional community partners to respond to overdose events and other situations related to substance use in a trauma-informed manner. Together, the Nogales Police Department and core partners will train three Lead Officers on trauma-informed approaches and harm reduction approaches to better respond to suspected substance related emergency calls, including suspected overdose cases. These Lead Officers will in turn mentor officers within their respective squads. This training will be supported by a HOPE Liaison who will also co-facilitate training for Community Anchor partners. The project goal will be reached through five key objectives: 1) By January 31st, the University of Arizona Evaluation partner will lead a resource mapping assessment for the Nogales FR-CARA service area to help guide project implementation. 2) By December 2024, Core Partners will formalize the Lived Experience Advisory Council as an extension of the Santa Cruz County Overcoming Addiction (SOSA) Consortium. 3) By September of 2025, Core Partners will have developed and implemented a peer/mentor training program with three Nogales Police Department squads that included policies and procedures for the implementation of evidence-based, trauma-informed care practices. 4) By February 2025, Core Partners will conduct outreach with at least two community Anchor Partners on overdose response and SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery resources. 5) Each year, NPD will participate in and/or lead at least two community outreach and education activities per year such as Take Back events, DARE program, and community health fairs. The Nogales FR-CARA project aims to serve low-income, Hispanic/Latino community members in high need areas, whose first and most used language is Spanish. The project anticipates reaching over 120 unduplicated individuals a year, for a total of more than 1,000 individuals over a four-year project period through prevention, intervention, and first-responder activities.

Abstract: The Vermont First Responder Emergency Opioid Response Project will enhance the vital work of First Responders and key community sector responders ability to safely provide emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdoses as well as increase the rate of referrals to treatment and recovery in Vermont rural communities with a low Social Vulnerability Index, low access to naloxone and high burden of opioid injury and death specifically Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor Counties. The project will also serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Vermonters community responders throughout the state as demographic population of focus. This project will meet the following goals: Goal 1 Ensure FR services and key community sectors have access to stock and carry naloxone and Naloxone Leave Behind Kits for responding to opioid overdoses. Goal 2: Ensure key community sectors have access to emergency response, naloxone, harm reduction supplies and referral services for overdose prevention in high burden/ low resources communities. Goals 3: Ensure First Responders have access resources to more effectively manage opioid-involved drug overdoses. Goal 4: Evaluate and enhance community overdose prevention programs to improve awareness of opioid overdose harm reduction practices in focus communities/ populations. Goal 5: Work together to ensure training and access to trauma informed care for patients and first responders. Goal 6: Work together in better inter-departmental coordination in data-driven activities in addressing adverse opioid incidents including overdoses. Monitor effectiveness of programs to inform overdose prevention technical assistance, and policy development. First Responders and key community responders play a critical role in the State of Vermont’s work in addressing opioid crisis. Vermont has been addressing opioid use and misuse through public information, social marketing and messaging; pain management and prescribing practices; prevention and community mobilization; drug disposal options; early intervention services; overdose prevention and harm reduction programs; and increased access to treatment and recovery services. This project will support enhanced training and access to harm reduction supplies and services. Over the length of the funding period, the project will reach 1,228 unduplicated individuals annually, with at least 4,000 first responders, and 912 overdose victims and their families for a total of 4,912 unduplicated individuals.

Cherokee Tribal EMS plans to implement a multi-faceted approach to combat substance use diseases and overdoses on the Qualla Boundary. We will do this by community engagement, stigma reduction, naloxone distribution, provider education, and treatment retention strategies. These will all be accomplished in a culturally sensitive manner respecting the Cherokee indigenous population. We will measure CPR/First Aid participants, naloxone administrations, medication assisted therapy participants, and overall suspect drug related illnesses. We anticipate serving over 800 participants each year with a total estimation of 3,275 served over the next 4 years.

Summary: The Cumberland County First Responders Combating the Opioid Epidemic Project will increase the capacity of first responders and community members to use naloxone to reduce the overdose death rate in Cumberland County. Public health educators and peer support specialists will train 5760 first responders and unique partners at local barbershops and libraries to prevent overdoses and expanded community distribution of naloxone. Program Title: The Cumberland County First Responders Combating the Opioid Epidemic Project will serve residents of Cumberland County, the fifth largest county in North Carolina with a population of 337,890, consisting of one major city (Fayetteville, population over 208,873) and eight towns. Demographics: Cumberland is an underserved community with a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of 0.7778. More than 50% of residents are non-white persons of color. Cumberland is a Tier 1 community in terms of economic distress, designated as both urban and rural, and home to Ft. Liberty, the largest army base by population. Clinical Characteristics: Cumberland County has been disproportionality impacted by the opioid epidemic, demonstrated by rates of overdose injuries and deaths higher than North Carolina and the US overall. The overdose death rate increased a staggering 31% over 12 months (2021 to 2022), with rates increasing faster in minority populations. In 2021, most overdose deaths were due to opioids, specifically fentanyl. Strategies/Interventions: A Public Health Educator and a Peer Support Specialist teams will train first responders and community members on overdose prevention strategies and community resources after an overdose in collaboration with unique partners (barbershops, libraries, faith leaders). Training will incorporate harm reduction principles. Funding will support the expansion of community distribution of naloxone, including the established naloxone vending machine at the local detention center. Community advisory support will be provided by the well-established Cumberland Fayetteville Opioid Response Team (C-FORT). Project Goals: Increase the capacity of first responders and community members to use naloxone and increase the availability of naloxone to reduce the overdose death rate in Cumberland County and to reduce the number of emergency department visits for overdoses. Objective: By September 30, 2028, train at least 5,760 community members (1,440 trained annually) on overdose prevention and to distribute at least 2,400 naloxone kits to first responders and community partners.

Summary. The San Antonio Fire Department and four critical community collaborators seek to bridge the existing and widening gap between 911 calls for an opioid overdose and entry into treatment. The partners will establish durable linkages - from the initial emergency response to treatment entry - and will promote treatment retention by identifying and eliminating economic barriers that hinder treatment engagement among persons of color who are low income. Project Name. San Antonio First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Project Population of Focus. Adults between the ages of 18 and 54 who are predominantly male (70% male, 30% female, 10% LGBTQI) and Hispanic (85%) and live in lowest income zip codes in San Antonio/Bexar County, Texas where the incidence of opioid overdose has been greatest. Strategies and Interventions. San Antonio Fire Department has developed a longitudinal approach to caring for overdose patients that is making a significant, highly positive difference. Within 72 hours of being treated by EMS for an opioid overdose, SAFD's Mobile Integrated Health Officers (MIHO) visit the patient, administer buprenorphine, deliver a Narcan kit, and provide harm reduction education and treatment referrals (1,943 patients served in 2023). However, the paucity of no-cost/affordable MOUD treatment in San Antonio often means the population of focus experiences lengthy waits for treatment, causing many to return to using and making another overdose likely. San Antonio Fire Department, its EMS units and four collaborators - the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC), Be Well Clinic (an MOUD provider and a division of UT Health San Antonio), the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS, an MOUD provider and the local mental health authority), and the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness (SACADA, a prevention, intervention and recovery support provider) - seek to bridge the existing and widening gap between 911 calls for an opioid overdose and entry into treatment. These collaborators will establish durable linkages - from the initial emergency response to treatment entry - and will promote treatment retention by identifying and eliminating the economic barriers that hinder treatment engagement. Project Goals and Measurable Outcomes. The goal is to enable San Antonio's first responders and other collaborators to mitigate the opioid overdose crisis and provide resources to populations disproportionately impacted by overdose. Objectives, to be completed in four years, include: 1. Administer doses of buprenorphine within 72 hours of overdose to 8,353 patients, bridging the period between overdose and treatment. 2. Dispatch peers to provide encouragement and recovery supports and promote entry into treatment by 8,353 overdose patients. 3. Assist 4,176 low-income adults in clearing barriers to treatment entry, e.g., housing, employment, primary health care, health insurance, and locating an affordable treatment provider. 4. Ensure 50% of the patients served enter treatment and 75% are retained in treatment. 5: Provide training and technical assistance to up to 40 area schools or key community sectors in the use of Narcan (provided with training) and making referrals for treatment or support services. Of the 8,353 persons served during the project period, 100% will receive buprenorphine; 100% will receive recovery support; and 50% will be assisted in overcoming barriers to treatment entry or retention. Number to be Served. Year 1: 1,800; Year 2: 1,980; Year 3: 2,178; Year 4: 2,395; Total 8,353.

The Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA NW), an Urban Indian Organization (UIO), will address the opioid crisis in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and other underserved communities, in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area through the SAMHSA-funded FR-CARA project. The proposed project will expand culturally appropriate resources to strengthen the support system for our key community members in the battle to overcome the opioid epidemic where, in 2021, 779 overdose deaths (67% of all overdose deaths in Oregon) were attributed to opioids. By expanding our trainings around fentanyl and the role of naloxone in reversing suspected or known opioid overdose, and increasing our distribution of naloxone to our community, we aim to mitigate the overdose crisis and empower those disproportionately impacted. Goals and objections of our FR-CARA project are to: (1) mitigate the opioid crisis in the Portland Metro area, particularly among those disproportionately impacted, by increasing access to medications and devices that can reverse a suspected overdose or prevent opioid abuse, (2) improve knowledge and skills around serving diverse communities experiencing opioid addiction among our workforce and key community members, and (3) enhance community awareness and education on opioid prevention, treatment and recovery activities through culturally appropriate interventions framed by Oregon's Tribal Best Practices. We will achieve these goals through evidence-based trauma-informed care practices, including harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, drug checking, and targeted naloxone distribution. Goals will be regularly assessed and reviewed by our project team alongside our advisory committee. By the end of our four-year project period, we will strive to serve a total of 1,900 unduplicated individuals. Social determinates affecting Native and Tribal communities in the Portland metro area and directly contributing to the opioid crisis include poverty, poor education, incarceration, lack of housing, and insufficient access to medical care. The NARA NW FR-CARA project will increase awareness of opioid prevention for key partners and community members through education, training and strengthened support/recovery systems. Collaborations between NARA NW, its partners and the community will increase access to needed reversal medications and provide information to continue the battle against the opioid epidemic. Founded in 1970 by community Tribal leaders, the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest was initially established to address the unmet needs of Urban Indians facing substance use disorders. The establishment of successful outpatient programs led to the expansion in scope of services and in 1980 the Residential Treatment Center opened. NARA NW's proven success has continued, and we now operate 10 sites, offering medical, dental, mental health, and behavioral health services.

The overarching goal is to provide resources to support first responders and key sectors community member to mitigate the overdose crisis and establish processes, protocols, and mechanisms for warm hand-off referrals to appropriate treatment for those affected by opioid/fentanyl overrode. YN-DOH will fulfill this goal through development and expansion of first responders and community-wide training and education, policy and procedure development, implementation of an electronic referral and tracking system and community-wide distribution of naloxone and drug test kits

The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is a team-based, comprehensive model of patient treatment, designed to improve results, cut costs, and empower patients and their families. It emphasizes collaboration between medical providers and behavioral health (BH) providers to address common behavioral health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance misuse in medical settings like primary care (PC). The proposed project will establish a CoCM to serve residents of 12 Pennsylvania (PA) Counties: Allegheny, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming. These communities are medically underserved with ten of them being rural counties that include approximately 16% of the PA population, of which 6.5% are estimated to have a both a mental health and substance use disorder.1 The PA Department of Human Services (PA DHS) will leverage its existing and productive relationship with UPMC, a large integrated delivery and finance system (IDFS) headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, that delivers healthcare services and benefits across PA. Partner UPMC subsidiaries will include Community Care Behavioral Health Organization (Community Care), the largest Behavioral Health Managed Care Organization (BHMCO) in PA; UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, a nationally recognized leader in BH clinical care; providers and experts from UPMC's network; and the UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care (CHVHC), a non-profit research and evaluation organization housed within UPMC Insurance Services Division (ISD).

The New Jersey Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in partnership with the Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (RUBHC) Center for Integrated Care (CIC), will implement the collaborative care model (CoCM) in two primary care and one pediatric care clinics located in Newark (Essex County) and Elizabeth (Union County), two federally designated medically underserved areas (MUA) in New Jersey. The CoCM initiative will serve 1,100 unduplicated individuals (100 people in year 1, 300 in years 2-4 and 100 in year 5) with serious mental illness (SMI), serious emotional disturbance (SED) and co-occurring physical health and/or substance use disorders (SUDs) who present in the primary care and pediatric clinics. Teams of psychiatric consultants, behavioral health care managers, nurse care managers, and support staff coordinate behavioral health services with primary care utilizing the CoCM, including patient-centered, team-based, measurement-based, and population-based health care, as well as evidence-based behavioral health practices, such as brief cognitive behavioral therapy, early detection clinical high-risk for psychosis, and medications for opioid use disorder. Project goals include increasing the identification and treatment of individuals with mental health and SUDs, increasing patients’ attendance and retention in care, monitoring metabolic parameters of individuals receiving antipsychotics, using measurement-based care (e.g., PHQ-9) to improve treatment of depression, and screening children for depression and anxiety using an evidence-based tool. DMHAS will review data collected by the RUBHC CIC to determine whether the project is meeting objectives, and it will ensure sustainability of the initiative.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) seeks to promote the integration of primary and behavioral healthcare through the implementation of a Collaborative Care Model (CoCM). The proposed model will expand on and enhance Virginia's Adult Psychiatric Access Line (APAL), an innovative and collaborative care approach that provides Virginia’s primary care providers (PCPs) with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively screen, diagnose, treat, and manage adult patients presenting with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring substance use disorders and serious mental illness (COD). The APAL model is based on the following components: (1) Provider education and training on screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management of SUD/COD, (2) Case consultations with psychiatrists, addiction medicine specialists, psychologists, and/or social workers, and (3) Care navigation assistance in identifying appropriate regional substance use and mental health related services and resources. DBHDS is partnering with the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) as the APAL contract administrator. MSV represents over 11,000 Virginia physicians, residents, medical students, and physician assistants, and equips these providers with the tools and resources they need to best serve their patients and communities. MSV and Medical Society of Virginia Foundation (MSVF), which serves as the 501(c)(3) arm for MSV, have experience developing health care programs for physicians, which will be beneficial in developing APAL’s provider training and education component. The proposed CoCM will enhance APAL by embedding care management and psychiatric consultation support directly within three primary care practices located in South-Central and Western Virginia. These regions of the Commonwealth represent some of the most underserved and under-resourced communities with the highest SUD/COD needs and the most barriers to accessing care. This will allow for more targeted and integrated behavioral health and primary care in communities that could be most positively impacted by this increased access to collaborative care.

Overview: The Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Healthcare project (PIPBHC-CoCM) is an innovative initiative designed to integrate behavioral health services with physical health care in university settings across Tennessee. Targeting adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 28 with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and co-occurring physical health or substance use conditions, this project will implement evidence-based practices within three college health clinics to enhance student well-being and healthcare efficacy. Objectives: Enhance access to integrated health services for students, thereby improving academic, physical, and emotional outcomes. Implement evidence-based behavioral health interventions tailored to the needs of the youth and young adult populations. Develop and foster statewide partnerships and collaborations to support sustainable healthcare integrations. Serve as a centralized resource for training and evidence-based healthcare practices. Methodology: The project will employ a comprehensive approach involving the recruitment of skilled personnel, the adoption of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), and the utilization of structured care management practices. Key activities include the development of a state planning council, establishment of program readiness and implementation plans, and integration of behavioral health screening tools across university campuses. Expected Outcomes: Improvement in mental and physical health outcomes for participants. Reduction in wait times for healthcare services and increased student access to necessary care. Establishment of a robust, sustainable model for integrated behavioral and physical health care tailored to the needs of college students in Tennessee. Funding and Duration: The project is scheduled over a five-year period, aiming to build a long-lasting infrastructure that supports integrated health solutions and addresses the acute need for mental health services among college students, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care ( PIPBHCA) in Alaska aims to improve outcomes in the care of patients with mental health and substance use conditions in the primary care settings through the implementation of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) in Alaska. This grant funding will be administered to three primary care providers/practices in Alaska who will work in partnership with the State of Alaska to improve the identification and treatment of mental health conditions for Alaskans presenting in primary care settings with behavioral health needs. DBH will partner with providers in underserved communities or providers with a significant focus on serving populations facing health disparities. The State will work toward the following goals: Goal 1: Increase capacity in Alaska for implementation of integrated primary care and behavioral health services using the Collaborative Care Model. Objective 1.1- By 9/29/2025 The Collaborative Care Model will be fully established and implemented by three primary care providers in Alaska. Objective 1.2- By 09/29/29 each subrecipient primary care provider will increase the number of patients receiving behavioral healthcare services within their practice by 25% compared to their baseline established at program implementation as measured by the registry. Objective 1.3- During year 1-5 of the federally funded project Division of Behavioral Health will coordinate two provider education opportunities for subrecipients, primary care providers and behavioral health professionals statewide to support recruitment efforts that support The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM). Goal 2: Increase early detection and treatment of behavioral health symptoms in patients presenting in primary care settings. Objective 2.1-By 09/29/29 subrecipient primary care providers will provide screening utilizing the PHQ-9 screening tool through their registry to improve diagnosis, monitoring and tracking of depression symptoms and outcomes in at least 75% of presenting patients. Objective 2.2- By year five subrecipients will improve patient engagement in treatment by 25% through implementation of the Collaborative Care Model based on appointment attendance measured in the patient registry. Objective 2.3- Alaska will utilize NOMS responses annually to measure the individual self-rating of mental health functioning from section A-1 averaging initial, follow up, and discharge to review individual reporting of overall mental health to assess overall outcomes. The geographic region/population for this proposed project represents the full state of Alaska, including both urban and rural communities. Access to healthcare is extremely challenging for much of Alaska’s population due to the state’s expansive geography and inclement weather, high vacancy rates for primary care physicians and extremely high shortages of specialized care providers. This lack of specialized training and care within the workforce and in Alaska communities creates challenges for primary care physicians to adequately screen and make referrals for Alaskans presenting with or at risk for behavioral health conditions. The PIPBHCA partners will serve one or more of these special populations 1) Adults with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who have co-occurring mental illness and physical health conditions or chronic disease; 2) Children and adolescents with a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) who have a co-occurring physical health condition; 3) Individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD); 4) or Individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder (COD). The project aims to serve a total of 150 unduplicated individuals in year one, 200 in year two, 250 in year three, 300 in year four, and 350 in year five with a total of 1, 250 unduplicated individuals by end of year five.

The purpose of the Massachusetts Primary Care and Behavioral Health Integration Pilot project is to increase behavioral health screening, access to mental health care, and to improve the quality of care for undeserved individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who are living with or at high risk for co-morbid health conditions. To do this, MDPH, BSAS will partner with three community health centers to pilot the development, implementation and evaluation of fully integrated behavioral health care services into existing community-based primary care settings. The project will incorporate a number of evidence-based practices including but not limited to Integrated Models for Behavioral Health and Primary Care, Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), medications for addiction treatment and peer support. The overall goal of the project is to promote full integration of behavioral health care services in community-based primary care settings. We will serve a total of 4,550 individuals over the project period. Additional goals include: 1) formalizing partnerships with selected community, health center partners, 2) facilitating the development of integration implementation plan and 3) facilitate state level coordination and sustainability planning. The project team is experienced, diverse and inter-disciplinary; all have training and experience working on projects related to the integration of substance use into healthcare settings. Evaluation: Required client level data will be collected at baseline, six months and discharge and along with required project level and data will be used to determine if program goals, objectives, and outcomes are achieved and if adjustments are required. Additional data collection tools will include state-level data collection tools capturing client’s socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, current and past substance use at enrollment, and other relevant characteristics. This coupled with additional information collected at disenrollment including reasons for discharge, referrals made, and various proxies for estimating treatment outcomes will enhance our ability to evaluate and sustain the program once the grant ends.

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) will increase access to behavioral health services through implementation of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) in at least 9 primary care sites. The CoCM is an evidence-based, integrated care approach that addresses mental and substance use conditions in primary care settings. Care is provided by a primary care team and includes a case manager, consulting psychiatrist, and other mental health professionals. Through training, technical assistance and staff support, the ODMHSAS will collaborate with primary care offices to establish sustainable integrated behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. The ODMHSAS will partner with 3 primary care sites in Tulsa and surrounding areas to reach historically underserved and marginalized populations in year 1 and expand services in years 2-4 to reach Oklahoma City and rural primary care practices.