Saturday, September 7, 2024
9/7/2024
The primary aim of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Substance Use Disorder (SUD) practitioner education expansion program is to address the treatment gap for persons experiencing addictions by providing SUD practitioners-in-training with high-quality, culturally aware, rigorous, and comprehensive training and education. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 7.8 percent of persons 12 years or older needed substance abuse treatment in the past year, yet only 1.8 percent received treatment (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018a). One of the primary factors contributing to this gap in treatment is the characteristics (i.e. attitude, knowledge, abilities) of SUD practitioners (O'Brien, Crable, Fullerton and Hughey, 2019). The proposed program will serve both community members and the greater population of persons experiencing SUDs by addressing those provider characteristics that reinforce the stigma associated with substance use and directly impact client experience in SUD treatment. An estimated 242 practitioners-in-training will be served annually, and a total of 484 practitioners-in-training will be served throughout the lifetime of the project. Specifically, the goals and objectives of this program are to: 1) Develop competent culturally aware SUD practitioners by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and awareness of practitioners-in-training, as evidenced by a measurable increase in scores in practitioner-in-trainings' pre and post assessments regarding course concepts committed to memory, and competent demonstration of skill during in-class exercises. 2) Increase community-member and student access to high-quality training that exceeds the curriculum and training requirements outlined by the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) for licensed providers, as evidenced by increased availability of online SUD specific courses (from 20% to 50% of courses available online) and increased enrollment in these courses (from 10-15 students to 15-25 students) by May 15, 2021. 3) Modify the curriculum (student learning objectives, textbook and readings, assignments, in-class activities, quizzes and exams) for the established 9 class 27 credit hour addictions and recovery emphasis/minor according to student and instructor feedback, while ensuring that these courses continue to address SUD assessment, screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment, and treatment principles as pertains to specific substances of abuse (i.e. alcohol, marijuana, stimulants and opioids). 4) Increase opportunities for students to engage in supported work experience in SUD treatment by hiring a Field Placement Coordinator who will facilitate partnerships with local addiction and recovery focused agencies and establish a total of 20 partnerships by December 15, 2020. 5) Enhance student opportunities to participate in advocacy efforts to increase the number of SUD specific questions on state licensing and certification exams through participation in the UCCS Collegiate Recovery Program student sub-committee.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
