Thursday, April 18, 2024
4/18/2024
The overarching goal of this project is to create new access to a full range of high quality SBIRT services, including medication treatment for addiction, in a statewide network of pediatric primary care practices. Even in the midst of the opioid epidemic, which has been designated a public health emergency, fewer than 10% of adolescents with a substance use disorder (SUD) ever receive treatment, and the vast majority of referrals originate in the justice system. Fewer than 2% of adolescents receiving treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) are prescribed medications, despite clear recommendations from the AAP. The goal of integrating SBIRT and substance use services in primary care is falling short for AYA. The Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program (ASAP) and the Pediatric Physicians Organization of Children’s (PPOC), which are both programs within the Children’s Hospital integrated care organization, have partnered to re-envision SBIRT in pediatric primary care. In this new multidisciplinary model, a specially trained, licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) is brought on staff in a primary care pediatric office to deliver brief interventions, brief treatment and support referrals and serve as a bridge to the ASAP sub-specialty team of pediatric addiction medicine specialists. The LICSW functions as a fully integrated member of the primary care team - participating in team rounds and multidisciplinary care. PCPs and other staff members participate in SBIRT through administering screens, providing positive reinforcement and brief medical advice, connecting with the LICSW for warm hand-offs, prescribing medication (including for nicotine, alcohol and/or opioid use disorder), monitoring with urine drug testing as indicated, reinforcing the medical importance of substance use treatment, and helping coordinate referrals to outside providers when necessary. In addition to providing direct services, incorporating a SUD-trained LICSW elevates the practice of the PCPs by empowering them to more effectively identify and address substance use. Over the next five years, we will aim to provide high quality SBIRT services annually to more than 33,000 AYA, including brief treatment for more than 3,100 and medication treatment for opioid use disorder for more than 100 AYA within 5 years by scaling the program of integrated LICSW’s into 25 pediatric practices. Each integrated practice will be staffed with an LICSW who will provide 20 hours of SBIRT clinical services per week, and supported clinically by the team of Pediatric Addiction Medicine specialists in ASAP.
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).
