Saturday, June 7, 2025
6/7/2025
Substance Abuse-Free Education/Intervention & Referral (SAFER) Program - Through Horizon Health Services' (HHS) proposed Substance Abuse-Free Education/Intervention & Referral (SAFER) Program, HHS will expand and enhance access to the evidence-based SBIRT public health model for adolescents and young adults in middle and high schools as well as college to reduce underage drinking, opioid, and other substance use and the consequent negative health impacts. Our focus population is Western New York adolescents and young adults aged 10-25 - with the majority falling between ages 12-21 - in the Erie, Genesee, and Niagara Counties catchment area who are provided services at our New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health-licensed school-based clinics. To reduce disparities in treatment access and outcomes, we will actively seek to engage adolescents and young adults from underserved and marginalized populations including LGBTQ+. Recent data from the NYS Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System shows 23% of high schoolers reported drinking alcohol in the past month and in Erie County, one district relates that >10% of their high schoolers report regularly vaping. HHS recognizes three major problems/areas of need among the focus population in our catchment area: 1) Rates of Alcohol and Other Drug use (AOD) among adolescents and young adults are rising; 2) There is a lack of access to timely AOD intervention and treatment by an adequate and culturally-aware behavioral health workforce; and 3) Rates of poor outcomes associated with adolescent and young adult AOD are increasing such as persistent alcohol and substance use disorders in adulthood. Our goals and objectives - aligned with the aforementioned areas of need - include: 1) Increase the number of adolescents and young adults who are screened with an evidence-based tool for underage drinking, opioid use, and other substance use + tobacco. 2) Improve timely access to and availability of evidence-based, culturally appropriate AOD intervention and treatment services for SAFER participants. 3) Reduce non-dependent alcohol and substance use before it results in AOD disorders that continue into adulthood, potentially causing a multitude of health and social problems. Through our SAFER Program, HHS will augment our licensed school-based clinician capacity and provide evidence-based training to support the delivery of SBIRT screenings and services to meet our catchment area's growing AOD needs. We will offer 900 adolescents and young adults over 5 years screening for AOD, and possible co-occurring mental health conditions, utilizing validated screening tools. For adolescents and young adults who screen positive, Brief Intervention will be provided which employs Motivational Interviewing techniques to increase insight and awareness about substance use to inspire behavior change. Referral to Treatment may be indicated for individuals presenting with AOD beyond what the school-based clinic can support. For adolescents and young adults referred to treatment, multiple evidence-based practices may be applied given each individual's unique diagnosis(es) and treatment plan. In addition to SBIRT services provided by clinicians, adolescents and young adults will have access to a Case Manager to coordinate wraparound supportive services, a Family Liaison to assist families as they contemplate and approach treatment as well as with their cultural/linguistic needs, and Youth Peer Support through a community-based partnership. The SAFER Program will place significant emphasis on outreaching to underserved/minority segments of our catchment area to offer SBIRT services in additional adolescent- and young adult-serving settings over the course of the program to maximize health equity. By the end of SAFER, we aim to expand the uptake of SBIRT into routine healthcare encounters at our participating sites. Data collection/measurement procedures will be delineated in a comprehensive CQI Plan, including the use of standardized instruments per an established timeline.
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).