Addiction Technology Transfer Centers II (ATTC II) - UW–Madison’s Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) will serve as the Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), offering research-based training and technical assistance (TTA) for the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services workforce in HHS Region 5. We aim to enhance workforce skills and knowledge, address health disparities, and promote culturally responsive and effective treatment and recovery practices across diverse communities. Serving as the Great Lakes ATTC since 2017 and the ATTC Network Coordinating Office (NCO) 2012–2017, we have offered research-based TTA at the national (via ATTC workgroups and conferences), regional, state, and local levels tailored to the treatment and recovery workforce needs. Since 2017 we have delivered 500+ webinars, trainings, and intensive technical assistance events; created 189+ products; collaborated with 100+ organizations; and served 19,000+ participants. Our success is reflected in consistently high attendance and positive evaluations. In 2023, feedback from 3,068 respondents revealed a 92% satisfaction rate with Great Lakes ATTC events. Additionally, 93% expected personal/community benefits, 85% 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 are SUD treatment professionals, pre-professionals, and treatment organizations. A special emphasis will be addressing the needs of underserved populations and reducing health disparities. Our outreach strategies will engage professionals serving LGBTQI+, rural/metropolitan, low socioeconomic, tribal, refugee/immigrant/asylum seeking, diverse ethnic/racial, and other communities. Over the course of the project, we will serve 12,000 individuals, starting with 2,000 in Year 1 and 2,500 individuals each year in Years 2–5. 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 Region 5’s SUD treatment and recovery workforce needs to inform work plan, identify linguistic and cultural needs, leverage existing resources, and prevent duplication. 2. Provide TTA to Region 5 SUD treatment and recovery professionals and pre-professionals, enhancing competency to implement culturally appropriate, evidence-based practices across the lifespan with a systems-change approach and innovative technology transfer strategies focusing on basic, (B) targeted, (T) and intensive (I) technical assistance. 3. Promote collaboration across Great Lakes states, the ATTC NCO, regional ATTCs, and SAMHSA T/TA centers to support SAMHSA’s mission/goals/objectives and to reduce duplication of effort. 4. Develop a new or expand an existing professional growth and development program. 5. Evaluate and report on project activities for funder/partner accountability and CQI and DIS tracking and participate in a multi-site evaluation partnership. 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.
