SBIRT for Health Professionals Project ECHO Series

SBIRT for Health Professionals Project ECHO Series will provide community health professionals with the training and support they need to manage substance use issues within health settings specializing in treating pregnant and non-pregnant persons of reproductive populations using an SBIRT model.

Dates: Coming soon.

Unhealthy substance use is common among pregnant and non-pregnant persons of reproductive age populations seeking healthcare in Nevada. Among this population, substance use can increase rates of unintended pregnancy, lead to substance exposed pregnancy, including neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), and impact postnatal outcomes for the parent and infants. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a public health strategy to identify and assist patients with unhealthy substance use. SBIRT can be effectively integrated into health settings to improve patient outcomes. SBIRT provides universal screening, prevention, and early intervention for those with risky substance use and referral to behavioral or medication assisted treatment for those who need more intensive services.

The SBIRT for Health Professionals ECHO will provide community health professionals with the training and support they need to manage substance use issues within health settings specializing in treating pregnant and non-pregnant persons of reproductive age populations using an SBIRT model. This program will include an expert specialist team and interdisciplinary clinicians and other health professionals in local Nevada communities. The series will include six weekly tele-ECHO clinics that include a didactic presentation, combined with patient case presentations and mentoring.

Series Schedule/Topics:

  • Session #1: Program Orientation
  • Session #2: Screening
  • Session #3: Brief Intervention and Motivational Interviewing
  • Session #4: Referral to Specialty Care
  • Session #5: Medication-Assisted Treatment
  • Session #6: Implementation Planning

SBIRT FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CASE REVIEW FORM

Our Team

  • Christina Boyd, LSCSW, LCAC. Christina is a clinical social worker as well as a clinical addictions counselor who has worked in the behavioral health field for over 23 years. She is currently the Coordinator for Strategic Initiatives for the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare as well as the CEO of a behavioral health consulting company, Hope and Wellness Resources. Christina is an experienced trainer and has provided live and virtual presentations on numerous behavioral health topics throughout the country, and continues to be passionate about the equity of health resources in rural areas.
  • Jennifer Hettema, Ph.D. Dr. Jennifer Hettema is a clinical psychologist with expertise in the development, delivery and evaluation of brief behavioral interventions in medical settings. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has extensive training and research experience related to SBIRT. Dr. Hettema will contribute expertise on: motivational interviewing, brief interventions protocols, and quality/fidelity, to the ECHO expert panel.
  • Chris Harsell, DNP, ANP-BC. Dr. Harsell has nearly 20 years experience in clinical practice and post-secondary education. Dr. Harsell is a nurse practitioner and clinical associate professor at the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines at UND. She is a previous project director of an Interprofessional SBIRT training grant at UND. Dr. Harsell is the medical director at Spectra Health, a federally qualified health center in North Dakota where she works with an integrated primary care team that offers medications for substance use disorders. She is passionate about patient centered treatment for SUD, harm reduction, and interprofessional health care
  • Jillian Anderson, MA, LADC, MFT
  • Mary Velasquez, PhD
  • Farzad Kamyar, MD