Effective and timely substance use care
CHDI is improving care for young people with co-occurring mental health and substance use needs through timely substance use screening and care that’s available in the same places they receive mental health support.
Improving substance use care for young people with co-occurring conditions
Youth substance use is a concern for many families, yet less than 40% of adolescents and only 16% of young adults who need substance use treatment receive it. CHDI is working to change this by helping behavioral health providers identify and address early substance use among patients with mental health disorders and if needed, connect them to high-quality treatment.
With the support of federal and state funding, CHDI is leading three initiatives to expand the availability of four evidence-based practices for substance use screening, early intervention, and treatment in community-based mental health settings across Connecticut. The initiatives include SBIRT PATHS, CT-TREE, and the Substance Use Disorder Project.
CHDI is disseminating four evidence-based practices
SBIRT (including the adolescent adaptation A-SBIRT) is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that trains direct service staff to detect substance use with validated screens, use a brief intervention with motivational interviewing (MI) to engage young people in behavior change, and refer them to treatment.
Once screened, a provider can use brief intervention or treatment with motivational interviewing (MI) to engage the youth in behavior change. This can be done briefly or integrated within outpatient treatment for youth with mild or moderate substance use disorders. Providers can refer youth with severe substance use concerns and families to more intensive care.
MDFT-TAY addresses substance use problems in 4-6 months with TAY (aged 16 through 25), caregivers, the family, and the community. Services are provided in a hybrid format, which includes telehealth, in-home, and clinic-based sessions by a behavioral health clinician, clinical supervisor, and a therapist assistant.
MET-CBT integrates two established evidence-based practices to address substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. The intervention cultivates change in motivation, thoughts, and behaviors. It is flexible and can be delivered in brief or extended formats ranging from 5 to 12 outpatient sessions.
A Wraparound approach for service coordination helps families identify and meet their needs in a way that is family-centered, strengths-based, and builds informal and formal supports. Services are uniquely tailored for families and youth with substance use concerns.
SBIRT (including the adolescent adaptation A-SBIRT) is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that trains direct service staff to detect substance use with validated screens, use a brief intervention with motivational interviewing (MI) to engage young people in behavior change, and refer them to treatment.
Once screened, a provider can use brief intervention or treatment with motivational interviewing (MI) to engage the youth in behavior change. This can be done briefly or integrated within outpatient treatment for youth with mild or moderate substance use disorders. Providers can refer youth with severe substance use concerns and families to more intensive care.
MDFT-TAY addresses substance use problems in 4-6 months with TAY (aged 16 through 25), caregivers, the family, and the community. Services are provided in a hybrid format, which includes telehealth, in-home, and clinic-based sessions by a behavioral health clinician, clinical supervisor, and a therapist assistant.
MET-CBT integrates two established evidence-based practices to address substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. The intervention cultivates change in motivation, thoughts, and behaviors. It is flexible and can be delivered in brief or extended formats ranging from 5 to 12 outpatient sessions.
A Wraparound approach for service coordination helps families identify and meet their needs in a way that is family-centered, strengths-based, and builds informal and formal supports. Services are uniquely tailored for families and youth with substance use concerns.
SBIRT PATHS Initiative
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Prevention and Access to Treatment Hubs and Services (SBIRT PATHS)
Connecticut Treatment Expansion and Enhancement (CT-TREE) Initiative
Connecticut Treatment Expansion and Enhancement (CT-TREE) is a five-year initiative to improve the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders for transition-aged youth (ages 16-25) in Connecticut. CHDI partnered with United Community and Family Services (UCFS) and Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) to develop the CT-TREE initiative.
It is funded by a $2.7 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded to CHDI in June 2023.
The CT-TREE initiative will expand and enhance two well-established, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment models at UCFS and CMHA. The models include Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Multidimensional Family Therapy for Transitional Aged Youth (MDFT-TAY), and a Wraparound approach for coordinating services.
The initiative will provide SBIRT training to at least 100 UCFS and CMHA providers and partners, with the goal of screening at least 1000 youth ages 16-25 for substance use. CT-TREE also aims to provide at least 450 transition-aged youth with MDFT-TAY and a Wraparound approach for service coordination to achieve outcome benchmarks for youth functioning and stability.
CT-TREE is a joint initiative between CHDI, United Community and Family Services (UCFS) and Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA). An Advisory Committee includes stakeholders from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), Turning Point CT, community providers, and includes individuals with lived substance use and/or mental health disorders.
The initiative will provide SBIRT training to at least 100 UCFS providers and partners, with the goal of screening at least 1000 youth ages 16-25 for substance use. CT-TREE also aims to provide at least 450 transitional-aged youth with MDFT-TAY and Care Coordination to achieve outcome benchmarks for youth functioning and stability.
Connecticut Treatment Expansion and Enhancement (CT-TREE) is a five-year initiative to improve the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders for transition-aged youth (ages 16-25) in Connecticut. CHDI partnered with United Community and Family Services (UCFS) and Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) to develop the CT-TREE initiative.
It is funded by a $2.7 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded to CHDI in June 2023.
The CT-TREE initiative will expand and enhance two well-established, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment models at UCFS and CMHA. The models include Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Multidimensional Family Therapy for Transitional Aged Youth (MDFT-TAY), and a Wraparound approach for coordinating services.
The initiative will provide SBIRT training to at least 100 UCFS and CMHA providers and partners, with the goal of screening at least 1000 youth ages 16-25 for substance use. CT-TREE also aims to provide at least 450 transition-aged youth with MDFT-TAY and a Wraparound approach for service coordination to achieve outcome benchmarks for youth functioning and stability.
CT-TREE is a joint initiative between CHDI, United Community and Family Services (UCFS) and Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA). An Advisory Committee includes stakeholders from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), Turning Point CT, community providers, and includes individuals with lived substance use and/or mental health disorders.
The initiative will provide SBIRT training to at least 100 UCFS providers and partners, with the goal of screening at least 1000 youth ages 16-25 for substance use. CT-TREE also aims to provide at least 450 transitional-aged youth with MDFT-TAY and Care Coordination to achieve outcome benchmarks for youth functioning and stability.