Substance Use Care and Treatment

IMPROVING SUBSTANCE USE CARE FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN CONNECTICUT

Youth substance use is a concern for many families, yet less than 3% of adolescents and less than 4% of young adults who need substance use care receive it. Many factors interfere with getting care, including limited early substance use identification and unsuccessful linkages to high-quality treatment options.

Connecticut’s behavioral health workforce is uniquely situated to increase access to services for young people with substance use concerns. CHDI is leading two initiatives to expand evidence-based substance use screening, early intervention, and treatment.

Connecticut Treatment Expansion and Enhancement (CT-TREE) initiative 

CT-TREE is a partnership between CHDI and United Community and Family Services (UCFS) to improve the treatment of substance use disorders for transitional-aged youth (ages 16-25) in eastern Connecticut. The CT-TREE initiative will expand two well-established, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment models at UCFS Federally Qualified Health Centers located in Norwich, New London, Griswold, Plainfield, and Colchester. The models include:

• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT):  SBIRT, including the Adolescent adaptation called A-SBIRT, is a comprehensive EBP approach that efficiently 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.

• Multidimensional Family Therapy for Transitional Aged Youth (MDFT-TAY): MDFT-TAY addresses substance use problems in four to six 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 a behavioral health clinician, clinical supervisor, and a recovery coach.

CT-TREE will establish an Advisory Committee that includes stakeholders from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, community providers, and transitional-aged youth living with substance use disorders. The initiative is funded by a five-year $2.7 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded to CHDI in June 2023. View the News Release announcing CT-TREE

Substance Use Disorder Project (A-SBIRT)

CHDI works with the State of Connecticut to improve early substance use identification initiation and treatment engagement for youth to reduce the use of higher levels of care through improved access to services. Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics for Children (OPCC) providers across the state who partner in this project will offer the following evidence-based substance use support to youth using substances through a team of clinicians and care coordinators:

• Adolescent Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, (A-SBIRT): A-SBIRT detects substance use through validated screens. 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.
• Care Coordination using the Wraparound approach: Care Coordination helps families identify and meet their needs through a Wraparound approach that builds supports. Services are uniquely tailored for families and youth with SUD concerns.

OPCC provider initiative partners include:

• Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut (CFA)
• Clifford Beers Community Care Center
• Community Health Resources (CHR)
• Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA)
• The Child and Family Guidance Center, and
• United Community and Family Services (UCFS)
• Wellmore Behavioral Health

CHDI provides quality improvement, data collection, and reporting of youth substance use disorders receiving Care Coordination and A-SBIRT services and will facilitate statewide substance use disorder reimbursement education.

This project is part of a larger statewide effort to expand the continuum of substance use disorder services across the lifespan that is funded by the State via a federal 1115(a) Demonstration Waiver from January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025.