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Developing family support options through training and apprenticeships for substance use disorder counselors

Principal Investigator (PI) / Project Lead:

CASTILLO, JASON

Funding Organization:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program

RFP / FOA Number:

HRSA-20-014

Award Number:

T26HP39461

Funding Period:

9/1/2020 – 8/31/2025

Total Funding:

$2,189,007

Project Status:

In progress; Recruiting

 

Project Description:

The purpose of this project is to educate and train students-trainees and apprentices as substance use disorder counselors, thereby increasing the quality and quantity of these professionals in the behavioral health and child welfare workforce in the state of Utah.

 

Abstract:

After more than a decade of sustained declines in child welfare caseloads in Utah, the number of youth entering the child welfare system between 2012 and 2017 increased with a majority (67%) of these youth entering due to parental substance use. Compounding these issues is the shortage of substance use disorder counselors throughout the state. The purpose of this project, which will occur in the context of the College of Social Work's Substance Use Disorder Treatment Training Certificate (SUDTTC) Program, is to prepare substance use disorder counselor students-trainees and apprentices to work with youth and parents impacted by substance use disorders (SUD) and opioid use disorders (OUD) and who are or may be at risk of becoming involved with the child welfare system. The project (period performance of September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2024) will be managed by faculty members from the University of Utah College of Social Work, Department of Pediatrics, and Division of Public Health to include student-trainee and apprentice recruitment and advising; logistics—instructors and personnel; curriculum—didactics, workshops, and experiential field practicum placement; monitoring and evaluation; and reporting.

 

The project's clinical priorities are to provide students-trainees and apprentices with the knowledge and skills to (1) identify substance use disorder symptoms and behaviors and co-occurring health issues; (2) administer screening instruments to determine the substance use disorder services clients need; (3) conduct assessments to gather information related to an individual’s strengths, weaknesses, needs, and substance use disorder symptoms for the development of a treatment plan; (4) participate in the process of treatment planning; (5) develop treatment plans for substance use disorders diagnosed by field instructor or preceptor; and (6) promote interdisciplinary collaboration with other professionals.  The objectives of this project are to:

  • Enroll and graduate at least 116 individuals from the SUDTTC Program
  • Ensure that at least 80% of the students-trainees in the SUDTTC Program demonstrate competency and proficiency in/on substance use disorder counselor knowledge and skills
  • Implement at least 20 apprenticeship opportunities connected with the SUDTTC Program
  • Ensure that at least 80% of the apprentices in the SUDTTC Program demonstrate competency and proficiency in/on substance use disorder counselor knowledge and skills.

 

Grant-funded financial support for students-trainees and apprentices in the SUDTTC Program:

  • Students-trainees are eligible to receive funding support in the form of an up to $3,000 experiential scholarship (i.e., tuition/fees and supplies) and an up to $5,0000 stipend. The apportionment of these funds are based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in per semester in the SUDTTC Program.
  • Apprentices are eligible to receive funding support in the form of an up to $7,500 stipend. The apportionment of these funds are based on the number of apprenticeship hours completed by the apprentice.

 

Outcomes:

Project currently in progress.

 


Want to learn more about the University of Utah College of Social Work’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Training Certificate (SUDTTC) Program go to,https://socialwork.utah.edu/certificates/substance-use-disorder-treatment-training.php

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Last Updated: 9/11/24