From left to right: Dr. Michael McCormick, staff physician, Caron Treatment Centers, Lorina Marshall-Blake, president, IBC Foundation, Sean Lavelle, regional vice president for Caron Treatment Centers, and Heather Major, manager IBC Foundation programs.
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation hosted two Caron Treatment Centers workshops on February 8 and February 28 to train nurses and health care professionals on Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, misuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. SBIRT trainings in schools and health care settings can increase screenings for substance use disorder as an early intervention strategy.
The SBIRT trainings were offered through funding from an IBC Foundation grant to Caron Treatment Centers. The grant provides for SBIRT training for health and school professionals, and educational programming for parents and students.
Training was provided to nearly 200 school nurses, school professionals, and health care professionals working in local health clinics and area nursing schools. Continuing education units were made available for registered nurses.
