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This webinar focuses on the Behavioral Health Assessment Officer (BHAO) model to increase access to mental health and substance use disorder care in rural communities. A BHAO is a licensed behavioral health provider working in a rural emergency department, who evaluates and manages care for patients identified at screening to have behavioral health concerns.

Research shows that stigmatizing beliefs around substance use disorder (SUD) can be reduced by bringing people into contact with a person who has the stigmatized medical condition and educating them about effective treatments and the potential for recovery. This campaign applies those strategies through art and community workshops.

When the coronavirus surged in March 2020, Strong Recovery in Western New York made the tough, but necessary call to suspend their in-person groups for individuals with substance use disorder. They rapidly converted to video-based group therapy in April to continue providing this important service—the “heart and soul of our program.” Online groups have created new opportunities to connect with patients and will carry on after the pandemic.

In rural communities where pharmacotherapy may not be available in primary care practices, telemedicine-based treatment with providers outside the immediate area can serve as a 2-3 year bridge, supporting patients in their recovery while allowing PCPs to become trained in pharmacotherapy and integrate care management into their practices. A bridge program also supports SUD treatment programs in maintaining access to treatment for new patients.

In this webinar, Gloria Baciewicz and Patrick Seche of Strong Recovery and UR Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence discuss targeted naloxone (often known by the brand-name Narcan) distribution. They describe how to establish a program, and suggest “touchless” approaches to delivery and remote training that are helping expand access to naloxone in rural areas.

In this webinar, Patrick Seche and Itza Morales-Torres of Strong Recovery will discuss the steps they are taking to adapt substance use disorder (SUD) programs as quickly as possible in response to the COVID-19 crisis. They will give an overview of new federal and state regulations and discuss changes they are implementing such as social distancing and telehealth.

Our first webinar, “Creating Solutions: Recovery in the Opioid Crisis,” focuses on evidence-based practices (EBPs) that can help communities combat substance use disorder, particularly synthetic opioid use.