The\u00a0Alliance for the Economic Development for Southern West Virginia (Alliance) partners today announced the Alliance will coordinate multiple\u00a0Screening, Brief Intervention\u00a0and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) trainings across its 21-county area. The first Appalachian SBIRT Training Summit is scheduled for Monday, April 2, at Bluefield State College.<\/p>\n
The trainings are coordinated and conducted by The Alliance, with the\u00a0efforts supported by a\u00a0Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) federal grant awarded to Marshall University.\u00a0SBIRT promotes universal screening of all individuals to identify use, early risks\u00a0and misuse in order to intervene appropriately.\u00a0Marshall University is the only institution conducting these trainings in the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cSBIRT training is a federal model that is well respected throughout the behavioral health profession and Marshall University has customized this national model for the Mountain State,\u201d said Marshall University President Jerome A. Gilbert, who is co-chairman\u00a0of the Alliance. \u201cThe Alliance is acting as a facilitator and connecting communities with available resources, tools and expertise, helping to ensure that our community leaders in our southern counties have access to this vital training.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Appalachian\u00a0SBIRT Training Summits are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Space is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis.\u00a0Physicians,\u00a0behavioral health care providers, school counselors and psychologists, dentists and dental techs, recovery coaches, the faith based community, health department professionals and community advocates\u00a0are encouraged to attend.<\/p>\n
Bluefield State College President\u00a0Marsha Krotseng explains, \u201cBluefield State College is committed to advancing our students and communities throughout southern West Virginia. Hosting events such as the Appalachian SBIRT Training Summit in conjunction with the Alliance strengthens the resources available to the surrounding communities and gives them essential tools to help combat the substance abuse epidemic. Training key individuals to identify the early stages of substance misuse, and providing resources that are locally available can make a profound impact on the course of our region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Details for the Appalachian SBIRT Training Summit in Bluefield include:<\/p>\n
April 2<\/strong> \u201cWe are excited about the opportunity to provide SBIRT training in the state,\u201d said Amy Saunders, director of the Marshall University Wellness Center and state coordinator for the\u00a0trainings.\u00a0\u201c<\/em>SBIRT is an established integrated health care model that helps health care and behavioral health care providers identify individuals who are using alcohol and drugs at risky levels and provide timely intervention to reduce negative consequences. Substance misuse is a health issue that goes often undetected and SBIRT provides us with an\u00a0established public health model for early intervention, before more severe consequences occur from risky alcohol and drug misuse.\u201d<\/p>\n The Alliance is a joint venture among\u00a0West Virginia\u2019s 10 southern colleges and universities to better connect the educational resources and workforce training offered in Southern West Virginia to promote the region, eliminate redundancies and share best practices, improve the quality of life for area residents, create jobs, keep West Virginia’s\u00a0talent pool in the state and revitalize southern communities.<\/p>\n The Alliance\u00a0partner institutions include:\u00a0 Bluefield State College, BridgeValley Community and Technical College, Concord University, Marshall University, Mountwest Community & Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Virginia State University and West Virginia University Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n The Alliance is focused on a 21-county area, including Boone, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster\u00a0and Wyoming counties.<\/p>\n For more information about the federal SBIRT program,\u00a0visit\u00a0https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/sbirt<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/wellness\/sbirt<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n\u200bLocation:\u00a0\u00a0Bluefield State College,\u00a0Tierney Auditorium \u2013 Dickason Hall
\n\u200bTime: 1\u20134 p.m.
\n\u200bTo register:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/appalachia-sbirt-training-summits-tickets-44422337407<\/a><\/p>\n