The Health Center has partnered with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to obtain $8.3 million in new federal Affordable Care Act funds to support early screening of substance abuse patients over a five-year period.

The Connecticut Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (CT SBIRT) Program will be implemented at 30 community health center sites statewide to increase identification and treatment of adults who are at risk for substance misuse or diagnosed with a substance use disorder.

The Department of Community Medicine at the Health Center will be responsible for training, supervision and program evaluation connected with this national program focusing on the early identification of alcohol and drug abuse in primary health care settings.

The CT SBIRT Program is a private-public partnership among the State’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), UConn Health Center, and the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut.

“This award demonstrates successful collaboration between multiple state agencies and local providers — an essential aspect of our work helping people achieve better lives for themselves and their families,” said Jeannette DeJesús. DeJesús leads the Office of Health Reform & Innovation, charged with overseeing Connecticut’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

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