A Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Collaborative: Impact for Social Work Students

ABSTRACT

Screening brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is a clinical intervention empirically linked to reductions in substance usage. However, less is known on how to effectively train social work students on SBIRT. This study examines the impact of a SBIRT training administered to BSW and MSW students (N=228) at the University of Oklahoma. Based on exposure to the training, our evaluation measured changes on students’ objective knowledge of how to perform SBIRT and in attitudes toward practicing with substance users. Results indicated exposure to the training was associated with robust gains across variables and across classes. Such results suggest that the proffered SBIRT training is an effective means to educate social work students on substance abuse practice.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [TI 25982-02].

Notes on contributors

Ricky T. Munoz

Ricky T. Munoz, JD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor at University of Oklahoma School of Social Work.

Christina R. Miller

Christina R. Miller, PhD, is an Associate Professor at University of Oklahoma School of Social Work.

Teresa A. Fritz

Teresa A. Fritz, MSW, is a Director at Center for Social Work and Health Care, University of Oklahoma.

Page N. Miller

Page N. Miller, MSW, SBIRT, is a Collaborative Project Manager at Center for Social Work and Health Care.

Jam Khojasteh

Jam Khojasteh, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Education Psychology, Oklahoma State University.