Connecticut treatment expansion and enhancement (CT-tree) - the connecticut treatment expansion and enhancement (CT-tree) initiative will enhance comprehensive treatment, early detection and…

Connecticut treatment expansion and enhancement (CT-tree) - the connecticut treatment expansion and enhancement (CT-tree) initiative will enhance comprehensive treatment, early detection and intervention, and recovery support services for transitional aged youth (TAY) ages 16-25 in eastern connecticut with substance use disorders (SUD). The primary goal is to ensure TAY experience well-coordinated and integrated behavioral health services to achieve optimal health and wellness. TAY in connecticut's eastern region have disproportionately high rates of substance use disorders, overdose, and illicit drug use compared to the rest of the state and nationally. To compound these issues, most of this region is rural and experiences significant lack of economic resources and community supports. Despite the exceptional efforts to combat these public health concerns by the federally qualified health center in this area, united family and community services (ucfs), service gaps remain particularly high for TAY with SUD. CT-tree will expand two well-established, evidenced-based SUD models at ucfs to ensure TAY will receive vital services: 1) screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (sbirt) and 2) multidimensional family therapy for transitional aged youth (mdft-TAY). By the end of the grant, at least 1000 TAY will be screened for SUD and at least 450 TAY will receive mdft-TAY. CT-tree will provide sbirt training to at least 100 ucfs providers and ensure mdft-TAY is delivered with fidelity and achieves outcome benchmarks for TAY functioning and stability. Within three and six months of starting treatment, at least 50% of TAY will be abstinent or reduce their substance use across all racial and ethnic groups. To ensure that TAY receive the best tailored approach, CT-tree enhancements of TAY services will include specialized training (e.g., trauma principles and screening, child health and development, parent education and skills training) for the TAY population and an innovative, hybrid delivery of mdft-TAY that integrates in-home, in-office, and virtual sessions. Additionally, CT-tree will establish an advisory committee that includes stakeholders from the connecticut department of children and families and department of mental health and addiction services, TAY community providers, and TAY with lived experience of suds. The advisory committee will help ensure CT-tree's goals are met and accommodations for the TAY community are prioritized. CT-tree will leverage these established relationships and successes to further statewide efforts to identify SUD earlier, promote healthy behaviors, and expand access to evidence-based SUD treatment for the TAY community in connecticut.