Mghpr/cima sbirt: evidence-based substance use screening and brief intervention for puerto rico youth ages 12-21 across a 27-municipality catchment - proyecto oportunidad will implement a…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Mennonite General Hospital, Inc. $995,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490) to implement a system-wide screening and brief intervention initiative for substance use across Puerto Rico.

The recipient, operating through its Centro De Salud Conductual Menonita Cima behavioral health division, will deploy universal screening, motivational interviewing, and evidence-based brief intervention protocols (Teen Intervene, A-CRA, FRAMES) across 21 Mennonite General Hospital sites serving 27 municipalities across Puerto Rico with a population catchment of 957,077. The project targets youth ages 12–21 with chronic or complex health conditions, individuals at risk for or experiencing substance use disorders, and those with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Services include care coordination, telehealth, warm handoffs, peer recovery support, and family engagement. The initiative will serve 200 individuals in year one and 2,200 over the five-year period of performance, which runs through September 29, 2031. Performance objectives include screening at least 80 percent of eligible patients, delivering brief interventions to 85 percent of positive screens, achieving 75 percent treatment engagement, and maintaining 80 percent six-month follow-up rates.

Mghpr/cima sbirt: evidence-based substance use screening and brief intervention for puerto rico youth ages 12-21 across a 27-municipality catchment - proyecto oportunidad will implement a system-wide sbirt initiative across 21 mennonite general hospital sites serving 27 municipalities in puerto rico (population 957,077). The project will serve 200 individuals in year 1 and 2,200 over five years, with at least 60% consisting of youth ages 12-21 with chronic or complex health conditions. Participants include individuals at risk for or experiencing substance use disorders, CO-occurring behavioral health conditions, and chronic medical conditions. Strategies include universal sbirt screening, motivational interviewing, teen intervene, a-CRA, frames, peer recovery support, family engagement, care coordination, telehealth, and warm handoffs. The project's goals are to implement universal screening, improve early identification, increase treatment engagement, and strengthen recovery outcomes. Objectives include screening at least 80% of eligible patients, providing teen intervene to at least 75% of eligible youth, delivering brief interventions to 85% of positive screens, achieving 75% treatment engagement, and maintaining 80% six-month follow-up rates.