Community engagement, screening, assessment, & referral (cesar) - the community engagement, screening, assessment, & referral (cesar) project will implement sbirt across 15 primary care practices, one…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Endeavor Health Clinical Operations, doing business as Evanston Hospital, $989,566 under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490) on September 30, 2026, to implement screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) across healthcare settings in Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois.

The Community Engagement, Screening, Assessment, and Referral (CESAR) project will deploy universal SBIRT screening, brief intervention, peer recovery support, telehealth, workforce development, and coordinated referrals to treatment across 15 primary care practices, one federally qualified health center, three school-based health centers, and two hospitals. Over the five-year period of performance (September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031), approximately 36,130 youth ages 12–21 will receive services, with focus on adolescents at risk for substance use who have limited access to early intervention and treatment. Project objectives include onboarding all participating practices within five years, ensuring 90 percent of individuals screening positive receive brief intervention, and referring 100 percent of high-risk participants to appropriate levels of care.

Performance occurs at Evanston, Illinois.

Community engagement, screening, assessment, & referral (cesar) - the community engagement, screening, assessment, & referral (cesar) project will implement sbirt across 15 primary care practices, one federally qualified health center, three school-based health centers, and two hospitals serving cook and lake counties, illinois. Approximately 36,130 youth ages 12-21 will receive services over five years. The population includes adolescents at risk for substance use who often have limited access to early intervention and treatment. Strategies include universal sbirt screening, brief intervention, peer recovery support, telehealth, workforce development, and coordinated referrals across healthcare settings. The project's goal is to increase screening, expand evidence-based intervention, and improve treatment access. Objectives include onboarding all participating practices within five years, ensuring 90% of individuals screening positive receive brief intervention, and referring 100% of high-risk participants to the appropriate level of care.