Project Grant H79TI088623

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Mississippi State University $981,891 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490) to implement PROJECT BRIDGE, a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) initiative serving youth ages 12–21 across five northeast Mississippi counties.

PROJECT BRIDGE will screen at least 4,500 unduplicated youth over the five-year performance period (through September 29, 2031) and deliver brief intervention, brief treatment, referral, and recovery supports through pediatric practices, youth-serving organizations, and behavioral health partners. The project targets youth with chronic or complex health conditions, including serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, co-occurring disorders, and chronic medical conditions. Service delivery strategies include universal screening, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, case management, caregiver education, and telehealth. Performance targets include providing brief intervention to approximately 900 participants, brief treatment to 200 youth, and completing warm handoffs for at least 85% of referrals. The project will monitor fidelity and outcomes through continuous quality improvement to improve early identification, expand treatment access, and strengthen coordinated care. Work is performed in Mississippi.