Opioid-impacted family support program - this purpose of this proposal is to strengthen and sustain integrated behavioral healthcare delivery through specialized training with an apprenticeship model,…

Opioid-impacted family support program - this purpose of this proposal is to strengthen and sustain integrated behavioral healthcare delivery through specialized training with an apprenticeship model, where candidates become certified as dual peer recovery specialists (PRS) and community health workers(CHW)with the provisional alcohol & drug counselor credential to better address the needs of vulnerable populations including children, adolescents and transitional-aged youth, and families. The goals of this program are to: 1) build the capacity of behavioral healthcare teams and integrated primary/behavioral healthcare teams with specially trained PRS-chws in community-based health centers / behavioral health centers serving populations with complex physical/ behavioral health needs and social determinants of health issues. 2) improve the quality of care provided to individuals and families with behavioral health needs, including children and adolescents by integrated health/behavioral health care delivery teams through enhanced care coordination 3) create a pathway for para-professionals / peers to complete training and courses that lead to certification and meaningful employment as dually certified peer recovery specialists - community health workers and (PRS-CHW) who serve medically underserved populations and health shortage areas. 4) create a pathway that assists community-based healthcare/behavioral health providers to recruit and retain competent specialized staff. Fatal overdoses in rhode island have been on the rise since 2014, with provisional data showing 384 overdose deaths in 2023 . Through hrsa's opioid-impacted family support program, rhode island college's institute for education in healthcare aims to bolster the state's workforce supporting these vulnerable families. This initiative builds on an existing behavioral health case management apprenticeship program to create a new cadre of dually-certified peer recovery specialists-community health w orkers and (PRS-CHW). These front-line professionals provide critical linkages to healthcare, social services, and peer support for those impacted by substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges. The program starts with a comprehensive 162-hour training program covering: a 72-hour PRS-CHW core competency course, a 30-hour specialization empowering family systems impacted by addiction training, and RIC's 60-hour, 4-credit behavioral health case management course. Year 1-level 1 trainees (n=20) receive a $6,000 stipend. From the students who complete the year 1-training, 15 will matriculate into the apprenticeship. In years 2 through 4, the project recruitment includes 22 level 1 trainees and 17 level 2-apprentices. The 12-month, full-time apprenticeship places participants in interdisciplinary practice settings to apply skills with the support of experienced mentors. Apprentices receive $7,500 compensation plus specialized training on substance use disorders, trauma-informed care, family crisis support, and navigating systems. They'LL also obtain peer recovery specialist (PRS), community health work (CHW), and provisional alcohol & drug counselor (padc) credentials. Upon completion, apprentices' expertise and multifaceted skill sets that provide whole-person, integrated care allows them to effectively engage and advocate for children, adolescents and families impacted by addiction. The apprentices' earned PRS, CHW, and padc credentials reflect important resources to enhance retention of apprentices through medicaid reimbursement. Project funds support RI college staff and faculty's project work, trainees, apprentices, and program evaluation. The college looks forward to collaborating on projects, leveraging resources and expanding opportunities to share curricula, the program model, and students in field sites' experiences.