Project Overview To evaluate the effectiveness of a Training Support System for supporting counselors/therapists and improving their treatment outcomes as they provide Contingency Management, an evidence-based, outpatient drug and alcohol treatment for adolescents that involves the family in every stage of treatment. *Study funding provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse #R44DA033745 Click here to download a brochure outlining the training and training support you will receive.

For additional information, or to apply to join this study, please contact: Jaime Mulligan, Psy.D. Principal Investigator info@tssarena.com 717.467.1146 Or click the Live help button below to speak to a study representative!

Benefits of Participation:

• A chance to contribute to the improvement of drug and alcohol treatment for adolescents.
• Up to 15 free educational credits per counselor/therapist
• $40-$60 per counselor/therapist stipend for participation in focus groups, depending on number of focus groups completed
• Up to 20 months of free access to the Contingency Management Training Support System (CM-TSS) for each identified counselor/therapist which includes:
  1. 15-hour web-based training in contingency management, CM manual, and training companion
  2. Training Support System to support ongoing learning, counselor and program development
  3. Continuous Quality Improvement system for tracking outcomes and assessing fidelity to the treatment

Participants:

We are looking for outpatient counselors/therapists who provide drug and alcohol treatment for adolescents aged 12-17. The agencies where these counselors work agree to using Contingency Management for treating youth drug abuse and agree to use the Training Support System (provided for free as part of the NIDA-funded grant) for training and quality assurance of Contingency Management. Counselors/therapists will participate in a baseline period followed by assignment of their agency to one of two conditions. Randomization to a condition (like a flip of a coin) takes place through November, 2016.

We are enrolling participants now and will continue until all spots are full so contact us soon to save your spot!

The baseline and conditions are as follows:

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Baseline Period starting Fall 2016: All counselors in this study will be assigned to a 6-month baseline period. During this 6-month period counselors will continue to provide treatment-as-usual to provide a baseline period of assessment for the Training Support System:

• Input brief client intake and discharge information into the web-based system
• Measurements of treatment interventions through a brief Therapist Adherence Measure tool (paper survey) completed by the client each month throughout treatment
• Submit 1 session recording (we will provide the digital recorder at no cost) (you are entered for a chance to win $100 for each tape reviewed)
• Counselors will participate in 1 focus group ($20/counselor stipend)

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Condition 1 Starting Fall 2016: Counselors assigned to the Training Support System condition will participate in:

• 15 hour web-based training and manual on Contingency Management with Adolescents and Their Families. Counselors will learn how to use Contingency Management interventions for treating adolescent substance abuse within an outpatient family therapy context.
• Counselors will use the CM treatment approach (when appropriate) for the duration of the study to provide treatment to substance using adolescents and their families.
• Assignment to a Lead Trainer who is an expert in contingency management and who will provide the counselor and agency ongoing training support, treatment resources, and assistance interpreting outcomes via phone, email, online “chat” or web conferencing
• Review of audiotape recordings of sessions by the Lead Trainer for professional development and ongoing training (you are entered for a chance to win $100 for each tape reviewed)
• Access to an eLibrary, an online resource library for forms, latest research and tools for families and teens
• Access to an online database for tracking outcomes and generating outcome reports for Continuous Quality Improvement
• Measurements of adherence to the treatment interventions through a brief Therapist Adherence Measure tool completed by the client each month throughout treatment
• Participation in 1 focus group ($20 /counselor stipend)

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Condition 2 starting Fall 2016: Counselors assigned to the training condition #2 will receive the web-based CM training and manual and will use the treatment for 9 months while continuing to input brief client intake and discharge information into the web-based system. After the end of the 9 months, counselors in this condition will receive the full Training Support System as they continue to use the CM interventions to treat adolescent substance abuse. Thus, Condition 2 is as follows:

 Months 1-9 

• 15 hour web-based training and manual on Contingency Management with Adolescents and Their Families. Counselors will learn how to use Contingency Management interventions for treating adolescent substance abuse within an outpatient family therapy context.
• Counselors will use the CM treatment approach (when appropriate) for the duration of the study to provide treatment to substance using adolescents and their families.
• Measurements of treatment interventions through a brief Therapist Adherence Measure tool completed by the client each month throughout treatment
• Participation in 1 focus group ($20 /counselor stipend)

Months 9-15 

• Assignment to a Lead Trainer who is an expert in contingency management and who will provide the counselor and agency ongoing training support, treatment resources, and assistance interpreting outcomes via phone, email, online “chat” or web conferencing
• Review of audiotape recordings of sessions by the Lead Trainer for professional development and ongoing training (you are entered for a chance to win $100 for each tape reviewed)
• Access to an eLibrary, an online resource library for forms, latest research and tools for families and teens
• Access to an online database for tracking outcomes and generating outcome reports for Continuous Quality Improvement
• Measurements of adherence to the treatment interventions through a brief Therapist Adherence Measure tool completed by the client each month throughout treatment
• Participation in 1 focus group ($20/counselor stipend)

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The anticipated end date for enrollment to be in this  study is November 2017. All agencies have the option to continue to use the Training Support System into early 2019 at no cost, with no further study participation required.

Agency Responsibilities:

• Permit information to be input into the web-based system during the 6-month baseline period
• Allow counselors to participate in 2-3 focus groups over duration of study
• Support counselors as they provide Contingency Management to include:
  1. Time set aside for them to complete the online training
  2. Resources for photocopying treatment forms
  3. Permission to submit session audiotapes for quality assurance review by the Lead Trainer (we will provide the digital recorder at no cost)
  4. Collection of the Therapist Adherence Measures from all clients every month that they are in treatment
  5. Entering data into the Training Support System for quality assurance monitoring
  6. Time for counselors to complete (when necessary) remediation training administered by the Lead Trainer