Arena is pleased to announce a matching funds opportunity to support training and quality assurance for outpatient drug and alcohol providers who treat adolescents. The goal of this matching fund is to support the training of outpatient drug and alcohol counselors in the use of Contingency Management, an evidence-based substance abuse treatment, and to evaluate a web-based training and quality assurance system. This funding announcement is specifically for training persons who treat adolescent addictions as an outpatient treatment provider and are willing to complete annual feedback reporting on their experiences with the web-based Training Support System.
[toggle title_open=”I would like to see the training and support system before I decide to apply. Can a demonstration be set up?” title_closed=”I would like to see the training and support system before I decide to apply. Can a demonstration be set up?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] Absolutely. We can set up a time to demonstrate the entire system through a video conference with the Clinical Director. You will receive an overview of the system and you will be able to click through it to see functionality and content. Please contact info@tssarena.com to set up a demonstration. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”Do we need support letters?” title_closed=”Do we need support letters?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] Support letters are not required for the proposal. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”What training do staff receive?” title_closed=”What training do staff receive?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] The initial CM training is listed as a 15-hour training. This time will depend on counselor experience. More experienced counselors may complete the training faster than those unfamiliar with the content. Ideally a counselor would complete the training before seeing clients however, if that is not practical, then it is expected that the counselor will complete the first 3 modules before seeing clients. The training is entirely online and can be stopped and started at any time to best fit within an outpatient counselors schedule. In addition to the initial training, there is a yearly 8-hour booster training that can be an all day training or can be broken up into two 4-hour training’s to better meet agency schedules. Counselors also have access to a voluntary, weekly, 45-minute networking training that cover a wide-range of topics. Every training is eligible for continuing education credits. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”Can we use our own treatment plans or are there CM-specific plans?” title_closed=”Can we use our own treatment plans or are there CM-specific plans?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] CM does not require the use of specific treatment plans. An agency can maintain their own paperwork and just indicate the CM intervention/module within their existing documentation. CM does have worksheets counselors will use in sessions and session agendas for the counselor to follow. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”Can other issues be addressed in treatment or is the focus solely on drug use?” title_closed=”Can other issues be addressed in treatment or is the focus solely on drug use?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] The focus of treatment is on the drug use AND on the factors that contribute to the drug use so the therapy sessions will address other issues in the youth’s life including family conflict, problems with peers, issues at school, finding prosocial activities, etc. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”I am unclear on the Lead Trainer Role. How do we access the trainer and what services are available?” title_closed=”I am unclear on the Lead Trainer Role. How do we access the trainer and what services are available?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] One Lead Trainer is assigned to each agency so every CM counselor within the agency will have the same Lead Trainer. This trainer is responsible for ensuring counselors successfully master the CM training and for monitoring the counselor, and their agencies, ongoing implementation of the interventions. The Lead Trainer is available daily via email, phone, video conference and secure chat for consultation, resources, program development activities, and quality assurance. The Lead Trainer monitors the training completion and the discharge outcomes for each client who receives CM treatment. Quarterly outcome reports are generated and submitted to each agency with recommendations for program development and training suggestions to foster program development. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”What start-up support is available?” title_closed=”What start-up support is available?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] The CM Clinical Director will visit your agency for a 1.5 day start-up and program kick-off. This visit will include an overview of CM for your agency, enrollment of all counselors in the training and QA system, and distribution of all materials. In addition, the Clinical Director is available for kick-off/outreach meetings with your key stakeholders and referral sources. These meetings typically include a brief overview of adolescent addiction and the CM model followed by a review of the referral process and program communication presented by an agency representative. Arena has sample marketing materials that agencies can use to help promote your CM program. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”What technology is needed to implement this program and access the training?” title_closed=”What technology is needed to implement this program and access the training?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] The CM training, training resources, and quality assurance system are all web-based and can be accessed from any device that has internet access. Counselors will need access to a computer with internet access in order to be able to complete the training. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”What if families do not consent to the audio recording?” title_closed=”What if families do not consent to the audio recording?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] Recording of sessions is incredibly valuable for feedback and for improving interventions for the youth so it is in the client interest to participate in session recording to enhance their treatment experience. The tape review is for quality assurance purposes however the priority is always on maintaining client engagement in treatment. If a client refuses to participate in the recording of sessions the counselor can use the Lead Trainer to try to develop a plan to overcome the barrier but clients are always free to refuse and should in no way feel pressure to sign consents for recording. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”Please explain the use of rewards. Who provides them and how are they paid for?” title_closed=”Please explain the use of rewards. Who provides them and how are they paid for?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] Rewards are a key part of the CM program. By tying rewards to negative drug screens and drug-incompatible behaviors we can help motivate youth to learn drug refusal skills and engage in prosocial activities. Counselors work closely with both the youth, caregivers, and ecology to identify non-monetary, sustainable rewards. For example, youth are often motivated by having someone do their chores for them or earning out of having to do a chore. Extended curfew, driving practice, selecting a movie to watch, time with a friend, transportation to an activity are all rewards that can be used, for example. Each youth is different so the list of rewards is truly endless.Counselors can also work with the family to coordinate with key stakeholders for rewards such as extended curfew approved by probation. CM teams have also been successful funding CM treatment through Medicaid. The rate identified for CM includes up to $50 per youth to be used to kick-off a rewards plan or supplement a plan a family has developed. The Arena team can help you with a plan for Medicaid-funded rewards. [/toggle] [toggle title_open=”How do we fund CM once the matching period is over?” title_closed=”How do we fund CM once the matching period is over?” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”] There are a number of options for ongoing funding. Your Lead Trainer is responible for assisting you with program development and sustainability planning. Programs have used local dollars to fund the QA, Medicaid reimbursement, and reinvestment funds. Every community is different so in Year 1 your Lead Trainer will begin the process of developing a post-match funding plan. [/toggle]