In response to the Opioid epidemic, the Central East ATTC partnered with the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers to provide training and technical assistance (T/TA) to their member network in the implementation of SBIRT. SBIRT is an evidence-based intervention used to help Screen, provide a Brief Intervention and Refer appropriate patients for Treatment related to substance use disorders. Through T/TA, Central East will worked with PACHC members to enhance their understanding, knowledge and skills in the implementation of SBIRT, meeting over a several month period. The goal of the project will be to support agency staff in the development of a realistic Implementation Work Plan.
Provide orientation to the Central East ATTC and our role commitment to workforce development
Describe the partnership between that PACHC and the Central East ATTC
Provide a basic understanding of SBIRT and its implementation in health care settings
Describe the purpose and structure of the Intensive Technical Assistance project, including time investment and timeline.
Answer questions surrounding participation
Any PACHC member interested in implementing Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).
Holly Ireland, LCSW-C, is the Co-Project Director of the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center at The Danya Institute. Holly has 30 years’ experience working in the behavioral health field, beginning her career as a Residential Rehabilitation Counselor while working on her undergraduate degree in psychology at Towson University. She graduated from University of Maryland, Baltimore with a master’s in Social Work with a primary concentration of Clinical and a secondary concentration of Management and Community Organization. During her career, she has provided direct service in outpatient behavioral health and recovery support settings, including individual, group and family therapy for co-occurring disorders, crisis intervention, trauma treatment, Assertive Community Treatment, and advocacy. Holly serves as adjunct faculty for Salisbury University’s Social Work Department, teaching social welfare policy and advanced practice courses. Most recently she provided leadership and administration of Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc., a non-profit organization responsible for planning and management of the continuum of services in Public Behavioral Health System in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Holly joined the MSBH team in 2006, serving as executive director 2010-2017.
A native of Easton, Holly loves the Eastern Shore of Maryland, its culture, its people, and its ecology. When not serving as a clinician, administrator or advocate, Holly enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, being an active member of the community, and being outdoors – basically doing anything that advances health and wellbeing.
Amy Williams, MS, is the Program Specialist for Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder with PACHC. She is responsible for promoting, supporting and facilitating the integration of behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) services in community health centers in Pennsylvania. Amy also serves as a consultant to health center clinical providers and staff by providing and/or coordinating training and technical assistance related to the full scope of behavioral health and substance use disorder operations. Amy has a clinical background in both mental health and substance use disorder as well as programming experience at a higher education level. She is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a Masters in Counseling and College Student Personnel.
