Program Implementation

Successful program implementation requires intentional effort [1], [2]. What does this mean for SBIRT? Training your staff members, learning new procedures, updating your electronic medical records, and similar steps are pieces of a broader puzzle. Integrating SBIRT into your organization will take time, planning, and resources.

While there are several ways to approach SBIRT implementation, below is a list of the steps we have successfully used to integrate and sustain SBIRT. These steps are expanded upon in downloadable implementation tools below and in self-paced implementation training modules.

  1. Form an SBIRT team.
  2. Review and modify organization policies and practice.
  3. Determine and acquire supplies and resources needed.
  4. Train staff to increase competency.
  5. Provide messaging to the community.
  6. Launch SBIRT.
  7. Evaluate and improve.

Building Buy-In or Spreading Awareness of SBIRT?

Share this one-page summary of SBIRT Use this double-sided SBIRT postcard

Implementation Tools

The following Planning Worksheet lists common questions that often need to be answered to build out a process flow for an integrated SBIRT program. You may find it helpful to use this document as a discussion and documentation tool when planning to implement SBIRT at your site.

The Decisions Worksheet provides a blank flowchart and grid of the common steps in the SBIRT process (prescreening, screening, and intervention). It can be used to design the process flow for a standard SBIRT encounter, including mapping how data such as screening results will be documented and how those results will be communicated between care providers at different stages in the process.