From:
David T. Jones, Director
Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
National Impaired Driving Month
As we enter the joyful holiday season, we encourage IDHS/SUPR licensed organizations to continue providing information about the devastating impact of impaired driving, also known as Driving Under the Influence (DUI). In 2019, Illinois lost 276 people to alcohol-related accidents and the Secretary of State recorded 26,224 DUI arrests. The National Highway Transportation Safety (NHTSA) administration has developed holiday campaign materials to increase impaired driving awareness (https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over/holiday-season). The materials are free to anyone interested in preventing impaired driving and keeping our roads safe now and in the future.
If you have questions about DUI services, contact LaKeshia Sumrall-Carr, NCC, LCPC at LaKeshia.Sumrall-Carr@illinois.gov or 312-814-5826.
Illinois Gambling Webinar
Please register for the upcoming webinar below by clicking on the title of the training. Details for logging-in and participating in the webinar will follow.
December 8, 2020: Gambling and Young Adults/Understanding Youth Gambling
Opioid Response Network Collaboration
Join the Opioid Response Network (ORN) Virtual Community Collaboration (VCC) to discuss building capacity in four counties in Eastern Illinois (Vermillion, Edgar, Douglas and Coles) to address the opioid epidemic using evidence-based practice.
Live Session 1: Jan 12, 2021 1-3pm CT
Live Session 2: Feb 18, 2021, 1-3pm CT
For more information and to register, please visit: https://forms.gle/G2s6y5PBUooQjiHm7
Free Mutual Aid Group for Illinois Frontline Staff
Frontline staff are facing unprecedented stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Advocates for Human Potential for a free mutual aid group to share experiences, feel supported and get resources.
When: Tuesdays at 12pm (CT)
Opioid Overdose Prevention Seminar for Hospitals
An upcoming Seminar for Hospitals focuses on how hospitals and emergency departments can help prevent overdose deaths and participate in efforts to increase naloxone distribution and MAR access. For additional information and to register, please see https://events-na2.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/916603251/en/events/event/shared/2156351027/event_landing.html?sco-id=2156340344&_charset_=utf-8.
Please share with any physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, nurses, pharmacists or social workers that may benefit from attending.
Rural Faith Leaders Virtual Workshop
This month, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will be hosting the first of four rural faith-based workshops to bring the rural faith community together to discuss, learn and share information and resources to help individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). Each workshop will have a specific focus to assist all houses of worship to position themselves to be both first responders and communities of hope and support for people and families dealing with SUD.
The first workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8th, from 1:00-2:30pm EST.
To RSVP, please e-mail Betty-Ann Bryce at MBX.ONDCP.RuralAffairs@ondcp.eop.gov. Please include your name, title, organization and contact information.
For more information on this event and workshop series, please visit Rural Faith Leaders Workshop Series: Empowering Faith Leaders to Help Persons with SUD - Rural Community Toolbox.
Dual Diagnosis Capability in Addiction Treatment Reviews
IDHS/SUPR, in partnership with the Illinois Co-Occurring Center for Excellence (ICOCE) at Heartland Alliance Health, is looking for individuals interested in being trained to administer the Dual Diagnosis Capability in Addiction Treatment Reviews (DDCAT) alongside ICOCE staff and co-reviewers. Ideal reviewers are those who have experience in SUD treatment settings, including at the management and supervisory level, and especially those with knowledge of standard policies, procedures, training, staffing and billing procedures for SUD treatment.
The training will be offered in late January or early February. Additional details will be shared when finalized. For more information about the DDCAT or to inquire about this training opportunity, please contact Dr. Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch at vnarloch@heartlandalliance.org, Stephanie.Frank@illinois.gov.
Virtual Compliance Reviews
To support safe practices that limit the spread of COVID-19, IDHS/SUPR launched a new virtual compliance review process in August 2020. To date, IDHS/SUPR has successfully completed approximately 20 virtual compliance reviews. There are two key changes in the compliance review process:
1: Administrative and clinical materials are submitted electronically via the State of Illinois secure file transfer website, and 2: compliance monitors conduct entrance and exit conference calls via WebEx. The compliance and monitoring team will work with organizations to overcome any issues that they encounter. The process will continue to evolve to ensure that it is user-friendly and that all organizations can meet the new virtual format requirements.
Access to Medication Assisted Recovery
Access to Medication Assisted Recovery (AMAR) is an initiative that SUPR began in 2018 with the goal of improving access to medication-assisted recovery in service "deserts", locations in Illinois that didn't have access to providers who were prescribing/dispensing medications for Opioid Use Disorders (OUD). Five rural sites were funded in Southern, Central and Western and Northern Illinois. See https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=115412 for additional details.
A total of 564 clients have been served by this project since its inception and 64 counties now have established access to MAR, up from 45 when the project began. Access to MAR has been improved in all 102 counties in Illinois. Building on a Hub and Spoke model, the focus of the AMAR projects is to establish locations that provide comprehensive assessments and then can refer and manage clients who need methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone to treat their OUD. A primary finding from the evaluation of this project conducted by Advocates for Human Potential is that building networks is complicated and takes time. Use of telemedicine has helped with the challenge of transportation in rural locations. Future goals include improving connections with the Hospital Warm Handoff Sites and recovery resources - ROSCs and recovery housing.
Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment
Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an approach to delivering early intervention and treatment to adolescents and adults with substance use disorders AND those at risk of developing disorders. SBIRT works by screening an individual for use with a short questionnaire like the AUDIT, DAST-10 or ASSIST. If they screen for risky use, a brief intervention or treatment may occur. If they screen for severe risk, a treatment referral may be indicated.
Screenings can occur in primary care centers, hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms, schools, college campuses and community-based organization.
Physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, health educators, police/probation officers, clergy and teachers are among those who can deliver it.
To learn more about Illinois SBIRT efforts, contact SUPRs SBIRT Grant Director, Roseann.Solak@illinois.gov or visit the Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions (IRETA) at https://ireta.org.
COVID-19 Exceptions
A gentle reminder that COVID-19 exceptions are still in effect and have no expiration date at this time. Services delivered through Telehealth are still acceptable.
Please review the Provider Notice from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) dated March 20, 2020, "Telehealth Services Expansion Prompted by COVID-19" at https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalProviders/notices/Pages/prn200320b.aspx.
IDHS/SUPR has also sent several communications regarding this exception. To review, please visit https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123240.
Recovery Residences Registry
The IDHS/SUPR Recovery Residence Registry has been moved to the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at https://helplineil.org/ to streamline searches, rather than looking in a separate place for recovery residence information. Information in the registry helps IDHS/SUPR better understand recovery residences' capacity and support for Medication Assisted Recovery. If you partner with a residence that is not listed, please invite them to register and/or contact Jennifer.Jennings@illinois.gov to list the organization. Search the recovery residences registry at https://helplineil.org/app/account/opa_result.
OCR Updates
As of November 30, 2020, 26,301 persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) have been served through these Opioid Crisis Response (OCR) Grants. Updated OCR accomplishments are summarized each month at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=105980.
Smart Alerts and Other Communications
DHS Coronavirus: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123118
SAMHSA COVID-19: samhsa.gov/coronavirus
The health, safety and well-being of all those we serve are amongst our highest priorities. Please visit the State of Illinois Coronavirus page at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov.
Summary of SUPR Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27896/documents/IDHS-SUPR_Coronavirus_Summary_Index.pdf
Smart Alerts: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=42567
- IDHS/SUPR Provider Payment Update
- IDHS/SUPR Announces Provider Engagement Sessions
SUPR COVID-19 Communications: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123240
