Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Health Professions Student Training (SBIRT- Student Training) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the FY 2016 SBIRT Health Professions Student Training grant?

This is a SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) discretionary grant opportunity designed to expand the health care workforce trained to identify and respond early to risky substance use using SBIRT: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment.

2) What does SBIRT stand for, and what does it involve?

SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. In practice, it means routinely screening patients for unhealthy substance use, delivering brief, evidence-based interventions when risk is identified, and connecting patients who may have or be developing a substance use disorder (SUD) to appropriate treatment and recovery supports.

3) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The central goal is to help schools and training programs build and deliver structured SBIRT education so SBIRT becomes a normal part of clinical training and, ultimately, everyday health care rather than an optional add-on.

4) Who is this grant intended to train?

The opportunity emphasizes training students across multiple health professions. SAMHSA highlights learners such as physician assistants, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, counselors, and medical students and residents.

5) Why does the program emphasize training across multiple disciplines?

SBIRT is commonly delivered in real-world settings by teams. The grant reflects that many SBIRT providers are non-physician health professionals, while physicians often play leadership roles by supervising teams, advocating for implementation, and integrating SBIRT into clinical workflows. The program supports a team-based model of care consistent with Affordable Care Act priorities around integrating behavioral health within general medical settings.

6) Is the grant focused only on teaching clinical techniques?

No. In addition to SBIRT clinical skills, the program aims to build leadership capacity among trainees and academic programs so graduates can champion SBIRT implementation across the broader U.S. health care system.

7) Why is SBIRT positioned as important in routine health care settings?

The announcement notes that many people at risk for substance use disorders do not fit well in, do not have access to, or are not ready for specialty substance use treatment programs. SBIRT is framed as an early-intervention approach embedded in routine health care encounters to identify risk sooner, reduce harmful use through brief counseling approaches, and support timely referrals when more intensive services are needed.

8) Does SAMHSA expect SBIRT training to be part of the formal curriculum?

Yes. SAMHSA expects SBIRT training to be integrated into the formal curriculum of participating academic programs every year during the grant period and to remain in place after the grant ends.

9) Is this funding meant for a short-term project or a sustainable program?

The funding is intended to help institutions build sustainable curriculum, faculty capacity, and training infrastructure rather than operate a short, temporary project.

10) What does “system integration” mean in the context of this program?

The announcement emphasizes that SBIRT works best when screening and brief intervention activities in health care settings are coordinated with a reliable network of referral partners. This includes community-based specialty treatment programs and other supportive services. The grant is therefore about more than classroom instruction; it also supports functional connections between clinical training sites and the local treatment continuum.

11) How does this opportunity connect to broader federal priorities?

The opportunity supports SAMHSA strategic initiatives related to health care and health systems integration and workforce development. It also aligns with Healthy People 2020 substance abuse goals.

12) Does the grant encourage applicants to address behavioral health disparities?

Yes. The announcement encourages applicants to address behavioral health disparities by implementing strategies that reduce gaps in access, service use, and outcomes among racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority populations. This signals an expectation that training prepares students to deliver SBIRT in culturally responsive ways and to think intentionally about equity in screening, intervention, referral pathways, and follow-up care.

13) What agency is offering this grant?

This is offered by HHS/SAMHSA, through the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

14) What type of funding opportunity is this?

It is a discretionary grant funding opportunity.

15) What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number listed is 93.243.

16) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is TI 16 002.

17) How many awards did SAMHSA anticipate making?

SAMHSA anticipated making about 12 awards.

18) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed is $290,000.

19) When was the opportunity posted, and when was the application due?

The opportunity was posted on November 5, 2015. The application closing date was January 4, 2016.

20) What is the legal authority for these grants?

The grants are authorized under Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details provided in the full announcement. Based on the purpose of the program, the applicants likely include academic institutions and training programs capable of implementing health professions education and clinical training partnerships, but the specific eligibility requirements are contained in the full announcement.

22) What kinds of institutions or programs does the grant appear designed to support?

Based on the description, the grant is designed to support schools and training programs that can integrate SBIRT into curriculum, develop faculty and training infrastructure, and build clinical training partnerships and referral networks with community-based treatment and supportive services.

23) What does “Referral to Treatment” imply for training programs?

In the context provided, it implies that programs should prepare students not only to identify risk and provide brief interventions, but also to connect patients to appropriate treatment and recovery supports, ideally through coordinated referral partnerships within the local treatment continuum.

24) What is the expected long-term impact of this grant?

The stated intent is to normalize SBIRT within clinical training and everyday health care, expand the workforce that can respond early to risky substance use, and strengthen the connections between health care settings and community-based treatment and supportive services.