LEONARDTOWN, MD (October 1, 2014) – The St. Mary’s County Health Department is seeking proposals from community organizations to provide Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training to local primary care providers and school counselors. The St. Mary’s County Board of County Commissioners allocated non-recurring county funds for fiscal year 2015 to address the substance abuse issues affecting St. Mary’s County residents. Utilizing the expertise of a team of community leaders on this topic, the Board of County Commissioners approved an initiative that calls for the St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) to contract with a community organization to provide SBIRT training to facilitate early detection and referral for treatment of substance abuse disorders. SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs.
Up to $20,000 will be awarded to one community organization to implement the SBIRT training between approximately November 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 in the St. Mary’s County area. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit sealed proposals from community organizations to provide SBIRT training for local health care practices and assist with the inclusion of SBIRT as part of routine screening for children and adults to facilitate early screening and referral prior to the need for more extensive treatment.
The Health Department intends to make one award to a single contractor whose proposal is deemed most advantageous to SMCHD and who will be able to provide all services and meet all requirements of the proposal. The contractor shall:
- Provide SBIRT training to local primary care providers
- Provide SBIRT training to local school counselors
- Provide technical assistance to primary care physicians on implementing a written organizational protocol for ensuring SBIRT delivery in their practices
- Be responsible for training coordination, scheduling, materials, marketing and recruitment of participants
- Provide clinical case consultation (not otherwise reimbursable by health insurance) and follow up referral information for consumers on an as needed basis
For more information about the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Training and request for proposals, please visit the health department’s website at www.smchd.org/rfp.