Telehealth Learning Series for SUD Tx and Recovery Support Providers

The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network, the Center for Excellence on Protected Health Information (CoE-PHI), the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, and the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) at the University of Nevada - Reno (UNR) are facilitating a FREE, national online discussion and resource sharing opportunity for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers and peer support specialists faced with transitioning their services to the use of telephone and videoconferencing methods in response to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

The series will feature:

• Live, one-hour sessions every week for at least 5 weeks via Zoom video conferencing (we may add more weeks based on demand!). Each session will include at least 45 minutes of peer-to-peer conversation and information exchange and “Top Five” tips and lessons learned
• Access to experienced providers and others with expertise in providing services using videoconferencing (telehealth) and telephone for SUD treatment and recovery support
• Access to professionals with expertise in protected health information and 42CFR Part 2
• Training tools, checklists, and other relevant resources

Who Should Attend?
SUD treatment providers, including peer specialists, counselors, administrators, peer support officers, and others providing and/or interested in providing care to patients/peers via videoconferencing platforms (telehealth) and/or telephone.

Registration
No registration required for the live sessions. Simply click on the zoom link at the appropriate date and time to join the discussion. No CEs will be provided for these sessions.

When?
Weeks of March 30 through April 27. Join one, two, three … or all of the live sessions! Combine your live session attendance with review of a curated list of resources that will soon be available on this page!

HITEQ Webinar Takeaways:

• Only the Top 5 Tips for Group Services via Telebehavioral Health section of the session is available as a recording. The slides are available here.

1. Plan Ahead - Review safety protocols as they will be impacted by the type of group (e.g., Psychoeducational, Process, etc.), where the clients and facilitator are, size of the group, and if it is open or closed. Facilitator should share the group “rules” at the beginning of the session.
2. Co-Facilitator Recommended - One facilitator to lead the group and one to monitor the chat, watch for raised hands, and any safety issues.
3. Call Ahead Safety Check with Client - Establish a group “safe word”. During call ask important questions such as: Where will you be when you attend group? (address/location) If we should get disconnected during group, what number can we use to reach you? Are you able to be in a private space?
4.  Interactive Activities - Identify tools available on platform (e.g., white board, break out rooms, annotate, polls, etc.) and practice using them in advance.
5.  Facilitator Drives the Bus - Facilitator should be in charge of the meeting controls such as muting clients or choosing to end the session if needed. Depending on the size of the group, determine and share in advance how participants should communicate (e.g., use chat, raise hand,etc.).