SBIRT in Schools

Who should take this course?

  • Nurses seeking licensure as a school nurse (SBIRT is one of four mandated trainings)
  • Any school health professional (nurses, social workers, counselors, psychologists) performing screening
    • Experienced screeners who have previously taken this course do not need to retake this course.
    • Please note that this training is not intended for paraprofessionals.
  • Anyone seeking a refresher in SBIRT skills
  • NOTE: This course has 1 hour of pre-work before the Zoom session.

► Note: SBIRT screening tools have been updated to include tobacco and nicotine and are detailed in the SBIRT in Schools Resource Toolkit (revised 9-8-2022). Additional tools are provided in the SBIRT Screening Resources section.

► New Optional Course! Health professionals interested in learning more about how to discuss the use of nicotine, tobacco, and vaping with their students may be interested in taking the OPTIONAL CRAFFT+N - Talking with Students about Nicotine, Tobacco and Vaping course

 

How does SBIRT help me reinforce healthy teen behaviors?

Massachusetts law (MGL Chapter 71, Section 97) requires verbal substance use health screenings in public schools. SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) is being used as a comprehensive approach to meet this mandate. This course introduces learners to school SBIRT program implementation and best practices in screening, reinforcing healthy choices, and intervening when students report substance use behaviors.

This course includes both live Zoom and online training content.  Health professionals seeking contact hours and nurses seeking licensure as school nurses must complete all components of this course.

  • The first online lesson of this course describes the impact of substance use on teens, regulatory requirements for conducting verbal substance use screenings in schools, and key elements of the SBIRT in Schools program. The second online lesson provides an overview of Motivational Interviewing and how it is used to enhance conversations about behavior change.
  • The live Zoom session introduces learners to SBIRT skills including screening, providing positive reinforcement, conducting brief negotiated interviews using Motivational Interviewing principles, and making referrals.

 

Target Audience

This course is designed for school health professionals (nurses, social workers, counselors, psychologists) who will be engaged in conducting SBIRT screening in their schools or districts.

This is one of four training workshops mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in order to be licensed as a School Nurse.

Please note that this training is not intended for paraprofessionals.

Learning Objectives

After completing the full course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the impact of substance use on teens 
  • Utilize the state approved verbal substance use screening tool 
  • Summarize the elements of the REACT model (for students who do not report substance use, or screen negative) 
  • Summarize the elements of the Brief Negotiated Interview (for students who do report substance use, or screen positive) 
  • Identify statewide referral resources 
  • Describe school team members' roles in creating an effective screening program 
  • Describe why MI is an effective counseling style when working with individuals with substance use 
  • Describe how the components of the Spirit of MI facilitate conversations about change 
  • Comply with MA regulatory requirements to implement a school based verbal substance use screening program
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 4.75 ANCC
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Continuing Nursing Education is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
  • 4.00 BU School of Social Work
    This lecture has been approved by The Network for Professional Education at Boston University School of Social Work which is authorized through the MA state board of Social Work to provide CE Credit Hours.
  • 4.75 Participation
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Course opens: 
07/28/2021
Course expires: 
06/30/2023
Course Length
Content Duration
Self-Paced Activityapproximately 140 mins (~2.4 hours)
Zoom session2 hours

Live Zoom Session Dates:

Please note that Zoom links are available after registering for the course. To ensure proper engagement, please note that there's a participation limit of 45 attendees. 

*Note: This training may be at capacity. Please plan accordingly. If you have any questions, email  shieldbu@bu.edu

  • March 22nd, 2023| 3:00 - 5:15 PM*
  • March 28th, 2023| 1:00 - 3:15 PM
  • April 4th, 2023| 9:00 - 11:15 AM*
  • April 12th, 2023| 9:00 - 11:15 AM
  • April 26th, 2023| 1:00 - 3:15 PM
  • May 5th, 2023| 9:00 - 11:15 AM
  • May 15th, 2023| 3:00 - 5:15 PM
  • June 5th, 2023| 1:00 - 3:15 PM
  • June 13th, 2023| 1:00 - 3:15 PM

(Trainings are available twice a month until June and returning in late August!)

Hybrid (Zoom portion)
United States

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine asks all individuals involved in the development and presentation of Accredited Continuing Education activities to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. This information is disclosed to all activity participants prior to the start of the educational activity. Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has procedures to mitigate all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. In addition, faculty members are asked to disclose when any unapproved use of pharmaceuticals and devices is being discussed.  

In accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that faculty, planners, authors, and anyone who may be in control of content has been mitigated.

The faculty below do not have any relevant financial relationships. 

Faculty

Angela Cooper

Angela Cooper is a licensed Art Therapist, and Motivational Interviewing, and SBIRT trainer. For the last 15 years, Angela has worked with adolescents and young adults involved with the criminal justice system, the foster care system, and with histories of substance use and abuse. She has trained community-based organizations, school personnel, probation officers, and more to use Motivational Interviewing to engage young people in conversation about their behavior in a way that supports their autonomy while enhancing their intrinsic motivation to make healthier life choices. She fully believes that young people have within them what they need to learn healthy coping mechanisms and make positive life choices. They just need an empathetic adult to help them find it.

Alissa Cruz, MPH

 

Alexandra Heinz, LCSW, MPH

Alex Heinz is a trainer for the MASBIRT Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program at Boston Medical Center. Her past experience includes seven years of direct service provision in the non-profit sector with youth and adults in areas of intimate partner violence, sexual health, mental health, substance use, and infectious disease. She has master’s degrees in Public Health and Social Work from Boston University. Throughout her career, Alex has gained valuable skills in training, health education, group facilitation, and public speaking. Prior to working with MASBIRT TTA, Alex was a Medical Case Manager for the Hepatitis C Clinic in the Boston Medical Center Adult Primary Care practice.

Caroline Hone, MPH

Caroline Hone is a trainer for the MASBIRT Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program at BMC. She has five years of experience working with middle and high school students in out-of-school-time educational programs in Boston. Caroline has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Boston College and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Public Health, with a focus in health communication, at Boston University. Caroline is passionate about ensuring youth have the information and support to make their own healthy choices.
 
 
Beverly Heinze-Lacey, MPH, BSN, RN

 As Director of Boston University’s School Health Institute for Education and Leadership Development (SHIELD), Beverly is responsible for professional development programming for school health professionals statewide. Formerly, as the SBIRT in Schools Program Manager for the Massachusetts Department of Public School Health Services, she provided training and consultation to local school districts in implementing SBIRT screening programs. As a former School Nurse and School Nurse Leader, she has extensive experience in managing local school health programs. She has worked as a clinical research nurse and HIV/AIDS epidemiologist and has coordinated a variety of public health and clinical research initiatives.

CME/CNE Program Manager: Lesly Zapata, BA

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Continuing Nursing Education is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation 
Boston Chobanian & Avedisian University School of Medicine designates this enduring material 4.75 contact hours, none of which are eligible for pharmacology credit. 

This program has been approved for 4.0 Social Work Continuing Education Credits, in accordance with 258 CMR. Boston University School of Social Work Authorization Number B-24-017.

SHIELD is a DESE-approved provider for PDPs. PDP certificates are issued for programs/series lasting 10 or more hours on a topic. CNE certificates are also issued for eligible courses. Learners may use CNE certificates toward PDPs.

 

Course Release Date:7/1/2020
Material Reviewed:6/22/2021; 6/24/2022
Course Expiration Date:6/30/2023

Available Credit

  • 4.75 ANCC
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Continuing Nursing Education is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
  • 4.00 BU School of Social Work
    This lecture has been approved by The Network for Professional Education at Boston University School of Social Work which is authorized through the MA state board of Social Work to provide CE Credit Hours.
  • 4.75 Participation
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Please login or register to take this course.

Who should take this course?

  • Nurses seeking licensure as a school nurse (SBIRT is one of four mandated trainings)
  • Any school health professional (nurses, social workers, counselors, psychologists) performing screening
    • Experienced screeners who have previously taken this course do not need to retake this course.
    • Please note that this training is not intended for paraprofessionals.
  • Anyone seeking a refresher in SBIRT skills
  • NOTE: This course has 1 hour of pre-work before the Zoom session.

► Note: SBIRT screening tools have been updated to include tobacco and nicotine and are detailed in the SBIRT in Schools Resource Toolkit (revised 9-8-22). Additional tools are provided in the SBIRT Screening Resources section.

► New Optional Course! Health professionals interested in learning more about how to discuss the use of nicotine, tobacco, and vaping with their students may be interested in taking the OPTIONAL CRAFFT+N - Talking with Students about Nicotine, Tobacco and Vaping course

Live Zoom Session Dates:

Please note that Zoom links are available after registering for the course. To ensure proper engagement, please note that there's a participation limit of 45 attendees. 

(Trainings are available twice a month until June!)

These meetings are subject to cancellation if registration is low


Disclosure

THIS CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. IN NO EVENT SHALL BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM. IN NO EVENT SHOULD THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE.  NO PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS BEING ESTABLISHED. IN NO EVENT SHOULD INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS REGARDING LAWS, REGULATIONS, OR LEGAL LIABILITY BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE OR USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY.


Copyright

This material is copyrighted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).  MDPH grants permission for use of these materials for non-commercial educational use only, provided credit is given to the MDPH.  Modification of content is permitted only with prior approval of the MDPH School Health Unit.


Special Services / Dietary Needs

Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive and diverse in our facilities, programming and academic offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability, require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason please contact the BUSM-CME Office at least 3 weeks prior to event to discuss your needs.  For in person meetings with meals, we will work to accommodate dietary requests (including, but not limited to: kosher, vegetarian, low cholesterol, and low sodium) received in writing at least three weeks prior to the start of the conference.  Please contact us at cme@bu.edu