Family First SBIRT Study

Project Description

Omni was selected to design a rigorous study to evaluate the effectiveness of SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) among adolescents in school-based health centers. The ultimate goal is to generate strong supporting evidence for SBIRT’s impact, with the intent of achieving a Supported evidence designation. The study employs a quasi-experimental design (QED)—a research approach well-suited for real-world settings where random assignment is not feasible. This design will compare outcomes between a site implementing SBIRT and a similar non-SBIRT site, helping to isolate the intervention’s effects on adolescent substance use behaviors.

The project began with a feasibility phase focused on assessing participant retention methods—an essential component for ensuring data integrity and the validity of results. As part of this phase, Omni is responsible for identifying two school-based health centers, one of which must be currently implementing SBIRT, to explore the practical challenges and opportunities related to recruitment and retention before launching the full study.

SBIRT was selected for this evaluation because it addresses a critical gap in Colorado’s behavioral health service array. Unlike many interventions, SBIRT does not require a formal diagnosis and offers early, low-barrier support—making it especially relevant for youth and caregivers. It uses evidence-informed techniques such as motivational interviewing, brief counseling interventions, and referrals to treatment to reduce health risks associated with alcohol and other substance use. As part of its statewide investment in early intervention, Colorado has recently expanded access to SBIRT in school settings. For example, in the 2023–2024 school year, the SBIRT School-Based Health Center program established over 25 implementation sites, reaching students in 30 schools. Omni’s study will help determine whether this expansion is meeting its intended goals and advancing substance use prevention efforts for youth across the state.