The Behavioral Health Resources and Technical Assistance (BHRT) Program provides technical assistance and evaluation services on grants related to substance use.
Current Projects
Opioid Misuse Prevention Program (OMPP)
The Opioid Misuse Prevention Program is administered by the Maryland Department Health Office of Population Health Improvement (OPHI). The goals of the OMPP initiative are to provide funding to Maryland jurisdictions to: (1) reduce opioid misuse, (2) reduce opioid overdoses, and (3) reduce opioid overdose fatalities. The BHRT Program provides technical assistance and evaluation support to jurisdictions and to the Office of Prevention in implementing data-driven and evidence-based strategies.
Strategic Prevention Framework- Partnership for Success (SPF-PFS)
SPF-PFS is a five-year initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The primary focus of this program is to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance use and its related problems among the primary intended audience, and strengthen the local prevention capacity to reach priority populations and carry out upstream activities address substance use at the community level. BHRT will implement “Project Upstream” with the Prevention Coalitions of Anne Arundel County and Boys and Girls Club of Carroll County (BGCCC) as well as partnering with local health departments in both jurisdictions.
Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx)
SPF Rx is a five-year initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The BHRT Program is working closely with the Maryland Department of Health Office of Provider Engagement and Regulation (OPER) to achieve the two main goals of SPF Rx: reducing non-medical use of prescription drugs and strengthening state and local capacity to address over-prescribing of controlled substances.
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG)
The SUBG program is administered by the Maryland Department of Health Office of Population Health Improvement (OPHI). OPHI has transitioned to applying the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) for SUBG to guide Maryland jurisdictions in implementing data-driven, evidence-based strategies. The BHRT Program is tasked with providing technical assistance to jurisdictions related to the steps of the SPF process: assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, evaluation, cultural competence, and sustainability.
Past Projects
CURES Social Marketing Evaluation
The BHRT Program worked with the Maryland Department of Health to evaluate the impact of a state-wide campaign on prescription opioid misuse and stigma around addiction. The BHRT Program's formative and outcome evaluation studied the impact and reach of the messaging throughout the state and with target sub-populations. The program's work will inform future messaging around substance use and addiction.
Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)
The Overdose Data to Action is a multi-year cooperative agreement from CDC. The cooperative agreement supports obtaining high quality, comprehensive, and timelier data on overdose morbidity and mortality, and to use those data to inform prevention and response activities. The BHRT program is contracted with the Maryland Department of Health for two evaluation work areas: 1) Data Collection and Progress Monitoring and 2) Data Dissemination and Outreach.
Partnership for Success Grant (MSPF2)
The MSPF2 project used funding from SAMHSA to strengthen the efforts of ten Maryland coalitions in reducing underage and youth binge drinking in Maryland and strengthening state and local community capacity and infrastructure. MSPF2 was administered by the Maryland Department of Health Office of Population Health Improvement (OPHI). The purpose of the MSPF2 project is to institutionalize the "Strategic Prevention Framework" throughout the state to develop and enhance Maryland's substance use prevention system. The BHRT Program provides technical assistance and evaluation support to jurisdictions and to the Office of Prevention in implementing data-driven and evidence-based strategies.