Promoting SBIRT training for social work students across field settings

We report on our experience of implementing an interprofessional social work Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training program in which didactic content was integrated with field education opportunities to practice SBIRT in various settings. Mentored field instructors supervised SBIRT field learning activities in behavioral health clinics, primary care clinics, inpatient and outpatient psychiatry care, and mental health and addiction service settings. Input regarding program implementation was gathered from students and field instructors. Student use of SBIRT varied by field setting. We report on field instructors’ perceptions of site-specific challenges to successful implementation of SBIRT and describe lessons learned for social work training programs.