BARC-10 Score Feature of the GPRA Survey

We wanted to make sure you all know about the helpful BARC-10 score feature we have developed as part of GPRA survey.

The BARC-10 (Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital-10) is a validated questionnaire that assesses an individual’s recovery capital, or the characteristics and assets that a person develops on the recovery journey from a substance use disorder. These 10 questions (Part H of the GPRA) ask about 10 domains that contribute to an individual's recovery capital. The BARC-10 can be used to support an individual's recovery process through highlighting current areas of strength and where they would benefit from more resources/support. The BARC-10 Information Sheet, located under Supporting Materials on our Resources page (and linked here), has more examples of how to use this survey in a treatment and recovery setting.

Completing Section H of the GPRA survey automatically generates a BARC-10 Score, which ranges from 10-60. A score of 47 is associated with a higher chance of long-term remission. You can track this score over time to see change in a client's recovery capital.

When completing a GPRA in the online system, check the box highlighted in the screenshot to receive a client's BARC-10 score included in an email to you. You can also add another staff member's email if desired, in the next question.

As always, please reach out to SORSupport@omni.org if you have any questions or concerns.

CSB/Agency TA Reporting Feedback Survey! OMNI Needs Your Input!

The OMNI TA Team would very much appreciate your input on the various agency/CSB-level GPRA reports and tools that we have developed to support your GPRA work! To gather feedback, we have created a short survey asking questions about four specific agency-level reports and tools. The four reports and tools are described in greater detail in the survey. They are:

  • Annual Agency/CSB-Level Reports

  • Monthly Progress Reports

  • Quarterly Survey Reports

  • Agency/CSB Weekly Tracking Sheets

We hope to gather feedback from any agency/CSB staff member that has worked with or used any of these reports or tools. Multiple staff members from each agency/CSB are welcome to complete this survey. We will use this feedback to improve these reports and tools in the future!

If you need a refresher or want to view the reports, they are all housed in your Dropbox folder. The survey provides more specific instructions on where to find these reports and what information they include.

Please click here or copy this link to complete the short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8YDKR9J

GPRA Administration Tips and Best Practices Resource Launch!

The GPRA Administration Tips and Best Practices sheet is live on our site! This resource lays out best practices and procedures for GPRA administration at intake, follow up and discharge. It can help you answer questions such as:

  • How do I reach clients for follow- ups?

  • What systems can I put in place to better manage GPRA administration?

  • How do I engage clients who have left services?

Thank you to everyone who came to the Community Forum held last month - much of the information discussed in the Forum has been incorporated into this resource! If you missed the meeting, the recording is on our website on the Trainings page or linked here.

Check out this document on our resources page here and reach out if you have any questions!

Quarter 3 Quarterly Reporting Survey Report

Thank you to everyone for completing the Quarter 3 Quarterly Reporting Survey! We have created agency-level reports summarizing your agency's response(s) to the Recovery and Treatment surveys for Quarter 3. These reports are in a sub-folder in your agency’s Dropbox folder titled "Quarterly Reporting Survey Reports".

For any Quarterly Reporting Survey questions, please visit our Quarterly Reporting Survey resource page and/or reach out to our team at SORSupport@omni.org!

From SAMSHA: Updated TIP 63 -- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

New Publication: August 3, 2021

This updated version of Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder reviews the use of the three Food and Drug Administration-approved medications used to treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)—methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine—and other strategies and services needed to support recovery for people with OUD.

Updates include–

  • Additional information about the qualifications of practitioners who are eligible to apply for a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine (i.e., clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives) that explains exceptions under the latest buprenorphine practice guidelines on obtaining a waiver.

  • Citations that support induction onto extended-release naltrexone of people with positive urine tests for opioids so long as they pass the naloxone challenge.

  • Clarification that naltrexone can result in decreased opioid cravings.

  • Where needed, clarification of whether discussion about naltrexone refers to the oral formulation or the extended-release injectable formulation.

  • Updated statistics on opioid-related deaths, overdoses, accidents, and hospitalizations.

View publication at this link.

SOR II, Year 2 Guidance for Submitting Proposals

Dear Subgrantees, 

Earlier this week you received communication from our office (via OMNI) regarding proposals for the upcoming SOR II grant year (October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022). We admit that the post would've benefitted from a few more details. So, hopefully this one, in FAQ form, will answer any lingering questions about this-coming year's proposal process. 

SOR II, Year 2 Proposal Process FAQs

1) Will we be submitting proposals for both treatment and recovery awards? 

Yes

2) Is the SOR team going to give each of us treatment and recovery annual award amounts to create budgets around like they did last year? 

No. Not this year. Given the effects of Covid on nearly all of our subgrantees' SUD programming, making this past year anything but normal, we determined that it wouldn't be fair to dictate amounts based on what was or was not accomplished during SOR II, Year 1. 

3) Okay, so how much funding should we ask for? 

Use last year's treatment and recovery award amounts as your guide. You may request up to 40% more than those totals, or, of course, less money if you choose. 

4) What kind of format should our proposals be in? 

Use last year's format. Separate out treatment and recovery programming into two different categories. (See the graphic at the end of this post listing what items fall into recovery and what are considered treatment.) Please include budget narratives and line-item spreadsheets. Do not include other funding sources in your ask. That just confuses everyone.

5) When are our SOR II, Year 2 proposals due? 

Close of business, Friday, September 3rd, 2021. (Yes, we know that the first communication said September 1st, but we're offering two extra days.)

6) How do we submit our proposals? And to whom? 

Via email. Send them to all three SOR team members. Mike Zohab, (mike.zohab@dbhds.virginia.gov) Patrick Wessells and Angela Weight (same email address format for all of us). 

7) How/when will the SOR team respond to our proposals? 

If we approve your proposals and have no follow-up questions or requests, you'll receive a formal notice from our office listing the treatment and recovery amounts your organization will receive. You'll also receive Exhibit Ds from the DBHDS Office of Management Services. Our goal is to have Exhibit Ds out by September 25, 2021. Of course, this is dependent on other DBHDS departments, so that date may vary slightly. 

8) Speaking of Exhibit Ds, will they be the same ones as last year? 

Nope. We're working on making the wording much more relevant and approproate to standard CSB programming. Stay tuned. 

9) Will the SOR team be sending out the SOR II, Year 2 Notice of Award like in previous years? 

Absolutely! As soon as SAMHSA sends it to us. 

10) What about our unspent funds from SOR II, Year 1? Do you want those back? 

Yes. You'll receive communication from the DBHDS finance department regarding any unspent monies. 

Okay, those are all the questions I can think of that you may have about the SOR II, Year 2 proposal process. If I've left anything out, don't hesitate to email for further clarification. Mike, Patrick and I very much like hearing from our subgrantees and hope that our responses are timely and informative. 

We enjoy working with each of your organizations and are so proud of the SUD work you all do. 

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

Angela Weight

State Opioid Response Recovery Services Coordinator

Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Cell: 804-297-5457

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.112 Per 2 C.F.R. § 200.112-1113 The Federal awarding agency must establish conflict of interest policies for Federal awards. The non-Federal entity must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with applicable Federal awarding agency policy. Failure to adhere to these statues will result in immediate termination of funding.

Virginia’s State Opioid Response (SOR) grant is awarded at the discretion of DBHDS and SAMHSA. All recipients of SOR funding supports evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery services to address opioid and stimulant misuse and use disorders, including for cocaine and methamphetamine. The SOR grant is not intended to be utilized as a long-term or permanent funding source. All SOR proposals must include a realistic plan for financial sustainability beyond the grant period.