Recorded presentation

Nancy J. Kennedy, DrPH, Office of the Director, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention/SAMHSA/DHHS, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II, Suite 900, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-9453, NKennedy@SAMHSA.gov

The nation’s substance abuse services system does not meet the needs of all individuals. Unfortunately, this unmet need appears more pervasive for populations with identified disparities and/or stigma, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations. These populations are a microcosm of the heterosexual populations, cross-cutting other disparities including race/ethnicity, rurality, and disability. The mission of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within DHHS is to “provide a life in the community for everyone.” The community is critical, as individuals who are at risk or experience substance use disorder, often identify with the community in lieu of a traditional family. Although caregivers in the community have devised successful interventions for LGBT individuals offering promise for responsively addressing substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts, these programs lack rigorous evaluation. SAMHSA has created a mechanism, i.e., the National Registry of Effective Programs (NREP), to which these community-based programs can be replicated in other settings. So, too, more traditional scientific experiments from other federal agencies, foundations and the like are also eligible for NREP. Programs submitted for NREP are evaluated for their effectiveness. From the process, different programmatic labels – i.e., model, effective and promising – are generated. SAMHSA’s resources and technical assistance can assist promising and effective programs to become model programs. NREP is invaluable for minority populations that often have little resources in determining what works in substance abuse prevention and treatment. The purpose of this session is to encourage researchers and providers to become actively involved in the NREP process.

Learning Objectives:

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• Describe the process of submitting model programs, exemplary programs/projects and/or promising programs/projects to the National Registry of Effective Programs (NREP); (
• Identify the training and technical assistance available through SAMHSA to assist promising and exemplary programs in becoming model programs; (
• Recognize the importance of "science to service" and "service to science" strategies occurring at the federal level with concomitant activities and state.local levels; and (
• Use NREP in preventing and treating behavioral health problems within the target population of LGBT communities.

Keywords: Special Populations, Substance Abuse

Related Web page: www.samhsa.gov

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment

Recorded presentation