The SBIRT Model & Essential Skills of Interprofessional Practice

An emerging interprofessional practice model for screening individuals for alcohol and substance use is the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model which uses skills related to motivational interviewing (MI) and the brief negotiated interview (BNI). Such models and interprofessional practice skills are essential in the field of social work across various settings and while working with diverse and marginalized populations.

This lecture will examine the SBIRT model, along with MI and the BNI, to underscore their relevance and practical usefulness in the field. The lecture will also discuss a successful example of interprofessional practice led by a school of social work in developing an SBIRT training program within one university, across three schools (social work, nursing and medicine), along with providing ongoing challenges and opportunities.

Dr. Michael Dentato is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago. His research and scholarship centers around the assessment of health and health disparities among sexual minority populations; preparedness of social work students to provide affirming services for the LGBTQ community and; the impact of macro practice, interprofessional education, effective non-profit leadership and service provision for vulnerable communities.