JohnstonWells.com

SBIRT Colorado recently promoted Brenda Kane to Program Coordinator.

Kane was one of the first SBIRT health educators to be hired and trained in Colorado. Through a brief substance use screening conducted at healthcare facilities in 12 SBIRT Colorado locations throughout the state, healthcare professionals are identifying people with risky use early enough to interrupt progression to more serious use and to connect patients who have substance dependence to specialized treatment.

Kane’s experience will enable her to coordinate technical assistance and training for health educators. Kane will conduct quality assurance activities at each Colorado site and work to develop techniques to increase the efficiency of the SBIRT implementation process. Kane has been with SBIRT Colorado since February 2007.

Before joining SBIRT Colorado Kane lived in Austin, Texas, where she was a case manager and facilitator for Youth Advocacy. Kane attended Smith College in North Hampton, Mass., and is currently attending University of Denver to pursue a graduate degree. Kane grew up in Boulder, Colo.

About SBIRT Colorado
SBIRT or "Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment" is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the delivery of early intervention and referral to treatment services for persons who are at risk of developing substance use disorders, as well as those with substance use disorders. The SBIRT Colorado initiative is under the control of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The program is based on universal screenings that create awareness about the No. 1 preventable health issue – substance use. For more information and screening locations visit www.sbirtcolorado.com.