The development, implementation and early learnings of a training program to advance interest in behavioral research careers among undergraduate BIPOC students majoring in psychology.

OBJECTIVES: Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) remain underrepresented in research occupations. This report discusses a collaboration to train undergraduate BIPOC students in clinical research between a public health institute, two medical schools, and a historically Black College or University (HBCU). This nine-month program trained BIPOC undergraduates in research methodology, psychology, and addiction science, and immersed trainees in real-world research. The program included didactic seminars, experiential activities, and a mentored research project culminating in a poster and oral presentation. METHODS: Key learnings, program satisfaction survey results, and preliminary outcomes from the first three program cohorts (N = 6 students) are presented. This program addressed several barriers hypothesized to contribute to the limited number of BIPOC students pursuing research careers, including mentorship from BIPOC faculty and financial concerns. RESULTS: Students reported moderate to high satisfaction with the program and endorsed gaining new research skills. Limitations and future directions are discussed. CONCLUSION: The expansion of the BIPOC health and research workforce is an urgent priority given the importance of BIPOC professionals to the health of our nation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04650386

Role of Behavioral Health Providers in Treating Hepatitis C

Primary care providers are increasingly relying on psychologists to assist with patient health needs. Hepatitis C is an infectious viral disease that affects 4 million Americans, with an estimated 70% to 80% unaware they have this condition. Untreated chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections cause fibrosis of the liver, which can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure, and early death. Breakthroughs in the effectiveness and reduced burden of medication treatments, along with increased screening and detection, have led to HCV treatment being increasingly offered in primary care settings. It is estimated that 1 million people will be treated for HCV in the next five years. Individuals with HCV typically receive behavioral health screening and treatment readiness assessment as part of their HCV medication payer approval process, usually in integrated primary care behavioral health. A larger segment of behavioral health providers will need to be knowledgeable about HCV and complete the consultative assessments for primary care providers to meet the high treatment demand. The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) provide background on HCV and the treatment process; (b) discuss how HCV assessments are within the scope of practice of a typical behavioral health provider; and (c) provide a step-by-step framework for conducting a HCV evaluation by a behavioral health provider. With this knowledge, psychologists will be well-prepared to help with the reduction of persons affected by Hepatitis C in our communities. Public Significance Statement Hepatitis C is a health condition that requires a psychological evaluation before insurance companies will approve treatment. However, there has been little guidance for behavioral health providers to conduct these evaluations. This article seeks to fill this void, providing education on Hepatitis C and its assessment

The consultation process in primary care

The authors examine critical issues in the process of conducting client-centered and consultee-centered behavioral health consultation in primary care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). (create

Do Peer Recovery Specialists Improve Outcomes for Individuals with Substance Use Disorder in an Integrative Primary Care Setting? A Program Evaluation.

Peer recovery specialists (PRSs) combine their personal experiences with substance use and recovery with clinical skills to support patients in treatment for or recovery from substance use. This paper provides evaluation findings from a SAMHSA-funded program that integrated a PRS team into a primary care clinic to assess the efficacy of PRS support on patients\u27 substance use, healthcare involvement, and criminal justice involvement. PRSs provided a range of services to patients with histories of incarceration and substance use, including facilitating support groups, providing one-on-one individualized support, and navigating services. Data were collected from PRS-supported patients at intake, discharge, and 6 months post-intake. Results revealed reductions in the percentage of patients using substances in the past 30 days, decreased number of days using alcohol, increased engagement in more medical services after program enrollment, increased school enrollment, and increased rates of employment for PRS-supported patients