“This was the BEST training I have experienced! The presenters were so compassionate and informative.”
– Program Attendee, October 2022

“Thank you does not seem like enough to express how much I learned and how inspirational and dedicated you all are! How exciting it was to be with other teams who are doing what we are doing. The benefit went way beyond information – there was such an incredible energy and feeling of collaboration, caring, curiosity.”
– Program Attendee, April 2023

The Rural Center of Excellence on SUD Treatment at the University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction (UVM CORA) is pleased to offer two days of in-person, comprehensive training and consultation with expert clinicians, faculty, and staff, which will be followed by a period of sustained support for the practices as they implement the strategies learned during the event. The program is intended to bring together interdisciplinary teams from primary care practices in rural Vermont who are seeking to start or increase their prescribing of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Participants can expect to learn and explore evidence-based approaches tailored to patients and providers in rural areas:

  • Address MOUD treatment-related issues or challenges occurring within their own practice, hone skills and gain resources to make improvements;
  • Learn how to better support patients in rural areas with complex needs related to opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD);
  • Receive extensive training on topics related to OUD/SUD with a specific focus on evidence-based best practices to enhance prevention and treatment in rural communities.

Our Approach

We provide a team-focused approach. Up to three practices are invited to learn together, exploring challenges they face in common as well as needs specific to their clinic. The goal is to support practices to make sustainable, collaborative, continuous improvement toward implementing evidence-based strategies that serve individuals with OUD/SUD in their rural communities. Our secondary goal is to foster connections between rural practices from different regions of Vermont who can begin to develop a learning community.

Researcher presenting to colleagues in presentation room with projector screen
  • The two-day program agenda channels the specific expertise of our clinicians toward addressing the interests and needs of the participating practices. Participants are asked to bring challenging clinical cases or logistical difficulties from their practice to discuss with the UVM CORA team. Practices selected for the program will have a pre-program planning meeting with UVM CORA faculty.
  • The on site program will be followed by ongoing support from UVM CORA clinicians via e-mail, phone, and/or videoconferencing, to continue engaging with the practice and helping address their needs as they implement strategies from the program.
  • Meet our team here and visit our Resources page to get a preview of the type of expertise and evidence-based guidance you can expect from UVM CORA.

Support

Travel and lodging expenses for up to four participants per practice will be provided. Additionally, UVM CORA will provide materials related to the topics covered. Our aim is to support rural practices who may not be able to afford high training expenses or lost work hours. Continuing education credits will be available, when possible, based on the needs and professional roles of the participants.

Downtown Burlington Vermont

Application and Program Timeline

Only one application is needed per practice. Applicants should be prepared to include the names and credentials of the staff who would be participating, indicate specific areas where specialized training is needed, and describe their motivation for participating.

Calendar on wooden desk

Application deadline is Monday, October 7, 2024. Applicants will be notified in late October. The program will take place in Burlington, Vermont, on January 30 – 31, 2025.

Apply Here for Opioid and Substance Use Treatment Training Scholarship Program

FAQs

  • Who can apply?

    Teams of up to four individuals from primary care practices in HRSA-designated rural communities in Vermont. Please confirm your practice is defined as Rural by visiting: https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health

    We encourage practices to send an interdisciplinary team to the program that includes at least one prescriber plus other practice members (e.g., nurses, behavioral health providers, other clinical staff, practice administrators, etc.).

  • What information will be required for the application?

    • Names and credentials of the staff who would be participating and a description of your practice.
    • Narrative descriptions of specific areas where specialized training is needed, motivation for participating, and expected impact on your practice.
    • Note: Only one application is needed per practice. The estimated time to complete the application is 10-15 minutes.
  • What is the deadline for the application?

    Monday, October 7, 2024

  • When will applicants be notified?

    Late October 2024

  • When and where will the training take place?

    The program will take place in Burlington, Vermont on Thursday, January 30 and Friday, January 31, 2025.

  • What areas will the training cover?

    The curriculum will cover specifics on OUD/SUD management, including:

    • MOUD prescribing;
    • Evidence-based non-pharmacological treatments;
    • Methods of communicating with patients around substance use;
    • Special considerations related to OUD/SUD management in rural practices.
  • Will this program satisfy DEA requirements?

    This training satisfies the new one-time, eight-hour training requirement for all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.

  • How is the application submitted?

    Please complete the online form here.

    Click here to see a sample application