Topitzes, J., Mersky, J. P., Mueller, D. J., Bacalso, E., & Williams, C. (2019). Implementing Trauma Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (T\u2010SBIRT) within employment services: A feasibility trial. American Journal of Community Psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research suggests that low\u2010income adults accessing employment services have experienced high levels of trauma exposure and associated consequences. Moreover, the health\u2010related effects of trauma undermine employment and employability. A trauma\u2010informed protocol\u2014trauma screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment or T\u2010SBIRT\u2014was therefore implemented within employment service programs serving low\u2010income urban residents. To assess the feasibility of integrating T\u2010SBIRT within employment services, five domains were explored as follows: suitability, acceptability, client adherence, provider adherence or fidelity, and intended outcomes. With a sample of low\u2010income adults (N = 83), the study revealed that T\u2010SBIRT is suitable for employment service participants given high rates of trauma exposure (90.4% experienced two or more lifetime traumas), along with high rates of positive screening results for post\u2010traumatic stress disorder (48.8%), major depression (35.4%), and generalized anxiety (47.6%). Study participants appeared to find T\u2010SBIRT acceptable as evidenced by an 83% acceptance rate. All participants accepting T\u2010SBIRT services completed them, revealing strong client adherence. Provider adherence or model fidelity was high, that is, 98.5%. Finally, the majority of participants accepted a referral to a mental health care (i.e., 56.6%), and over three\u2010quarters accepted a referral to any outside service including primary or mental health care. Implications of findings are discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n