PROTEA Outreach Program

Project ECHO for Fostering MAT Use within Justice Populations (JCOIN ECHO) – A branch of a national study, Fostering MAT Use in Justice Populations, conducted through collaboration with, PROTEA Outreach team, University of Wisconsin’s Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) – NIATx team, and George Mason University. The UW-Madison JCOIN (Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network) ECHO is focused on the provision of medications for opioid use disorder in jails and partnering community-based settings.  The intended audience includes clinicians from jails and collaborating community clinics/treatment programs and uses the ECHO model (The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) developed at the University of New Mexico, to connect MOUD experts with medical teams from jails and community programs to promote high-quality MOUD practices. Experienced MOUD experts will address a variety of topics such as addiction as a chronic health condition, OUD treatment options, diversion protocols, linkage and continuity of care.

The study will test two evidence-based implementation practices, NIATx Coaching and ECHO, with forty-eight jails and community treatment providers to increase the use of MOUD among individuals who are justice-involved. The proposed outcomes include increasing the percent of individuals who initiate MOUD within jail and are engaged post-release, increasing the percent of clinicians prescribing MOUD, increasing the organizational readiness and sustainability for MOUD programs, and reducing recidivism. This is a 24-month study with the first 12-months being the implementation period followed by 12-months to track sustainability. The study will kick-off in November 2020, with trainings to start January of 2021.