Overview
The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD COE) is committed to addressing the state’s addiction crisis. Supported by the American Rescue Plan Act and coordinated by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) in collaboration with the Center for Evidence-Based Practices (CEBP) and the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University, the SUD COE leads efforts to enhance the quality of treatment for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and comprehensive whole-health needs.
Although Ohio ranks among the highest in the nation for unintentional drug-overdose deaths, our expanded focus on integrated care offers a holistic approach to addressing the complexities of addiction and co-occurring disorders. The center equips treatment providers with the knowledge and tools to implement evidence-informed practices (EIPs) and integrated care strategies that respond to the urgent needs of diverse populations.
Our Mission
The SUD COE’s mission is to enhance care quality for individuals with SUD by providing Ohio’s treatment provider network with the best evidence-based and integrated care practices. Our focus is on building a highly skilled workforce that can navigate the complexities of substance use, mental health and primary care integration, ensuring positive outcomes for diverse populations.
Our Vision
- Integrated Training Access: Increase access to high-quality training focused on integrated care core competencies and treatment approaches, including both substance use and mental health disorders.
- Comprehensive Training Tools: Provide evidence-based tools and resources to implement integrated treatment modalities, enhancing patient engagement, retention and outcome evaluation.
- Dynamic Learning Communities: Establish platforms for ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing through virtual events, learning cohorts and problem-solving sessions that emphasize integrated substance use practices.
- Inclusion: Incorporate diverse perspectives, ensuring that the integrated care approaches are culturally sensitive and relevant to minority, underserved and special populations.
- Quality Improvement: Support providers in improving performance and sustaining high-quality integrated substance use treatment by focusing on clinical and administrative excellence, research understanding and implementation of integrated evidence-informed models.
- Applied Research and Implementation Science: Promote the application of research and integrated care frameworks to improve the systematic uptake of EIPs and interventions in routine care.
Our Focus
At the SUD COE, we recognize that integrating care across substance use, mental health and physical health domains is essential for effective treatment. Our training programs emphasize implementation readiness for the provision of evidence informed models, such as Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Harm Reduction strategies. We provide implementation support for providers to facilitate adherence to these models, improving overall care delivery and patient outcomes.
Training Program Resources
Since Fall 2023, the SUD COE has developed targeted training content that addresses both foundational SUD treatment principles and the integration of mental and physical health care. Our programs cater to various professionals, providing specific resources for:
- Clinical Staff
- Administrative, Supervisory and Support Staff
- Peer Support Specialists
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Chemical Dependency Professionals
- Medical Professionals (Physicians, Nurses, Physician’s Assistants, et al.)
- Quality Improvement Specialists
- Case Managers
Implementation Expertise
Successful implementation of integrated care requires comprehensive planning, organizational buy-in and continuous support. The SUD COE focuses on preparing practitioners with technical assistance and resources.
Our Legacy and Leadership
The SUD COE benefits from the leadership of Ric Kruszynski, LISW-S, LICDC-CS, director of the CEBP, a recognized expert in training, consultation and program evaluation. With an experienced leadership team from CEBP and the Begun Center, the SUD COE brings decades of expertise from community, state and national levels to guide integrated care initiatives across Ohio.
The SUD COE operates with the support of the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services and a broad array of community stakeholders.
Contact Us
We understand the importance of communication and collaboration in the fight against substance use disorders. If you have questions, need support or wish to sign up to receive our training updates, please email sudcoe_comm@case.edu.
