NCCHC to Offer Two Webinars on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Jails across the country are expressing interest in more education, training, and resources on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. To meet the need, NCCHC will offer two webinars in June. The first, Getting Started: What You Need to Know About MAT, on June 8, will introduce the topic, explain the options, and provide evidence on the efficacy of this treatment. The second program, Best Practices for Running a MAT Program, on June 15, will discuss more advanced topics, such as in-depth strategies for securing buy-in from medical and custody staff, minimizing medication diversion, conducting program evaluation, and overcoming common challenges to becoming an accredited OTP.

Claire Wolfe, MA, MPH, CCHP, program manager for NCCHC Resources, will be one of the lead instructors. Ms. Wolfe has had a lead role in helping facilities across the country design, implement, and evaluate MAT programs. “We get a lot of questions about MAT,” she said. “The webinars will provide participants with both a sound foundation on MAT and actionable steps towards implementing a successful jail-based MAT program.”

Richard Forbus, CCHP, NCCHC vice president of program development, another lead instructor, came to NCCHC in 2022 after more than 25 years of experience in corrections. He said “The field has been aware of MAT for quite some time. However, funds from the global opioid settlements and Medicaid, plus the recent actions of the federal government in making it easier to prescribe buprenorphine, have removed the conventional barriers to MAT program funding and accessibility.  With the current challenges facilities face in managing residents with opioid use disorder, it is an opportune time to implement a program.”

The third lead instructor, Robert Simon, MEd, NCC, CCHP, is NCCHC’s manager of accreditation. Mr. Simon was hired in 2023 to address the surge in the volume of requests for NCCHC accreditation by opioid treatment programs. Since he started, he’s been busy working with facilities across the country. He stated, “MAT services in correctional settings help bridge the long-time gap in services for individuals diagnosed with an opioid use disorder and improve treatment outcomes.  Implemented correctly, MAT increases treatment retention, reduces the risk of death due to overdose, and helps prevent relapse and recidivism.”

Learn more and register for the webinars through the links below:

Getting Started: What You Need to Know About MAT – June 8

Best Practices for Running a MAT Program – June 15