How We Built This: Improving Treatment Access and Engagement for Hispanic/Latinx Patients

Since 2010, Hispanic/Latinx people have accounted for more than half (52%) of the U.S. population growth. The prevalence of substance use disorders (SUD) among this population is also significant: 7.6% (3.7 million Hispanic/Latinx people) report a substance use disorder. Meanwhile, an overwhelming majority (89.7%) of Hispanic/Latinx people needing treatment do not receive it and have lower treatment completion rates than non-Hispanic Whites when they do access treatment. These findings are consistent with the experience of the Colorado Opioid Synergy Larimer and Weld (COSLAW) project, a northern Colorado substance abuse treatment network composed of eight treatment providers and integrated, cross-systems care coordination. A COSLAW impact program evaluation at the end of the second project year found fewer Hispanic/Latinx clients engaged with treatment at 6 months post-admission than anticipated relative to non-Hispanic/Latinx clients (n = 168, χ2(1) = 7.47, p < 0.05). As a result, the clinical team implemented a performance improvement plan to increase the population’s access to and engagement and retention in treatment in the region using a peer-coach based, comprehensive care coordination model. This included hiring 2 full time bilingual/bicultural peer coaches who conducted intensive outreach and provided Spanish-language peer supports to reduce language and cultural barriers to care. By the end of project year three, there were no differences in 6-month follow-up rates between Hispanic/Latinx and non-Hispanic/Latinx clients (n = 257, χ2(1) = 2.11, p=0.15).In this focus session, the clinical care team, including a peer coach, will provide a) an overview of the COSLAW care coordination model, b) lessons learned about improving equity in engagement, and c) strategies for engaging Hispanic/Latinx people with SUD in treatment services and for working with treatment providers to expand and enhance culturally relevant treatment services and approaches.