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Methods: “Connect Coaches” were hired through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services as school-based service providers. Coaches were Bachelor’s-level social workers with varying degrees of experience in the field of social work. They received intensive training in SBIRT and motivational interviewing (MI) at the intervention outset and continual supervision and MI booster trainings to ensure fidelity to the model and effective practice. Additionally, Coaches underwent mock student interviews designed to assess and strengthen their delivery of MI with possible at-risk youth. The mock sessions were video recorded for subsequent rating and coding on core MI skills. Coaches then received feedback based on the results of the coding and rating process to further improve their MI skills and ensure fidelity to the model. This process was repeated three times throughout the intervention period. Coaches documented each student session using a de-identified standard data collection system. In addition to the Coaches’ one-on-one sessions with students, ten postcards were mailed to parents and three related posters were displayed around the communities, with themes of (a) youth alcohol use consequences and tips to connect with youth, (b) importance of and tips for family and other adult connection with youth, and (c) tips to keep teens safe around prom and graduation.
Results: Brief interventions were delivered to the vast majority of students each semester, with 73%, 81%, 100%, 97% and 100% reached over the five semesters. Over the 2.5-year intervention period, the Coaches’ MI skills improved, with all achieving beginning proficiency during the third year.
Conclusions: Conducting universal, brief one-on-one sessions with students within high schools is feasible. MI skills, with close supervision, feedback and booster trainings resulted in beginning proficiency of MI delivery during the third year.