SMART Choices Advisory Board

SMART Choices aims to reduce the long-term effects of substance use in adolescence by improving identification of substance use and improving intervention for adolescents.

We train, educate and support providers and families. We have trained over 500 behavioral health, substance use and primary care clinicians in across Pennsylvania in SBIRT(screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment), and have begun to provide parent support and care coordination to help families navigate the often-complex issue of adolescent substance use.

We are seeking a diverse group of parents, young adults, and service partners, who have experience navigating the substance use treatment system, to join our SMART Choices Advisory Board. Our advisory board will consist of parents, young adults, and service partners that will help us shape our practice in the SMART Choices program.

This advisory board will consist of 21 members:

• Seven of those members will consist of parents or caregivers that have raised, or are now raising, a child with substance use.
• Seven members will consist of service partners such as pediatric health care providers, educators, and substance use providers.
• The other seven will be young adults in recovery, who have experience navigating the substance use treatment system in Pennsylvania.

Duties

As a board member of the SMART Choices Advisory Board, you will be expected to:

1. Attend at least four Advisory Board meetings a year. Our SMART Choices Advisory Board meetings will be held every other month using a virtual platform (Zoom, Vidyo, or Microsoft Teams). Meetings will be held in the evening beginning in January 2021.
2. Actively participate in discussion with the SMART Choices Advisory Board Team. This participation will include sharing your own experiences as a parent, youth, or service provider.
3. Be respectful of the experiences of other members and their experiences.
4. Offer new and interesting alternatives to current practices in the SMART Choices program.

Compensation

We value your experience and time. To show our gratitude, we will be offering a stipend of $30 each time you attend a meeting.

Application Process

After you complete the following application, please email it along with one letter of recommendation to Shannon Meyers at mikitasr@upmc.edu by December 14th, 2020. All information you provide in your application will be kept confidential and will only be used in the consideration of Advisory Board Members.

Your application will then be reviewed by SMART Choices team members. If you are selected to participate as a member of the SMART Choices Advisory Board, you will receive a confirmation email and letter. If you are not selected to join the Advisory Board, you will also receive an email and letter. Please do not be discouraged if you are not selected; if vacancies on the board open, you may be requested to join later.

Complete the Young Adult application (PDF).

Complete the Parent application (PDF).