YouthBuild USA began implementing SBIRT eight years ago as a pilot program with 15 programs. SBIRT has now been implemented at 130 YouthBuild programs across the United States.
One of the historic challenges at most YouthBuild USA programs is how to identify and address the challenge of alcohol and drug use among students. For a long time, a significant number of programs have been reporting that substance use and abuse serves as an impediment to the in-program retention of students and is a barrier to achieving outcomes in the classroom and successful post-program placement. Over the past six years, SBIRT has impacted well over 1,500 students and has shown to be effective when fully implemented.