This intervention focuses on reducing the barriers to substance abuse treatment and increase the speed at which people experiencing substance abuse disorders get into treatment. It is a compressed version of Strengths-Based Case Management.

Brief Strengths-Based Case Management (SBCM) for Substance Abuse is a one-on-one social service intervention for adults with substance use disorders that is designed to reduce the barriers and time to treatment entry and improve overall client functioning. The intervention is a time-limited version of SBCM that focuses on substance abuse. SBCM differs from conventional case management in its use of a strengths perspective. This perspective defines how to carry out the five functions of SBCM's case management component: assessment, planning, linkage, monitoring, and advocacy. The case manager helps the client identify personal skills, abilities, and assets through discussion; supports client decisionmaking so that the client sets treatment goals and determines how the goals will be met; encourages client participation in seeking informal sources of assistance; and works to resolve any client-identified barriers to treatment, such as lack of transportation, child care, and social support. Although broad system change is not the intent, the case manager also advocates with treatment providers and seeks system accommodation on behalf of the client. The case manager strives to develop a strong working alliance with the client, which is considered central to the process of linking with and using substance abuse treatment services effectively. Unlike SBCM, which is usually structured over many months and sometimes years, Brief SBCM for Substance Abuse is delivered in a maximum of five sessions over a limited, predetermined period. Sessions typically average 90 minutes, with some requiring more than 2 hours. Each session is flexible, providing an opportunity to develop and implement a personal, client-driven plan that improves the individual's overall functioning and/or addresses specific barriers to linking with treatment.