Table 1 NIATx 200 aims and promising practices

Increase availability of time slots

• Add groups

• Add time slots

• Combine intake appointments

• Double-book time slots

Increase the amount of counseling

• Ask clients to complete paperwork

• Assign backup counselors

• Cross-train counselors

• Eliminate excessive paperwork

• Reassign tasks

• Transition existing clients

Eliminate appointments

• Establish walk-in hours

• Provide interim services

Make appointments immediately

• Make appointments at the front desk

• Make appointments during the first call for service

• Open access to all time slots

• Suspend financial arrangements

Make it easy to enter treatment

• Connect with clients during first contact

• Establish clear two-way expectations

• Help eliminate barriers to treatment

• Include family and friends

• Offer an inviting physical environment

• Remind clients about the next appointment

Make it difficult to refuse or quit treatment

• Collaborate with referral sources

• Follow up with no-shows

• Identify clients at risk for leaving and intervene

Make it easy to stay in treatment

• Assign peer buddies

• Build community among clients

• Have clients help create their treatment plans

• Have clients select groups

• Use contingency management

Clients

• Offer a tour guide

• Overlap levels of care

• Blend levels of care

• Include family and friends in discharge and admission planning

• Use motivational interviewing

• Use video conferencing

• Map out continuing treatment

• Orient clients to outpatient treatment

• Offer telephone support

• Reward attendance at the first outpatient appointment

Referrers

• Assign one contact person to each referral source

• Schedule outpatient appointments before clients leave

• Guide referral sources to make appropriate referrals

• Tailor brochures for each referral source

• Hold joint staffing

• Streamline paperwork

• Increase referral sources