Computer Generated Avatars in Addiction Treatment Services

Terra Hamblin, Project Manager, National Frontier and Rural ATTCJim Wallis, Vice President of Community Development, Preferred Family Healthcare

Jared Torbet, Program Director of Emerging Technologies, Preferred Family HealthcareKathy Hoppe, VP of Treatment Services, Preferred Family Healthcare

www.nfarattc.org

What would you say if you could…

… easily expand your treatment services?

…. help patients increase their knowledge about their chronic condition (SUDs)?

… connect your patients with other patients with similar conditions outside

of the treatment provider?

Technology-Based Interventions

Use of technology devices to deliver some aspects of psychotherapy or behavioral

treatment directly to patients via interaction with a web-based program

(Carroll & Rounsaville, 2010)

DEFINITION

To date, more than 100different computer-assisted therapy programs have been developed for a

range of mental disorders and behavioral health problems

(Klein, et al., 2012; Marks et al., 2007; Moore, et al., 2011)(Klein et al., 2012; Moore et al., 2011)

TBIs are flexible in their ability to provide automated and tailored

information

(Moyer & Finney, 2004/2005; Fotheringham et al., 2000)

Technology-based Behavioral Health Interventions

• may consist of text, audio, video, animations, and/or other forms of multimedia

• use information from medical records,physiological data capture devices, or other sources

• may be interactively customized, or tailored, to an individual user’s needs

(Aronson, Marsch, & Acosta, 2013)

Functions of TBIs

Enable anonymity

(Marsch, 2012)

Are Cost Effective

(Marsch, 2012)

Transcend Geographical Boundaries

(Marsch, 2012)

Facilitate Linkages to Services in One’s Community

(Marsch, 2012)

(Marsch, 2012)

TBIs-Use of Avatars in Treatment

Jim Wallis, MA Counseling, is Vice President of Community Development.

Jared Torbet, MEd, LPC, Director of Emerging Technologies program.

Kathy Hoppe, VP of Treatment Services

Supporting Healthy Lifestyles

Virtual services makes treatment a reality for

individuals who are unable to access services otherwise

2008 - Portal I (Missouri Foundation for Health Grant)

2010 - Portal II (SAMHSA -Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

2011 - Tobacco Cessation (Missouri Foundation for Health)

2011 - Portal Plus (SAMHSA -Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). 

2012 – Portal DWI An educational program developed in cooperation with the Jefferson City, Missouri municipal court desiring to provide and educational program first time DWI offenders. 

2013- 9th circuit Juvenile drug court program; Providing virtual services to juvenile drug court participants utilizing State funding

History of Portal-Virtual Services

Hosted on a private, protected server; HIPPA/42C.F.R. Part2 compliant.

Accessible from anywhere via the Internet by most computers and reliable high speed internet

Portal- Virtual Environment

Jared Torbet Avatar Guide

Thank youwww.nfarattc.org