According to the U.S. Attorney General, “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health.” This 90-minute webinar will explore the concept of social connectedness and its impact on our individual and community health. We will also explore what role we have as substance misuse prevention professionals to address the issue of social connectedness.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define social connectedness. List at least three impacts of a lack of social connectedness and loneliness. Identify the risk and protective factors for substance misuse that are impacted by social connectedness Name at least three actions that prevention professionals can take to increase social connectedness.   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   PRESENTERS:  Erin Ficker  Erin Ficker serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes PTTC. For more than 16 years, Erin has worked in substance abuse prevention supporting communities to use evidence-based strategies and data-driven processes in substance abuse prevention planning and implementation.  She works with community level prevention practitioners and schools in the development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of prevention interventions. Kris Gabrielsen Kris Gabrielsen is the co-director of the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. She has worked in the substance misuse prevention field for over 30 years, has a Master of Public Health degree, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Kris was the Associate Director of the Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT), co-authored the first Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training curriculum, and co-authored the textbook, Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science and Practice. As a consultant, she has worked with states and communities across the nation to bridge the gap between research and practice, assisting prevention professionals in maximizing their effectiveness.   The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.

Description:   Prevention is an essential part of the continuum in addressing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people, but it can be a challenge to define and implement. Understanding the robust and trusted field of prevention science can help guide our planning and efforts to make a tremendous impact, especially when working towards suicide prevention and substance use disorder prevention outcomes simultaneously. Participants will be introduced to evidence-based guiding principles in prevention, hear examples of effective community implementation, and learn how to collaborate for greater success.   Objectives: Defining proactive vs. reactive prevention. Focusing on shared risk and protective factors is the 'nexus' to produce shared substance misuse and suicide prevention outcomes. Implementation of effective prevention is guided by collaborative evidence-based frameworks, strategies, and policies.

Date: July 19, 2024 Format: Webinar Time: 12:00 PM—1:00 PM EST; each day Cost: FREE ABOUT THE LEARNING SESSION This webinar will review key concepts and identify risk and protective factors that prevention professionals should be aware of when working with LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in their communities, directly or indirectly. It will also include practical tips to help create welcoming, inclusive spaces. Learning Objectives Participants will be able to define & understand the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity & expression. Participants will be more familiar with the risk factors that impact LGBTQ+ youth, including those that increase the risk of substance misuse and other behavioral health concerns, including depression & anxiety. Participants will be able to identify protective factors for LGBTQ+ youth and consider ways to strengthen those for the LGBTQ+ youth they work with directly or indirectly in their communities. Participants will be connected to resources to help them continue to learn and to create welcoming, inclusive spaces in their work.   About the presenter: Marissa Carlson, MS, CPS, is the Executive Director of the NH Teen Institute, a leadership development nonprofit working with middle & high school students from around NH & New England in a variety of areas including substance misuse prevention, peer mentoring, and creating positive school & community climate.  She is a facilitator and trainer of trainers for multiple workshops developed through SAMHSA systems, is a member of the advisory council of the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC), and is on the DEI advisory committee for the NH Center for Nonprofits.  In addition, she is the President of the Prevention Certification Board of NH, serves on the IC&RC board of directors, and serves as the chairperson of the IC&RC Credentialing Committee.  Outside of her prevention work, Marissa is a founding member of Mill City Productions, a theatre company in Western Massachusetts.  She graduated from Pomona College with a BA in Psychology, received an MS in Nonprofit Management from Bay Path University, and has been a Certified Prevention Specialist since 2011.   About the webinar: This webinar is planned and hosted by the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center, a program funded through cooperative agreement from SAMHSA. This webinar has been pre-approved by the Maine Prevention Certification Board, an IC&RC member board, for 1 contact hour. Participants who complete this webinar will receive a certificate of completion for 1 contact hour. For questions about this webinar, please contact Kristen Erickson, [email protected].

  According to the U.S. Attorney General, “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health.” This 90-minute webinar will explore the concept of social connectedness and its impact on our individual and community health. We will also explore what role we have as substance misuse prevention professionals to address the issue of social connectedness.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define social connectedness. List at least three impacts of a lack of social connectedness and loneliness. Identify the risk and protective factors for substance misuse that are impacted by social connectedness Name at least three actions that prevention professionals can take to increase social connectedness.   PRESENTERS:  Erin Ficker  Erin Ficker serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes PTTC. For more than 16 years, Erin has worked in substance abuse prevention supporting communities to use evidence-based strategies and data-driven processes in substance abuse prevention planning and implementation.  She works with community level prevention practitioners and schools in the development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of prevention interventions. Kris Gabrielsen Kris Gabrielsen is the co-director of the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. She has worked in the substance misuse prevention field for over 30 years, has a Master of Public Health degree, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Kris was the Associate Director of the Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT), co-authored the first Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training curriculum, and co-authored the textbook, Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science and Practice. As a consultant, she has worked with states and communities across the nation to bridge the gap between research and practice, assisting prevention professionals in maximizing their effectiveness.   The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.

Nexus Between Substance Misuse Prevention and Suicide Prevention July 17, 2024   Presented by: Heidi Dutson, Certified Prevention Specialist Description:   Prevention is an essential part of the continuum in addressing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people, but it can be a challenge to define and implement. Understanding the robust and trusted field of prevention science can help guide our planning and efforts to make a tremendous impact, especially when working towards suicide prevention and substance use disorder prevention outcomes simultaneously. Participants will be introduced to evidence-based guiding principles in prevention, hear examples of effective community implementation, and learn how to collaborate for greater success.   Objectives: Defining proactive vs. reactive prevention. Focusing on shared risk and protective factors is the 'nexus' to produce shared substance misuse and suicide prevention outcomes. Implementation of effective prevention is guided by collaborative evidence-based frameworks, strategies, and policies.   Webinar Resource: PowerPoint slides LINK Webinar Recording LINK 

The July 2024 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: A Syndemic Approach to Training and Technical Assistance in the Central East Mental Health: Supporting Mental Well-being within Minority Communities Prevention: Championing Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention: Honoring BIPOC Mental Health Month Opioid Response: Construction and Opioids Additional sections include behavioral health observances, virtual training and webinar events, Region 3 news, and new resources. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated on the first Tuesday of each month. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter. Sign up to receive the Dialogue in your mailbox.