Northeast & Caribbean PTTC

Part 1 of the Centering Sustainability Through Community Engagement Series When we think of sustainability, we often think about how our prevention efforts will live on in our communities after our work ends. But what exactly is our role as prevention professionals in sustaining substance misuse prevention efforts? How do we engage our communities such that prevention becomes embedded in community culture? And, recognizing the growing interest in fostering community belonging in the field, how can we help our partners see themselves as integral members of our collaborative groups with the power to make real and sustainable impact? Join us for the interactive two-part series that will unpack the connections between community engagement, ownership, belonging and sustainability. During part one, we will explore how prevention practitioners can enhance sustainability through cultivating key partners’ sense of ownership over community prevention initiatives. Attending both sessions is not necessary but will enhance your learning experience. Presenter bios: Tracy Desovich, MPH, CPS - Tracy has over 30 years of experience in substance abuse prevention and public health. Her expertise includes community health assessment, planning, organizing and evaluation, leadership development, utilizing data to mobilize change, social norms marketing and healthy communities’ principles. Debra Morris, MPH - is a results-driven, people-centered professional who brings over 40 years of public health experience to improve population health. She leverages expertise in system strengthening, trauma-informed practices, training, technical assistance, and coalition building to develop culturally responsive interventions. Debra guides agencies with evidence-based and culturally competent prevention strategies to optimize and enhance service delivery models. She is praised for her ability to mobilize diverse stakeholders in the development of community-centered solutions and utilizing effective methods to address health disparities.

SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) is a preventive public health approach used to identify and intervene with persons whose pattern of use put them at risk for, or who are experiencing, substance-related health and other psychosocial problems, such as HIV and HCV, or exacerbated mental health issues. Prevention with Latinx communities includes a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive framework conducive to screening and early intervention. The content will inform on how taking a few minutes to conduct a person-centered brief intervention can help motivate reduction of substance use with Hispanic, Latino and Latinx communities. The approach further identifies those with high potential for a substance use disorder and opportunities for accessing culturally relevant resources. Trainer: Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-T has worked in the behavioral health field for more than 25 years. Using a culturally informed and inclusive recovery-oriented perspective, Ms. Padilla instructs on how to enhance strategies and interventions to best meet the substance use and related needs of communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, and other traditionally underserved populations. She is also an SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) Technical Assistance and Implementation Specialist, helping agencies to build their capacity to effectively intervene with communities at risk of substance use and mental health related conditions and behaviors. Credits: This training meets the requirements for three renewal hours (CASAC, CPP, CPS) and three initial hours (CPP, CPS) through New York State’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS). As an IC & RC member board, OASAS accredited courses are granted reciprocal approval by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee. Many other states offer reciprocity - please check with your accrediting agency.

*Este evento tendrá interpretación bilingüe simultáneo Help Write the Playbook for Prevention Workforce Retention/Ayuda a escribir el manual para la retención de esfuerzos comunitarios sobre prevención A session for community efforts on prevention/Una sesión para esfuerzos comunitarios sobre prevención   In this peer sharing session, a series of guided questions will be used to facilitate a discussion about how to increase retention of substance misuse prevention specialists with the goal of developing strategies to attract and keep a diverse, vibrant, strong and experienced workforce. This session is appropriate for the continuum of prevention professionals, ranging from new staff to seasoned supervisors. The discussion is designed to uncover the needs of new employees in the field and strategies employed by experienced (and successful) supervisors - with the goal of supporting all in the substance misuse prevention workforce. After the event, the notes collected throughout the session will be shared out as a resource. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe needs, values, and common concerns of prevention specialists in today’s workforce Identify strategies to attract, support, and encourage high-performing employees and teams Add recruitment and retention strategies to your toolbox that align with your organization’s current structure, culture, and constraints En esta sesión de compartir entre pares, una serie de preguntas guidas será usada para facilitar una discusión sobre como aumentar la retención de miembros comunitarios en la prevención del uso indebido de sustancias con la meta de desarrollar estrategias para atraer y mantener una membresía diversa, vibrante, fuerte y experimentada. Esta sesión se presta para una variedad de profesionales de prevención, desde nuevo personal hasta supervisores experimentados. El tema está diseñado para descubrir las necesidades de miembros nuevos en el campo y las estrategias aplicadas por supervisores experimentados (y exitosos) – con la meta de apoyar a todos que toman parte de los esfuerzos comunitarios para la prevención del uso indebido de sustancias. Después del evento, las notas recolectadas durante la sesión se compartirán como un recurso. Objetivos: Describir necesidades, valores, e inquietudes comunes de los especialistas de prevención en nuestra membresía comunitaria actual Identificar estrategias para atraer, apoyar y fomentar miembros y equipos de alto rendimiento Agregar estrategias de reclutamiento y retención a su caja de herramientas que se alineen con la estructura, cultura y limitaciones actuales de su organización. Presented by: Jamie Comstock & Robin Carr @ Info Inspired, LLC

Description: This two-hour training explores Harm Reduction strategies, or interventions aimed at reducing negative consequences related to substance use or other risk behaviors. Session reviews misunderstandings and barriers to helping people who actively use substances and informs on the 8 principles of harm reduction and how they apply in behavioral health." Presenter: Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-T, is a Research Project Manager at New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center. She is a senior staff trainer for the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Transfer Technology Center Network (NeC-ATTC), and a member of the ASAP-NYCB Trainer Registry. As a cultural agent, Ms. Padilla promotes an equity lens in trainings for engaging diverse communities in need, aligning with evidence and strength-based strategies within behavioral health, addiction, prevention, and recovery supports fields and professional capacities.

Webinar Description: As prevention professionals, facilitation in both virtual and face-to-face spaces is an integral part of our work. The ability to convene partners -- whether in meetings, trainings or events – and lead them through collaborative decision-making and other processes is essential to the success of community-based change efforts. This session looked at the art and science of facilitation, the skills needed for successful facilitation and discussed real-world tips and techniques for consensus-building with groups and managing group dynamics. Session Learning Objectives included: Describing the facilitation skills prevention practitioners need Identifying techniques for managing group processes and dynamics Identifying strategies for handling challenging situations as a facilitation   Presenter Info: Sandra Puerini Del Sesto, M.Ed, ACPS is a consultant and master trainer in behavioral health and strategic planning for states and non-profits. For over thirty-five years, Ms. Del Sesto has provided training throughout the United States in all areas of prevention practice.   Jess Goldberg, MSW, MPH, CPS, is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with Education Development Center. She specializes in building capacity to improve behavioral health at the national, state, regional and local levels.

Webinar Description Tailored for early career practitioners looking to elevate their prevention practice, this session explored the foundational prevention competencies that every prevention professional should build toward, where to find professional development opportunities to support growing those capacities, and best practices for planning your personal approach to professional development. Appropriate for individuals intending to pursue prevention certification, are seeking career advancement or simply want to improve their skills and abilities. Our presenters shared practical insights and valuable resources to support the professional development journey. Session Learning Objectives included: Defining key foundational competencies important for early prevention practitioners to develop Listing sources (e.g., organizations, websites) providing professional development opportunities for prevention professionals Describing the process for developing a personal approach to professional development   Presenter Information Sandra Puerini Del Sesto, M.Ed, ACPS is a consultant and master trainer in behavioral health and strategic planning for states and non profits. For over thirty five years, Ms. Del Sesto has provided training throughout the United States in all areas of prevention practice. She is a member of the advisory boards of the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC), the National Latino PTTC and the New England School of Addiction Studies. Sandra serves as the RI delegate to the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). Jessica Goldberg is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with Education Development Center. For over a decade, Jess has specialized in building capacity to improve behavioral health at the national, state, regional and local levels. Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess is a Certified Prevention Specialist and holds an MSW and an MPH from Boston University.   Additional Documents PowerPoint Flyer Personal Professional Development Action Plan Starter