Central East PTTC

The Danya Institute, Inc.
8737 Colesville Road, Suite L-203
Silver Spring,
MD
20910
HHS Region 3
DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV
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The Central East PTTC serves the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 3, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The PTTC will provide technical assistance (TA) and training (T) geared toward developing and strengthening the capacity of substance use prevention field to provide services that are based on prevention science and use evidence-based and promising practices. The populations of focus are prevention professionals and organizations, community coalitions, social service groups, other community based and faith based organizations, minority-specific organizations, healthcare workers, organizations, pre-professionals, peers, consumers and family members, and other stakeholders. 

Recent News

From the Central East PTTC
Apr. 30, 2024
As we gear up for National Prevention Week, observed from May 12-18, 2024, it is essential to highlight the significance of substance use prevention in our communities. This annual observance serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to promote health and well-being by preventing substance misuse and fostering positive mental health practices. The Substance […]
Apr. 22, 2024
Contributors: Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center, Central East Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center, and The African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence The African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and the Central East Technology Transfer Centers have forged a collaborative relationship to address and inform providers about […]
Apr. 01, 2024
As April unfolds, we find ourselves at the crossroads of education and action, as we bring our attention to a critical matter that demands our collective efforts – underage alcohol use. The prevalence of underage alcohol use demands our attention and calls for a community-wide response. This isn’t just a challenge; it’s an opportunity for […]

Upcoming Events

Hosted by the Central East PTTC
Webinar/Virtual Training
  Cost: FREE Contact Hours: 1.25 (Certificate of Attendance) Target Audience: Professionals or organizations; Community members (members of a community or consumers); Students or educators (including faculty, administrators, supervisors, etc.) Developed for: SAMHSA Region 3 OVERALL DESCRIPTION Stigma refers to a wide range of negative attitudes, values, and actions towards another group of people. It can frequently occur in behavioral health settings and often against people who use or are at-risk of using substances. Stigma can significantly decrease the likelihood that people will seek services and significantly increase the likelihood of worsening health outcomes. This two-part webinar series will examine stigma through the lens of substance use prevention and experiences on the road to recovery: what it is, how it can manifest, and what prevention stakeholders can do to address it. The webinar will present both the latest research findings and the lessons learned from lived experience. COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of stigma and the importance of addressing it through what the research says and what is known through lived experience. The webinar will define stigma and explain how it can manifest in various substance use prevention settings and on the road to recovery. It will address the similarities and differences between public-, self-, and institutional-stigma and the role of both intentional and inadvertent stigma. The webinar will also discuss how stigma impacts substance use prevention outcomes and people’s ability to recovery. Additionally, it will explain why prevention professionals, other stakeholders, and the community-at-large need to address stigma. The webinar will also include a facilitated small group discussion opportunity for participants to share their experiences finding and addressing stigma. LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Define stigma conceptually and from a recovered person’s perspective Identify the various forms of stigma and their effects on our ability to recover Recognize the impact of stigma on prevention outcomes Describe stigma’s ongoing impact on the road to recovery PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (T/TA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of T/TA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to T/TA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.   Demetrie Garner, CPRS, as a Peer Recovery Specialist, has been presented with the unique opportunity of working in the largest Emergency Department in the state of Maryland. This has given him the vantage point to encounter minority disparities. A lack of health communication targeted to African-Americans and other minorities help further this disparity. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, the visible cracks of systemic inadequacies in health care and its access garners attention and policy changes in patients with substance use disorders. Having the experience in active addiction abusing opiates, cocaine, and alcohol for 26 years with countless relapses fostered the experience needed to help others in active addiction. Finding recovery over the last 2 and 1/2 years while working in the recovery field has given Demetrie a unique perspective in recidivism and retention throughout the process of recovery. With the help of the God of his understanding (Jesus Christ), Narcotics Anonymous, and healthy relationships, the pathway of a daily reprieve from active addiction is now possible. Continuous work through pastoral licensed counseling has unlocked the acceptance of childhood molestation and recovery from trauma. After 21 years since Demetrie decided to drop out of high school in the 11th grade, education seemed to become more important to obtain. If he wants to help individuals who look like himself and suffer from trauma and active addiction, then higher education has to be pursued. While at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, currently a sophomore, Demetrie’s interest in studies is in the social science of public health. Future involvement with research is being pursued with patients that have wait times in emergency rooms with substance use disorders. Previous research this past semester has examined minorities  hesitancy to receive Covid vaccinations. Demetrie is currently a Pre-McNair Scholar with ambitions to attend UMBC School of Public Policy M.P.P Program Spring of 2022. *CONTACT HOUR ELIGIBILITY In order to be eligible for the contact hours/certificate of attendance, you must join the live webinar in the Zoom platform. If you are having issues accessing the room/application at the time of the event: Please email [email protected] at the start of the webinar so that we can assist you.   ACCOMMODATIONS If you are in need of any special accommodations, please notify the Central East PTTC Webinar Team three weeks in advance of the event, or as soon as possible, by emailing [email protected].
Webinar/Virtual Training
  Cost: FREE Contact Hours: 1.25 (Certificate of Attendance) Target Audience: Professionals or organizations; Community members (members of a community or consumers); Students or educators (including faculty, administrators, supervisors, etc.) Developed for: SAMHSA Region 3 OVERALL DESCRIPTION Stigma refers to a wide range of negative attitudes, values, and actions towards another group of people. It can frequently occur in behavioral health settings and often against people who use or are at-risk of using substances. Stigma can significantly decrease the likelihood that people will seek services and significantly increase the likelihood of worsening health outcomes. This two-part webinar series will examine stigma through the lens of substance use prevention and experiences on the road to recovery: what it is, how it can manifest, and what prevention stakeholders can do to address it. The webinar will present both the latest research findings and the lessons learned from lived experience. COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will review strategies for addressing and preventing stigma against people at risk for substance misuse, substance use disorders, and consequences of substance use. It will discuss strategies at multiple levels: 1) peers and individuals; 2) within prevention organizations; 3) among collaborative partners and across the behavioral health continuum; 4) throughout the community at-large; and 5) in society as a whole. Each of these strategy levels will be examined from the perspectives of both academic research and lived experiences. Additionally, the webinar will include a facilitated small group exercise on identifying potential strategies for addressing stigma. LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Describe strategies for overcoming stigma when working with clients who use substances Identify strategies to avoid stigma within prevention organizations Recognize how prevention can work with collaborative partners and across the behavioral health continuum to address stigma Assess opportunities to address stigma in the community and across society   PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (T/TA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of T/TA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to T/TA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.   Demetrie Garner, CPRS, as a Peer Recovery Specialist, has been presented with the unique opportunity of working in the largest Emergency Department in the state of Maryland. This has given him the vantage point to encounter minority disparities. A lack of health communication targeted to African-Americans and other minorities help further this disparity. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, the visible cracks of systemic inadequacies in health care and its access garners attention and policy changes in patients with substance use disorders. Having the experience in active addiction abusing opiates, cocaine, and alcohol for 26 years with countless relapses fostered the experience needed to help others in active addiction. Finding recovery over the last 2 and 1/2 years while working in the recovery field has given Demetrie a unique perspective in recidivism and retention throughout the process of recovery. With the help of the God of his understanding (Jesus Christ), Narcotics Anonymous, and healthy relationships, the pathway of a daily reprieve from active addiction is now possible. Continuous work through pastoral licensed counseling has unlocked the acceptance of childhood molestation and recovery from trauma. After 21 years since Demetrie decided to drop out of high school in the 11th grade, education seemed to become more important to obtain. If he wants to help individuals who look like himself and suffer from trauma and active addiction, then higher education has to be pursued. While at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, currently a sophomore, Demetrie’s interest in studies is in the social science of public health. Future involvement with research is being pursued with patients that have wait times in emergency rooms with substance use disorders. Previous research this past semester has examined minorities  hesitancy to receive Covid vaccinations. Demetrie is currently a Pre-McNair Scholar with ambitions to attend UMBC School of Public Policy M.P.P Program Spring of 2022. *CONTACT HOUR ELIGIBILITY In order to be eligible for the contact hours/certificate of attendance, you must join the live webinar in the Zoom platform. If you are having issues accessing the room/application at the time of the event: Please email [email protected] at the start of the webinar so that we can assist you.   ACCOMMODATIONS If you are in need of any special accommodations, please notify the Central East PTTC Webinar Team three weeks in advance of the event, or as soon as possible, by emailing [email protected].
Webinar/Virtual Training
Cost: FREE Contact Hours:  1.25 (Certificate of Attendance and Social Work/Counseling CEUs provided by the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) Training Institute) Target Audience: Professionals or organizations; Community members (members of a community or consumers); Students or educators (including faculty, administrators, supervisors, etc.) Developed for: SAMHSA Region 3 OVERALL DESCRIPTION Reducing youth substance use rates remains a core goal of the prevention field. There have been many successes over the years, but there is more work to be done. New challenges, such as the introduction of vaping and the state legalization of adult cannabis use, have emerged. Old challenges, such as cigarette smoking, have also not yet been fully addressed and require regular re-investment. This two-part webinar series will provide an overview of the current status of three substances commonly used by youth: vapes, cannabis, and tobacco. Part 1 will review national and Central East (HHS Region 3) regional data and discuss relevant issues surrounding youth use of these substances. Part 2 will provide information on culturally responsive evidence-based practices for preventing youth vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use. COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of the current state of youth vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use. It will begin by reviewing the most common data sources for youth substance use and discuss opportunities to improve and expand data collection efforts. The webinar will then summarize the most recent data on youth vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use prevalence and consequences at the national level and for the Central East region. It will also describe the research on risk and protective factors for youth vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use. Lastly, it will provide information on how the social determinants of health play a role in youth use of these substances. LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Describe youth substance use data sources and opportunities to expand data collection Explain the scope of youth vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use and consequences in the Central East region and nationally Identify risk and protective factors relevant to youth vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use Recognize the effect of the social determinants of health on youth vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (T/TA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of T/TA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to T/TA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University. Olivia Stuart, MSW  supports the training & technical assistance (T/TA) team in the development and delivery of knowledge translation products across multiple projects. In this capacity, she assists with webinars, literature reviews, and infographics on a range of behavioral health topics. Prior to joining Carnevale Associates, Olivia interned with the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center where she supported projects to reduce inequities in the criminal justice system. Olivia also served as a Graduate Research Supervisor at George Mason University and worked for several years in LGBTQ+ advocacy and fundraising. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University. *CONTACT HOUR ELIGIBILITY In order to be eligible for the contact hours/certificate of attendance, you must join the live webinar in the Zoom platform. If you are having issues accessing the room/application at the time of the event: Please email [email protected] at the start of the webinar so that we can assist you. ACCOMMODATIONS If you are in need of any special accommodations, please notify the Central East PTTC Webinar Team three weeks in advance of the event, or as soon as possible, by emailing [email protected].

Products & Resources

Developed by the Central East PTTC
Other
More than 13.6 million adults over the age of 50 met the criteria for a substance use disorder in 2022. Yet substance use among this population remains underrecognized and has historically not been a priority population for many prevention professionals. This product explains the scope and causes of substance use among older adults, including the role of the social determinants of health. It also emphasizes the importance of screenings to identify older adults at risk for substance use.
Multimedia
Preventing Underage Alcohol Use Part 2: Strategies and Recommendations for the Field of Prevention Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, and Olivia Stuart, LMSW April 11, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide information on available evidence-based and culturally responsive prevention strategies for addressing underage alcohol use. It will cover both environmental and behavioral interventions, as well as opportunities to implement or expand policies that can address the social determinants of health. The webinar will review general strategies for underage alcohol use as well as those specifically focused on early adolescents and/or college-age youth. Lastly, it will describe how to ensure cultural responsiveness is incorporated into youth alcohol prevention efforts and programming. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Recognize the importance of providing evidence-based culturally responsive alcohol misuse prevention strategies. Describe evidence-based environmental strategies for preventing underage alcohol use. Describe evidence-based behavioral strategies for preventing underage alcohol use among early adolescents and college-age youth. Explain how to ensure cultural responsiveness in youth alcohol prevention programs. PRESENTERS Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.   Olivia Stuart, MSW supports the training & technical assistance (T/TA) team in the development and delivery of knowledge translation products across multiple projects. In this capacity, she assists with webinars, literature reviews, and infographics on a range of behavioral health topics. Prior to joining Carnevale Associates, Olivia interned with the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center where she supported projects to reduce inequities in the criminal justice system. Olivia also served as a Graduate Research Supervisor at George Mason University and worked for several years in LGBTQ+ advocacy and fundraising. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University.  
Multimedia
Preventing Underage Alcohol Use Part 1: Identifying and Understanding the Data Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, and Olivia Stuart, LMSW April 9, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of the current state of underage drinking and related prevention efforts. It will begin by reviewing the most common data sources for underage alcohol consumption and discuss opportunities to improve and expand data collection efforts. The webinar will then summarize the most recent data on alcohol use prevalence and patterns, as well as the consequences of use, at the national level and for the Central East region (HHS region 3). It will also describe the research on risk and protective factors for alcohol use among young people. Lastly, it will provide information on how the social determinants of health play a role in underage alcohol use rates. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe underage alcohol data sources and opportunities to expand data collection. Explain the scope of underage alcohol use and consequences in the Central East region and nationally. Identify risk and protective factors relevant to underage alcohol use. Recognize the effect of the social determinants of health on underage alcohol use. PRESENTERS Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.   Olivia Stuart, MSW supports the training & technical assistance (T/TA) team in the development and delivery of knowledge translation products across multiple projects. In this capacity, she assists with webinars, literature reviews, and infographics on a range of behavioral health topics. Prior to joining Carnevale Associates, Olivia interned with the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center where she supported projects to reduce inequities in the criminal justice system. Olivia also served as a Graduate Research Supervisor at George Mason University and worked for several years in LGBTQ+ advocacy and fundraising. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University.  
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