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
Mar. 05, 2024
The minimum age for sports betting in Maryland is 21, and for the Lottery, it’s 18. During a 2022 high school focus group in Western Maryland, all 15 youth said confidently, “I don’t gamble.” Yet, at the end of the focus group, nearly all raised their hands when the group was asked to raise their […]
Feb. 07, 2024
As we embrace the month of February and honor Black History Month, it is an opportune time to reflect on the rich heritage, resilience and contributions of the Black community. This month provides an opportunity to honor the achievements of Black people throughout history and address critical health issues affecting the community. This year, our […]
Jan. 03, 2024
SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day – Leading With Science, Improving Lives It is with great excitement and pride that we share a momentous occasion with you all –SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day! For two decades, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has been at the forefront of the fight against substance use disorders and […]

Upcoming Events

Hosted by the Central East PTTC
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 SERIES DESCRIPTION The substance use landscape regularly experiences changes in the demand and supply of substances, the relative importance of various risk and protective factors, and the impacts of the social determinants of health. Prevention professionals should be able to identify and understand these changes so that they can adjust service delivery as needed. Relative changes in substance use patterns, or the causes behind use, can lead to a re-prioritization of key prevention activities. However, prevention professionals must balance these potential re- prioritizations with ensuring that they continue to address core, underlying prevention needs. This three-part webinar series will provide an overview of emerging drug trends in the United States, with a focus on the Central East region, explain what is known about the causes behind these trends, and discuss potential implications for the prevention field. It will also discuss how prevention professionals can incorporate addressing emerging trends into their existing workflow.   COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar, part one in a series, will provide a broad overview of the most recent data on emerging substance use trends in the Central East region and around the United States. Among other topics, it will cover the current status of the opioid epidemic, changes in cocaine and methamphetamine use and consequences, and underage alcohol and vaping product trends. As part of this discussion, the webinar will summarize research findings on the causes behind the trends. The webinar will also discuss why it is important for prevention professionals to be aware of emerging trends and incorporating them into their strategic planning efforts.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Explain the importance of incorporating emerging trend needs into strategic planning efforts Describe the scope and impacts of key substance use trends in the region and the United States Recognize the influence of the social determinants of health Identify the risk and protective factors on emerging trends   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.             *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 SERIES DESCRIPTION The substance use landscape regularly experiences changes in the demand and supply of substances, the relative importance of various risk and protective factors, and the impacts of the social determinants of health. Prevention professionals should be able to identify and understand these changes so that they can adjust service delivery as needed. Relative changes in substance use patterns, or the causes behind use, can lead to a re-prioritization of key prevention activities. However, prevention professionals must balance these potential re- prioritizations with ensuring that they continue to address core, underlying prevention needs. This three-part webinar series will provide an overview of emerging drug trends in the United States, with a focus on the Central East region, explain what is known about the causes behind these trends, and discuss potential implications for the prevention field. It will also discuss how prevention professionals can incorporate addressing emerging trends into their existing workflow.   COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will examine data on four primary emerging substance use trends in the Central East region and around the United States: Xylazine, Nitazenes, Tianeptine, and Hallucinogens. This presentation provides information on what these substances are, their health impacts, and available data on use and consequences. It will also discuss opportunities and strategies for prevention professionals to learn more about the scope of these and other emerging trends in their communities. The webinar will identify potential data sources and techniques for collecting primary data. Additionally, the webinar will summarize harm reduction strategies that may be helpful in addressing these emerging substances of concern. Lastly, the presentation will identify opportunities to improve the public health response to substance use trends.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Describe the available data on Xylazine, Nitazenes, Tianeptine, and Hallucinogens as well as their consequences Recognize data sources and primary data collection methods Identify harm reduction strategies related to substance use Explain strategies for developing a culturally responsive and relevant public health approach to substance 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.   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.           *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 SERIES DESCRIPTION The substance use landscape regularly experiences changes in the demand and supply of substances, the relative importance of various risk and protective factors, and the impacts of the social determinants of health. Prevention professionals should be able to identify and understand these changes so that they can adjust service delivery as needed. Relative changes in substance use patterns, or the causes behind use, can lead to a re-prioritization of key prevention activities. However, prevention professionals must balance these potential re- prioritizations with ensuring that they continue to address core, underlying prevention needs. This three-part webinar series will provide an overview of emerging drug trends in the United States, with a focus on the Central East region, explain what is known about the causes behind these trends, and discuss potential implications for the prevention field. It will also discuss how prevention professionals can incorporate addressing emerging trends into their existing workflow.   COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will discuss the importance of using needs assessments to identify and prioritize emerging trends. It will describe the key steps to implementing a needs assessment and review opportunities to overcome challenges. The webinar will also examine various prioritization techniques to determine the relevance and importance of emerging trends. Additionally, the webinar will provide a step-by-step walkthrough of how to address emerging trends through the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). Lastly, the webinar will also explain how substance use prevention should be and is a critical part of a public health approach. As part of this discussion, it will describe public health approach best practices that can help address emerging substance use trends.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Describe how to conduct a needs assessment and overcome assessment challenges Summarize techniques for prioritizing emerging trends Explain the steps to addressing identified emerging trends through the SPF Recognize how to use a public health approach to address emerging trends   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.       *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
Multimedia
The Fundamentals of Understanding and Using Data in Prevention Part 3: DIY Data for Prevention Professionals Jamie Comstock, MURP, PS-C, and Robin Carr, PS-C February 29, 2024, 11:00am-12:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Looking for tips and tricks on how to present your data in a way that catches people’s attention and is easily understood? Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the Five C’s of Data: Chart, Color, Context, Clutter, and Composition. Through learning about the Five C's, participants of this virtual training will gain skills to present data in a manner that best resonates with their audiences. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Choose the most effective chart for their data Use color for emphasis and action Show data in context for maximum (and realistic) impact Reduce clutter so data insights can be easily understood PRESENTERS Jamie Comstock, MURP, PS-C and Robin Carr, PS-C founded Info Inspired in 2014, after many years of designing and giving presentations with no formal training in this area, and watching their public health colleagues struggle with the same skills gap. Both are certified prevention specialists with 30 years’ combined experience in the field. They’ve spent the last several years researching and testing ways to not only capture and hold an audience’s attention, but to also inspire audiences. They’ve spent countless hours refining the presentation planning process, identifying free resources, and learning how to maximize the tools they already had. It’s also important to know that they aren’t graphic designers, artists, or especially tech savvy. Everything they do, you can do too. They’ve presented at the Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America’s Leadership Forum, the Maine Public Health Association Annual Meeting, the New England Institute of Addiction Studies, the New England School of Best Practices, and provided training and technical assistance to non-profit organizations throughout New England. They have been featured on the Organizing for Change podcast and have an on-demand webinar available through the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center.  
Multimedia
The Fundamentals of Understanding and Using Data in Prevention Part 2: Collecting, Prioritizing, and Managing Your Data Josh Esrick, MPP, Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, and Olivia Stuart, LMSW February 27, 2024, 11:00am-12:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION The webinar will describe how to obtain and begin using data. It will identify data collection methods and sources, as well as important strengths and potential challenges for prevention professionals. The webinar will also provide recommendations for overcoming these challenges, including explaining the importance of culturally sensitive data collection instruments. It will also introduce and explain data prioritization techniques to begin integrating data into strategic planning. Lastly, the webinar will describe how prevention professionals can use data to improve strategic planning, community outcomes, and health equity. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify data sources and data collection techniques Recognize common barriers to data collection and strategies to overcome those challenges Describe and contrast different data prioritization techniques Identify how data can improve key components of the prevention field 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.   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
The Fundamentals of Understanding and Using Data in Prevention Part 1: What Is Data and Why We Use It Josh Esrick, MPP, Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, Olivia Stuart, LMSW, Jamie Comstock, MURP, PS-C, and Robin Carr, PS-C February 22, 2024, 11:00am-12:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will introduce and discuss data concepts relevant to substance use prevention. Through the lens of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), it will introduce the different ways prevention professionals can use data. The webinar will also summarize the different types of data relevant to prevention efforts and explain why data is critical to building the field’s evidence base. Additionally, it will identify the elements and explain the importance of a comprehensive needs assessment. Lastly, it will introduce the importance of effective and ethical data communication by prevention professionals. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain how data supports prevention planning and programming Recognize the different types of data relevant to prevention Identify the elements of a needs assessment and their uses Understand the importance of data communication to the community and stakeholders 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.   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, LMSW  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.   Jamie Comstock, MURP, PS-C and Robin Carr, PS-C founded Info Inspired in 2014, after many years of designing and giving presentations with no formal training in this area, and watching their public health colleagues struggle with the same skills gap. Both are certified prevention specialists with 30 years’ combined experience in the field. They’ve spent the last several years researching and testing ways to not only capture and hold an audience’s attention, but to also inspire audiences. They’ve spent countless hours refining the presentation planning process, identifying free resources, and learning how to maximize the tools they already had. It’s also important to know that they aren’t graphic designers, artists, or especially tech savvy. Everything they do, you can do too. They’ve presented at the Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America’s Leadership Forum, the Maine Public Health Association Annual Meeting, the New England Institute of Addiction Studies, the New England School of Best Practices, and provided training and technical assistance to non-profit organizations throughout New England. They have been featured on the Organizing for Change podcast and have an on-demand webinar available through the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center.  
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