Join us for an enlightening webinar focused on Alabama's innovative approaches to substance use prevention, particularly tailored to address the unique needs of diverse and marginalized communities within the region. In this session, Beverly Johnson, Director of Child and Family Services for the Alabama Department of Mental Health, will provide an in-depth look at how the state is overcoming challenges in providing adequate services to underserved populations, especially in rural areas. She will be joined by the state's epidemiologist, Brenae' Waters, and Seyram Selase, Executive Director of the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), to discuss the integration of social determinants of health into prevention planning and the application of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model at the local level.
This webinar will highlight Alabama's transition to a needs-based funding model and showcase how local communities are empowered to tackle substance use issues through data-driven strategies and innovative practices.
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding the Impact of Social Determinants of Health:
- Identify and analyze the key social determinants of health that influence substance use and prevention efforts in Alabama's diverse and rural communities.
- Learn how these factors are incorporated into the state’s strategic planning to enhance the effectiveness of prevention programs.
- Implementing the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) at the Local Level:
- Explore how the SPF model is utilized to empower local communities in addressing substance use issues by integrating risk and protective factors.
- Review real-life examples of innovative local practices and programs that have successfully addressed substance use within the region.
- Data-Driven Planning and Needs-Based Funding:
- Understand the importance of data in strengthening substance use prevention planning and strategy development.
- Gain insights into Alabama’s shift from historical funding models to a needs-based approach, ensuring that resources are allocated more effectively to meet the specific needs of underserved populations.
Join us to learn from Alabama's experiences and discover practical strategies for tailoring substance use prevention efforts to meet the unique needs of diverse and marginalized communities in your own region.
Presenters
Beverly Johnson
Beverly Johnson, MPA, is the Director of Child & Family Services of the Alabama Department of Mental Health to include Autism Services, Infant and Early Childhood Special Programs, Adolescent Mental Illness Treatment Services and Prevention Services. With approximately 25 years' experience in the behavioral health field to include local and state level service, Ms. Johnson also has worked abroad in Germany with childhood development and teen services. Ms. Johnson is the 2023 National Prevention Network Ketty Award Recipient; First Vice President of the National Prevention Network (NPN); Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Trained/Trainer (SAPST); Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk Trained (AMSR); Question Persuade Refer Trained (QPR); serves on the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Advisory Board; CADCA Coalition Advisory Committee and Alabama's Challenge for Preventing Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans & Their Families. Ms. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University at Montgomery and a Master of Public Administration from Jacksonville State University.
Seyram Selase
Seyram Selase is an executive director, local civic leader and professional real estate agent/broker residing in Anniston, Alabama. He graduated from Berea College in Berea, KY in 2006 and is a product of both Anniston City and Talladega County School systems in Alabama. Mr. Selase is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and serves his community in numerous roles.
In 2008, Mr. Selase moved back home to Alabama to work with a local non-profit and has been working in the field of substance misuse prevention for over 15 years. He currently is the Executive Director of A.S.A.P. (Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention) and Chair of the State of Alabama Prevention Advisory Board (SPAB). Mr. Selase has successfully received and implemented Drug Free Community (DFC) grants, State Block Grants, Opioid Response grants and many others. Seyram's motto is: "Knowledge is not power but the application thereof."
Brenae’ Waters
Brenae’ Waters, MPA, is the Epidemiologist of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, Office of Prevention Services residing in Montgomery, AL. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a master’s degree in public administration from Auburn University in Montgomery, AL. Mrs. Waters has approximately 14 years of state experience with data collection, analysis and reporting from the Public Health, Medicaid and Mental Health perspectives.
While serving as the State’s Epidemiologist, Mrs. Waters currently serves as the chairwoman of the Alabama Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (AEOW). She is a member of the following committees: State Prevention Advisory Board (SPAB), Opioid Council - Data Committee, Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (GC HIDTA), Adolescent Substance Treatment Subcommittee and Youth Tobacco Advisory Committee.
Mrs. Waters has received the following certifications: Power BI Training, 2024, Tableau Software Training, 2016, Managing Disruptive Audiences for the prevention professional, Introduction to Substance Abuse Prevention training, Introduction to the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), Alcohol, Tobacco, and other drugs training.
CONTACT HOUR ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible for the stated contact hours/certificate of attendance, you must join the live webinar on the video platform. Certificates must be requested within one week of the event and will be processed within 30 days. If you are having issues accessing the room/application at the time of the event: Please email [email protected] before the start of the webinar so that we can assist you.