Products and Resources Catalog

Cannabis Pharmacology for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners is a 4.5 hour self-paced course that provides important information on what prevention professionals need to know about cannabis. Dr. Hayden Center presents the following 3-part series: 1. The Effects of Cannabis. 2. Cannabis and the Adolescent Brain. 3. Cannabis Pharmacology. The ideal audience for this training is prevention organizations/coalitions and the prevention professionals serving at the local, state, regional and/or national levels that would like to learn and/or review updated and science-based information on cannabis to be better equipped to serve their communities.This can include coalition members, agencies, sector representatives and partners, volunteer staff, and other key partners, stakeholders, and collaborators. This training can also be appropriate for the broader public, with interest in the role cannabis policies is impacting, informing, influencing and shaping changes in their communities. Certificate of Completion Available

  Developing innovative and proactive steps to establish best practices for online data collection is essential given that our environment is in a constant state of change. This resource provides prevention practitioners with links to resources that will strengthen online data collection, build trust, and maintain a solid reputation for organizations in an ever-changing environment. Resources for Online Data Collection The Pacific Southwest PTTC is dedicated to providing training and technical assistance services to the substance misuse prevention field. For more information about our services, please reach out to us at [email protected].

This resource was created from the research, conversations, experiences, and knowledge gathered during a six-session series on the intersection of Advanced Ethical Practices for Prevention Professionals and Social Justice, which took place in 2022. This webinar series was jointly presented by the Building Health Equity and Social Justice, Implementation Science, and Community Coalitions and Collaborators PTTC work groups. This resource is designed to stand alone and may be used to support your ethical and socially just prevention work by itself. You may also view the on-demand recordings to enrich your experience by visiting the links below.

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.

The September 2024 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: Understanding Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults: A Focus on Opioid and Alcohol Use Mental Health: September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Prevention: Preventing Suicide Through Integrated Substance Use Prevention Efforts Opioid Response: ORN Regional Summit for the Construction Industry 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.

COURSE DESCRIPTION This workshop explores the intersection of youth mental health and substance misuse. Presenters outline effective strategies and interventions that prevention professionals can implement to improve mental health and reduce substance misuse among youth. Select View Resource to watch the recording. Below are the training materials. PPT Reducing youth substance misuse HHS Risk and Protective Factors MHTTC School Mental Health initiative Highlights 2022-2023   PRESENTERS Cindy Rivera Change Consultant, Project Director specializing in early childhood and mental health across the lifespan. With over 20 years of nonprofit experience working at the community level to implement programming to meet identified needs. She worked across communities from Tennessee to American Samoa on issues ranging from community volunteerism to chronic disease prevention. Cindy believes when community members are seen as experts, organizations may begin to support innovative solutions to complex challenges. Cindy holds a master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University and a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Mexican American studies from the University of Arizona. She is originally from Arizona, however, has spent the past 9 years zigzagging the country as military spouse. Currently, she resides in Fort Moore, Georgia, but will always call Southern Arizona home. “Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors.”  – Fred Rogers    Since 1996, veteran Derrick Newby has worked in the field of prevention and public health in both the public and private sectors. He serves as a training and technical assistance specialist for the South Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center for HHS Region 6.   As a veteran's counselor and advocate, Mr. Newby gained experience with the impact of federal programs on communities after working as a special assistant to a member of Congress. He then worked as the Program Coordinator in Arkansas for the Delta Region AIDS Education and Training Center for 15 years, facilitating the education of providers interested in increasing their capacity to provide comprehensive services related to HIV including testing and treatment. In 2017, he was selected for a position with the University of Arkansas Little Rock and served as a Program Coordinator with MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training for 5 years, helping to facilitate the growth of the prevention system.   Serving on the Arkansas Prevention Certification Board since 2020, Mr. Newby has a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor of science in psychology with a minor in education.    

Prevention messaging seeks to change behavior by inspiring hope and providing information on the risks of substance use. Implementing well-designed, culturally responsive messaging alongside other evidence-based prevention strategies can increase the effectiveness of each. This product explains the importance of prevention messaging, provides examples of messaging techniques, and shares tips and resources for developing a messaging campaign.

This guide was created to help substance misuse prevention practitioners identify ineffective approaches to substance misuse prevention.  

  In 1981, the U.S. Congress included in legislation 6 primary prevention strategy categories, commonly known as the “6 CSAP Strategies.” Since 1981, much knowledge has been gained through research on effective and ineffective substance misuse prevention strategies. This 90-minute webinar will present the evidence for the six categories, as well as explore the spectrum of strategies that fall into each category, focusing on our current knowledge of effective and ineffective prevention strategies within each of the six categories.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: List the 6 CSAP primary prevention strategy categories Describe the evidence base for each CSAP strategy category Describe current evidence regarding effective and ineffective prevention strategies in each CSAP strategy category   GUIDE: What Research Shows Does NOT Work in Substance Misuse Prevention This guide was created to help substance misuse prevention practitioners identify ineffective approaches to substance misuse prevention   PRESENTER:  Ashley Bodiford Ashley Bodiford is the Director of Prevention at LRADAC where she develops, implements, and maintains effective prevention services for Richland and Lexington counties. Mrs. Bodiford has been in the field of substance use prevention since 2010 and is skilled in universal, selective, and indicated prevention strategies. She enjoys bringing insight to the field of Prevention through innovative techniques and collaborating with community partners. Ashley has provided training and technical assistance in the areas of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention, cultural diversity and competence, community coalition building, needs assessment, implementation strategies, and other prevention-related topics. Mrs. Bodiford holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Developmental Psychology, a Master in Public Health, and a Master in Human Services. In 2012, she was named the recipient of the Jan Oglietti Rising Star Prevention Professional Award for outstanding contributions to the field of prevention, and in 2016 was named the recipient of the Norman Peter Johnson Outstanding Prevention Professional Award. Most recently, Ashley was named as a Subject Matter Expert by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and was tasked with item writing for the Prevention Specialist credential exam.   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.

The purpose of the PTTC, MHTTC, and ATTC network’s glossary is to promote clear and consistent communication and understanding among professionals, service providers, policymakers, and the general public by providing definitions and explanations of key terms and concepts related to prevention, mental health, and addiction. This glossary is valuable in promoting effective communication and collaboration, leading to better-informed decisions and improved prevention and treatment outcomes. Additionally, a prevention and behavioral health glossary is an essential asset for individuals seeking information and support, helping to increase awareness and understanding of the prevention, mental health, and addiction fields and promoting a more informed and empathetic society. This glossary contains both words that help us understand concepts related to equity, diversity, and culture, as well as words that help us understand the impact that those concepts can have on our health. This is not intended to be comprehensive list, but rather to provide definitions for some terminology that you may encounter in your work. The document is formatted in 2 sections. The first section is intended as an addition to terms defined in A Comprehensive Culturally Responsive Glossary: Concepts to Increase Awareness Towards Health Equity, originally published in September 2021. The second section provides cross-cultural translations of common terminology for mental health, substance use, medical care, health access and diversity for English and Portuguese speakers. The Spanish edition is coming soon! This product was a collaborative effort of the PTTC, MHTTC, and ATTC Networks. PORTUGUESE: O objetivo do glossário da Rede de Centros de Transferência de Tecnologia de Prevenção (PTTC), Rede de Centros de Transferência de Tecnologia de Saúde Mental (MHTTC) e Centro de Transferência de Tecnologia de Dependência Química (ATTC) é promover uma comunicação e compreensão clara e consistente entre profissionais, prestadores de serviços, formuladores de políticas e o público em geral, fornecendo definições e explicações de termos-chave e conceitos relacionados à prevenção, saúde mental e adicção. Este glossário é valioso para promover uma comunicação e colaboração eficaz, ajudando as pessoas a tomar decisões informadas produzindo melhora nos resultados de prevenção e tratamento. Além disso, um glossário de prevenção em saúde é um produto essencial para indivíduos que buscam informação e apoio, ajudando a aumentar a conscientização e compreensão nas áreas de prevenção, saúde mental e adicção e promovendo uma sociedade mais informada e empática. Este glossário contém tanto palavras que nos ajudam a entender conceitos relacionados com a cultura, a equidade, e a diversidade. Essas palavras nos ajudam a entender o impacto que esses conceitos podem ter em nossa saúde. O glossário não pretende ser uma lista abrangente, mas sim, fornecer definições para algumas terminologias que você pode encontrar em seu dia a dia. O glossário está formatado em duas seções. A primeira seção pretende ser um acréscimo aos termos definidos em Um Glossário Compreensivo e com Sensibilidade Cultural: Conceitos para Aumentar a Conscientização Sobre a Equidade em Saúde, publicado originalmente em setembro de 2021. A segunda seção fornece traduções transculturais de terminologia comum para saúde mental, uso de substâncias, cuidados médicos, acesso à saúde e diversidade para as pessoas que falam português.

This webinar focuses a roundtable discussion on sustaining collaborator relationships for preventionists, followed by a question and answer portion.  Featured speakers are Capetra Parker, Dan Fitzgerald, Bethanie Rado, and Amy Mellick-Wetzel.

Increase your health equity impact in prevention by elevating your objectives from “SMART” to “SMARTIE!” In this brief, high-impact Prevention PowerByte session, participants will learn how to develop Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Inclusive, and Equitable (SMARTIE) objectives to drive impactful prevention strategies. This micro-training offers practical tips along with a worksheet to help professionals craft clear and actionable objectives. Perfect for busy practitioners, this micro-training delivers all the SMARTIE essentials in under 10 minutes!   Worksheet: SMARTIE Objectives Creating SMARTIE Objectives to Achieve Big Goals Recording   The Pacific Southwest PTTC is dedicated to providing training and technical assistance services to the substance misuse prevention field. For more information about our services, please reach out to us at [email protected].

In this concise, high-impact micro-training, you will uncover the key criteria for selecting evidence-based interventions and learn how to conduct a side-by-side analysis using the Pacific Southwest PTTC’s Prevention Intervention Comparison Checklist to identify the best fit for your community. This Prevention PowerByte offers practical guidance as we walk you through the checklist, demonstrating how to use it with your planning team to choose the most effective interventions for supporting your community's substance misuse prevention efforts.   Tools for Selecting Best-Fit Interventions: A Checklist for Prevention Practitioners Recording Prevention Intervention Comparison Checklist The Pacific Southwest PTTC is dedicated to providing training and technical assistance services to the substance misuse prevention field. For more information about our services, please reach out to us at [email protected].

The latest edition of our bi-monthly newsletter is available. This month’s edition features Workforce Development, Announcing the 2024 Research and Design (RAD) Prevention Fellowship Products, awareness campaigns for August/September, and regionally and nationally developed events and tools to support and grow the prevention workforce in New England. View the newsletter.

In this Issue North Texas Tackles the Fentanyl Crisis with New Documentary National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is August 21 Harm Reduction Resources Epi Corner: Opioid Overdoses in Children and Adolescents What's Happening Around the Region? Webinar: Reducing Youth Substance Misuse by Implementing Mental Health Initiatives Webinar: Navigating the Green Wave: Strategies for a Local Response to Cannabis Legalization Webinar: Strategies to Disrupt the Proliferation of Emerging Drugs: A Community Approach New From SAMHSA SAMHSA Releases the 2023 National Survey on Drug use and Health (NSDUH) National Mental Wellness Month

Equity in Action: Crafting Inclusive Prevention Communication How to incorporate racial and cultural equity into prevention messaging, training, and other communication.   This interactive skill-building workshop will explore the use of culture in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) prevention communications. We will explore how the enhanced National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standard – Communication and Language Assistance provides guidance on improving: Trust Among Various Populations Participant Comfort and Satisfaction Program Effectiveness Positive Participant Outcomes   Supplemental Resources: Presentation Slides Resource Handout   Learning Objectives: Review Cultural Humility. Explore the enhanced National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standard – Communication and Language Assistance. Learn how to incorporate racial and cultural equity into prevention messaging, training, and other communication. Practice methods to incorporate racial and cultural equity into prevention messaging, training, and other communication. Develop a plan to incorporate racial and cultural equity into prevention messaging, training, and other communication. Share experiences and learn from others.   About the Workshop: It is an interactive, educational, and mutual learning session designed to create specialized results and products. This 3-hour workshop is longer than the typical webinar and requires more preparation beforehand. This workshop will include collaborative activities, allow for time to work on your community’s issues, and participants will work on a process that will generate a product that can be used in their communities. Participants are urged to participate as a team (at least two members of a program) to ensure that the workshop will lead to the desired result. There are hands-on interactive activities.   Presented by Michael Browning: Michael Browning, nationally recognized public health and Substance Use Disorder program developer, policy analyst, and trainer, has a passion for constituent-led community advocacy. He has provided support to several governmental agencies by providing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention proven practices in capability building, training, and day-to-day technical assistance to assist the departments in planning, grantee support and technical assistance and community engagement. Including and not limited to: US Federal government, State of California, District of Columbia, Atlanta, County of Los Angeles, Kern County, the County of San Bernardino, and other CA counties. He is a proven grant writer and program developer. He was a senior administrative analyst for the University of California, Berkeley - Institute for the Study of Social Change (now: Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, Prevention by Design). He is currently the Interim president of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development. Browning was an executive director of a non-profit community coalition and deputy director at another. He has over 35 years of local, state, and national substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and tobacco control and prevention, early intervention and treatment, youth services, community organization, early childhood education, violence prevention, HIV/AIDS, public health, cultural proficiency development, program planning, development and evaluation, public policy advocacy, and strategic planning experience. His former employers include community-based programs in Pasadena, Inglewood, Los Angeles, and Michigan. Browning provided direct support to President Jimmy Carter’s “The Atlanta Project” and the Hilton Foundation’s Project Alert. Browning was a master trainer at CADCA for over 20 years. He is the former president of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council, member of LAPD’s Van Nuys Division Community Police Advisory Board, health chair of the San Fernando Valley NAACP, and chair of the USC COVID-19 Community Advisory Board. Browning is a graduate of the University of Southern California and was a fellow at Boston University.

The goal of this 1 hour presentation is to effectively introduce the MY-SBIRT Project and outline the main components & best practices for implementing universal substance use screening for adolescents using the CRAFFT 2.1 + N and Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services tools. While this presentation is specific to the screening protocol developed for School-Based Health Centers through the MY-SBIRT Project, the key elements for administering screening, engaging adolescents in motivational interviewing & brief negotiated interview techniques, and best practices for connecting individuals identified as higher risk to appropriate support & treatment can be applied to any clinical environment that serves adolescents.  

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.

New research-based substance misuse prevention tools supporting Workforce Development: Recruiting, Training, Retaining Diverse Professionals across the Career Lattice. Prevention Product Development for the New England Region. Link to view the recorded webinar (recorded on August 6, 2024).   CENTERING CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC EQUITY IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: A GUIDE TO INCREASING HISPANIC AND LATINO REPRESENTATION IN COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION This is a guide for behavioral health leaders and organizations looking to diversify their staff and/or programs by increasing Hispanic and Latino representation in community-based prevention. For some communities, this may mean increasing Hispanic and Latino hiring, while for others this may mean increasing the reach of current programming to include Hispanic and Latino populations. Christina Mancebo-Torres, MPH, Senior Fellow, Massachusetts Christina Mancebo-Torres, MPH is the Assistant Director and Co-Founder of the Centro de Ayuda y Esperanza Latina, Inc. (Latin Center for Help and Hope), located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Christina is a bilingual prevention professional with experience in program delivery in the United States and the Dominican Republic. She is located in Southeastern Massachusetts where she previously worked on a number of prevention initiatives, including one of the only Hispanic and Latino-led opioid prevention programs in the state of Massachusetts. Christina is a current doctoral student in Health Sciences with a concentration in Trauma Informed Care, and also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and Graduate Certificates in Epidemiology and Global Health. DOWNLOAD THE PRODUCT.   MY FIRST YEAR IN PREVENTION: A GUIDE TO LEARNING THE FIELD A guide for new professionals working in the field of prevention to support learning of key concepts proven to help preventionists improve policies, practices, programs, and environments that make it easier for people to thrive. The guide includes a timeline for the first year of training, common acronyms, and links to resources and newsletters for additional learning. The appendix includes supporting materials as well as a section for supervisors to engage the new employee in thoughtful reflection related to their learning. In addition to a printable version of the guide, Mariah has also included links to editable templates in both Canva and Google documents to allow supervisors to create their own versions that add in additional learning and resources to fit the needs of their organization or the individual employee. Mariah Flynn, Senior Fellow, Vermont Mariah Flynn is a Certified Prevention Specialist who has worked in the substance misuse field in Vermont for 20+ years as a counselor, a case manager, and for the last 16 years as the Director of the Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community, a substance misuse prevention coalition serving Burlington, Vermont. She is a founding member of Prevention Works! VT, the Chittenden Prevention Network, and the Northwest Regional Prevention Network; statewide and regional efforts to coordinate substance use prevention resources and strategies for the areas, and she serves on the Steering Committee of Prevention Works! VT. Mariah previously served as the Coordinator of the Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative for the state of Vermont, and has completed two Fellowships with the New England PTTC. In her personal time she supports local initiatives that help youth thrive, including her own two teenagers, in her hometown of Essex Junction. Mariah is passionate about building communities that provide youth and families with the skills and environment that supports healthy choices. DOWNLOAD THE PRODUCT My First Year in Prevention: A Learning Guide My First Year in Prevention: A Learning Guide for the Vermont Prevention Professional Make this resource work for you:  General Canva TEMPLATE Vermont Specific Canva TEMPLATE Google Drive documents from this guide are available to edit   PUTTING THE HUMAN BACK INTO HUMAN SERVICES: EMBRACING A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF PREVENTION A dialogue guide for organizations – particularly in the field of health and human services (with a focus on substance use prevention) – that offers a more holistic and dignified approach to workforce development. Through a dynamic and relational process that emphasizes self-examination, reflection, curiosity, and creativity, this guide centers the humanity of personnel. The ideas and practices suggested in this guide offer a potential pathway to a healthier workplace – and more effective workforce – by emphasizing relationships, practice, and personal growth. FJ Perfas, B.S.B.A., CPS, Senior Fellow, Massachusetts FJ Perfas is a dedicated prevention professional with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he leads community-based youth substance misuse prevention initiatives for the Department of Public Health. With a deep conviction that prevention is a vital component in fostering health and enhancing quality of life, FJ integrates restorative and strength-based approaches into his work. He believes that cultivating meaningful relationships is essential for building resilient individuals and thriving communities. Outside of his professional life, FJ is an enthusiastic outdoorsman who finds joy in exploring the mountains and oceans of New England, reflecting his passion for the region’s natural beauty. DOWNLOAD THE PRODUCT.   TOOLS: FOR A WORKING MEETING This resource is a cooperative card game designed to teach the mechanics of working meetings where everyone participates and everyone’s participation is valued. Through this experiential learning experience, players understand for themselves what it is like to participate in an equitable and inclusive meeting. It is intended for use in workshops, team-building exercises, and other small group settings. Em Delaney, CPS, Fellow, Vermont Em Delaney serves as the Communications Coordinator for Healthy Lamoille Valley, a coalition and program of the Lamoille Family Center in Vermont. She has worked in Vermont nonprofits as a technical communicator, information designer, and project coordinator for over a decade as well as spending several years in collective management. She believes the presence of equity in the workplace leads to a sense of belonging and provides an environment where expression and thought are encouraged. Em is a certified prevention specialist and currently serves on the Vermont CPS Board. She holds an MA in education and an MFA in interdisciplinary art and is working on a certificate in technical communication. DOWNLOAD THE PRODUCT Tools for a Working Meeting - A Cooperative Card Game for Two or More Players (PRINT VERSION) Tools for a Working Meeting - A Cooperative Card Game for Two or More Players (WEB FRIENDLY)   LGBTQIA+ HIRING PRACTICES FOR THE PREVENTION WORKFORCE This guide is intended to provide employers with the hiring experiences and challenges of, and guidelines for important considerations when recruiting and hiring, LGBTQIA+ folx. Resources for training and deeper conversations are also included. Alissa Cannon, CPS, Senior Fellow, New Hampshire Alissa Cannon is a Certified Prevention Specialist working in the field of Juvenile Justice and Prevention for the New Hampshire Juvenile Court Diversion Network, a statewide Nonprofit Organization coordinating screening for substance use and mental health in juvenile court diversion programs. She has worked in the areas of prevention and community/school-based health education for nearly 15 years and has enjoyed every moment of it. She also proudly serves on the Prevention Taskforce of the NH Governor’s Commission on Prevention, Treatment & Recovery, the Alcohol & Other Drug Policy Advisory Committee for New Futures and is actively working with the NH Service to Science Expert Panel to designate the NH Juvenile Court Diversion Model as Evidence-Based. Alissa is originally from south Louisiana, but now resides in New Hampshire with her wife and their two rescue dogs, Conrad and Gronk. DOWNLOAD THE PRODUCT.   DISARMING MICROAGGRESSIONS & MACROAGGRESSIONS TO PROMOTE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE PREVENTION WORKFORCE This guide is meant to assist preventionists with identifying the presence of micro- and macroaggressions in everyday life, their manifestation in the field of prevention, and evidence-informed strategies for addressing them. Guidance is also provided to prevention leaders on promoting equity and inclusion across the prevention career lattice to support a more diverse prevention workforce that can address prevention disparities in communities. Michael Awad, PhD, Senior Fellow, Connecticut Michael Awad, PhD is a licensed psychologist that has worked in the field of mental health for over 10 years focusing on improving access, utilization, and outcomes of prevention and treatment services for youth and families. Michael led the New Haven Prevention Council, a community coalition of youth and parents, healthcare providers, school, civic and government leaders, law enforcement professionals dedicated to preventing and reducing the incidence and impact of substance use on youth in New Haven, Connecticut. He also developed the OneStep Program, a comprehensive school-based prevention and health promotion program that uses social media and positive youth development to address multiple social ecological influences implicated in adolescent substance use. Michael earned his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University and completed a National Institute of Drug Abuse postdoctoral fellowship in substance abuse prevention at the Yale School of Medicine. DOWNLOAD THE PRODUCT.     View the 2021 products.   View the 2022 products.   View the 2023 products.

  The college years are a time when students may experiment with drugs for the first time. This is why college is the ideal setting to implement substance misuse prevention strategies. This webinar will include an overview of current drug use rates among college students; a strategic planning guide for preventing drug misuse among college students; successes and challenges experienced by colleges and universities applying the Strategic Prevention Framework; a real-world profile of a university’s experience implementing substance misuse prevention strategies; and tools for professionals working to prevent drug misuse among college students.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the current drug use rates among college students Describe successes and challenges in applying the Strategic Prevention Framework to preventing drug use and misuse among college students Leverage tools for professionals working to prevent drug misuse among college students   Richard Lucey Richard Lucey has more than three decades of experience at the state and federal government levels working to prevent alcohol and drug use and misuse among youth and young adults, especially college students. He currently serves as a senior prevention program manager in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Community Outreach and Prevention Support Section. Rich plans and executes educational and public information programs, evaluates program goals and outcomes, and serves as an advisor to the Section Chief and other DEA officials on drug misuse prevention and education programs. Rich formerly served as special assistant to the director for the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and worked as an education program specialist in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.   Erin Ficker  Erin Ficker, MPAff, CPRS, serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) For over 18 years, she has built the capacity of clients to perform prevention work effectively using the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). She has in-depth knowledge and training experience in the SPF process, including specific work in evaluation, sustainability, assessment, and working with diverse populations. She provides services to a wide range of prevention and behavioral health specialists.is an expert in substance misuse prevention, an accomplished training and technical assistance (T/TA) provider, and a certified senior prevention specialist. She brings extensive expertise in supporting, designing, and delivering engaging professional learning, and providing comprehensive T/TA for states and community-level prevention professionals.   Jenny Damask  Jenny Demask has worked in college student health and AOD prevention for 18 years, currently at the University of Wisconsin. In her role she helps campus partners strategize and evaluate changes to systems, policies, and environments. She has a brilliant grasp of the public health approach to preventing issues with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and hazing. She developed several successful educational programs and promotional campaigns involving social norms clarification and bystander intervention. Jenny holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in Human Services, a MS in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri, and an Ed.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.

Our guest on this episode is Georgina Lafoe who is on staff at the Community Engagement Institute at Wichita State University and represents their Prevention Initiatives. Her story begins as a drug endangered child but today her life is thriving and demonstrates resiliency. She loves to build relationships with people who love to help people. Outside of CEI, Georgina enjoys traveling and visiting new cultures and cities. She adores her two nephews and spending time watching them encounter this world as new. Georgina also loves a good movie every now and then (preferably scary). Email: [email protected] Website: https://communityengagementinstitute.org

Access free, self-paced online courses through HealtheKnowledge to enhance your substance misuse prevention knowledge and skills.  Upon finishing these courses, participants receive certificates of completion.  Also available are drug fact sheets for reference.  

In this engaging 1-hour course, professionals in substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery will gain a comprehensive understanding of evaluation practices and their crucial role in planning and success. We will demystify evaluation, making it accessible and encouraging its integration into your work. You’ll learn how planning and evaluation complement each other and discover the importance of monitoring as a distinct yet integral part of evaluation. The course will provide practical ideas on what and how to measure, along with sense-making guidelines. Additionally, you’ll explore the differences and similarities between impact evaluation and contribution analysis, understand the steps involved in contribution analysis, and see real-world examples of its application. Join us to enhance your evaluation skills and ensure your programs achieve their desired impact. This course offers a certificate of completion.

In this comprehensive 1-hour course, professionals in substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery will gain essential skills in finding, analyzing, and utilizing data to inform decision-making and create impactful stories. We'll explore various data sources, including public health databases and community surveys, and teach you practical strategies for collecting and organizing data. You'll learn to interpret data accurately and draw meaningful conclusions to assess prevention programs, identify trends, and evaluate treatment outcomes. Additionally, we'll focus on presenting data clearly and engagingly, making it accessible to stakeholders and the broader community. By the end of this course, you'll be equipped to leverage data to enhance your work and advocate for evidence-based approaches in substance misuse prevention and recovery. This course offers a certificate of completion.