Products and Resources Catalog

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. The April 2024 issue spotlights content celebrating National Minority Health Month and Alcohol Awareness Month. It also features links to upcoming trainings focused on supporting Black students experiencing racial trauma, harnessing AI for substance misuse prevention, and process improvement. Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!

Webinar Description Join us for a webinar highlighting the incredible work of the Help Enrich African American Lives (HEAAL) Coalition and Youth Taking Charge (YTC) in enriching the quality of African American lives through community engagement and collaboration. This presentation will focus on data-driven prevention strategies that have been successfully implemented to address and decrease youth substance use in urban and inner-city environments. Through the collaborative efforts of HEAAL and YTC, we aim to identify needs and develop prevention strategies that support healthy decision-making for better lifestyle outcomes. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about effective approaches to youth substance use prevention in our communities. By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Identify evidence-based strategies used to address substance misuse in urban/inner-cities. Examine the individual and collective risk factors and analyze WIIFM's of youth in urban/inner-cities. Explore the What's In It For Me (WIIFMs) to engage youth participation in substance misuse prevention programs.   Webinar Recording and Slides HEAAL & YTC Webinar Recording HEAAL & YTC Webinar Slide Deck (PDF)   Presenters Clyde R. Miller Jr., a native of Washington DC, has been involved in the Phoenix community since 2000. Clyde has a made a lifelong commitment to the communities in Maricopa County and is actively engaged in making it a healthier and safer place to live, work and play. He is currently the Coalition Coordinator for the Help Enrich African American Lives (HEAAL) Coalition, an arm of Tanner Community Development Corporation (TCDC). Mr. Miller feels that it is important that we become involved in the business of AZ, the wellness of us together. Mr. Miller is married to Melonie Miller and a member of First New Life Church in Phoenix, AZ. Loren V. Grizzard is Program Manager at Tanner Community Development Corporation (TCDC) which is the nonprofit community outreach for Tanner Chapel A.M.E. Church.  One of the programs in TCDC is the Help Enrich African American Lives Coalition (HEAAL), which provides adult/youth community education, and advocacy that increases the perception of harm of youth alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug use/abuse.  These community-based prevention activities are planned by coalition volunteers and implemented through churches, schools, and community agencies targeting African American youth and communities at large in Maricopa County, AZ.  Loren has 15 years experience in substance misuse prevention for youth and caregivers. Loren has 20+ years of experience in the electronics industry working for Motorola, On Semiconductor, and Intel as a process engineering technician.  He also worked for the East Valley Institute of Technology as a state report coordinator and mathematics/reading enrichment support technician. Youth Taking Charge (YTC) is a youth subgroup of Help Enrich African American Lives (HEAAL) Coalition which is the substance misuse prevention program of Tanner Community Development Corporation (TCDC). YTC’s mission is to help inform youth about the risks of substance misuse, by identifying needs and developing strategies that support good decision making and better lifelong habits for healthier physical, mental, and emotional wellness.   Questions Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

In this Issue: Substance Misuse Through the Lens of Black History Month Alcohol Availability is a Social Justice Issue Epi Corner: The Syndemic Framework: Enhancing Understanding of the Root Causes of Disease What's Happening Around the Region? Free Logic Model TA Webinar: Alcohol, Equity, and Social Justice: Breaking the Silence What's New?

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The February 2024 issue features content from the Great Lakes ATTC celebrating Black History Month, including our upcoming 2024 Black History Month Panel Presentation. It also features a new educational brief on health equity in crisis systems, upcoming prevention trainings on drug trends in the region, and updates to the Classroom WISE curriculum for 2024. As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!   Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The January 2024 issue features the third installment of the Counselor's Corner blog series: Integrating Spirituality and Counseling with African American Clients, information on the Opioid Response Network's 2022-2023 regional summits, and a call for applications for the upcoming HEART (Healing Ethno And Racial Trauma) Training for Behavioral Health Providers Serving Hispanic & Latinx Communities intensive training series. As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!   Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!

Webinar: Honoring Culture in Prevention - Cultural Interactions, Awareness, & Responsiveness Training   The goal of this webinar is to increase prevention professionals' understanding of how cultural humility and cultural standards can improve interactions with a variety of audiences. Participants will explore cultural humility and how to apply it, and the National Enhanced CLAS Standards (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care), in their profession.   Supplemental Resources: Presentation Slides An Implementation Checklist for the National CLAS Standards National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care CLAS ACTION PLANNING Worksheet   Learning Objectives: To apply cultural humility and the National Enhanced CLAS Standards (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care). Practice methods to overcome hurdles and avoid misunderstanding in cross-cultural communication, service delivery, and community engagement.   Presenter: Michael Browning, nationally recognized public health and Substance Abuse 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.

How Past is Our Past? Unpacking and Mitigating the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use Part 2: How Should We Care About the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use? Anam Siddiqi, MPH May 22, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION As the nation moves more towards value-based care, it’s critical that public health officials, clinicians, behavioral health specialists, and other healthcare providers understand how to identify, prevent, and treat populations that have experienced structural racism. In Part 2 of the two-part webinar series, How Past is our Past? Unpacking and Mitigating the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use, we’ll examine racism as a seventh social determinant of health and how we, as healthcare providers, can prevent and treat substance use prevention. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Recognize how structural racism can manifest in the behavioral health setting. Develop tactics on how to prevent and treat substance use, as well as promote healthy coping mechanisms. List the risk and protective factors of substance use as it relates to structural racism. Understand how to implement and promote health equity, as well as how to keep developing their skills in the field. PRESENTERS Anam Siddiqi, MPH is a Research Program Manager at The Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care. Ms. Siddiqi received her MPH in Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation from the University of Maryland. Her interests include reducing health disparities, advancing healthcare systems, and promoting community collaboration to improve health.  

How Past is Our Past? Unpacking and Mitigating the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use Part 1: Why Should We Care About the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use? Anam Siddiqi, MPH May 15, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Understanding the role structural racism plays in society and its relationship to substance use disorders is critical to prevention and promoting healthy behaviors. Part 1 of the two-part webinar series, How Past is our Past? Unpacking and Mitigating the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use, introduces a conceptual framework to link structural racism to substance use by identifying common systems, policies, and programs that negatively impact people of color and examining how stress from racism can lead to poor physical and mental health, which can in turn increase the risk for substance use. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define structural racism, recognize its historic roots, and understand how it impacts the present day. Explain the connection between racism, stress, and substance use. Explain why racism should be considered another component of the social determinants of health model. Recognize and mitigate their individual and organizational roles in upholding racist systems, policies, and institutions. Explain why public health officials, clinicians, behavioral health specialists, and other healthcare providers should care about the impact of structural racism on substance use. PRESENTERS Anam Siddiqi, MPH is a Research Program Manager at The Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care. Ms. Siddiqi received her MPH in Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation from the University of Maryland. Her interests include reducing health disparities, advancing healthcare systems, and promoting community collaboration to improve health.  

Black Mothers: Intergenerational Systemic Trauma and Racism Laura Hinds, MSW, LCSW March 16, 2023, 10:00am-12:00pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Whether it is cross-racial or as a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) provider, understanding the socio-emotional challenges and legacy of racism on Black Mothers is an imperative part of first doing no harm and empowering healing and well-being. This presentation honors the ways in which Black Mothers have inherited the pain and impact of racism, and how our systems and institutions have embedded those racial disparities at great cost to them and their children. Included will be points of consideration and action for providers toward solution-focused interventions for this important population. LEARNING OBJECTIVES To decipher the socio-emotional and biological impact of intergenerational experiences of racism and how they affect engagement, utilization and outcomes of Black Mothers in Behavioral and Medical Health To describe the principles of caring that can mitigate the impact of these realities on their efforts with these affected moms To recite understanding of and determine a course of action to disrupt systems of oppression and racism within health services that can de-rail the well-being of Black Mothers and their children PRESENTERS Laura Hinds, MSW, LCSW, is a clinical social worker with experience in medical, behavioral and mental health settings.  Laura has had the pleasure of working with high acuity special needs populations and their providers for over 22 years.  An alumna and instructor at Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice for 13 years, and Bryn Mawr’s School of Social Work and Social Research’s for the past 4 years, Laura has supported the learning and education of new social workers, veterans in the field, and their interdisciplinary partners.  With a focus on trauma, human and gender development, racial equity, and crisis intervention Laura supports special needs populations and those who serve them.  

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The February 2023 issue honors National Black History Month by sharing resources and content from the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and SAMHSA that focus on how social determinants of health have affected the health and well-being of African Americans, as well as the importance of providing culturally responsive behavioral health services. This issue also features exciting, new training opportunities sponsored by the Great Lakes PTTC, the ATTC Network's Pearls of Wisdom blog series, and the final article of the Power of Music series by Mark Sanders and Kisha Freed.  As always, The Great Lakes Current provides links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   

Sheryl “Ms. Sherry” Branch-Maxwell, has been a driving force in Missouri for more than four decades. During that time, she has overseen the provision of capacity-building assistance to promote evidence-informed practices with state and local partners. For over 35 years, Ms. Sherry has embraced positive youth development, policy change and truly believes in the strength and ability of youth in the Missouri Bootheel. Currently, Ms. Sherry serves as Assistant Area Coordinator for Lincoln University Cooperative Extension in Charleston, MO and is innovative in leading partnerships, integrating youth programming, food and nutrition programs, while working closely with state officials to expand assistance to those in need. Ms. Sherry’s most notable project, is Kids’ Beat. At one time the organization had an enrollment of over 1,500 members across more than 30 clubs in all 6 Bootheel counties, including Butler and Cape Girardeau. She has served on several gubernatorial boards, including but not limited to, The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission, The Children’s Trust Fund, African American Task Force and the Missouri Commission for Volunteerism. Most recently, Ms. Sherry was the 2021 DeVerne Lee Calloway Woman of the Year Award recipient. *** Visit the SAMHSA store front where you’ll find hundreds of publications, including One Voice, One Community offers strategies for communities on collaborating with faith-based organizations to address the service needs of people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, or both. Here's a link to this resource...https://store.samhsa.gov/product/One-Voice-One-Community-Building-Strong-Effective-Partnerships-Among-Community-Faith/SMA13-473   The African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence was developed by SAMHSA to address the urgent need for greater equity and effectiveness in behavioral health services for African Americans. They are determined to help our field transform behavioral health services for African Americans.       Visit their website...https://africanamericanbehavioralhealth.org

Health Equity Foundations for the African American Population November 29, 2022   Learning Session Overview and Objectives In this learning session, we will define terms that are essential to the discussion around health equity as well as the roots of how inequities were formed in African American communities.  We will also journey into the African American population and the impact of disparities, before ending in what roles we can play in prevention to help create equity. This Learning Session will be formatted as a 45-minute presentation followed by a 45-minute facilitator-led discussion. By the end of this learning session, participants will be able to: Discover how health disparities and other inequities play a role in behavioral health and substance use/misuse of the African American Population Define terminology linked to the discussion of health equity Describe the role of cultural competence and cultural humility   Presenter: Albert Gay, M.S. Chief of Development for TTJ Group & SheRay’s & Associates LLC,  Albert Gay was born and raised in Gary, Indiana.  He was ordained into the ministry in 1994 and since that time he has worked with youth and communities in many capacities.  Albert has been in full-time ministry as a youth pastor, where he counseled urban youth in positive directions and provided them with alternative solutions to the “streets.” Albert expanded into the Prevention field in 1997 when he was employed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana as a Prevention Coordinator.  He received credentials as a Certified Prevention Professional from the Indiana Association of Prevention Professionals in 1999.  While attending ministry school in Florida, Albert worked as a Behavioral Specialist with troubled youth. Albert Gay is currently a Master Trainer for TTJ Group, LLC providing services to non-profit, faith-based, and community organizations and governmental entities in developing and implementing technical assistance and training services in an innovative and practical format. Albert Gay obtained his B.A. in English Arts from the historically distinguished, Hampton University in Virginia, and he obtained his Master of Science in Management from Oakland City     Learning Session Materials   Recording for The Health Equity Foundations for the African American Population Slide Deck for Health Equity Foundations for the African American Population (PDF)   Additional Resources  National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health California Health Care Almanac: Health Disparities by Race and Ethnicity in California: Pattern of Inequity About Social Determinants of Health: What are social determinants of health? by The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Two Americas: Phoenix's redlining legacy, YouTube Video   Questions? Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

        What LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC want Prevention Professionals to Know? The Central East PTTC, Central East ATTC, National American Indian & Alaska Natives PTTC, and the National Hispanic and Latino PTTC joined efforts to proudly present a 4-part virtual learning series titled ‘What LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC want Prevention Professionals to Know?’ In case you missed these events, and you would like to access the sessions, please see below: Understanding the historical information behind the challenges and the risk factors of the LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC (Part 1) Enhancing the protective factors for the LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC (Part 2) Moving the needle: How to improve the current behavioral health system to increase engagement and retention of LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC? (Part 3) How can we transform this information into actionable and practical steps to enhance service delivery to the LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC and make a difference? (Part 4)   During each session, panelists shared their experiences as subject matter experts and/or lived experiences. The sessions were very well received by the participants. Our community asked us to provide additional resources around LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC populations. As a result of this request, our team put together an extensive list of articles, trainings, websites, materials and you can access the information and share it with your family, friends and colleagues. Please click each image to view the corresponding resources. Click Images Below To View Resources                  Disclaimer The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government, the Central East ATTC and PTTC, The Danya Institute, the National American Indian and Alaska Native PTTC, the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center or National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA). Funding for this learning series was made possible by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 1H79SP081018 HHS Region 3 Central East PTTC: The Danya Institute, 1H79TI080210 HHS Region 3 Central East ATTC The Danya Institute, 1U79SP023012 National Hispanic and Latino PTTC: The National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA), 5H79SP081032 National American Indian and Alaska Native PTTC. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the by the U.S. Government, The Central East ATTC and PTTC, The Danya Institute, the National American Indian and Alaska Native PTTC, the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center or The National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA).  

In this Issue:   Celebrate Love. Celebrate Joy.   Epi Corner: The Evolving Opioid Epidemic: Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogues, and Other Drugs   What LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC Want Prevention Professionals to Know, A Four-Part Learning Series   What's Happening Around the Region?  PTTC Spotlights A New Product From the PTTC Healtheknowledge Online Course

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, the Great Lakes MHTTC, and the Great Lakes PTTC. The February 2022 issue features the Counselor's Corner blog post, State Spotlight-Illinois, and a complete calendar of events for the month. 

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, the Great Lakes MHTTC, and the Great Lakes PTTC. The January 2022 issue features the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery Hall of Fame, Counselor's Corner blog post, and a complete calendar of events for the month. 

Addressing Social Determinants of Health Through Prevention Planning Recording   If you missed the first session of the Great Lakes PTTC's health equity training series, Why Health Equity Matters in Prevention by Nicole Augustine, you can watch the recording and download the training materials using the link above. Substance misuse prevention planning crosses many disciplines. We are natural collaborators, especially when engaging in environmental strategies. As we continue to plan and work towards improving the overall wellness of the communities we serve, it is important that we understand the social determinants of health (SDOH) and how our work intersects with them. The SDOH are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Join me as we examine the SDOH and how prevention professionals can use this framework in developing innovative prevention strategies.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define social determinants of health (SDOH) Describe how prevention planning can be embedded into the 5 domains of SDOH Identify opportunities for innovative collaboration     PRESENTERS: Nicole M Augustine is the Founder and CEO of RIZE Consultants, LLC, a strategic consulting firm founded in January 2015. Nicole is an entrepreneur, public health professional, and social justice advocate. Her journey in public health began at Cornell University when after graduating she worked for three years as a BASICS counselor for Cornell's campus harm reduction initiative.  From there, Nicole transitioned into the George Washington University School of Public Health before experiencing a rapid career progression from providing prevention education to providing training and technical assistance to communities, professionals, and state agencies. Nicole has served as the Project Coordinator for the Southeast PTTC, the Project Director of the NC Behavioral Health Equity Initiative, and the Prevention Director for the Addiction Professionals of NC. Nicole currently serves as an Advanced Implementation Specialist with the Opioid Response Network. This network is building trust across justice, corrections, and medical systems to address the opioid and stimulants crisis.

  Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center's Webinar The Lion's Side: The Utilization of Storytelling for Transformation in Health   October 27, 2021   Webinar Description Join Dr. David Fakunle as he guides participants through his journey of utilizing storytelling as a dynamic tool for public health, including advocacy. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to the art and science of narrative, while providing understanding of storytelling’s critical elements and how to apply them. The workshop’s goal is to strengthen participants’ prevention science activism by activating their organic communication abilities, while demonstrating that they are able to simultaneously demonstrate robust scientific advancement and genuine humanity.   Objectives By the end of the webinar participants will have:  •    Basic understanding of narrative and storytelling’s concepts and approaches •    An opportunity to practice storytelling focusing on public health advocacy •    Empowerment to integrate impactful human narratives within their existing advocacy strategies   Presenter David Olawuyi Fakunle, Ph.D. is a “mercenary for change,” employing any skill and occupying any space to help elevate everyone divested from their truest self, especially those who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. David serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine, and Associate Faculty in the Mental Health department of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. David’s interests include stressors within the built environment, societal manifestations of racism, and the use of arts and culture to strengthen health, equity, and ultimately liberation.      Webinar Recording and Slides View Webinar Recording Download Webinar Slide-deck   Questions Contact Clarissa Lam Yuen ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

The September 2021 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: Equity-Grounded Leadership | Mental Health: Young Black Lives & Suicide | Prevention: Suicide Prevention | ORN: Recovery Rising | Spotlight: Suicide Prevention Month Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. 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.       

We are honored to present a 4-part virtual learning series as a collaboration between the Central East PTTC, Central East ATTC, National American Indian & Alaska Natives PTTC, and the National Hispanic and Latino PTTC.  Together, we will connect you with subject matter experts from various diverse cultural backgrounds.  This will provide a perspective of what LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC individuals would like Prevention Professionals to know when serving the population.   We will start by interpreting acronyms associated with LGBTQIA2S+ communities:  LGTBQIA2S+ is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit, and countless affirmative ways in which people choose to self-identify. BIPOC refers to Black, Indigenous, and people of color.  People of color is an umbrella term generalized to all people who aren’t white.   Please join us for a roundtable discussion.  Participants will have an opportunity to learn from subject matter experts, as well individuals whom identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA2S+.  Cultural aspects and specifics of each culture represented in the series will be discussed, as well as what historical data are behind the challenges faced by each group.   Participants will also learn about the specific risk and protective factors, difficulties the communities are experiencing with current Behavioral Health Systems, how to enhance the strengths of each system to increase engagement and retention, as well as many other critical topics.   By the end of the series, participants will leave with knowledge and tangible actions to help make a difference, as an important part of our role as prevention professionals.  What can we do to educate ourselves and serve the population better and with respect and humility?    Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions for our presenters during the live event.  Series Overall Learning Objectives Participants will deep dive into the cultural aspects and specifics of each culture represented in this panel discussion. They will also learn about the risk factors and historical data behind the challenges from each culture.  Participants will learn how to identify and - more importantly – how to increase the Protective Factors, highlighting the differences between different people and cultures, celebrating the strengthens across the communities, and finding ways to thrive together.   Participants will get an overview of the challenges and strengths of the current behavioral health system, how to improve it, and moving the needle toward increasing engagement and retention.  Call to Action: Participants will gain from panelists, what lessons are learned, and what to do next? What are the tools and resources you need to start or enhance your efforts towards diversity and inclusion?   Additional Resources Presentation Slides About the Panelists Anna Mable-Jones CPRS, NCPRSS Anna Mable-Jones CPRS, NCPRSS Anna Mable-Jones CPRS, NCPRSS is an Oxford House Resource Coordinator in DC and Maryland, a nonprofit network of 2,684 (internationally) self-help recovery homes. She assisted in opening 43 DC/MD Oxford Houses. She is a woman in long-term recovery who has been in recovery since 1999 and has worked with Oxford House, Inc. since 2000, recipient of the 2005 Oxford House Founders Award. Anna is a true ambassador for women in recovery. She radiates the power of recovery and transformation every day. Anna is a trainer in Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitator and CCAR Recovery Coaching Trainer. Anna is in here 4th year training to become a Core Energetics Practitioner. She has had many opportunities to work with community organizations and leaders to promote the societal benefits of prevention, treatment and recovery for substance abuse and mental illness. One of Anna’s passions in life is to be a continuous educator of hope and persistence and shares her experiences freely. Along with devoting her spirited knowledge to Oxford House, she has also created a successful 12-Step bible study called Life Recovery at her local church. Anna is also a Reiki Master Teacher and a founding member of District of Columbia Recovery Community Alliance (DCRCA) a Peer Operated Center. Demetrie Garner Demetrie Garner is a Peer Recovery Specialist at the Emergency Department. 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. The experience in active addiction abusing opiates, cocaine, and alcohol for 26 years with countless relapses fostered the expertise 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 on 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. Demetrie is currently a Pre-McNair Scholar with ambitions to attend the UMBC School of Public Policy M.P.P Program in spring of 2022 after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. Matt Ignacio (Tohono O’odham), PhD, MSSW Dr. Ignacio is currently an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work located in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. He has previously worked with the National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC as a Research Manager and as a Senior Behavioral Health Consultant. Matt has also worked for the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC) overseeing HIV education and capacity-building assistance programs. Prior to NNAAPC, Matt worked in the Michael Palm Center for AIDS Care and Support at Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the world's first and largest AIDS service organization located in New York City. His responsibilities included developing, implementing and evaluating GMHC’s first sterile syringe access program and providing harm reduction-based alcohol and drug counseling. Matt received his Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Welfare at the University of Washington School of Social Work, his Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work, and his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California in Santa Barbara. Mr. Humberto Orozco Mr. Humberto Orozco grew up in Gainesville, Georgia and comes from a humble, hardworking family with roots in Mexico. At eight years of age, his family moved to the U.S., where he went on to become a first-generation college graduate. As a person of queer, immigrant experience, Humberto became aware of the injeñustices faces by people of marginalized identities and, as a result, equity and liberation guided him to involved in community activism. Humberto earned a B.A. at the University of Georgia and has remained involved as a volunteer with organizations whose mission aligns with his personal mission of empowering people and centering equity at all levels. Humberto currently leads Latino LinQ’s Board of Directors and is a community educator at the Emory University School of Medicine.

Providing Culturally Appropriate Healthcare for LGBTQ Persons of Color Randall Leonard, LCSW-C May 13, 2021, 1-3:15 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Due to social determinants of health and economic and other structural disparities, Black and Brown's individuals utilize healthcare and social services at higher rates yet show worse overall outcomes. Likewise, LGBTQ people frequently face poorer health outcomes due to discrimination, lack of access to competent providers, and well-justified medical mistrust. Those who live at the crossroads of these identities are particularly vulnerable to needing healthcare treatment and are far less likely to access it. This seminar will explore the unique demographics of LGBTQ communities of color, the colonial legacy of gender and how it impacts Black and Indigenous residents, barriers to seeking and receiving services, and best practices for bridging gaps in access and care. Join social worker Randall Leonard to explore evidence-based techniques to reach, connect, and serve this large and diverse group of clients in various healthcare settings. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Gain awareness with the demographic, historical, and cultural context as well as strengths, challenges and needs of LGBTQ people of color in health settings Explore evidence-based best practices for engaging and supporting queer and gender- diverse ethnic minority community members “where they are.” Identify three specific tactics to create a welcoming and affirming environment for LGBTQ clients of color. PRESENTERS Maryland native Randall Leonard, LCSW-C (they/them) is a licensed clinical social worker who has specialized in the care of LGBT individuals for four years. They currently serve as a Staff Therapist at the LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton, providing individual therapy as well as assessments for gender-affirming surgery. They also facilitate “Identity Talk”, a group for trans and gender-diverse people of color to process intersectionality between culture and gender. In addition, they work as a Behavioral Specialist in the Emergency Department of Union Memorial Hospital. Before joining the Chase Brexton team, Randall served survivors of intimate partner violence at Family and Children’s Services, where they provided individual therapy and a weekly support group. They started their social work career working with people with severe and persistent mental illness at Sheppard Pratt Health Systems. Randall holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work with a concentration in clinical behavioral health.  

  This webinar is the fourth in a series of webinars that will highlight the overdose prevention efforts in Region 5. Today will highlight the key challenges associated with opioid misuse/OUD or unintentional fatal mixed stimulant/opioid overdoses within the Black/African American population. Presenters will provide community-informed practices for addressing opioid misuse, overdose and the prevention of OUD in Black/ African American Populations.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES   Provide recent data on prevalence of opioid overdose death rates in the Black/African American population in the U.S. Discuss contextual factors that impact the opioid epidemic and increase overdose deaths in these communities, including challenges to accessing early intervention and treatment. Understand the difference in the ways that Blacks/African Americans use opioids and other drugs compared to White and Latinx populations. Highlight new or potential innovative outreach and engagement strategies that have the potential to connect individuals with evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery.   Presenters today served as community experts and contributed to the development of this SAMHSA Resource: The Opioid Crisis and the Black/African American Population: An Urgent Issue was prepared for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity. You can also see our research from 2017 Whitewashed   Presenters:  Kathie Kane-Willis  Director of Research and Policy for the Chicago Urban League   Kathie Kane-Willis is the Director of Research and Policy for the Chicago Urban League and she has been trending the opioid epidemic since 2003. Before joining the League, she co-founded and led the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy at Roosevelt University from 2005-2016 and has worked to pass harm reduction policies in a number of Midwestern states.     Kareem Butler  Director of Learning and Evaluation for the Research and Policy Center, at the Chicago Urban League Kareem Butler is the Director of Learning and Evaluation for the Research and Policy Center, at the Chicago Urban League. In this role, Kareem works enterprise wide to evaluate the performance and resource needs of programmatic departments through a client focused lens to help shape and support programming that is responsive to longstanding community needs and emerging trends. With a background in public health and health policy, Kareem has developed an appreciation and respect for the gathering of input, stories and quality data, to advocate more effectively on behalf of black families and communities in pursuit of racial equity in total health and wellness.    THE OPIOID CRISIS AND THE BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICANPOPULATION: AN URGENT ISSUE (samhsa.gov)  

This tool is serving prevention specialists that want to establish positive relationships with South West Asian, Northern African (SWANA) populations and those who are already working with this population and want to improve their cultural humility. The goal of this product is to help lessen the barriers that prevention specialists and SWANA populations may face when discussing substance misuse and addiction. Covered in this tool are geography of SWANA populations within new England, linguistics to consider, substances specific to this population, risk and protective factors, and New England state-specific resources for people who identify as a part of SWANA with whom prevention specialist may want to connect. This tool was written in the spring of 2021, during a time of increasing cultural awareness and humility which when incorporated into all aspects of life will benefit everyone.    This resource is specific to the New England region which includes Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This tool speaks to some specific cultural aspects of SWANA people, often referred to as the Middle Eastern region, discussed further in the Linguistic section.

Download the webinar presentation Presented by: Carlton Hall & Tracy Johnson Description: Participants will learn key strategies and practical method to implement prevention in the urban and black community. The presenters review African American history and how it impacts the way organizations learn and ultimately define what prevention is or is not for their targeted population. Participants will explore what the national data offers about African Americans drug and mental health concerns, learn specific prevention principles, and how to apply these principles within the African American/urban communities. By the end of the training participants will: Learning Objectives: Know the history of African American community as it related to substance misuse Learn Prevention basics to apply to African American communities.  Learn the SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework and how it can be an effective method for African American serving organizations . Identifying best evidence-based practice programs and organizations for African American serving organizations. About the Presenters Tracy Johnson Tracy Johnson is the Founder & Managing Partner of TTJ Group, LLC (2013-Present) with over 29 years of experience, he has worked closely with states, nonprofits, small businesses, universities, communities and coalitions in helping them with community organizing, environmental strategies, strategic planning, substance abuse prevention, and cultural competence.  Mr. Johnson provides interactive and resourceful trainings for participants. He has presented on Opioid Prevention strategies for communities (including faith based) and integrating cultural competence within opioid prevention strategies. Currently, Mr. Johnson is working with Ohio’s Partnership for Success Strategic Prevention Framework (PFS-SPF) SAMHSA funded statewide grant supporting twelve (12) rural Appalachian counties in developing coalitions to reduce the opioid crisis. His team has also provided training to SAMHSA Minority AIDS and HIV new grantees since 2010. Carlton Hall Carlton Hall is the President and CEO of Carlton Hall Consulting LLC (CHC), a multi-faceted, full-service consulting firm designed to provide customized solutions and enable measurable change for communities, organizations, families and individuals. Carlton Hall has been providing intensive substance abuse prevention focused and community problem solving services to the nation for the last 25 years. His responsibilities, unique set of skills and experience have made him one of the most highly sought after instructors and guides for community problem solving in every state and territory in the nation as well as internationally, with successful achievements in South Africa, Ghana, Bermuda, Kenya and others. Currently, Carlton and the CHC team provide executive training and technical assistance support to the Southeast PTTC (Region 4).