eNewsletter or Blog
In this Issue
Navigating the Green Wave and Protecting Youth in the South Southwest Region
Additional Resources on Youth Substance Use Prevention
Epi Corner: Implicit Bias and Algorithms Generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What's Happening Around the Region?
Webinar: Reducing Youth Substance Misuse by Implementing Mental Health initiatives
New from SAMHSA
Substance Use Prevention Month: Telling the Prevention Story
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Published: October 17, 2024
Print Media, Toolkit
Social Justice, Cultural Humility, Ethics, and Equity in the Planning and Implementation of Evidence-Based Prevention Interventions
This is a comprehensive resource developed by Community Coalitions and Collaborators workgroup of the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network. It focuses on integrating social justice, cultural humility, ethics, and equity into the planning and implementation of evidence-based prevention interventions. The workbook is structured around the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and the Prevention Think Tank Code of Ethical Standards, providing a step-by-step guide for professionals in the field.
Key sections include:
Introduction: Overview of the importance of ethics, social justice, and cultural humility in prevention.
Cultural Humility: Principles and practices for understanding and respecting diverse cultures.
Capacity Building: Strategies for engaging community resources and addressing systemic inequities.
Ethics and Social Justice: Intersection of ethical principles with social justice to ensure equitable prevention efforts.
Data Equity: Ethical considerations in data collection and analysis to avoid reinforcing biases.
Implementation and Sustainability: Best practices for sustaining prevention initiatives with a focus on community involvement and innovation.
Planning Resources: Tools and guidelines for effective prevention planning with an equity lens.
This workbook is designed to support prevention professionals in creating inclusive, ethical, and effective prevention programs that address the needs of diverse communities.
Published: September 10, 2024
Multimedia
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.
Published: September 9, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
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.
Published: September 5, 2024
Toolkit
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.
Published: September 5, 2024
Multimedia
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.
Published: August 5, 2024
Podcast
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
Published: August 2, 2024
Multimedia
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.
Published: July 23, 2024
Online Course
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.
Published: July 23, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
In this Issue
The Importance of Accessibility: 5 Simple Steps
Resources Highlighting Accessibility and Disabilities
Epi Corner: Social Network Analysis: A Helpful Tool in the Prevention Toolbox
What's Happening Around the Region?
Webinar: Elevate Your Work: Accessibility for Prevention Professionals
Webinar: Reducing Youth Substance Misuse by Implementing Mental Health Initiatives
New From SAMHSA
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Get Involved with National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month - A Toolkit
Published: July 17, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
The July 2024 Dialogue contains articles on:
Addiction: A Syndemic Approach to Training and Technical Assistance in the Central East
Mental Health: Supporting Mental Well-being within Minority Communities
Prevention: Championing Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention: Honoring BIPOC Mental Health Month
Opioid Response: Construction and Opioids
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.
Published: July 3, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
In this Issue
Systems Thinking for Prevention Professionals
Epi Corner: Addressing Parental Loss in Children of Overdose Victims
What's Happening Around the Region?
Webinar: Elevate Your Work: Accessibility for Prevention Professionals
Exciting Updates! HealtheKnowledge Online Learning Platform
An Important Announcement from the Blueprints Registry
New Products and Resources from the South Southwest PTTC
New From SAMHSA
Published: June 19, 2024
Multimedia
Stigma the Gift that Keeps on Giving: Residual Effects of Stress During the Recovery Process from Active Substance Use
Part 2
Demetrie Garner, CPRS, and Shawn Colvin, CPRS, RPS, RCPF
June 13, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Identifying triggers is essential at the beginning of the recovery process, but more is to be revealed. Comprehensive support systems, including counseling, employment assistance, and accessible housing, can alleviate some of the stress and contribute to a successful recovery. Sustainable support is a counterbalance to stress and the stigmatization of being in recovery. As we unpack the benefits of support systems, we will also discuss the tools for prevention and how to move forward in recovery.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Recognize the role of comprehensive support systems in alleviating stress during recovery.
Investigate various types of support systems and how they can act as preventive measures in dealing with stress and the association of stigma.
Examine tools and techniques and address stress and triggers in a recovery context.
Develop strategies to build and maintain long-term recovery and apply the knowledge gained to support others.
PRESENTERS
Demetrie Garner, CPRS, as a Peer Recovery Specialist, has been presented with the unique opportunity of working in the largest Emergency Department in the state of Maryland. This has given him the vantage point to encounter minority disparities. A lack of health communication targeted to African-Americans and other minorities help further this disparity. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, the visible cracks of systemic inadequacies in health care and its access garners attention and policy changes in patients with substance use disorders. Having the experience in active addiction abusing opiates, cocaine, and alcohol for 26 years with countless relapses fostered the experience needed to help others in active addiction. Finding recovery over the last 2 and 1/2 years while working in the recovery field has given Demetrie a unique perspective in recidivism and retention throughout the process of recovery. With the help of the God of his understanding (Jesus Christ), Narcotics Anonymous, and healthy relationships, the pathway of a daily reprieve from active addiction is now possible. Continuous work through pastoral licensed counseling has unlocked the acceptance of childhood molestation and recovery from trauma. After 21 years since Demetrie decided to drop out of high school in the 11th grade, education seemed to become more important to obtain. If he wants to help individuals who look like himself and suffer from trauma and active addiction, then higher education has to be pursued. While at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, currently a sophomore, Demetrie’s interest in studies is in the social science of public health. Future involvement with research is being pursued with patients that have wait times in emergency rooms with substance use disorders. Previous research this past semester has examined minorities hesitancy to receive Covid vaccinations.
Shawn Colvin, CPRS, RPS, RCPF, has been working in the field of recovery professionally for 10 1/2 years at the Helping Up Mission in Baltimore City. He has been clean and sober for 13 years. Shawn loves being a Treatment Manager, Peer Specialist, Facilitator, and Treatment Coordinator! Shawn has a passion for assisting others toward a life of positive transformation out of the darkness of addiction!
Published: June 13, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.
The June 2024 issue features content celebrating Pride Month, PTSD Awareness Month, and Intersection of Addiction and Racism: A Curated Bibliography‒a new comprehensive resource created by AMERSA, the ATTC NCO, and the PTTC NCO. You will also find links to upcoming trainings focused on the therapeutic benefits of humor in treatment and recovery, prevention efforts in rural communities, and trauma-informed care for transition-age youth.
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!
Published: June 6, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
In this Issue
A Focus on Tribal Behavioral Health Providers: The Need to Advocate for the Wellbeing of Generations
Epi Corner: Building Resilience in Military Families
New! Swimming Upstream with Data: Military Individuals and Families
What's Happening Around the Region?
Webinar: Charting Paths to Prevention: Mapping Social Vulnerability and Alcohol-Related Deaths
Webinar: Principles for Prevention Professionals Across the Spectrum
Free Logic Model Technical Assistance
We're hiring: Data Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Published: May 16, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.
The May 2024 issue features content celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Hepatitis C Awareness Month, and National Prevention Week. You will also find links to upcoming trainings focused on the therapeutic benefits of humor in treatment and recovery, prevention efforts in rural communities, and trauma-informed care for transition-age youth.
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!
Published: May 10, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
The May 2024 Dialogue contains articles on:
Addiction: From Stigma to Support: SUD and Mental Health Needs in AAPI Populations
Mental Health: New Video Examines Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis
Prevention: Empowering Communities: National Prevention Week
Opioid Response: Observing and Celebrating Pride Month
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.
Published: May 7, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
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!
Published: April 12, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
The latest edition of our bi-monthly newsletter is available. This month’s edition features a PTTC network event "Climate Change from a Prevention Perspective", Exploring Root Causes of Substance Misuse through Stories, Alcohol Awareness Month and awareness campaigns for April, and regionally and nationally developed events and tools to support and grow the prevention workforce in New England. View the newsletter.
Published: April 11, 2024
Online Course
Coalitions are essential to substance misuse prevention efforts. It is important to understand and implement research-based best practices for coalition functioning, structure, membership, and leadership. Take this course to uncover a deeper understanding of how and why we use coalitions and to increase knowledge about research-based best practices for coalitions. The course consists of an interactive content module and a completion quiz. It is estimated that the course may take up to 2 hours to complete. Certificate of Completion Available
Published: April 2, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.
The March 2024 issue spotlights content celebrating Women's History Month and National Social Work Month. It also features updated versions of the Sustainability Planning in Prevention Guidebook and Sustainability Planning in Prevention Toolkit, as well as upcoming trainings focused on provider well-being and culturally responsive services for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) clients. As always, you will also find links to all scheduled 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!
Published: March 18, 2024
Multimedia
Youth Gaming and Gambling, Is It a Problem?
Heather Eshleman, MPH, and Kenneth Crawford, CPRS
March 5, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST
COURSE DESCRIPTION
With the expansion of gaming and gambling activities in communities and on-line, how will it impact youth and young adults? This population is affected by gaming, gambling, and activities that include a mix of both in their daily lives. Discuss youth gaming, gambling, and the warning signs of problems with these activities. An overview of strategies to prevent youth problem gaming and gambling behaviors that have been adapted from alcohol and substance misuse prevention will be presented. Hear a story of recovery and learn of resources for help.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Increase your knowledge of youth gaming and signs of gaming problems in youth.
Discuss youth gambling and signs of gambling problems in youth.
Examine how youth gaming and gambling behaviors connect.
Review prevention strategies that have worked to prevent alcohol and substance misuse that could work to prevent youth problem gaming and gambling behaviors.
Learn about gambling recovery and resources for help.
PRESENTERS
Heather Eshleman, MPH, is the Prevention Manager at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling. She works collaboratively with community organizations, schools, and government agencies to prevent underage and problem gambling as well as oversee special population and youth grants. She currently leads the Center’s efforts in compiling an underage and problem gambling prevention needs assessment to provide baseline data to guide future prevention strategies. She served as the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Supervisor at the Anne Arundel County Department of Health from 2006-2019, overseeing the Substance Abuse Prevention coalitions, the Opioid Misuse Prevention Program, the Strengthening Families Program, the Fatal Overdose Review Team, and Coordination of the Students Against Destructive Decisions Chapters. Before becoming Supervisor, from 2002-2006, Heather was a Grants Administrator at Anne Arundel County Department of Health. Heather received her Masters in Public Health from the University at Albany School of Public Health and her Bachelor’s degree in School and Community Health Education from Towson University. Heather served in the United States Peace Corps in Morocco, North Africa, as a Maternal and Child Health volunteer, working on hygiene promotion and pre-natal care for two years.
Kenneth (Kenny) Crawford is a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist with the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling (the Center). As a Peer for the Center, Kenny assists individuals within Maryland struggling with problem gambling and gambling addiction to navigate recovery treatment resources and helps remove any barriers to recovery. He has dedicated his life to helping others with gambling problems by sharing his story of recovery. Kenny has a great passion for the outdoor life, boating, fishing, hiking, and can capture the tranquility of nature thru his photography. For him, this is a great form of meditation and has helped him thru his recovery process and he would be happy to share his techniques on meditation. Kenny comes from a background in Carpentry and is grateful to help others achieve a balanced life through his extensive training in Peer Recovery Support training.
Published: March 5, 2024
eNewsletter or Blog
The March 2024 Dialogue contains articles on:
Addiction: Celebrate Women’s Recovery and End Addiction Stigma
Mental Health: Health Equity Webinar Series Explores Bipolar Disorder, Autism
Prevention: What are Youth Saying About Gambling?
Opioid Response: Empowering our Youth: Strategies for SUD Prevention
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.
Published: March 4, 2024
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.
Published: February 29, 2024