Products and Resources Catalog

In this Issue Enhancing the Collaborative Efforts of Communities to Address Homelessness Epi Corner:Adolescent Health Literacy and Substance Use What's Happening Around the Region? What's New at SAMHSA?

  How can we prevent substance misuse unless we understand what places kids at greater risk of misusing drugs? During this webinar, we will explore the risk factors that place youth at greater risk of substance misuse, as identified by the Social Development Research Group through systematic reviews of the research literature. Time will be spent exploring each risk factor to ensure that preventionists understand the meaning of each factor in order to address them effectively. This training will build on the information shared during the Great Lakes PTTC webinar on the importance of protective factors (October 23, 2024).   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to: Describe the importance of focusing on both increasing protective factors and decreasing protective factors List the criteria used to identify factors that place youth at greater risk of substance misuse Understand the nuances that exist for each risk factor Put the risk factor framework into action in their communities   PRESENTER: Kris Gabrielsen, MPH, CSP Kris Gabrielsen is the co-director of the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. She has worked in the substance misuse prevention field for over 30 years. Kris was the Associate Director of the Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT), co-authored the first Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training curriculum, and co-authored the textbook, Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science and Practice. As a consultant, she has worked with states and communities across the nation to bridge the gap between research and practice, assisting prevention professionals in maximizing their effectiveness.   The Great Lakes 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.

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

COURSE DESCRIPTION As cannabis laws continue to evolve across the country, prevention professionals and community stakeholders are faced with new challenges and opportunities in addressing youth substance use and promoting public health. In this recording, we explore practical strategies and best practices for responding to cannabis legalization at the grassroots level. From community education and policy advocacy to youth prevention programs and enforcement efforts, this training provides valuable insights and actionable steps for effectively addressing the impact of cannabis legalization on their communities.  Select View Resource to watch the recording. Below are the training materials. Navigating the Green Wave Presentation_PPT Navigating the Green Wave Resources PRESENTERS Mariah Flynn is a Certified Prevention Specialist who has worked in the substance misuse field in Vermont for 23+ 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! Vermont, 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 also previously served as the Coordinator of the Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative for the state of Vermont and the Co-Chair of Smart Approaches to Marijuana-Vermont. She completed two Fellowships with the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center to develop a toolkit for Vermont prevention professionals and communities working on cannabis related policy improvement to use to help support prevention and public health at a community level. In addition to spending as much time with her two teenagers as they will let her, Mariah is also passionate about building communities that provide youth and families with the skills and environment that supports healthy choices.    

Fostering Dialogue: Exploring the Intersection between Prevention and Harm Reduction

Webinar Series Description The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC) Team (HHS Regions IX & X) in collaboration with the Pacific Southwest and Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) cordially invite you to join our Regional Webinar Series, Tools for the Trade: Layering the Six CSAP Strategies for Impact. This series is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance your prevention programs. Participation in both webinars is highly recommended but not required. Part 1:  Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies to Address Community Prevention Needs As the saying goes, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is easy to treat everything as if it were a nail.” Understanding the purpose and function of CSAP’s six strategies enables prevention practitioners to select the right tool or set of tools to be more effective in their work. This webinar will explore the purpose and function of each of the six CSAP strategies in building a comprehensive prevention plan tailored to specific community needs. Participants will also learn about common misunderstandings of CSAP strategies and gain practical examples for aligning strategies with community needs and reporting requirements.   Post Webinar Materials Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 1 Recording Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 1 Slide Deck   Additional Resources Focus on Prevention Six CSAP Strategies with Examples Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) Website Prevention Research Center's Policy Studies Fact Sheet: Translating Research Into Information for Policy Makers, Public Health Officials, and the Public MayaTech Corporation Website   Presenter Susannah Burt has been working in substance abuse and mental illness prevention since 2001.  She has implemented the Strategic Prevention Framework since 2003 and has trained on the model since 2006. Professionally, it has been part of her responsibility to work with the evaluators and review data for state and local communities for assessments. She has worked to develop an evaluation plan for environmental strategies, including policies and campaigns. Ms. Burt is currently working on securing ongoing private and public funding for coalitions in her local area. Ms. Burt currently sits on her local Communities That Care coalition in Utah. She received her bachelor's degree from Weber State University and works for Weber Human Services.   Certificates of Attendance Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance for 1.5 hours for each session of this 2-part live webinar series. The total possible certificate hours is 3 hours.   Questions? Please email Michelle Frye-Spray at ([email protected]) for any questions.

Webinar Series Description The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC) Team (HHS Regions IX & X) in collaboration with the Pacific Southwest and Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) cordially invite you to join our Regional Webinar Series, Tools for the Trade: Layering the Six CSAP Strategies for Impact. This series is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance your prevention programs. Participation in both webinars is highly recommended but not required. Part 2:  Layering Evidence-Based Interventions with CSAP Strategies: Building Impactful Prevention Plans Building upon the foundation laid in Part 1, the second webinar will demonstrate how various interventions, from practices to policies, align with the CSAP six strategies to create a layered approach. Participants will receive tips for developing comprehensive prevention plans that thoughtfully incorporate CSAP’s six strategies to address identified needs and achieve desired prevention outcomes.   Post Webinar Materials Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 2 Recording Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 2 Slide Deck   Additional Resources Guide to Online Registries for Substance Misuse: Evidence-Based Programs and Practices Evidence-Based Practices to Promote Agency in Middle School Students: Simple Practices to Activate the Social Development Strategy in a School Setting Six Elements of Effective Coalitions Resource Toolkit   Presenter Susannah Burt has been working in substance abuse and mental illness prevention since 2001.  She has implemented the Strategic Prevention Framework since 2003 and has trained on the model since 2006. Professionally, it has been part of her responsibility to work with the evaluators and review data for state and local communities for assessments. She has worked to develop an evaluation plan for environmental strategies, including policies and campaigns. Ms. Burt is currently working on securing ongoing private and public funding for coalitions in her local area. Ms. Burt currently sits on her local Communities That Care coalition in Utah. She received her bachelor's degree from Weber State University and works for Weber Human Services.   Certificates of Attendance Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance for 1.5 hours for each session of this 2-part live webinar series. The total possible certificate hours is 3 hours.   Questions? Please email Michelle Frye-Spray at ([email protected]) for any questions.

Webinar Series Description The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC) Team (HHS Regions IX & X) in collaboration with the Pacific Southwest and Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) cordially invite you to join our Regional Webinar Series, Tools for the Trade: Layering the Six CSAP Strategies for Impact. This series is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance your prevention programs. Participation in both webinars is highly recommended but not required. Part 2:  Layering Evidence-Based Interventions with CSAP Strategies: Building Impactful Prevention Plans Building upon the foundation laid in Part 1, the second webinar will demonstrate how various interventions, from practices to policies, align with the CSAP six strategies to create a layered approach. Participants will receive tips for developing comprehensive prevention plans that thoughtfully incorporate CSAP’s six strategies to address identified needs and achieve desired prevention outcomes.   Post Webinar Materials Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 2 Recording Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 2 Slide Deck   Additional Resources Guide to Online Registries for Substance Misuse: Evidence-Based Programs and Practices Evidence-Based Practices to Promote Agency in Middle School Students: Simple Practices to Activate the Social Development Strategy in a School Setting Six Elements of Effective Coalitions Resource Toolkit   Presenter Susannah Burt has been working in substance abuse and mental illness prevention since 2001.  She has implemented the Strategic Prevention Framework since 2003 and has trained on the model since 2006. Professionally, it has been part of her responsibility to work with the evaluators and review data for state and local communities for assessments. She has worked to develop an evaluation plan for environmental strategies, including policies and campaigns. Ms. Burt is currently working on securing ongoing private and public funding for coalitions in her local area. Ms. Burt currently sits on her local Communities That Care coalition in Utah. She received her bachelor's degree from Weber State University and works for Weber Human Services.   Certificates of Attendance Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance for 1.5 hours for each session of this 2-part live webinar series. The total possible certificate hours is 3 hours.   Questions? Please email Michelle Frye-Spray at ([email protected]) for any questions.

Webinar Series Description The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC) Team (HHS Regions IX & X) in collaboration with the Pacific Southwest and Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) cordially invite you to join our Regional Webinar Series, Tools for the Trade: Layering the Six CSAP Strategies for Impact. This series is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance your prevention programs. Participation in both webinars is highly recommended but not required. Part 1:  Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies to Address Community Prevention Needs As the saying goes, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is easy to treat everything as if it were a nail.” Understanding the purpose and function of CSAP’s six strategies enables prevention practitioners to select the right tool or set of tools to be more effective in their work. This webinar will explore the purpose and function of each of the six CSAP strategies in building a comprehensive prevention plan tailored to specific community needs. Participants will also learn about common misunderstandings of CSAP strategies and gain practical examples for aligning strategies with community needs and reporting requirements.   Post Webinar Materials Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 1 Recording Mastering the Six CSAP Strategies Part 1 Slide Deck   Additional Resources Focus on Prevention Six CSAP Strategies with Examples Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) Website Prevention Research Center's Policy Studies Fact Sheet: Translating Research Into Information for Policy Makers, Public Health Officials, and the Public MayaTech Corporation Website   Presenter Susannah Burt has been working in substance abuse and mental illness prevention since 2001.  She has implemented the Strategic Prevention Framework since 2003 and has trained on the model since 2006. Professionally, it has been part of her responsibility to work with the evaluators and review data for state and local communities for assessments. She has worked to develop an evaluation plan for environmental strategies, including policies and campaigns. Ms. Burt is currently working on securing ongoing private and public funding for coalitions in her local area. Ms. Burt currently sits on her local Communities That Care coalition in Utah. She received her bachelor's degree from Weber State University and works for Weber Human Services.   Certificates of Attendance Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance for 1.5 hours for each session of this 2-part live webinar series. The total possible certificate hours is 3 hours.   Questions? Please email Michelle Frye-Spray at ([email protected]) for any questions.

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 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].

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.

A Potentially Deadly Intersection: Social Media, Substance Use, and Mental Health Rikki Barton, MAPS, IC&RC July 25, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Social media is a permanent fixture in our world and while there are positive aspects to it, there are also negative and potentially deadly effects related to substance use and mental health. Community coalitions need to be aware of those effects and work to address risk and protective factors around the intersection. This session will discuss emerging data related to the intersection of the three topics, as well as delve into ways to utilize the prevention model to address risk and protective factors and incorporate strategies to strengthen individuals and communities. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explore the emerging data connecting social media, substance use, and mental health. Discuss how the prevention model can make an impact around the intersection, including brainstorming what risk and protective factors are at play. Identify and incorporate effective strategies into a coalition’s current prevention work to address this evolving issue. PRESENTERS Rikki Barton, MAPS, IC&RC, has a passion for communicating essential messages to move individuals and communities onward in their goals. She is the Founder/Lead Consultant of Onward Consulting and holds the Missouri Advanced Prevention Specialist certification as well as international IC&RC certification. Rikki has nearly 15 years of prevention field experience and currently serves as a consultant to assist organizations, coalitions, and state/federal agencies in the areas of substance use prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health promotion. She has extensive experience working with community coalitions, providing training, grant writing, managing funding sources, and leading a team of preventionists. Rikki trains for several national organizations including National Council for Mental Wellbeing, CADCA (youth and adult programs), and the National Coalition Institute. She also volunteers with a human trafficking prevention and awareness coalition, serving on leadership for the last 12 years, with particular focus on empowering youth to stay safe on social media and teaching adults how to protect young people from online grooming. Rikki holds a Bachelors degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters degree from Liberty University.  

From Tokenism to Empowerment: Building a Sustainable Youth Coalition Rikki Barton, MAPS, IC&RC July 23, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Effective community prevention work involves youth engagement at all stages of the Strategic Prevention Framework – that is, Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Unintentional tokenism is a barrier to youth reaching their full potential with prevention work; instead, youth can and should be engaged in leadership opportunities, strategic discussions, and solutions to the identified problems. An effective way to engage youth in prevention is to build a youth coalition that empowers them to take the lead for their peers and the community. This interaction session will help you understand the essential nature of youth involvement, how to make prevention work attractive to youth, and practical steps to building a youth coalition. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand why youth involvement is essential for substance use prevention work. Build skills around recruiting, retaining, and appropriately engaging youth in prevention work. Implement practical steps to building a sustainable youth coalition. PRESENTERS Rikki Barton, MAPS, IC&RC, has a passion for communicating essential messages to move individuals and communities onward in their goals. She is the Founder/Lead Consultant of Onward Consulting and holds the Missouri Advanced Prevention Specialist certification as well as international IC&RC certification. Rikki has nearly 15 years of prevention field experience and currently serves as a consultant to assist organizations, coalitions, and state/federal agencies in the areas of substance use prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health promotion. She has extensive experience working with community coalitions, providing training, grant writing, managing funding sources, and leading a team of preventionists. Rikki trains for several national organizations including National Council for Mental Wellbeing, CADCA (youth and adult programs), and the National Coalition Institute. She also volunteers with a human trafficking prevention and awareness coalition, serving on leadership for the last 12 years, with particular focus on empowering youth to stay safe on social media and teaching adults how to protect young people from online grooming. Rikki holds a Bachelors degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters degree from Liberty University.  

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.

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

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

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!  

Stigma the Gift that Keeps on Giving: Residual Effects of Stress During the Recovery Process from Active Substance Use Part 1 Demetrie Garner, CPRS, and Shawn Colvin, CPRS, RPS, RCPF June 11, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION While many intricate parts develop a positive outcome to recovery, identifying triggers that cause stress is the first step to a continuous, healthy recovery. Stigma can often become the conduit for environmental and emotional triggers. It is crucial to challenge and dismantle the stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs surrounding addiction and the recovery process. As we unpack the association of stress and triggers, we will close the loop on the missing link of dismantling the negative attitude of doubt facing the newcomer in recovery. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand the importance of identifying triggers that cause stress during recovery. Recognize the role of stigma as a potential trigger for stress in individuals in recovery. Investigate the various ways in which stigma can act as environmental and emotional triggers. Consider how dismantling stigma can contribute to a healthier and more successful recovery. 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!