Products and Resources Catalog

Cultural humility is a lifelong process of learning, self-evaluation, and seeking to better serve others. Following the principles of cultural humility can help prevention professionals better overcome biases and implement culturally responsive services that improve health and wellness. This product explains the importance of cultural humility and illustrates the steps to pursuing cultural humility. It also provides examples of what having a mindset of cultural humility can look like in strategic planning.

  Is your organization as welcoming and responsive to the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) population as it could be? How can we facilitate more affirming and effective prevention services for members of the LGBTQ+ community? In this webinar, we will explore some of the ways we can increase positive outcomes with LGBTQ+ individuals, from outward-facing initial points of contact with our organizations to long-term internal actions toward increased representation and leadership.  We will also hear from a panel of LGBTQ+-identified young adults about their experiences with prevention providers and their thoughts for the field moving forward.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After the training, participants will be able to: Review their own workplace practices with an eye to where processes could be made more welcoming and affirming Implement workplace practices that have been shown to increase positive behavioral health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals Integrate the perspectives of individual LGBTQ+-identified young adults into their prevention work   PRESENTER: Marissa Carlson, MS, CPS Marissa is the Executive Director of the NH Teen Institute, a leadership development nonprofit working with middle & high school students from around NH & New England in a variety of areas including substance misuse prevention, peer mentoring, and creating positive school & community climate.   As part of her role at TI, she oversees and facilitates training for youth participants, youth & adult volunteer program staff, and outside behavioral health and education professionals.  She is a trainer for multiple workshops developed through SAMHSA systems, and is a member of the advisory council of the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC).  In addition, she is the President of the Prevention Certification Board of NH, the NH Prevention delegate to the IC&RC, and serves as the chairperson of the Prevention Specialist credentialing committee.  Outside of her prevention work, Marissa is a founding member of Mill City Productions, a theatre company in Western Massachusetts.  She graduated from Pomona College with a BA in Psychology, received an MS in Nonprofit Management from Bay Path University, and has been a Certified Prevention Specialist since 2011.    

Youth vaping is a significant public health concern with disproportionate impacts across different populations. They likely stem from inequities in vaping risk factors and the social determinants of health. Prevention professionals should identify the populations in their communities most impacted by vaping and develop tailored prevention services. This product provides data on the disparities in vaping prevalence rates and information on how to use a lens of cultural humility in developing prevention services.

Substance Misuse Prevention and Support for Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum-Seekers in the South Southwest Migration is a fact of life in the South Southwest region of the United States. Prevention professionals play a crucial role in delivering evidence-based and culturally tailored interventions to assist vulnerable immigrant populations. By doing so, they contribute to the promotion of community health, overall well-being, and the strengthening of social bonds. This document is designed to equip prevention professionals with valuable insights for their work with immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking communities. The Substance Misuse Prevention and Support for Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum-Seekers in the South Southwest: Offers definitions of key terms and groups Discusses the risk and protective factors for drug abuse among immigrant populations Provides information about the role of prevention in creating safe communities Suggests steps for selecting appropriate interventions and adapting programs for these populations Lists additional resources and tools for prevention practitioners    

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The November 2023 issue honors National Native American Heritage Month, National Homelessness Awareness Month, and a brand-new Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy intensive technical assistance opportunity. 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 Importance of Cultural Humility in Prevention Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip September 28, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Culture is integral to humanity, shaping who we are, what we value, and how we see the world. Because culture plays such an important role at all levels in society, it is important for prevention professionals to understand, value, and respect other cultures. The concept of “Cultural Humility” is a lifelong commitment to self-reflection about culture, addressing inequities, and developing non-paternalistic partnerships with communities. Prevention professionals should infuse the concepts of cultural humility into all aspects of their work. This webinar will delve into the concept of cultural humility and explain why it is important to prevention. As part of this, it will discuss how to engage in partnerships with diverse communities and how to implement and evaluate culturally responsive, evidence-based programs and interventions. Lastly, the webinar will highlight a case study example of a community seeking to follow the principles of cultural humility in its prevention services. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the concept of cultural humility Explain why cultural humility is important to prevention Process an example scenario of cultural humility and accompanying case study PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to TTA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.     Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.  

Substance Use Prevention Policy Part 2: How Prevention Professionals Can Help Implement Policy Change Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip September 14, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will summarize what prevention professionals can do to help develop or change policies that will advance substance use prevention goals, including to address inequities and reduce health disparities. It will identify and discuss the mechanisms by which policy change can occur. As part of this, the webinar will also review the collaborative partners that prevention professionals will need to work with to enact policy change, including elected officials and regulatory agencies. It will discuss the importance of advocacy as a tool for collaborating with these partners and the vital distinctions between advocacy and lobbying. The webinar will also review the restrictions on lobbying that federal grantees and non-profit organizations must follow. The webinar will also discuss other steps prevention professionals can take to support successful policy change, such as working with regulatory or enforcement agencies to ensure policy adherence. Lastly, the webinar will offer a small group peer learning discussion opportunity. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify the mechanisms for achieving policy change. Recognize key collaborative partners that can support policy change. Explain the importance of advocacy and the differences from lobbying. Describe other steps prevention professionals can take to facilitate policy change. PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to TTA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.     Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.  

Webinar Description Using equitable language is a skill that can be learned and applied in the work we do as prevention professionals, paving the way to greater successes at achieving our outcomes,   This interactive event included the following learning objectives:  • Defining “equitable language” to support prevention professionals’ efforts to reach their intended audience  • Learning about the benefits of using equitable language in communication tools and events  • Identifying strategies for using equitable language as part of a community engagement approach when building partnerships and sharing information with communities of focus    Presenter Information Sarah Gabriella Hernandez is an evaluator and researcher specializing in community-engaged and participatory approaches. She has collaborated with diverse organizations and community partners across Chicago to conduct mixed-methods research, culturally responsive and developmental evaluations, program development and coordination, community health assessments, and dissemination. Dr. Hernandez leads evaluation projects that focus on evaluation capacity building and improving equity in health and education. Her recent areas of work include substance use services and recovery, trauma-informed work, and health equity in education.    Ivy Jones Turner, MPA, CPS is an expert in behavioral and mental health promotion and prevention, as well as an experienced program leader, technical assistance (TA) specialist, applied researcher, and evaluator. Her expertise includes building the capacity of schools and organizations to research, implement, evaluate, and sustain interventions to prevent substance misuse, suicide, youth violence, and bullying, and to promote social-emotional and mental health. Ivy holds an MA in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and is a certified specialist in prevention and conflict mediation in Massachusetts.    Additional Documents PowerPoint Flyer

Substance Use Prevention Policy Part 1: What is Policy and How Can It Help Achieve Prevention Outcomes Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip September 12, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will summarize the importance of policy change as a strategy for prevention professionals. It will discuss why and how policy changes can have significant impacts on substance use prevention goals, including addressing inequities, and reducing health disparities. The webinar will describe the different types of policy options that exist and how they align with substance use risk and protective factors, including the social determinants of health. It will also discuss the strengths and challenges that policy change efforts can have compared to other prevention interventions and why they should be part of a comprehensive approach to prevention. As part of this discussion, the webinar will also provide an example of such an approach. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Recognize why policy change can be an important goal in prevention. Describe the types and objectives of substance use prevention policies. Identify the strengths and drawbacks of using policies as a type of prevention intervention. Explain how policy change can be part of a comprehensive approach to prevention. PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to TTA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.     Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.  

Substance Use Prevention and Public Health Part 2: Building a Public Health Approach to Prevention Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip September 7, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will discuss how substance use prevention professionals can build a public health approach to prevention. It will describe how the similarities across public heath fields can lead to specific collaborative opportunities and will identify examples of these opportunities. The webinar will also review the concept of integrating behavioral and physical health care services and how, among other benefits, integration can support the development of a comprehensive public health approach to prevention. Additionally, it will discuss strategies for prevention professionals to further develop this approach and how to reduce health disparities through it. The webinar will also discuss the barriers and challenges prevention professionals may face and the opportunities that may exist to overcome them. Lastly, the webinar will offer a small group peer learning discussion opportunity. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify opportunities for collaboration across public health service fields. Describe behavioral-physical health care integration and how it can support public health. Explain strategies for implementing a public health approach to prevention and reducing disparities. Recognize barriers, challenges, and opportunities to expand a public health approach to prevention. PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to TTA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.     Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.  

    Prioritizing Equity in Prevention Series: The Role of Prevention in Addressing Alcohol Use in the U.S. Military August 22, 2023   Learning Session Description U.S. military personnel are particularly vulnerable to a number of health disparities due to their occupational stresses, hazards, and environments. These include frequent geographic relocations due to changing duty stations, undergoing deployments, and balancing work-life demands (e.g., supporting their families). Each of these factors contribute to alcohol misuse on their own, and taken together, create a high-risk setting for military personnel. Additionally, concern for potentially career-ending ramifications keep many personnel from seeking treatment or support. Military personnel report binge drinking at higher levels than the U.S. civilian population: in 2018, 34% of active duty personnel binge drank in the past 30 days compared to 27% of U.S. adults age 18 and older. This population also experiences extensive harms, including violence, injury, poor work performance, and potential harm to careers. This Learning Session will discuss the risk and protective factors that contribute to the military alcohol environment, drawing parallels between colleges and the military as institutions with unique opportunities for prevention efforts to promote health equity within this population. Participants will have the opportunity to assess the potential alcohol-related issues specific to the military population in their jurisdiction and develop a plan for collaborating with the military community to address these issues.   Objectives In this learning session, participants will: Describe alcohol consumption and harms specific to military personnel Discuss risk and protective factors that contribute to the alcohol environment on and around military installations Determine opportunities for collaboration in the prevention of excessive alcohol consumption among military personnel   Learning Session Recording and Slides The Role of Prevention in Addressing Alcohol Use in the U.S. Military Recording The Role of Prevention in Addressing Alcohol Use in the U.S. Military Slide Deck (PDF)   Presenter Alicia Sparks, PhD, MPH, is the Chair of the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance and a Senior Principal at Synergy Enterprises, where she serves as the Project Director for NIAAA’s APIS contract, as well as SAMHSA’s STOP Act contract. Dr. Sparks served as Project Director for CDC’s alcohol advertising monitoring project, for which she directed a team of researchers in conducting analyses of Nielsen data to determine alcohol industry compliance with self-governed rules on advertising alcohol to youth audiences. She has more than 12 years of experience in alcohol policy research, including designing, implementing, and evaluating studies, programs, and policies. Dr. Sparks has led the development of numerous publications on alcohol policy, including the 2022 Implementing Community-Level Policies to Prevent Alcohol Misuse evidence-based resource guide and the 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. She has published more than 20 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has presented at more than a dozen conferences. She is co-chair of the Alcohol Policy conference series and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Global Alcohol Policy Conference.   Questions Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this learning session.

Substance Use Prevention and Public Health Part 1: Recognizing the Role of Prevention in a Wider Field Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip September 5, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of public health and what can be the role of the substance use prevention field within it. It will describe the idea of public health and the similarities that exist across its service fields, such as: a focus on preventing issues before individuals require clinical services, seeking to address environmental factors and the social determinants of health, reducing health disparities, and implementing population-level services, among others. The webinar will also explain how substance use prevention should be and is a critical part of public health. As part of this, it will describe the best practices from public health that prevention professionals can incorporate into their work. Lastly, it will define what a “culture of prevention” is and how prevention professionals can take lessons learned from other public health fields to expand it. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the concept of public health and the similarities that exist across service fields. Identify how substance use prevention is a part of public health. Explain what is meant by a public health approach to prevention. Define a “culture of prevention” and its importance. PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to TTA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.     Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.  

Session 2 – Cultural Intersections: LGBTQ Youth and Substance Use Disorder   Many minority populations are disproportionately affected by substance use disorders and the LGBTQ community is no different. We used data to take a look at how LGBTQ youth and young adults are affected by substance use disorder and reviewed some strategies to combat this issue. Attendees also learned new ways to engage LGBTQ youth and young adults in their work!   Learning Objectives: Better understand why LGBTQ youth are disproportionately affected by substance use disorders.  Learn some new ways that we are trying to reach LGBTQ youth to engage them in prevention and harm reduction related to substance use disorders!  Understand the difference between gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, and sex assigned at birth and how they are all very separate and important concepts.  Identify three ways that you can show community members, that you may interact with, that you are supportive of diversity – without saying it.   Access the supplemental resources associated with this virtual training opportunity via the download button above.

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The August 2023 issue honors International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31), opioid overdose prevention training on HealtheKnowledge, and the newest NIATx in New Places series blog post written by Lynn Madden, PhD, MPA.  And as always, you will find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!      

Health equity matters in prevention and has always mattered. It is and should always be at the core of everything we do. This means understanding the role of structural and institutional inequality in creating disparities. With health equity in the front of mind we can ensure that we are providing the best prevention interventions possible to meet community needs. Take this course to uncover why health equity matters and how we can prioritize equity in action. 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

Session 1 - Prevention Leadership Through a Culturally Humble Lens   This interactive course provided a foundational conversation that placed the idea of prevention leadership in the context of cultural humility, inequity, and social justice.   Learning Objectives: Define cultural humility. Identify the difference between cultural humility vs. cultural competence.  Discuss the importance of these topics within the context of current SUD prevention priorities, and prevention leadership.  Discuss potential resources for prevention leaders.   Access the supplemental resources associated with this virtual training opportunity via the download button above.

  The Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC are dedicated to integrating cultural responsiveness into all our training and technical assistance offerings. We aim to help develop workforce competencies to provide equitable and inclusive care to all. Download this guide to learn more about our growing inventory of evidence-based trainings designed to improve the delivery of culturally-responsive prevention, treatment, and recovery approaches!   If you have questions about the culturally-responsive trainings we currently offer or suggestions for additional culturally-responsive trainings that would support the behavioral health workforces in our region, please contact:  Alfredo Cerrato, Senior Cultural & Workforce Development Officer ([email protected])  

The five-part series Structural Inequities Affecting Prevention Practice w/ Nicole M Augustine is available on rewind from the Mid-America PTTC. Nicole's experience will bring to life a balance of topics during each episode of the series. Session 1: Foundational concepts - Why equity matters in our work? This session will set the stage for understanding basic concepts related to behavioral health equity, the connection to adverse childhood experiences, and how environmental strategies create systemic change. Session 2: Equity in data - How we collect, analyze, and share data affect our work on many levels. How can we strategically focus our services if we don’t accurately identify the structural inequities in our communities? Session 3: Equity in people - Capacity is twofold and should be evaluated as such; The diversity and inclusion of a variety of experiences at the “table", and The diversity of resources in the community to address the substance misuse need. Session 4: Equity in the planning - Developing cultural adaptations while using evidence-based interventions can be a challenge. We will discuss how to embed equity into program planning to ensure the co-creation of projects with community members. Session 5: Equity in action - Knowledge without action is like a car with no gas or a phone with no battery! We will end the week by creating a personal action plan designed to help us commit to putting our knowledge into action. Nicole Augustine has been working in the field of prevention since 2001 and is the creator and founder of RIZE Consultants, LLC. She connects to her audience in a unique way, utilizing Zoom and other social media apps. Nicole's experience will bring to life a balance of topics during each day of the series, including why equity matters, and equity in data, building capacity, planning and action. 

Webinar Description The National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards provide a framework to assist organizations to work more effectively and resourcefully with diverse populations. This interactive training will instruct on how to implement the National CLAS Standards within behavioral health care settings to build organizational capacity and provide culturally informed and linguistically conducive services that enhance recovery and wellness pathways, integrate strategies to reduce racial and ethnic disparities and advance behavioral health equity and inclusion for both communities and the professionals that provide care.   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.    Additional Resources  Flyer  PowerPoint  Handout - CLAS Standards Handout - CLAS Checklist  Handout - CLAS Cultural Competence Self Assessment   

Substance Use and HIV Part 2: Learning Lab Session- Developing and Expanding Services Josh Esrick, MPP, Princess Walker, MPHc, and Zina Age, LMSW, MAC June 22, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will serve as a collaborative learning lab for participants. It will provide a brief review of the principles of a pilot program followed by a series of breakout discussions and exercises. These will include a logic model building exercise for a potential pilot program, case study discussions about establishing and expanding services, and a peer learning discussion opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the principles of establishing a pilot program Describe the process for assembling a logic model Prepare for opportunities to implement pilot programs Relate best practices and lessons learned shared by peers PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to TTA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.     Princess Walker, MPHc, graduated with a dual degree in Psychology and Health Administration and Policy Program with a concentration in Public Health from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a results-oriented public health professional passionate about community health education, inequality, public health research, and eliminating health disparities. Specifically, she serves underprivileged communities to address health disparities in high-risk groups. She has worked extensively at both the community and state levels developing strategic prevention/behavioral healthcare plans and enforcing policies. Princess is proficient in qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, program/project management, and public health issues. Recognized for orchestrating work processes and instilling trust and confidence in stakeholders in education, private entities, government organizations, and participants that support public health objectives—currently advancing her degree as an MPH candidate with a concentration in Epidemiology. She hopes to advance community-level monitoring and evidence-based interventions and training to improve health outcomes produced by Substance used disorder and other communicable diseases.     Zina Age, LMSW, MAC,a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a graduate of Louisiana State University, holds a graduate degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and a Masters in Addiction Counseling from the National Association of Forensic Counselors. Zina began working in the social services field in 1987, serving African American populations affected by HIV/AIDS and other health disparities. In 1996, she founded Aniz, Inc., which is dedicated to providing therapeutic education and support services for children and families from disadvantaged multicultural communities infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. Ms. Age has served on many national and local committees dedicated to educating people about issues surrounding HIV and is a noted public speaker that has been invited to serve as a panelist, guest presenter and keynote speaker at various universities, conferences and forums in the U.S. and abroad. She has delivered engaging presentations on topics such as, but not limited to: Undercover Community Mental Health and Substance Use Issues, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Risk Reduction Programs, Holistic Harm Reduction, the Inter-Generational spread of HIV/AIDS, Homophobia, Transphobia and Gender-phobia in the Black LGBT community, and Combating the “Secrecy, Shame and Guilt” surrounding HIV/AIDS issues.  

Substance Use and HIV Part 1: The Importance of Action and Addressing Disparities Josh Esrick, MPP, and Princess Walker, MPHc June 20, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will review the connections between substance use and HIV. It will summarize the research on how substance use can increase the risk of contracting HIV and present the most recent data on co-occurring prevalence rates. The webinar will examine the disproportionate impact of HIV among LGBTQ, BIPOC, Hispanic, and other populations nationwide and in the Central East region. It will discuss the importance of expanding services and key considerations for serving people living with HIV. The webinar will also review examples of evidence-based strategies. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the importance of addressing substance use and HIV Describe the disproportionate impact of HIV Identify key considerations for serving people living with HIV Name examples of evidence-based HIV and SUD prevention strategies PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to TTA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.     Princess Walker, MPHc, graduated with a dual degree in Psychology and Health Administration and Policy Program with a concentration in Public Health from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a results-oriented public health professional passionate about community health education, inequality, public health research, and eliminating health disparities. Specifically, she serves underprivileged communities to address health disparities in high-risk groups. She has worked extensively at both the community and state levels developing strategic prevention/behavioral healthcare plans and enforcing policies. Princess is proficient in qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, program/project management, and public health issues. Recognized for orchestrating work processes and instilling trust and confidence in stakeholders in education, private entities, government organizations, and participants that support public health objectives—currently advancing her degree as an MPH candidate with a concentration in Epidemiology. She hopes to advance community-level monitoring and evidence-based interventions and training to improve health outcomes produced by Substance used disorder and other communicable diseases.  

  This Coffee Chat will explore how, based on an understanding of the etiology of substance use and other risky behaviors, community-based coalitions can build prevention service systems that can have far-reaching impacts. Effective coalitions are key to having these ‘population-based’ outcomes as they know and represent their broader communities, and have the potential of being more skilled at influencing the allocation of prevention resources, community policies & practices, inter-organizational relationships and community awareness, knowledge, and values

This Coffee Chat will explore practical tools and approaches for engaging your coalition in systems thinking and engaging in community-level change. By using a risk and protective factor lens, participants will explore opportunities to engage diverse sectors within their community to impact population-wide changes to reduce substance misuse. Participants will leave with sample tools they can use with their coalition to encourage thinking at a systems-level - as well as plenty of resources to support ongoing skill building within their coalition.

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The June 2023 issue honors National Pride Month, National PTSD Awareness Month, and Men's Health Month by sharing events and resources on these topics. As always, you will find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!