Products and Resources Catalog

Recording: Supporting Grandfamilies as Caregivers in the Opioid Crisis   DESCRIPTION: It is estimated that 2.6 million children are raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, other extended family, and close family friends who step forward to care for them when parents are unable. With the rise in heroin and other opioid use, more relatives are raising children because the parents have died, are incarcerated, are using drugs, are in treatment or are otherwise unable to take care of their children. We understand that these children experience physical and cognitive health challenges as their caregiver’s face hurdles with housing, school enrollment, health, and legal issues as they struggle with their own grief.  This webinar will present evidence-based interventions designed to strengthen the resilience of these children along with tested approaches for supporting grandparents in this role.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants in this webinar will be able to: Identify the trends around children being raised by grandparents because of the opioid crisis Explain how children and grandfamilies are impacted by the opioid epidemic, including as they navigate these relationships Identify strategies for building skills and support systems for grandparents that are assuming the responsibility of caring for vulnerable grandchildren   PRESENTER: Chuck Klevgaard, BSW, CSPS Chuck Klevgaard is a nationally recognized expert in substance misuse prevention, public health, and school-based health. Drawing on his experience in collective impact and prevention-focused partnerships, he builds the capacity of states, tribes, schools, communities, and cities to use evidence-based substance misuse prevention and intervention strategies. He specializes in behavioral health support; training and technical assistance; and evidence-based alcohol, opioid, and substance misuse programs and policies. Nationwide, he provides trainings to prevent opioid overdose, including working with first responders to administer naloxone. As a consultant to Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center, Klevgaard provides training and technical assistance to substance misuse prevention entities within the Great Lakes region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. Klevgaard, a Certified Senior Prevention Specialist through the Illinois Certification Board, Inc., holds a BSW from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The January 2023 issue honors National Birth Defects Prevention Month by sharing resources and media from SAMHSA that focus on the effects of marijuana use during pregnancy. This issue also features new products from the Great Lakes MHTTC and PTTC, HealtheKnowledge content specific to women's reproductive health, and opportunities for mental health and SUD professionals to participate in ongoing research studies.  As always, The Great Lakes Current provides links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   

Recording: Nothing About Us Without Us: Best Practices for Community-led Prevention   DESCRIPTION: Many times, preventionists know the process of implementing prevention work in their communities, but often struggle to move beyond planning. Understanding how to work with communities to implement strategies is a necessary first step to being successful change agents in our communities. Utilizing a framework developed through the implementation of Hispanic and Latino community-led prevention in Massachusetts, this training will apply principles of community-led prevention to other diverse prevention settings, providing real life solutions to common barriers and next steps preventionists can take in their own communities.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the end of this training session, participants will be able to: Identify principles of community-led prevention that can be applied to a variety of communities and issues Identify solutions to common barriers in community-led prevention   PRESENTER:  Christina Mancebo-Torres, MPH  Christina Mancebo-Torres, MPH, is the Program Specialist for the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Prior to this role, Christina worked as a prevention coordinator for a local board of health in Southeastern Massachusetts, where she worked with Hispanic and Latino community leaders to implement prevention strategies at the community level. Christina holds a master’s degree in Public Health and multiple graduate certificates in epidemiology and global health. She is also a current doctoral student in Liberty University’s PhD in Health Sciences program.   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.

Each of the documents included in this resource page serve to guide prevention practitioners while implementing the various steps of the Strategic Prevention Framework.  

This toolkit and PowerPoint presentation walk substance misuse prevention practitioners and coalition members through the first two tasks of Step 3 of the Strategic Prevention Framework: Prioritizing risk and protective factors and selecting an evidence-based strategy.  

This crosswalk identifies tasks commonly associated with each step of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and aligns them with sustainability milestones and practitioner skills needed to meet these milestones. This can be used to determine capacity building needs within communities/counties implementing the SPF process.

An effective logic model will act as a roadmap that tells your prevention workgroup where it is starting from, where it is going, how it will get to where it is going, and if it is going in the right direction. The attached document will aid preventionists as they work through the process of creating an effective logic model for prevention curricula.

Evaluators use pseudocodes to protect a participant's anonymity when asking protected questions. Pseudocode means a "fake code" that severs the link between the data and the provider. The attached document explains pseudocodes and how to create them.

Recording: Building Capacity for Local Data Collection This 90-minute session will focus on understanding the types of data needed to conduct prevention needs assessments and progress monitoring. We will focus on gathering local data, and on the partners needed to find and use data effectively. We will also discuss ways you can increase your organization’s, coalition’s, and/or community’s capacity to understand and use local data effectively.  The training is the first in a series of three highly interactive sessions focused on identifying challenges in data collection, data sharing, and community capacity.   PRESENTER: Shai Fuxman, EdD Shai Fuxman, a behavioral health expert and senior research scientist, leads initiatives promoting the positive development of youth. He has extensive experience in social and emotional learning (SEL), school-based trauma-informed care, and substance misuse prevention. He also has expertise in program evaluation, cultural competence, and quantitative and qualitative research. As a Prevention Solutions@EDC training and technical assistance specialist, he supports state agencies and community-based organizations to implement and evaluate effective substance misuse prevention programs.

RECORDING: Laugh It Off: How Therapeutic Humor Can Work for You (And Your Communities)   Improve your outlook and reduce harmful stress through humor. That’s the message of this seriously funny workshop where you will get to practice applied therapeutic exercises that you can use every day to improve your wellbeing and the wellness of your clients and others around you. Research has shown that accessing humor and laughter directly after a stressful situation reduces stress hormones and creates lasting, positive feelings. Muscles relax, breathing changes, and the brain releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and other psychological benefits. Mallori and Lodge will teach you how to laugh off difficult times, and as a result turn the negative impacts of stress into the positive benefits of humor.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to… Identify how laughter is used to reduce stress. Develop a personalized humor application. Explore how humor can be a resource to strengthen psychological safety and build community   PRESENTERS:  Mallori DeSalle Mallori DeSalle is a licensed mental health counselor, an internationally certified prevention specialist, motivational interviewing trainer and a certified humor professional. As a speaker and trainer, she has sparked curiosity in both the young and young-at-heart. Her passion for creating a lasting impact led her to the public health field and for the past 14 years she has worked at Prevention Insights, a center within the School of Public Health at Indiana University, Bloomington.  Mallori works with people all over the world. She served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor and in 2021 became a TEDx speaker. Her credentials don’t impress her family, but occasionally her corny jokes do make them laugh.   Lodge McCammon Dr. Lodge McCammon is a therapeutic humorist, instructional designer, author, musician, and international education consultant who provides professional services, including keynote speeches, workshops, curriculum development, and a variety of training programs. He works with school districts, universities, nonprofits, and businesses (e.g., Palm Beach Schools, University of the West Indies, Discovery Education, Microsoft, Amazon, The Coca-Cola Company). Most recently, Lodge facilitated a month of therapeutic humor for the Nourished Teachers Community, which is a Facebook-funded initiative focused on helping educators cope with work stress and avoid burnout. He uses a program that he designed called “Laugh It Off!" to help his clients transform their daily frustrations into humor.

RECORDING - PUTTING THE ENGAGE BACK IN ENGAGEMENT   DESCRIPTION: Stuck in a rut? Scrambling for time? Wondering what's next? Are your requests for volunteers met with crickets? One of the biggest struggles that organizations have in this busy culture is to attract and retain volunteers and staff, in addition to garnering the support of the community in their efforts as well. Attend this session to learn from over 20 years of experience engaging the community, recruiting volunteers, and making connections to support that sustainability of your coalition to make the most out of your valuable time…and theirs!   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to: Describe best practices in engagement of volunteers, key stakeholders, and the community Implement strategies to maximize and generate resources in their community to achieve their mission Use resources and the tools from the webinar to increase engagement in their prevention efforts   PRESENTER: Melissa Moore  Melissa Moore has worked in Public Health for over 20 years, leading substance abuse prevention and coalition efforts in multiple diverse communities. Emphasizing the need to go beyond education to address the factors that contribute to substance abuse, Ms. Moore has helped lead assessment, planning, implementation and grant writing efforts to transform the way communities tackle this daunting burden. An expert in engagement and communication, Ms. Moore is always looking for opportunities to take great ideas and move them into tangible actions answering the age-old question...We recognize this is an issue, now what can we do about it?

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The October 2022 issue closes out our celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month (observed Sept.15-Oct.15) with new episodes of the Checking In Podcast. This issue also features information and resources that support National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and National Bullying Prevention Month. You will also find links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. 

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The November‒December 2022 issue honors National Impaired Driving Prevention Month (December) by sharing resources and media from SAMHSA's "Talk. They Hear You.®" campaign for underage drinking prevention. This issue also features prevention-focused HealtheKnowledge courses, two new Counselor's Corner blog posts about the relationship between SUD and music, the Great Lakes ATTC's "Embracing Change" article on the ATTC/NIATx Service Improvement Blog, and even more brand new products and resources from HHS Region 5.  You will also find links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. 

RECORDING:  Harnessing Community Organizing to Enact Alcohol Policies   Dr. Toomey will discuss the key components of community organizing to achieve changes in the community to address a range of public health problems, including excessive alcohol use and related harms. These components include community assessments, one-on-one discussions, building action teams and leadership skills, creating an action plan, and implementing the action plan. The webinar will emphasize using community organizing to be strategic and move towards action.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Following this webinar, participants will be able to: describe the key components of community organizing and— consider the application of community organizing to their work.   PRESENTER: Traci L. Toomey, PhD Traci L. Toomey, PhD is a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She serves as the director of the Alcohol Epidemiology Program at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the prevention of problems related to use of substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Much of her research has addressed underage alcohol use and over service of alcohol. She has a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Minnesota.

RECORDING: Underage Drinking: What’s the Big Deal and What Do We Do About It?    Dr. Toomey will provide an overview of why it is important to focus on prevention of underage drinking, a brief history of prevention work in this area, and suggestions for strategies that can be used by communities to reduce underage drinking. She will discuss the rationale for using strategies that reduce youth access to alcohol from multiple sources.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Following this webinar, participants will be able to: describe major contributors to underage drinking, progress in the U.S. in reducing underage drinking and related problems, and— strategies for continuing to reduce rates of underage drinking and related problems.   PRESENTER: Traci L. Toomey, PhD Traci L. Toomey, PhD is a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She serves as the director of the Alcohol Epidemiology Program at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the prevention of problems related to use of substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Much of her research has addressed underage alcohol use and over service of alcohol. She has a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Minnesota.

RECORDING: Effecting Change through Alcohol Control Policies   Dr. Toomey will discuss the importance of addressing alcohol-related problems using a population-level approach. She will provide an overview of how alcohol control policies can be effective in reducing a range of alcohol-related problems as well as describe key alcohol control policies that could be enacted at a local or state level. Additionally, she will discuss the importance of implementation of the policies as well as using a comprehensive approach that combines multiple policies and related strategies.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Following this webinar, participants will be able to: (1) describe alcohol control policies that address physical and economic availability of alcohol, (2) discuss the importance of systematic implementation of policies, and (3) describe the importance of strategically combining different alcohol control policies and implementation strategies.   PRESENTER:  Traci L. Toomey, PhD Traci L. Toomey, PhD is a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She serves as the director of the Alcohol Epidemiology Program at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the prevention of problems related to use of substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Much of her research has addressed underage alcohol use and over service of alcohol. She has a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Minnesota.

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The September 2022 issue celebrates National Recovery Month and the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month (observed Sept.15-Oct.15). This issue also features new products, such as the Alcohol Is Still a Drug webinar series flipbook and the MHTTC Network's Cultural Inclusiveness and Equity WISE companion training series. Don't miss SAMHSA Assistant Secretary, Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon's video address in honor of National Recovery Month. You will also find links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. 

Recording: Girls and Women: Substance Misuse Trends and Prevention Strategies   Data now show that girls and young women, ages 12 to 20, are drinking more alcohol than their male counterparts. There are some key considerations that prevention specialists should know as they design strategies to curb harmful drinking behaviors among girls, such as the association between underage drinking and mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. This webinar highlights strategies for coupling prevention approaches with mental health support.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify trends in misuse among women including related consequences Describe factors that place women at risk for harmful consequences List prevention strategies shown to be effective with this population   PRESENTERS:  Erin Ficker, MPAff, CSPS Erin serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes PTTC. For more than 14 years, Erin has worked in substance abuse prevention supporting communities to use evidence-based strategies and data-driven processes in substance abuse prevention planning and implementation.  She works with community level prevention practitioners and schools in the development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of prevention interventions.   Stephanie Asteriadis Pyle, PhD, CPS  Stephanie Asteriadis Pyle, PhD, CPS, Emeritus is a former Project Manager for the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT).  Dr. Asteriadis Pyle established Nevada’s first substance use disorder library and clearinghouse at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus and during her tenure at UNR/CASAT served as the C0-I or PI for 36 grants and contracts for substance use prevention for students at UNR and Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and problem gambling prevention for aging populations in Nevada. Dr. Asteriadis Pyle most recently managed and wrote for the CASAT OnDemand website and blog for five years, synthesizing research for professionals in SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery and related behavioral health fields. She continues to teach CAS 255, an introductory course in substance misuse prevention she has taught face to face or online since 2007

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The August 2022 issue features content related to the nationwide transition to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Great Lakes MHTTC's newly released Classroom WISE Discussion Guide, the new CDC drug overdose disparities report, and SAMSHA's "Talk. They Hear You."® youth substance use prevention campaign. You will also find links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. 

RECORDING: Older Adults: Substance Misuse Trends and Prevention Strategies A recent study designed to project the number of people aged 50 years or older with substance use disorder predicted that by 2020 the total would be 5.7 million.  Increases are projected for all examined gender, race, and ethnicity groups.  As the population of older adults has risen, so has the rate of SUD and the diseases and injuries associated with misuse and disorders. This webinar will provide critical information for prevention professionals to allocate resources and develop prevention approaches to address future needs of the US older adult population and this rapidly emerging public health issue.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify trends in misuse among older adults including related consequences Describe factors that place older adults at risk List prevention strategies shown to be effective with this population   PRESENTERS:  Chuck Klevgaard, CSPS Chuck Klevgaard is a nationally recognized expert in substance misuse prevention, public health, and school-based health. Drawing on his experience in collective impact and prevention-focused partnerships, he builds the capacity of states, tribes, schools, communities, and cities to use evidence-based substance misuse prevention and intervention strategies. He specializes in behavioral health support, training and technical assistance, and evidence-based alcohol, opioid, and substance misuse programs and policies. As a consultant to Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center, Klevgaard provides training and technical assistance to substance misuse prevention entities within the Great Lakes region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. Klevgaard, a Certified Senior Prevention Specialist through the Illinois Certification Board, Inc., holds a BSW from Minnesota State University Moorhead.   Stephanie Asteriadis Pyle, PhD, CPS Stephanie Asteriadis Pyle, PhD, CPS, Emeritus is a former Project Manager for the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT).  Dr. Asteriadis Pyle established Nevada’s first substance use disorder library and clearinghouse at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus and during her tenure at UNR/CASAT served as the C0-I or PI for 36 grants and contracts for substance use prevention for students at UNR and Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and problem gambling prevention for aging populations in Nevada. Dr. Asteriadis Pyle most recently managed and wrote for the CASAT OnDemand website and blog for five years, synthesizing research for professionals in SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery and related behavioral health fields. She continues to teach CAS 255, an introductory course in substance misuse prevention she has taught face to face or online since 2007.

RECORDING: The Nexus of Substance Misuse Prevention and Mental Health Promotion   The Great Lakes PTTC has provided a 3-part series on the nexus of substance misuse and other public health issues. We will be exploring the nexus of substance misuse and mental health conditions, suicide, and problem gambling. This “nexus” provides an opportunity for prevention specialists and other behavioral health leaders to develop a cohesive strategy within a public health framework to reduce the rates of all four behavioral health problems. The third of this 3-part series, focuses on the nexus between substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion efforts. We recognize that drug and alcohol addiction as well as substance use disorders are commonly associated with underlying or untreated mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders, depression, and other psychiatric disorders frequently coincide with an individual's substance use.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Discuss the complex relationship between mental health disorders and substance misuse. List shared risk and protective factors between mental health and substance misuse disorders List the barriers to collaboration between the mental health field and substance misuse prevention Describe collaboration strategies for substance use prevention professionals and the mental health field to improve public health and community conditions.   PRESENTER:  Erin Ficker Erin serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes PTTC. For more than 14 years, Erin has worked in substance abuse prevention supporting communities to use evidence-based strategies and data-driven processes in substance abuse prevention planning and implementation.  She works with community level prevention practitioners and schools in the development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of prevention interventions.

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The July 2022 issue features content related to Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, World Hepatitis Day (July 28), Naloxone Vending Machine (NVM) Implementation, and the new Comprehensive Culturally Responsive Glossary. You will also find links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. 

Recording link: Nexus of Substance Misuse Prevention and Problem Gambling Prevention   The focus of this webinar is on the nexus between substance misuse prevention and problem gambling prevention. Gambling disorders are highly comorbid with other mental health and substance use disorders. The prevalence of co-occurring gambling addiction and substance abuse is high. Approximately 1 in 10 compulsive gamblers report being concerned about their substance use.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Discuss the complex relationship between problem gambling and substance misuse. List shared risk and protective factors between problem gambling and substance misuse disorders List the barriers to collaboration between the problem gambling prevention field and substance misuse prevention Describe collaboration strategies for substance use prevention professionals and the problem gambling prevention field to improve public health and community conditions.   PRESENTER:  Rebecca Bishop, MSW Director, Massachusetts Center of Excellence for Problem Gambling Rebecca Bishop specializes in initiatives to improve the health, mental health, and well-being of youth and high-risk populations. She brings expertise in mental health promotion, health equity, cultural and linguistic responsiveness, community mobilization, and violence prevention and intervention. Bishop has a history of applying a health and racial equity lens to substance use, youth development, violence and problem gambling prevention, as well as mental health issues. She leads EDC’s Gambling Prevention Technical Assistance Center and has managed three regional planning processes across Massachusetts to learn about local knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes related to gambling, resulting in population-specific prevention strategies. Bishop holds an MA in Social Work, Health, and Mental Health Administration from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work and has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.   The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC offered this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training was provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.  

Recording: Risk Factors for Youth Substance Misuse   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 (May 24, 2022).   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 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.