Products and Resources Catalog

Adapting Prevention Interventions to Better Serve Populations Which Are Under-Resourced Part 1: Understanding the Need for Adaptation and Implications for Prevention Josh Esrick, MPP, and Lauren Pappacena, MSW August 9, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will introduce and discuss the importance of adapting evidence-based prevention interventions to better serve populations and their communities. It will explain why adaptation derived from cultural competence and humility can improve outcomes. The webinar will also discuss why adaptation is an important aspect to addressing behavioral health disparities. As part of this, the webinar will discuss the recent rise in hate crimes and discrimination and how their impact on behavioral health further necessitates improving prevention services for the communities most impacted. Lastly, the webinar will review some of the challenges to adaptation which prevention professionals should be prepared to address. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain why cultural humility and adapting interventions can improve outcomes Review the racial and ethnic inequities in substance use prevention and their connections to the social determinants of health Discuss how rising discrimination and hate crimes can impact behavioral health outcomes among affected populations Review the common challenges associated with adaptation PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Lauren Pappacena, MSW is a Research Associate with Carnevale Associates. Lauren has a background in criminal justice and juvenile justice research specifically as it relates to evidence-based programs and practices spanning criminal justice topics, including corrections, law enforcement, reentry, and courts. Currently, she assists with training evaluations for NADCP and the PTTC, where she brings her experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis and data visualization. With a strong interest in policy analysis, research translation, data collection, and analytic writing, Ms. Pappacena is published in the Journal of Human Rights and Social Work for her analysis of national early-release laws.  

Webinar Description  Many of us come to substance misuse prevention already possessing the soft, or “human” skills needed to successfully build relationships with key stakeholders in our communities, and we certainly have the opportunity to develop and strengthen those skills on our professional journeys in the field. But, if it is that easy, why doesn’t every prevention coalition have full representation from the various sectors and cultural group members in our communities? Part of a learning series that went beyond making the case for the importance of collaboration, this session introduced effective negotiation tactics from the business world & beyond that prevention practitioners can incorporate into their partner recruitment efforts to maximize the likelihood of positive responses, as well as how to bring reluctant partners into prevention efforts and provide meaningful opportunities for collaborators to do more than just participate in our work.  The Presenters Ivy Jones-Turner – Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over 20 years, Ivy has provided organizational capacity assistance on health promotion and prevention in substance abuse, suicide, violence, injury, and mental health with nonprofit and community-based organizations, state and faith-based agencies, and school districts. Her capacity building skills include program evaluation, training and technical assistance in program design and implementation, organizational development, partnerships/collaborations, and sustainability. Ms. Jones-Turner is a Certified Prevention Specialist and holds an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Jessica Goldberg - Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over a decade, Jess has specialized in building capacity to improve behavioral health at the national, state, regional and local levels. Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross-sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess holds an MSW and MPH from Boston University, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Powerpoint

Webinar Description Many of us come to substance misuse prevention already possessing the soft, or “human” skills needed to successfully build relationships with key stakeholders in our communities, and we certainly have the opportunity to develop and strengthen those skills on our professional journeys in the field. But, if it is that easy, why doesn’t every prevention coalition have full representation from the various sectors and cultural group members in our communities?  Doing the Work Together: Authentic Partner Engagement in Prevention is one of 2 related sessions that addressed going beyond making the case for the importance of collaboration in prevention to unpacking most common challenges.  In this session, we explored what it takes to create meaningful opportunities for shared leadership and decision-making with partners, foster trusting relationships with members of diverse cultural and identity groups in our communities and work collaboratively with key stakeholders to identify and implement community-led solutions to substance misuse-related problems.  – how to bring reluctant partners into prevention efforts and how to provide meaningful opportunities for collaborators to do more than just participate in our work. The Presenters Ivy Jones-Turner – Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over 20 years, Ivy has provided organizational capacity assistance on health promotion and prevention in substance abuse, suicide, violence, injury, and mental health with nonprofit and community-based organizations, state and faith-based agencies, and school districts. Her capacity building skills include program evaluation, training and technical assistance in program design and implementation, organizational development, partnerships/collaborations, and sustainability. Ms. Jones-Turner is a Certified Prevention Specialist and holds an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Jessica Goldberg - Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over a decade, Jess has specialized in building capacity to improve behavioral health at the national, state, regional and local levels. Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross-sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess holds an MSW and MPH from Boston University, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. PowerPoint   

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.

The process of selecting prevention strategies that best fit the needs and assets, readiness, and capacity of a community begins with identifying evidence-based interventions, as catalogued in registries or databases of evidence-based programs, policies, and interventions. To support the efforts of Prevention Professionals to identify and select best-fitting strategies, the Northeast & Caribbean PTTC has developed this guide to using Evidence-based resource registries.  Click here to download the resource.

  Description: This interactive discussion explored how coalitions should be structured so that they are better poised for policy work. We asked participants to consider how the prevention work they are doing now is amenable to future policy efforts. The session explored the importance of policy identification based on community need and of coalition readiness to engage in a policy campaign. The discussion closed with an overview of our 10-step policy adoption model. In preparation for this session, participants were asked to register for, and complete, the brief online course, “An Introduction to the Power of Policy Change,” found at healtheknowledge.org. Learning Objectives: Identify coalition strengths and challenges related to policy development and adoption Understand the process to ensure the policy selection addresses a local condition Learn the ten steps of the Policy Adoption Model Access additional resources to support their policy work   About the Presenters Kristin Kidd is a technical assistance provider for the Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC)at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Kristin manages the Center’s training delivery and policy technical assistance. She has developed and delivered trainings focused on the policy process across the country. Kristin is also Principle Investigator for the North Carolina Behavioral Health Equity Initiative that collaborates with community agencies to reduce health disparities and promote equity. Prior to joining the Southeast PTTC, Kristin led the Tobacco Control Training and Technical Assistant Team at the Colorado School of Public Health. Her team provided statewide advocacy and policy guidance to local health agencies focused on eliminating tobacco disparities. Michael Sparks is an Alcohol Policy Specialist and the President of SparksInitiatives. His primary interest is working with communities to use policy to reduce alcohol-related problems. Michael currently serves as a consultant and trainer to communities across the country and is a trainer for Community Anti-drug Coalitions of America. He also works in a consulting role with Wake Forest University and Johns Hopkins University on alcohol policy issues. He has expertise in the alcohol policy field as well as in the areas of community building, using local control strategies to manage problematic alcohol and drug environments, the legislative process, and neighborhood revitalization.

  Presented by: Dr. Peter Gamache Description: June is Pride Month. The month recognizes the sweeping impact that LGBTQ+ individuals, advocates and their allies have had on history in the United States. The Southeast PTTC honors Pride Month with this important webinar focused on health disparities experienced by LGBTQQI2-S youth and adults. This session will focus on preventing and addressing behavioral health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and two-spirit (LGBTQI2-S) youth and adult populations in southeast (HHS Region 4) communities (KY, TN, NC, SC, MS, AL, GA, FL). Learning Objectives: This session discussed the need and rationale to address Social Determinants of Health and changing demographic trends. This session discussed key advantages for implementing this approach. This session discussed practical examples of how organizations can develop inclusive policies and procedures.   About the Presenter Dr. Peter Gamache Dr. Gamache is an interdisciplinary program evaluator for initiatives that focus on underserved populations with behavioral health, primary care, and social support needs. He has also served on national workgroups for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reviews federal funding applications, and provides technical assistance and capacity building on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), federal policy modeling, fidelity to evidence-based service models, and disparities and outcomes reporting.

Strategic Alliance: Prevention Across the Continuum of Care Yvonne L Stroman, MA, CRS June 8, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Substance misuse prevention efforts educate and support individuals and communities to prevent the use and misuse of drugs, yet there remains a portion of our communities who use substances. Harm reduction includes strategies and ideas that aim to reduce the negative consequences related to substance misuse. Harm reduction can be considered as an approach to secondary prevention of risky behavior among youth with the intent to save lives, reduce consequences and build support. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define harm reduction and locate strategy within the continuum of care for prevention Provide an overview of harm reduction and positive youth development philosophy Evaluate community readiness to embrace and implement harm reduction practices as part of its prevention efforts Develop one actionable item for training their own staff in harm reduction PRESENTER Yvonne L Stroman, MA, CRS, for more than 25 years, has worked in the field of social services providing leadership, direction, support, education, advocacy, training and empowerment to individuals, families and communities. She has served in various capacities, including executive director of a non-profit as well as senior management. Her current position, includes working as an administrator for the county drug and alcohol agency. Her duties include working with local organizations to assure that quality drug and alcohol services are provided, providing community education and awareness regarding alcohol and other drug use disorders; providing support and referrals to individuals seeking assistance for a drug and alcohol problem; and working with community organizations and agencies to advocate and promote recovery from addiction. Through other related initiatives, Yvonne collaborates with individuals and social agencies to promote environmental strategies and educates the public about the dangers and consequences associated with youth’s use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and other social issues affecting youth and the community. Yvonne’s community activism includes service on local boards including, Reading, PA School Board, Reading Police Diversity Board, Berks County Children and Youth Advisory Board, Berks County Suicide Prevention Task Force, and the Pennsylvania Statewide Disproportionate Minority Contact Sub-Committee –an advisory committee under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Yvonne is a national consultant for the CADCA and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs providing training to youth and adults on issues and initiatives that promote cultural diversity and awareness and ultimately create community level change. Additionally, Yvonne is a part-time Adjunct Professor at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania. Yvonne holds a Master’s Degree in Human Services Counseling for Addictions and Recovery and is a Certified Recovery Specialist.  

The Great Lakes PTTC created this brief to address a need identified for evidence-based information on how to successfully use naloxone vending machines (NVMs). NVMs are intended to complement, rather than duplicate, existing points of access such as syringe service programs, pharmacies, and mobile outreach units. Important considerations for implementing a NVM include readiness, stakeholder engagement, strategic placement, data collection, promotion, monitoring, and sustainability.   Click the attachment box to the right for Naloxone Vending Machines: Considerations for Implementation brief. 

Three-Part Cannabis Webinar Series Prevention Professionals located in HHS Region 8 - Mountain Plains PTTC (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY), are invited to attend this no-cost, three-part training series on cannabis. Hear from experts about lessons learned with regards to cannabis legalization in their states; Gain a better understanding of the changing marketing messages created by the cannabis industry and what to do about it; As well as learn about various strategies to prevent cannabis use among youth.   Part 2: Cannabis: New Conversations for Changing Times June 7, 2022 Presented by Jamie Comstock & Robin Carr, Info Inspired, LLC During this training, preventionists will be called to shift their approach in response to the changing cannabis policy and industry landscape. The times have changed, and so must our conversations in the community. An overview of marketing trends will be provided, which have moved far beyond selling a “high”, to selling a lifestyle, a path to natural health and wellness, and any mood/experience/delivery method of the consumer’s choosing. Further, the importance of staying informed about marketing trends and some strategies for doing so, will be highlighted. Additionally, a framework for selecting messages/materials available for the prevention field will be offered. Preventionists have moved from the need to be content creators, and now must be expert curators. Lastly, an emphasis will be placed on audience analysis and editing, too! The goal is for participants to build confidence and skills for more effective conversations about cannabis. Participants will: Describe the current cannabis landscape and industry marketing trends. Identify prevention strategies for a variety of cannabis regulatory frameworks. Formulate messages that resonate with a range of audiences. Formulate content from available tools and resources for the prevention field.     Webinar Recording & Resources: Recording Presentation Slides Resources  

Prioritizing Equity in Prevention Series Two Years In: Reflections on Best Practices to Promote Mental Health and Prevent Substance Misuse Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities Since COVID-19   May 23, 2022   Learning Session Overview and Objectives Asian Americans (AA) and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) are the least likely ethnic groups in the US to seek behavioral health services. While AA and NHPI communities represent a large number of diverse ethnic groups, they share some cultural factors that can impact how they seek behavioral health services and how they respond to strategies in promoting mental health and preventing substance misuse. This Learning Session will explore best practices and cultural responsiveness in addressing mental health and substance misuse among AA and NHPI communities.    This Learning Session was created in partnership with the Asian & Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health* (APIC). APIC represents the unique health issues and needs of the multi-lingual, multi-ethnic Asian and Pacific Islander populations. The Caucus has been instrumental in addressing various health equity and social justice issues affecting Asian and Pacific Islander communities, such as improving access to health care, recognizing Asian Americans as under-represented minorities in health research, advocating for immigration reforms and increasing recognition of complementary and alternative medicine among North American physicians, among several other efforts. *APIC operates under cooperative agreement CDC-RFA-IP21-2106 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this program are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC/HHS   Objectives By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to: Identify cultural factors that can act as barriers to seeking behavioral health services Compare strategies that promote mental health and reduce substance misuse among AAs and NHPIs Analyze trends in mental health and substance use among AA and NHPI communities since the onset of COVID-19   Presenter Dr. Marielle A. Reataza, MD, MS serves as the Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA), based in Alhambra, California. Dr. Reataza has a broad professional experience as a high school teacher, physician, community advocate, and in health policy and law. Paired with her lived experience as a Filipino-Chinese immigrant, Dr. Reataza strives to amplify the experiences of AA and NHPI communities in advocacy for robust culturally responsive resources, diminished barriers to care, and substance use disorder prevention across AA and NHPI communities       NAPAFASA is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to mental health advocacy through research, efforts at public health and policy reform, and community empowerment.         Learning Session Materials Learning Session Recording Learning Session Slide deck   Questions? Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this learning session.

  Webinar Description As anyone who has ever hosted an event for parents and caregivers with low attendance can attest, engaging caregivers in prevention efforts is no easy task. Yet, as prevention practitioners, we know that getting caregivers to the table has a direct impact on the success of our efforts. This two-part virtual learning series will explore the parent/caregiver role in preventing youth substance misuse. Session One (webinar) will delve into the power of parents’ own beliefs in determining whether substance misuse is seen as preventable or inevitable. It will also highlight the many risk and protective factors that parents have the ability to influence in their own homes and in the broader community, and will highlight both evidence-based and promising practices for engaging parents/caregivers in prevention efforts. Session two (peer-sharing call) will lift up voices and examples from our region to share lessons learned from both successful and challenging experiences from bringing parents/caregivers to the prevention table. The Presenters Ivy Jones-Turner – Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over 20 years, Ivy has provided organizational capacity assistance on health promotion and prevention in substance abuse, suicide, violence, injury, and mental health with nonprofit and community-based organizations, state and faith-based agencies, and school districts. Her capacity building skills include program evaluation, training and technical assistance in program design and implementation, organizational development, partnerships/collaborations, and sustainability. Ms. Jones-Turner is a Certified Prevention Specialist and holds an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Jessica Goldberg - Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over a decade, Jess has specialized in building capacity to improve behavioral health at the national, state, regional and local levels. Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross-sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess holds an MSW and MPH from Boston University, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Powerpoint Transcript  

Stigma and Substance Use Prevention Part 2: What Prevention Professionals and Others Can Do Josh Esrick, MPP, and Demetrie Garner May 10, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will review strategies for addressing and preventing stigma against people at risk for substance misuse, substance use disorders, and consequences of substance use. It will discuss strategies at multiple levels: 1) peers and individuals; 2) within prevention organizations; 3) among collaborative partners and across the behavioral health continuum; 4) throughout the community at-large; and 5) in society as a whole. Each of these strategy levels will be examined from the perspectives of both academic research and lived experiences. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss strategies to overcome stigma working as a peer with substance use clients Review strategies to avoid stigma within prevention organizations Explain how prevention can work with collaborative partners and across the behavioral health continuum to address stigma Explore opportunities to address stigma in the community and across society PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Demetrie Garner, is a Peer Recovery Specialist at the Emergency Department. This has given him the vantage point to encounter minority disparities. A lack of health communication targeted to African-Americans, and other minorities help further this disparity. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, the visible cracks of systemic inadequacies in health care and its access garners attention and policy changes in patients with substance use disorders. The experience in active addiction abusing opiates, cocaine, and alcohol for 26 years with countless relapses fostered the expertise needed to help others in active addiction. Finding recovery over the last 2 and 1/2 years while working in the recovery field has given Demetrie a unique perspective on recidivism and retention throughout the process of recovery. With the help of the God of his understanding (Jesus Christ), Narcotics Anonymous, and healthy relationships, the pathway of a daily reprieve from active addiction is now possible. Continuous work through pastoral licensed counseling has unlocked the acceptance of childhood molestation and recovery from trauma. Demetrie is currently a Pre-McNair Scholar with ambitions to attend the UMBC School of Public Policy M.P.P Program in spring of 2022 after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Public Health.  

Stigma and Substance Use Prevention Part 1: The Impacts of Stigma Josh Esrick, MPP, and Demetrie Garner May 4, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of stigma and the importance of addressing it through what the research tells us and what is known through lived experience. The webinar will define stigma and explain how it can manifest in various substance use prevention settings and on the road to recovery. It will address the similarities and differences between public-, self-, and institutional-stigma and the role of both intentional and inadvertent stigma. The webinar will also discuss how stigma impacts substance use prevention outcomes and our ability to recovery. Additionally, it will explain why prevention professionals, other stakeholders, and the community-at-large need to address stigma. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define stigma conceptually and from a recovered person’s perspective Review the various forms of stigma and their effects on our ability to recover Discuss the impact of stigma on prevention outcomes Explain stigma’s ongoing impact on the road to recovery PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Demetrie Garner, is a Peer Recovery Specialist at the Emergency Department. This has given him the vantage point to encounter minority disparities. A lack of health communication targeted to African-Americans, and other minorities help further this disparity. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, the visible cracks of systemic inadequacies in health care and its access garners attention and policy changes in patients with substance use disorders. The experience in active addiction abusing opiates, cocaine, and alcohol for 26 years with countless relapses fostered the expertise needed to help others in active addiction. Finding recovery over the last 2 and 1/2 years while working in the recovery field has given Demetrie a unique perspective on recidivism and retention throughout the process of recovery. With the help of the God of his understanding (Jesus Christ), Narcotics Anonymous, and healthy relationships, the pathway of a daily reprieve from active addiction is now possible. Continuous work through pastoral licensed counseling has unlocked the acceptance of childhood molestation and recovery from trauma. Demetrie is currently a Pre-McNair Scholar with ambitions to attend the UMBC School of Public Policy M.P.P Program in spring of 2022 after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Public Health.  

In This Issue:   National Prevention Week   Epi Corner: What We Have Learned About the Prevention and Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)   "What we give them", A poem about prevention   What's Happening Around the Region? Register for Part 3 Ditching the Discomfort with Data, Working With Data   PTTC Spotlights Latino Behavioral Health Equity Conference Resources: Online Registry for Substance Misuse Prevention Evidence-based Programs and Practices   Funding Opportunities

    Presented by: Nicole Augustine, Founder and CEO of RIZE Consultants, LLC Description: The prevention field is an often unrecognized and undervalued part of our approach to health and wellness. We are a reactionary society that focuses most of our efforts on responding to illness through the strategy of treatment. As a result of this focus, the field of prevention has lagged behind our colleagues in treatment, while also consistently receiving the smallest distribution of financial support. Learning Objectives: After participating in this training, participants will be able to: Articulate the value of the Prevention Specialist credential Name the six Prevention Specialist performance domains Understand the typical process for acquiring the credential   About the Presenter Nicole M. Augustine, Founder & CEO of RIZE Consultants, LLC Nicole M Augustine is the Founder & CEO RIZE Consultants, LLC, a strategic consulting firm founded in January 2015. Nicole is an entrepreneur, public health professional and social justice advocate. Her journey in public health began at Cornell University when after graduating she worked for three years as a BASICS counselor for Cornell's campus harm reduction initiative.  From there, Nicole transitioned into the George Washington University School of Public Health before experiencing a rapid career progression from providing prevention education to providing training and technical assistance to communities, professionals and state agencies.Nicole has served as the Project Coordinator for the Southeast PTTC, the Project Director of the NC Behavioral Health Equity Initiative, and the Prevention Director for the Addiction Professionals of NC. Nicole currently serves as an Advanced Implementation Specialist with the Opioid Response Network.This network is building trust across justice, corrections and medical systems to address the opioid and stimulants crisis.

  Supplemental Resources: Tackling America’s Opioid Epidemic from the Ground Up (Urban Trends Newsletter Vol. 25 No. 1) Effectively Engaging Men and Fathers to Support the Health and Wellness of Their Families (Urban Trends Newsletter Vol. 25 No. 2) Community Engagement 101 (Urban Trends Newsletter Vol. 26 No.1)   Presented by: Ivan Juzang, MBA, Founder and President of MEE Productions Inc. Description: This Community Engagement Training will provide a deeper understanding of the importance of community mobilization and how community engagement strategies create wins for both the community and your organization. That “win-win” is what leads to stronger, more vibrant and resilient communities. Learning Objectives: Many agencies and organizations are struggling to engage members of affected communities. Participants in this Community Engagement Training will: Understand how to adapt the Strategic Prevention Framework to engage communities (particularly with oral-based cultures) who have been mistreated by the systems and institutions that are supposed to serve and assist them. Learn why having authentic, on-the-ground community engagement in a public health or mental health professional’s “toolbox” counters a lack of trust in mainstream institutions, even though this approach is often ignored because it is perceived as “too hard” to pull off. Learn why using a network of community partners as a message-delivery channel can be both more culturally-relevant and cost-effective than mainstream, traditional media. Learn how to effectively engage and mobilize members of the community for community-wide dialogue by involving numerous access touchpoints. Understand why a combination of digital outreach (high-tech) and on-the-ground, community-based encounters (high-touch) community-based strategies increases both impact and effectiveness of community-engagement efforts for hard-to-reach audiences. Receive an overview of the “how” through culturally-relevant community outreach and mobilization strategies and tactics.   About the Presenter Ivan Juzang, MBA, Founder and President of MEE Productions Inc. Ivan Juzang, MBA, Founder and President of MEE Productions Inc., is a leading expert in health communications and social marketing. He has over 25 years of first-hand experience working on health disparities and public health issues affecting low income, underserved and devalued communities across America. Mr. Juzang’s work focuses on how service providers, community-based organizations and the public health community can present trauma-informed and culturally-relevant health information in such a way that lifestyle changes are sustainable in the context of an economically-challenged and stressed-out life. MEE specializes in community-centered approaches that acknowledge the social determinants of health, honor personal assets and resiliency, infuse protective factors and embrace trauma-informed strategies. MEE has been engaged in substance abuse prevention work since 1991 in low-income urban communities across the country. Its specific opioid misuse work has been conducted in urban, suburban and rural communities over the last five years, in places that include Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Orleans, with Prevention Coalitions across Ohio and statewide agencies in Louisiana. Mr. Juzang was a member of the Advisory Committee on Public Issues for The Ad Council and a current board member of Power to Decide (formerly the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy). From 2003-2009, Mr. Juzang was a member of The Office of National Drug Control and Policy's Behavior Change Expert Panel. Mr. Juzang received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University, and his MBA from The Wharton School of Business.

Webinar Description Durante esta segunda de dos sesiones, los participantes compartieron sus experiencias en la aplicación de las estrategias descritas en el breve video podcast, Colaboración de Esfuerzos de Prevención, seminario web (Mejorando la Colaboración en la Continuidad de Servicios: Para Profesionales de Abuso de Sustancias en Puerto Rico), y las hojas de trabajo acompañadas, parasus iniciativas de prevención y discutieron las preguntas y/o desafíos enfrentados. Este intercambio de ideas proporcionó un espacio para que los profesionales de la prevención compartieran estrategias sobre cómo aplicar la rica biblioteca de recursos proporcionada por el PTTC a su trabajo. Webinar Description In English: During this second of two sessions, participants shared their experiences in applying the strategies outlined in the short video podcast, Collaboration of Prevention Efforts, webinar (Enhancing Collaboration in the Continuum of Care: For Substance Abuse Professionals in Puerto Rico), and accompanying worksheets, to their prevention initiatives and discussed the questions and/or challenges faced. This exchange of ideas provided a space for prevention practitioners to share strategies on how to apply the rich library of resources provided by the PTTC to their work. The Presenters Lourdes Vázquez-Matienzo es una profesional con más de 30 años de experiencia en el campo de la prevención y la salud conductual. Lourdes fue directora de proyectos del Centro para la Aplicación de Tecnología de Prevención (CAPT) de SAMHSA, y los servicios de adiestramiento y asistencia técnica para los organismos estatales y jurisdiccionales de los Fondos del Bloque de Prevención y Tratamiento del Abuso de Sustancias (SAPST) financiados por SAMHSA en la región sureste de los Estados Unidos y el Caribe. Anteriormente, Lourdes también se desempeñó como gerente de proyecto para la subvención de Incentivo Estatal de SAMHSA en Puerto Rico, fue directora ejecutiva de Centros de Prevención al Uso de Drogas y Alcohol en Puerto Rico y fungió coordinadora estatal del Centro Regional del Sureste para Escuelas y Comunidades Libres de Drogas, donde facilitó y apoyó el establecimiento de coaliciones de prevención en áreas rurales y urbanas, logrando expandir los servicios, y la satisfacción y ejecución de las comunidades y distritos escolares participantes. Su compromiso mayor es con la atención de las disparidades en salud y la búsqueda de la equidad en salud con poblaciones marginadas. Clara McCurdy-Kirlis tiene más de diez años de experiencia en gerencia de proyectos en los campos de la salud y la educación a nivel estatal, tribal, comunitario e internacional. En su rol como coordinadora de servicios de asistencia técnica con el PTTC, Clara juega un rol principal en el diseño instruccional para participantes adultos, en el diseño y ofrecimiento de aprendizaje virtual, a través del diseño de materiales de entrenamientos virtuales y presenciales, y creando documentos educativos. Clara es apasionada sobre el rol de la educación en la transformación de la sociedad y en lograr un cambio positivo a través de la colaboración y el compromiso.    

Webinar Description This two-part virtual learning event will explored change as a foundational concept in substance misuse prevention. It looked at common definitions of change, motivations for and barriers to change, and examined change across the various socio-ecological domains in which it takes place–at the individual level, within relationships, at the community and organizational level and within our society at large. We also identified tools and strategies to implement change efforts currently used by many prevention practitioners to guide our efforts and additional approaches to consider that can help us better manage change in our work for years to come. Session 1 highlighted models of individual and family-based change behavior and aligned prevention interventions and approaches. Session 2 highlighted models of community and organizational change and aligned environmental strategies and approaches. The Presenters Ivy Jones-Turner – Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over 20 years, Ivy has provided organizational capacity assistance on health promotion and prevention in substance abuse, suicide, violence, injury, and mental health with nonprofit and community-based organizations, state and faith-based agencies, and school districts. Her capacity building skills include program evaluation, training and technical assistance in program design and implementation, organizational development, partnerships/collaborations, and sustainability. Ms. Jones-Turner is a Certified Prevention Specialist and holds an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Jessica Goldberg - Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over a decade, Jess has specialized in building capacity to improve behavioral health at the national, state, regional and local levels. Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross-sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess holds an MSW and MPH from Boston University, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Supplemental Materials  Powerpoint Transcript

Webinar Description This two-part virtual learning event will explored change as a foundational concept in substance misuse prevention. It looked at common definitions of change, motivations for and barriers to change, and examined change across the various socio-ecological domains in which it takes place–at the individual level, within relationships, at the community and organizational level and within our society at large. We also identified tools and strategies to implement change efforts currently used by many prevention practitioners to guide our efforts and additional approaches to consider that can help us better manage change in our work for years to come. Session 1 highlighted models of individual and family-based change behavior and aligned prevention interventions and approaches. Session 2 highlighted models of community and organizational change and aligned environmental strategies and approaches. The Presenters Ivy Jones-Turner – Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over 20 years, Ivy has provided organizational capacity assistance on health promotion and prevention in substance abuse, suicide, violence, injury, and mental health with nonprofit and community-based organizations, state and faith-based agencies, and school districts. Her capacity building skills include program evaluation, training and technical assistance in program design and implementation, organizational development, partnerships/collaborations, and sustainability. Ms. Jones-Turner is a Certified Prevention Specialist and holds an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Jessica Goldberg - Is a training and technical assistance specialist with Education Development Center. For over a decade, Jess has specialized in building capacity to improve behavioral health at the national, state, regional and local levels. Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross-sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess holds an MSW and MPH from Boston University, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Supplemental Materials  Powerpoint Transcript  

The Great Lakes PTTC is committed to helping the substance misuse prevention workforce to understand its role in harm reduction efforts. The following are resources and tools to assist preventionists in understanding harm reduction and how prevention can best enhance harm reductions efforts in their local communities.   What Is Harm Reduction? Recording - Understanding Prevention’s Role in Harm Reduction Video: What is Harm Reduction? (National Institute on Drug Abuse) https://www.drugabuse.gov/videos/what-harm-reduction Harm reduction is defined as interventions aimed to help people avoid negative effects of drug use, but many understand harm reduction as a way to meet people where they are with kindness and respect. In this video, we hear from people who use drugs, people who are in recovery, and harm reduction professionals on what harm reduction is (and isn’t) in their own words. Video: Harm Reduction 101 (Harm Reduction Action Center) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXJJj_jgFmE&t=154s What is harm reduction? Harm reduction is a public health philosophy and intervention that seeks to reduce the harms associated with drug use and ineffective drug policies. Webinar series: Intersection of Prevention, Recovery, and Harm Reduction https://vimeo.com/644886203 - Part 1 https://vimeo.com/646648440 - Part 2 The Peer Recovery Center of Excellence collaborated with the Prevention Technology Transfer Center to host two webinars around the intersection of prevention, recovery, and harm reduction.   What Is the Link Between Prevention and Harm Reduction? Understanding the Role of Prevention in Harm Reduction Efforts  [click "Download" to access file] This brief created by the Great Lakes PTTC provides an overview of harm reduction and the specific actions preventionists can take to augment harm reduction efforts in their local communities.   Taking Action Action Steps for Prevention Practitioners to Enhance Harm Reduction Efforts  [click "Download" to access file] This succinct “job aid” created by the Great Lakes PTTC provides a checklist of actions that prevention practitioners can take to enhance harm reduction efforts. Substance Misuse Prevention’s Role in Harm Reduction – PowerPoint Slide Deck  [click "Download" to access file]   This PowerPoint slide deck created by the Great Lakes PTTC can be used by prevention practitioners to educate their stakeholders, coalition members, and others on prevention’s role in enhancing harm reduction efforts. Facilitation tips are included in the notes section of each slide. Intersection of Prevention, Recover, and Harm Reduction Learning Lab Tool Kit https://peerrecoverynow.org/documents/Learning-Lab-Toolkit-Final.pdf Prevention practitioners can use this toolkit and PowerPoint slides to facilitate learning communities to help break down silos and nurture relationships between the fields of harm reduction, prevention, and recovery. The Peer Recovery Center of Excellence in collaboration with the Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network, developed this companion product for the webinar series the Intersection of Harm Reduction, Prevention, and Recovery. Using the Socio-Ecological Model To Develop Complementary Substance Misuse Prevention and Harm Reduction Efforts [click "Download" to access file]   This planning tool assists substance misuse prevention practitioners and harm reductionists in creating a complementary approach to prevention and harm reduction to reach people with different levels and types of risk in multiple social contexts.   Resources on Harm Reduction in the Great Lakes Region Illinois Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition, https://www.illinoisharmreduction.org/ IDHS/SUPR Drug Overdose Prevention Program, https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=58142 A Dose of Truth, https://www.prevention.org/a-dose-of-truth Rethink Recovery, https://rethinkrecoveryil.com The Prescription Playbook, https://ilhpp.org/prescription-playbook Indiana Recovery Alliance, https://indianarecoveryalliance.org Never Alone Project, https://www.facebook.com/neveraloneindiana/ Overdose Lifeline, https://www.overdoselifeline.org/ Indiana Department of Health, https://www.in.gov/health/hiv-std-viral-hepatitis/harm-reduction-and-syringe-service-programs/ Ohio Harm Reduction Ohio, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/ Ohio Overdose Prevention Network, https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/violence-injury-prevention-program/resources/ohio-overdose-prevention-network Ohio Organizing Collaborative, https://www.ohorganizing.org/harm-reduction Michigan Harm Reduction Michigan, https://harmreductionmi.org/ Michigan Opioid Partnership, https://cfsem.org/initiative/opioid/our-work/harm-reduction/ Michigan Syringe Service Programs, https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71550_2941_4871_93142---,00.html Minnesota Minnesota Opioids Harm Reduction, https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/prevention/harmreduction.html Wisconsin Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin, https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/index.htm Dose of Reality: Safer Use, https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/safer-use.htm Multi-state Naloxone Finder https://harmreduction.org/resource-center/harm-reduction-near-you/ This website provides an access point to resources that support safer drug use.  

Webinar Description Esta primera sesión de dos series en el 27 de enero presentó nuevos recursos claves que pueden ayudar a fortalecer el impacto de sus esfuerzos al colaborar con los proveedores de servicios de tratamiento y la comunidad de recuperación en su comunidad. En esta primera sesión, dos nuevos recursos sobre cómo utilizar las estrategias compartidas en un breve podcast de video (La Colaboración de Esfuerzos en Prevención), un seminario web (Mejorando la colaboración en la continuidad de servicios: para profesionales del uso indebido de sustancias en Puerto Rico), y las hojas de trabajo que lo acompañan que el personal de prevención puede usar fueron el punto central de esta sesión de intercambio de ideas. Juntos, todos estos recursos están disponibles para ayudar a los profesionales de la prevención a crear un plan para trabajar de manera efectiva con sus socios en el campo del tratamiento y la recuperación, para reflexionar sobre cómo fortalecer las relaciones de colaboración existentes y cómo construir esfuerzos de colaboración exitosos. This first session of two series on January 27th introduced new key resources that can help strengthen the impact of your efforts by collaborating with treatment service providers and the recovery community in your community. In this first session, two new resources on how to best utilize the strategies shared in a short video podcast (Collaboration of Prevention Efforts) a webinar (Enhancing Collaboration in Continuity of Services: For Substance Abuse Professionals in Puerto Rico), and the accompanying worksheets that prevention staff can use was the focal point of this brainstorming session. Together, all of these resources are intended to support prevention professionals to create a plan to work effectively with their partners in the field of treatment and recovery, to ponder how to strengthen existing collaborative relationships, and how to build successful collaborative efforts. The Presenters Lourdes Vázquez-Matienzo es una profesional con más de 30 años de experiencia en el campo de la prevención y la salud conductual. Lourdes fue directora de proyectos del Centro para la Aplicación de Tecnología de Prevención (CAPT) de SAMHSA, y los servicios de adiestramiento y asistencia técnica para los organismos estatales y jurisdiccionales de los Fondos del Bloque de Prevención y Tratamiento del Abuso de Sustancias (SAPST) financiados por SAMHSA en la región sureste de los Estados Unidos y el Caribe. Anteriormente, Lourdes también se desempeñó como gerente de proyecto para la subvención de Incentivo Estatal de SAMHSA en Puerto Rico, fue directora ejecutiva de Centros de Prevención al Uso de Drogas y Alcohol en Puerto Rico y fungió coordinadora estatal del Centro Regional del Sureste para Escuelas y Comunidades Libres de Drogas, donde facilitó y apoyó el establecimiento de coaliciones de prevención en áreas rurales y urbanas, logrando expandir los servicios, y la satisfacción y ejecución de las comunidades y distritos escolares participantes. Su compromiso mayor es con la atención de las disparidades en salud y la búsqueda de la equidad en salud con poblaciones marginadas. Clara McCurdy-Kirlis tiene más de diez años de experiencia en gerencia de proyectos en los campos de la salud y la educación a nivel estatal, tribal, comunitario e internacional. En su rol como coordinadora de servicios de asistencia técnica con el PTTC, Clara juega un rol principal en el diseño instruccional para participantes adultos, en el diseño y ofrecimiento de aprendizaje virtual, a través del diseño de materiales de entrenamientos virtuales y presenciales, y creando documentos educativos. Clara es apasionada sobre el rol de la educación en la transformación de la sociedad y en lograr un cambio positivo a través de la colaboración y el compromiso. Supplemental Materials Hojuela: Ideas para el Uso y Aplicación del Webinar Mejorando la colaboración de servicios: para profesionales del uso indebido de sustancias en Puerto Rico Hojuela: Ideas para el Uso y Aplicación del Video Podcast, La Colaboración en Prevención Powerpoint  

    Determinants of Health 360: Social, Commercial, and Legal Considerations for Preventing Substance Misuse   Webinar Date: January 20, 2022   Webinar Slides Webinar Slides for Determinants of Health 360: Social, Commercial, and Legal Considerations for Preventing Substance Misuse   Overview Risky behaviors such as substance misuse don’t occur in a vacuum--the environments in which we live, work, and play influence our choices and behaviors. Exploring Social, Commercial, and Legal Determinants of Health (DOH) can help us consider new ways to impact these environments to prevent substance misuse. This expert panel presentation will discuss ways communities, commerce, and legal systems contribute to substance misuse and how prevention practitioners can support positive DOH to create health and wellness throughout their communities. Bring your questions and experiences, as the panel presentation will conclude with a question and answer/discussion session.   Objectives By the end of this training, participants will be able to: • Describe the concepts of Social, Commercial, and Legal DOH • Name at least one way each can contribute to substance misuse • Name two strategies prevention practitioners can use to support positive DOH   Audience Community, tribal, jurisdiction, and state-level prevention practitioners and allied health partners and community members located in the Pacific Southwest states and jurisdictions of American Samoa, Arizona, California, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.   Presenter Paul Devereux, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor in Social/Behavioral Health at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health. His scholarship explores social and behavioral determinants on health and well-being. Specific research topics include behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, community-based approaches to cancer screening interventions among diverse populations, how to maintain social support in people with disabilities and parenting adolescents, and emotional health and regulation in older adults. In the approach to his work, Dr. Devereux examines the social and ecological factors that affect population health and how one’s position within the social structure is linked to health outcomes. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, and other state and federal public and private sources. He is the former President of the Nevada Public Health Association and was named Nevada’s Public Health Leader of the Year in 2005.     Eric Crosbie, PhD, MA, is a political scientist who examines commercial determinants of health and public health policy. His research focuses on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and examines how commercial industries like tobacco and food and beverage industries are a key driver of the NCD epidemic and how they influence NCD regulations. Dr. Crosbie's research is local in analyzing smoke-free environments and sugar-sweetened beverage taxation regulations in the U.S. as well as global in examining tobacco and nutrition packaging and labeling policies and the impact of trade on health in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. Crosbie has both local and international experience collaborating with health organizations and health advocates to educate and disseminate academic research findings to policymakers, including publishing research in Spanish to reach wider audiences. Overall his research is multi-disciplinary combining elements of public health, political science, international relations, economics, law, and business to examine public health policy both locally and globally.   Matthew Moore, JD, MPH, MA, is a Teaching Assistant Professor for the University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health. A Public Health Attorney, Matthew worked for several years in government and in the nonprofit sector. At the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, he worked with diverse communities to ensure equitable access to health care and to exercise oversight over various covered entities pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal civil rights laws. More recently, Matthew worked as a nonprofit attorney, focusing on tobacco control and obesity prevention policy and providing direct legal technical assistance to state and local government agencies, environmental groups, legal aid organizations, and other community stake holders. Matthew’s current research agenda focuses on the ethical and moral dimensions of policy and the law on poverty and economic inequity, as well as on pedagogy in higher education. Recent projects involve the impact of policy on stigmatization of individuals suffering from substance abuse disorder, and a legal analysis of discrimination against homeless individuals in access to emergency shelter during natural disasters.   Webinar Recording View Webinar Recording: Determinants of Health 360: Social, Commercial, and Legal Considerations for Preventing Substance Misuse  

In this Issue:   Red Cup Campaign Separates Alcohol Facts from Fiction for University Students   Epi Corner: Reducing Hazardous Drinking on College Campuses   What's Happening Around the Region? Meet the newest member of our team Register: Ditching the Discomfort with Data Series: Part Two, Reading Data Register: Prevention Coalition Affinity Group Series   HealtheKnowledge Online Course Spotlight Cannabis Pharmacology for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners