Products and Resources Catalog

The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic Part 2: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip June 14, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will discuss evidence-based prevention interventions for opioids and review the lessons learned thus far from the epidemic. It will summarize use and overdose prevention best practices, including the role of harm reduction beyond naloxone distribution. The webinar will also discuss strategies for polysubstance use prevention and the need for further studies. Lastly, the webinar will overview the importance of collaboration and the ways key stakeholders can support opioid prevention efforts. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Review evidence-based and promising practices for preventing opioid use and overdoses Discuss opportunities for improving polysubstance use prevention Overview strategies for expanding opioid prevention collaborative activities Explore other lessons learned from the opioid epidemic 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. 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.  

The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic Part 1: The Current Landscape Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip June 7, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of opioid trends in the Central East region and nationwide, including what is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will review changes in use and consequences, and ongoing shifts in substance preferences. As part of this, the webinar will discuss the increasing frequency of polysubstance use and its impact on prevention. Lastly, the webinar will review the latest research on the social determinants of health and other risk and protective factors. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Summarize the latest opioid use and consequence data Explore the known impacts of COVID-19 on opioid trends Highlight the latest information on polysubstance use Review research on opioid risk and protective factors 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. 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.  

COURSE DESCRIPTION This short lunch-n-learn provides an overview of the new South Southwest PTTC toolkit Getting the Lay of the Land: The Prevention Epidemiologist. Select the View Resource button above to watch the recording. Below are the resources for this webinar. PowerPoint Epi Toolkit   Apply for the PTTC Region 6 Technical Assistance Opportunity: After attending this webinar or watching the recording, substance use and misuse prevention organizations located in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas are eligible to receive intensive virtual technical assistance (TA) on epidemiology and data collection topics. Please follow the link below to submit your request. A South Southwest PTTC staff member will respond to your request within ten business days. TA Request Form   PRESENTERS Nicole Schoenborn, MA, CPS, provides evaluation services for the South Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center funded by SAMHSA. Nicole is dedicated to building the capacity of the behavioral health workforce to reduce stigma associated with substance use and mental health issues and make data-informed decisions to improve prevention programs. Prior to joining the PTTC Network, Nicole provided training and technical assistance for SAMSHA's CAPT as a state/tribal liaison and was the Service to Science Lead for the Southwest Resource Team. For over 10 years, Nicole managed the evaluation and quality improvement services to community-based organizations, clinics, and prisons across Oklahoma working to prevent HIV and care for those living with the disease. Nicole has a master's in experimental psychology and is a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) through the International Credentialing and Reciprocity Consortium.    Dr. Beverly Triana-Tremain has nearly 35 years of public health teaching, research, and consulting experience. Her background and skillset blend theoretical and practical approaches in evaluation, research, and quality improvement processes. She is a fellow in the National Public Health Leadership Institute and in 2006 established Public Health Consulting, LLC, to assist agencies in improving the public health system. She serves as a technical consultant to various local, state, and national private and public organizations in evaluation, research, and quality improvement. She has been the evaluator or quality improvement consultant on grants received from RWJF, CDC, SAMSHA, HRSA for nonprofit, state, and local health departments. She is an epidemiologist with the Southwest Prevention Center at the University of Oklahoma. In this role, she serves Region 6 as Epidemiologist for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) Prevention Training and Technology Transfer Center (PTTC). There she assists states with increasing the use of data in decision making. Her passion is helping organizations slow down and understand the processes that promote authentic and quality strategies to improve the public’s health.        

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 1: Considerations for Cannabis Legalization in Your State May 31, 2022  Presented by: Ali Maffey, MSW, Colorado Retail Marijuana Education Program, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Ali Maffey, MSW, has led the Retail Marijuana Education Program in Colorado since its founding in 2014 in which she leads the public health response to youth prevention and adult education for adult use of cannabis. As the first state in the nation to open adult-use cannabis retail stores, Colorado was on the forefront of creating a public health response to this emerging market. The state had numerous successes along with many challenges in navigating this response, and this session will provide an opportunity to discuss what other states can learn from Colorado's response to formulate their own prevention and education programs. Participants will: Identify the type of cannabis legalization and current cannabis prevalence rates in Region 8 states (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY). Describe how to identify leading public health considerations, with legalization, based on data. Identify lessons learned from Colorado shifting from a medical marijuana state to legalized adult use. Describe Colorado's successes and challenges through those lessons learned.   Webinar Recording & Resources: Recording Presentation Slides Resources  

COURSE DESCRIPTION Ditching the Discomfort: Working with Data provides real-life experience on three key tasks that need to be achieved before you can start analyzing data: data collection, data preparation, and data cleaning. Just like when you are baking cookies, you have to get all the right ingredients collected, have your recipe handy, and make sure your baking area is clean before you can begin. Select the View Resource button above to view the recording for this webinar. The PowerPoint and handout are in the links below. PowerPoint Handout   Begin Your Data Journey and Ditch the Discomfort Are you curious about what you need to know as a prevention professional to participate in data-based decision-making? Have you been working with a prevention grant that requires you to conduct a needs assessment or an evaluation? If you are relatively new to prevention or new to using data, this series is for you! In this five-part series, Dr. Hayden Center will take you on a data journey, from providing an overview of the basic components of data literacy to then taking a deeper dive in parts two through four to learn more about data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and finally visualizing and communicating data to your partners. During this journey, there will be discussion and practical tips from Dr. Center; who has worked with local community prevention organizations to build capacity around working with data.   PRESENTER Dr. Hayden D. Center, Jr. was most recently on faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery in the Department of Psychology, where he taught for ten years. He has taught at several universities over the past thirty years.  He has also been a licensed professional counselor (LPC) specializing in addiction issues for over 30 years. Dr. Center has worked as a consultant in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention since 1987.  He has worked in the field of prevention for more than 30 years. He served as the director of a US Department of Education (USDOE) grant while at Auburn University.  He served the State of Alabama Department of Education as the coordinator of the state Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program. He was a consultant to the Alabama Governor’s Office of Drug Abuse Policy for ten years and has worked with numerous state and local agencies in the state of Alabama. He served as the evaluator for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Southeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (SECAPT) and the Border Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (BCAPT). He has provided over 300 trainings and workshops on the topics of “science-based prevention,” “evaluation,” “risk and protective factors”, and “sustainability.”  He has worked with numerous agencies and organizations at the national, state, and local levels as an evaluator, including three Drug-Free Community grants.  His experience includes working with several projects to develop data bases, collect and interpret data, and produce data dissemination products and materials. Most recently Dr. Center has conducted training on implementation science, the psychopharmacology of marijuana, opioid use disorder, the opioid epidemic, and prevention of opioid overdose death.  He is also working on the development of a sustainability toolkit that was released in the Fall of 2019.  He and three colleagues presented an overview of the toolkit at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Chicago in 2019.    

COURSE DESCRIPTION Data analysis is the process of working with data to gather useful information, which can then be used to make informed decisions. Part 4 of the Ditching the Discomfort with Data series explores several methods and techniques prevention professionals, and their partners need to perform to determine risks, consequences, and resources within a community. Select the View Resource button above to view the recording for this webinar. The PowerPoint and handout are in the links below. Powerpoint Handout   Begin Your Data Journey and Ditch the Discomfort   Are you curious about what you need to know as a prevention professional to participate in data-based decision-making? Have you been working with a prevention grant that requires you to conduct a needs assessment or an evaluation? If you are relatively new to prevention or new to using data, this series is for you! In this five-part series, Dr. Hayden Center will take you on a data journey, from providing an overview of the basic components of data literacy to then taking a deeper dive in parts two through four to learn more about data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and finally visualizing and communicating data to your partners. During this journey, there will be discussion and practical tips from Dr. Center; who has worked with local community prevention organizations to build capacity around working with data.   PRESENTER Dr. Hayden D. Center, Jr. was most recently on faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery in the Department of Psychology, where he taught for ten years. He has taught at several universities over the past thirty years.  He has also been a licensed professional counselor (LPC) specializing in addiction issues for over 30 years. Dr. Center has worked as a consultant in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention since 1987.  He has worked in the field of prevention for more than 30 years. He served as the director of a US Department of Education (USDOE) grant while at Auburn University.  He served the State of Alabama Department of Education as the coordinator of the state Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program. He was a consultant to the Alabama Governor’s Office of Drug Abuse Policy for ten years and has worked with numerous state and local agencies in the state of Alabama. He served as the evaluator for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Southeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (SECAPT) and the Border Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (BCAPT). He has provided over 300 trainings and workshops on the topics of “science-based prevention,” “evaluation,” “risk and protective factors”, and “sustainability.”  He has worked with numerous agencies and organizations at the national, state, and local levels as an evaluator, including three Drug-Free Community grants.  His experience includes working with several projects to develop data bases, collect and interpret data, and produce data dissemination products and materials. Most recently Dr. Center has conducted training on implementation science, the psychopharmacology of marijuana, opioid use disorder, the opioid epidemic, and prevention of opioid overdose death.  He is also working on the development of a sustainability toolkit that was released in the Fall of 2019.  He and three colleagues presented an overview of the toolkit at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Chicago in 2019.    

  TOOLKIT DESCRIPTION The role of a prevention epidemiologist (Epi) is challenging and demanding - and one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences an epidemiologist will have. While traditionally, an epidemiologist's training focuses on investigating and monitoring disease trends, an Epi's position requires much more. This toolkit provides guidance, information, and resources to help Epis successfully carry out their duties and responsibilities.   Watch the Epi Toolkit Lunch-n-Learn webinar recording and download resources: View Here   Apply for the PTTC Region 6 Technical Assistance Opportunity: After this webinar, substance use and misuse prevention organizations located in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas are eligible to receive intensive virtual technical assistance (TA) on epidemiology and data collection topics. Please follow the link below to submit your request. A South Southwest PTTC staff member will respond to your request within ten business days. TA Request Form    

COURSE DESCRIPTION In part two of this five-part series, Dr. Hayden Center takes you on the next step of your data journey to "ditch the discomfort." We discuss what it means to "read" data, identify tips to help you understand data, research, and evaluate outcomes, and give you prevention-related opportunities to practice reading data.  Select the View Resource button above to watch the recording. Below is the PowerPoint for this webinar. PowerPoint     Begin Your Data Journey and Ditch the Discomfort Are you curious about what you need to know as a prevention professional to participate in data-based decision-making? Have you been working with a prevention grant that requires you to conduct a needs assessment or an evaluation? If you are relatively new to prevention or new to using data, this series is for you! In this five-part series, Dr. Hayden Center will take you on a data journey, from providing an overview of the basic components of data literacy to then taking a deeper dive in parts two through four to learn more about data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and finally visualizing and communicating data to your partners. During this journey, there will be discussion and practical tips from Dr. Center; who has worked with local community prevention organizations to build capacity around working with data.     PRESENTER Dr. Hayden D. Center, Jr. was most recently on faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery in the Department of Psychology, where he taught for ten years. He has taught at several universities over the past thirty years.  He has also been a licensed professional counselor (LPC) specializing in addiction issues for over 30 years. Dr. Center has worked as a consultant in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention since 1987.  He has worked in the field of prevention for more than 30 years. He served as the director of a US Department of Education (USDOE) grant while at Auburn University.  He served the State of Alabama Department of Education as the coordinator of the state Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program. He was a consultant to the Alabama Governor’s Office of Drug Abuse Policy for ten years and has worked with numerous state and local agencies in the state of Alabama. He served as the evaluator for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Southeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (SECAPT) and the Border Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (BCAPT). He has provided over 300 trainings and workshops on the topics of “science-based prevention,” “evaluation,” “risk and protective factors”, and “sustainability.”  He has worked with numerous agencies and organizations at the national, state, and local levels as an evaluator, including three Drug-Free Community grants.  His experience includes working with several projects to develop databases, collect and interpret data, and produce data dissemination products and materials. Most recently Dr. Center has conducted training on implementation science, the psychopharmacology of marijuana, opioid use disorder, the opioid epidemic, and prevention of opioid overdose death.  He is also working on the development of a sustainability toolkit that was released in the Fall of 2019.  He and three colleagues presented an overview of the toolkit at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Chicago in 2019.    

Introduction to Grant Writing for Prevention Organizations Session 4: Preparing the Evaluation Section of Your Grant Dan Webb, PhD February 17, 2022, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Over the past two decades, program evaluation has become increasingly important. Accordingly, grant applications require a plan to evaluate both the processes and outcomes you intend to implement and achieve. In this session, participants will learn the basics of evaluation and how to apply these ideas to any grant application. This is the final session of a four-part series that will empower participants to find and appropriately respond to grant opportunities. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss the basics of program evaluation Review how to read and respond to an evaluation section Explore the elements of a comprehensive evaluation plan PRESENTERS Dan Webb, PhD is co-owner of Catalyst Research, LLC and Catalyst Insight, LLC. Dan has over eighteen years of experience writing and evaluating local, state, and national grants. In addition, he has over ten years of experience in business/organizational intelligence and analytics. His experience includes evaluation and research in education (elementary through post-secondary), youth substance use prevention, health and medicine, and housing and urban development. Dan holds a PhD in Sociology from the University at Buffalo.  

Introduction to Grant Writing for Prevention Organizations Session 3: Using Data in Grant Applications Dan Webb, PhD February 10, 2022, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION “In God we trust. All others must bring data.” – W. Edwards Deming A successful grant application hinges on your ability to provide data that support your stated needs and intentions. In this session, participants will learn how data should be used to support your grant application and where to find useful data for grant applications in the prevention field. This is the third session of a four-part series that will empower participants to find and appropriately respond to grant opportunities. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain how data are commonly used in grant applications Explore how to use state and federal data sources to support your grant applications Review best practices for presenting data in your grant application PRESENTERS Dan Webb, PhD is co-owner of Catalyst Research, LLC and Catalyst Insight, LLC. Dan has over eighteen years of experience writing and evaluating local, state, and national grants. In addition, he has over ten years of experience in business/organizational intelligence and analytics. His experience includes evaluation and research in education (elementary through post-secondary), youth substance use prevention, health and medicine, and housing and urban development. Dan holds a PhD in Sociology from the University at Buffalo.  

Are you wondering where to find information on evidence-based programs, practices, and policies for substance misuse prevention? Join this webinar to learn how to conduct successful searches for substance misuse prevention interventions that meet the needs of your community. Several online registries will be explored during the webinar, along with information on how to ensure the selection of a prevention intervention will meet your community’s needs. Objectives:  Upon completion of this virtual learning experience, participants will be able to: List the steps to selecting a prevention intervention that meets the needs of their community Access at least five online registries for substance misuse prevention interventions Use the Guide to Online Registries for Substance Misuse Prevention Evidence-based Programs and Practices as a tool in their strategic planning process

Professional ethical standards and the values they are based on also apply to prevention data-related activities, including needs assessment and evaluation. As prevention professionals working with data, we have a critical role to pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Through prevention needs assessment and evaluation activities, we seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Prevention professionals strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equity; and meaningful participation in data-based decision-making activities for all people, while protecting those we serve. Objectives Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to: Summarize and apply the basic rules regarding ethics and professional behavior in prevention activities related to data  collection, assessment and evaluation. Recognize specific situations among colleagues in the workplace or within the community where ethics should guide actions related to data collection, assessment, and evaluation. Apply the code of ethics and decision-making process to different data-related scenarios within the Strategic Planning Framework

COURSE DESCRIPTION Part One of the Ditching the Discomfort with Data series, introduces the topic of data literacy and its purpose in the field of prevention, provides an overview of the components of "ditching the discomfort" with data and identify practical tips for working with data.   Select the View Resource button above to watch the recording. Below is the PowerPoint for this webinar. PowerPoint   Begin Your Data Journey and Ditch the Discomfort Are you curious about what you need to know as a prevention professional to participate in data-based decision-making? Have you been working with a prevention grant that requires you to conduct a needs assessment or an evaluation? If you are relatively new to prevention or new to using data, this series is for you! In this five-part series, Dr. Hayden Center will take you on a data journey, from providing an overview of the basic components of data literacy to then taking a deeper dive in parts two through four to learn more about data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and finally visualizing and communicating data to your partners. During this journey, there will be discussion and practical tips from Dr. Center; who has worked with local community prevention organizations to build capacity around working with data.       PRESENTER Dr. Hayden D. Center, Jr. was most recently on faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery in the Department of Psychology, where he taught for ten years. He has taught at several universities over the past thirty years.  He has also been a licensed professional counselor (LPC) specializing in addiction issues for over 30 years. Dr. Center has worked as a consultant in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention since 1987.  He has worked in the field of prevention for more than 30 years. He served as the director of a US Department of Education (USDOE) grant while at Auburn University.  He served the State of Alabama Department of Education as the coordinator of the state Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program. He was a consultant to the Alabama Governor’s Office of Drug Abuse Policy for ten years and has worked with numerous state and local agencies in the state of Alabama. He served as the evaluator for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Southeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (SECAPT) and the Border Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (BCAPT). He has provided over 300 trainings and workshops on the topics of “science-based prevention,” “evaluation,” “risk and protective factors”, and “sustainability.”  He has worked with numerous agencies and organizations at the national, state, and local levels as an evaluator, including three Drug-Free Community grants.  His experience includes working with several projects to develop data bases, collect and interpret data, and produce data dissemination products and materials. Most recently Dr. Center has conducted training on implementation science, the psychopharmacology of marijuana, opioid use disorder, the opioid epidemic, and prevention of opioid overdose death.  He is also working on the development of a sustainability toolkit that was released in the Fall of 2019.  He and three colleagues presented an overview of the toolkit at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Chicago in 2019.        

Stimulant Webinar Series Part 2: Recommendations for Addressing Stimulant Use: What Prevention Can Do Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip November 17, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will discuss the status of evidence-based prevention services and programs for stimulant use. It will review the similarities and differences between stimulant use and the opioid epidemic and discuss how the “lessons learned” from the opioid epidemic can be applied to this current wave of stimulant use. The webinar will also explore the gaps in prevention research on stimulant use and provide recommendations for the future. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand similarities and differences between stimulant and opioid prevention Review evidence-based practices for preventing stimulant use Explore the gaps in current stimulant prevention research Provide recommendations for addressing research and capacity gaps 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. 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.  

Stimulant Webinar Series Part 1: Recommendations for Addressing Stimulant Use: What the Data Shows Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip November 10, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide an overview of the current scope of stimulant use in the United States and the states of the Central East Region. It will include a review of use and overdose rates, as well as supply-side data. The webinar will also discuss the differences between the current and prior waves of stimulant use. Finally, it will discuss what is known about the factors driving the current wave of use and data sources prevention professionals can use to obtain additional data. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss trends in stimulant use and consequences Understand similarities and differences between current and past stimulant use Summarize the risk and protective factors for stimulant use Review relevant stimulant data sources 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. 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.  

  Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center's Webinar The Lion's Side: The Utilization of Storytelling for Transformation in Health   October 27, 2021   Webinar Description Join Dr. David Fakunle as he guides participants through his journey of utilizing storytelling as a dynamic tool for public health, including advocacy. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to the art and science of narrative, while providing understanding of storytelling’s critical elements and how to apply them. The workshop’s goal is to strengthen participants’ prevention science activism by activating their organic communication abilities, while demonstrating that they are able to simultaneously demonstrate robust scientific advancement and genuine humanity.   Objectives By the end of the webinar participants will have:  •    Basic understanding of narrative and storytelling’s concepts and approaches •    An opportunity to practice storytelling focusing on public health advocacy •    Empowerment to integrate impactful human narratives within their existing advocacy strategies   Presenter David Olawuyi Fakunle, Ph.D. is a “mercenary for change,” employing any skill and occupying any space to help elevate everyone divested from their truest self, especially those who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. David serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine, and Associate Faculty in the Mental Health department of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. David’s interests include stressors within the built environment, societal manifestations of racism, and the use of arts and culture to strengthen health, equity, and ultimately liberation.      Webinar Recording and Slides View Webinar Recording Download Webinar Slide-deck   Questions Contact Clarissa Lam Yuen ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

  2021 RESEARCH & DESIGN (RAD)PRODUCTS: New research-based substance misuse prevention tools supporting Diversity & Intentional Inclusion in Prevention, in New England.   CANNABIS IN THE UNITED STATES A TOOLKIT FOR NON-CITIZENS IN MAINE The toolkit provides education for immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and green card holders about cannabis, which some states have legalized but remains federally illicit. The toolkit (including a fact sheet) is translated into eight languages identified as priorities by community partners in Maine. The toolkit aims to support non-citizens in making informed decisions about working in the cannabis industry or how using cannabis may impact legal standing as a non-citizen. Read more and download.                RESTORATIVE PREVENTION: HOW CENTERING EQUITY IN PRIMARY PREVENTION CAN BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND PREVENT SUBSTANCE MISUSE  A guide for local and regional substance misuse prevention efforts seeks to improve community health by building relationships and a sense of connectedness while paying close attention to those that are often excluded. Read more and download.         SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION WITH LGBTQIA+ YOUTH: A HEALTH EDUCATOR'S GUIDE A self-guided and reflective tool that is inclusive of evidence-based practices, risk, and protective factors, and coping skills specific to LGBTQ+ youth for educators to utilize when developing and evaluating their own curriculum and informational products, to ensure they are being intentional with their inclusion and support of LGBTQIA+ youth. Read more and download.                  QUEER-INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING: AN ALLY’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION A resource for prevention providers that showcases the importance of working with the LGBTQ+ community, how to launch queer-inclusive programming in a meaningful way, and collect inclusive data around sexual orientation and gender identity. The guidance document includes state-specific infographics for all of New England. Read more and download.         AMERICAN INDIAN: SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION WITH NEW ENGLAND NATIVE POPULATIONS A toolkit to provide Prevention Specialists who work with Native American communities the ability to better understand the culture, use data for future funding specific to Native communities, and carry out the implementation of evidence-based programs that are inclusive of their culture. It addresses and provides guidance on health disparities within the Native American Tribes. Read more and download.                    TRENDING DATA NOW: A GUIDE TO CONDUCTING YOUR OWN VIRTUAL RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY This guide is designed to help schools administer a shortened youth risk behavior survey more frequently. This shortened survey focuses on mental health, substance use, perceptions, and assets. Many of the questions are identical to those from the full survey, which allows schools and health officials to draw comparisons between already existing longitudinal data. This shortened survey is also available through SurveyMonkey, a user-friendly digital format that allows students to complete the survey using school-provided computers or tablets. Read more and download.       View the 2022 products.

                                                          Using Data to Tell Your Story: Advancing Prevention Efforts into the Future SESSION 2  (WEBINAR) Josh Esrick, MPP, Jessica Goldberg, MSW, MPH, and Cory Morton, PhD, MSW October 19, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION As our country continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, communities are experiencing emerging and worsening substance misuse problems relating to it. Many of these issues—for example, easing retail restrictions for alcohol and marijuana and the devastating rise in fatal opioid overdoses nationally—we are aware of it. But, many we are not, in part because the pandemic has hindered our ability to collect data to better understand what is happening in our communities. We as prevention practitioners need to have data to tell the story of how the pandemic has affected substance misuse in our communities, and to use that data to bring partners to the table to plan, implement and support strategies to meet these new challenges. This four-part virtual learning event series, featuring two webinars and two interactive “learning labs”, will explore finding, collecting, understanding and, ultimately, using data to tell your community’s story through the covid-19 pandemic. It will provide you with the tools necessary to locate existing substance misuse-related data, fill in data gaps with local data collection, and troubleshoot issues relating to data quality. It will also highlight the importance of using data to create a compelling narrative about your community’s experience, interpreting data appropriately and framing it as a story that will resonate with your key stakeholders and the public alike. During the learning lab sessions, participants will have the opportunity to apply the information shared during the webinar sessions through hands-on activities and case study examples. Note: Recordings of the two interactive "learning labs" will not be posted. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss the importance of using data to tell your community’s “story” with regard to substance misuse Describe strategies for working with imperfect data to tell your community story List steps in the process of analyzing and using data to guide current and future prevention efforts Discuss ways to share your community story with key stakeholders to build prevention capacity 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.   Jessica Goldberg, MSW, MPH  is a certified prevention specialist and highly skilled trainer, designs and delivers impactful learning events, consultation, and coaching support. For over a decade, she has specialized in building capacity to improve health, mental health, and behavioral health. She brings a deep commitment to health equity and mental health equity to her leadership of in-person and virtual training and technical assistance (TTA). Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross-sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; and supporting strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess holds an MPH and an MSW from Boston University.   Dr. Cory Morton, Assistant Research Professor has over ten years of experience conducting research in the field of prevention science. His research investigates the community context of substance use—whether structural features of neighborhoods, such as access to substance use and social services, lessen substance related harms and support individual and family well-being. Cory’s coordinates the Northeast and Caribbean Prevention PTTC’s special focus on geospatial applications, providing webinars and technical assistance on using mapping to determine community need or to evidence change. Cory holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from Rutgers University.

                                                          Using Data to Tell Your Story: Advancing Prevention Efforts into the Future SESSION 1  (WEBINAR) Josh Esrick, MPP, Jessica Goldberg, MSW, MPH, and Ivy Jones Turner, MA October 5, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION As our country continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, communities are experiencing emerging and worsening substance misuse problems relating to it. Many of these issues—for example, easing retail restrictions for alcohol and marijuana and the devastating rise in fatal opioid overdoses nationally—we are aware of it. But, many we are not, in part because the pandemic has hindered our ability to collect data to better understand what is happening in our communities. We as prevention practitioners need to have data to tell the story of how the pandemic has affected substance misuse in our communities, and to use that data to bring partners to the table to plan, implement and support strategies to meet these new challenges. This four-part virtual learning event series, featuring two webinars and two interactive “learning labs”, will explore finding, collecting, understanding and, ultimately, using data to tell your community’s story through the covid-19 pandemic. It will provide you with the tools necessary to locate existing substance misuse-related data, fill in data gaps with local data collection, and troubleshoot issues relating to data quality. It will also highlight the importance of using data to create a compelling narrative about your community’s experience, interpreting data appropriately and framing it as a story that will resonate with your key stakeholders and the public alike. During the learning lab sessions, participants will have the opportunity to apply the information shared during the webinar sessions through hands-on activities and case study examples. Note: Recordings of the two interactive "learning labs" will not be posted. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss substance use and misuse-related problems and related behaviors (e.g., changes in substances used, ways in which substances are used, consumption and consequence rates, relevant risk and protective factors) that have emerged in the past year List key considerations for collecting substance misuse-related data to develop your community story Identify strategies for filling data gaps caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic Explore common issues associated with the quality of collected data 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.   Jessica Goldberg, MSW, MPH  is a certified prevention specialist and highly skilled trainer, designs and delivers impactful learning events, consultation, and coaching support. For over a decade, she has specialized in building capacity to improve health, mental health, and behavioral health. She brings a deep commitment to health equity and mental health equity to her leadership of in-person and virtual training and technical assistance (TTA). Her areas of expertise include preventing youth substance use; promoting cross-sector collaborations; addressing health disparities; and supporting strategic planning, logic model development, and sustainability planning. Jess holds an MPH and an MSW from Boston University.   Ivy Jones Turner, MA , an expert in behavioral and mental health promotion and prevention, is an experienced program leader, technical assistance (TA) specialist, applied researcher, and evaluator. Her expertise includes building the capacity of schools and organizations to effectively research, implement, evaluate, and sustain interventions to prevent substance misuse, suicide, youth violence, and bullying, and to promote social-emotional and mental health. Ivy delivers culturally competent, comprehensive support that helps EDC’s federal, state, community, and school district clients address system-level issues, incorporate evidence-based practices, monitor progress, and support staff in achieving program goals. Ivy holds an MA in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and is certified in Massachusetts as a specialist in both prevention and conflict mediation.

Este es un video podcast sobre los diferentes niveles de colaboración y cómo comenzar a construir los puentes de colaboración en el contexto de Puerto Rico en los tiempos actuales. Este video podcast comienza revisando la importancia de la colaboración en la prevención, las prioridades y los socios, los niveles de colaboración y cómo prepararse para la colaboración independientemente de dónde se encuentre con una parte interesada en su comunidad. Los recursos están incorporados en este video podcast y también están en el sitio web de PTTC. Presentadoras 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.   Transcripción PowerPoint

Understanding and Integrating Knowledge Translation in the Prevention Field Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip September 8, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Knowledge translation plays a critical role in turning research into action. It serves as a foundational layer to ensuring that evidence-based research is integrated into policies and practices at a variety of institutional levels. This webinar will provide an understanding of what knowledge translation is and how it impacts the field of prevention. It will also overview some of the challenges that are commonly experienced in knowledge translation and provide strategies that can combat them. Additionally, the webinar will explore knowledge translation frameworks can support prevention professionals and others in the field in establishing actionable processes, policies, or programs. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define knowledge translation Discuss the importance of knowledge translation and describe its relevance to the field of prevention Overview challenges in knowledge translation and ways to overcome them Review existing frameworks for turning knowledge translation into actionable processes and provide examples of knowledge translation tools 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. 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.  

Conducting a strong needs assessment is the foundation for developing a successful prevention plan. The Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Data-Informed Decisions Working Group has designed this review sheet to support addressing data gaps through primary data collection. It provides several methods and select resources as a starting point for prevention team’s planning. These methods can involve varied means of data collection, including oral narratives, written text, photographs, video, and others.

Conducting a strong needs assessment is the foundation for developing a successful prevention plan. However, no needs assessment is ever complete. To identify gaps and strengthen on-going data collection for your needs assessment, the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Data-Informed Decisions Working Group has designed this checklist. The checklist is organized by the six (6) core data areas of the Strategic Planning Framework: consequences, consumption, target populations, intervening variables (i.e. risk and protective factors), prevention resources, and community readiness. Data should be as local as possible, but include data from neighboring counties, state, regional, or national data for comparison purposes. For help on addressing your identified data gaps, contact your PTTC for training and technical assistance.

  Part 3: Conducting Online Focus Groups: Best Practices and Innovations   Webinar Date: July 14, 2021 The final webinar of this three-part webinar series will focus on conducting focus groups online. We will review both synchronous and innovative asynchronous options for conducting focus groups virtually and key best practices to ensure high quality data.   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.   Presenters Dr. Carol Hagen, PhD is a senior study director at Westat with over 20 years of experience conducting behavioral health research and evaluation with an emphasis on substance abuse prevention. She has extensive experience in needs assessment and evaluation design, questionnaire development, data collection and analysis, and specializes in qualitative methods. Dr. Hagen is also well-versed in the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and has provided SPF-related training and technical assistance to SAMHSA grantees at national, state/jurisdiction/tribal, and local levels.           Dr. Sandeep Kasat, MBBS, MPH, is a senior epidemiologist at Westat with over 15 years of experience in behavioral health epidemiology, especially as it relates to substance abuse, and using epidemiological data in strategic planning, and decision-making. He leads data analysis and dissemination activities on several projects at Westat. As former director of epidemiology on the Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) training and technical assistance contract, he has assisted all CSAP-funded states, jurisdictions, and tribes in using and analyzing data to highlight disparities and at-risk populations, create data-guided plans, select evidence-based strategies, inform policy and decision-making, and monitor and evaluate results to assess progress.         Webinar Recording View Webinar Data Collection during COVID-19 Part 3 View Webinar Data Collection during COVID-19 Part 1 View Webinar Data Collection during COVID-19 Part 2   Webinar Slides Webinar Slides for Data Collection during COVID-19 Part 3