Products and Resources Catalog

Learning Session Recording and  Follow-Up Materials  December 12, 2023   Learning Session Description Health and health equity are determined by the conditions in which the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population have been exposed to and continue to thrive in. This Learning Session will explore the common determinants of health that contribute to substance use among AI/AN populations. Further exploration of how common traditional AI/AN healing practices and approaches are integrated with substance use prevention programming will be discussed.     Learning Session Objectives By the end of this learning session, participants will be able to: Explain how Social Determinants of Health have contributed to substance use in AI/AN populations. Discuss the “Culture is Prevention” approach in the work of substance use prevention work. Identify common AI/AN cultural approaches and practices used in AI/AN healthcare systems addressing Substance Use and Abuse. Employ strategies to meaningfully and respectfully collaborate with tribal entities.   Learning Session Recording and Slides Prioritizing Equity in Prevention Recording Prioritizing Equity in Prevention Slide Deck (PDF)   Presenter Evelina Maho, MAdm.,  is a member of the Navajo tribe and resides in Northern Arizona. Holds a Master’s Degree in Administration with an emphasis in Health Sciences, Undergraduate Degree in Clinical Dietetics and Chemistry from Northern Arizona University; carries executive leadership and directorship experience in the healthcare arena. Evelina currently works with the National Council for Urban Indian Health (NCUIH). At NCUIH, supports over 41 Urban Indian Health Organizations in the US. Evelina’s experience involves working with AI/AN Health Systems through quality and systems change approach. Her career started and also continues to support Public Health in AI/AN healthcare systems. Part-owner and founder of YM Associates, LLC a newly established consulting business involved with public health projects. In addition, enjoys teaching as an Adjunct Faculty member at Falmouth Institute in her spare time.   Questions Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this learning session.

Syndemic Solutions Josh Esrick, MPP, Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, and Olivia Stuart, LMSW January 18, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION The term “syndemics” describes the relationship between two or more epidemics which often cluster together (e.g., substance misuse and HIV) and have shared social and environmental drivers. When these epidemics interact, they mutually exacerbate the negative effects of each condition, thereby worsening health outcomes. The syndemics framework recognizes the importance of addressing these interactions and seeks to implement a whole-person, integrated model of prevention and care in collaboration with other health care providers. These services focus on equity by putting people first and providing the services that people express interest in receiving. It also seeks to address shared population-level risk and protective factors that influence the co-occurring epidemics that can lead to health inequities. While the concepts of co-occurring epidemics and social determinants driving health outcomes are not new to the field of prevention, syndemics is an emerging framework that many prevention practitioners may be unfamiliar with. This 90-minute webinar will provide participants with an overview of the syndemics framework and its growing use in the field of prevention. It will explain the relationship between the syndemics framework and a public health approach to prevention, the importance of leveraging policy as a public health tool to address syndemic risk factors, and how to build collaborative partnerships between prevention professionals and other health-focused entities to better address syndemics. It will also review the importance of the social determinants of health to syndemics and recommend strategies to support the prevention workforce in improving health outcomes. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define the concept of the syndemics framework and provide examples of different syndemics Explain how the syndemics framework is interrelated with a public health approach to prevention and the social determinants of health Describe how partnerships and collaboration can help prevention professionals adopt the syndemics framework Identify opportunities for prevention professionals to address syndemics PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is the Chief of Training and Technical Assistance at Carnevale Associates, LLC. Mr. Esrick has over ten years of experience researching, writing, evaluating, and presenting on substance use prevention and other behavioral health topics. He is an expert in providing training and technical assistance (T/TA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of T/TA products for numerous clients, including six of SAMHSA’s ten regional Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTCs), the PTTC Network Coordinating Office, the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC), and SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). These trainings and products have covered a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and identifying evidence-based prevention interventions for youth. In addition to T/TA, Mr. Esrick has directly provided many of these services to behavioral health agencies and other entities. He has published several academic journal articles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.   Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.     Olivia Stuart, MSW  supports the training & technical assistance (T/TA) team in the development and delivery of knowledge translation products across multiple projects. In this capacity, she assists with webinars, literature reviews, and infographics on a range of behavioral health topics. Prior to joining Carnevale Associates, Olivia interned with the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center where she supported projects to reduce inequities in the criminal justice system. Olivia also served as a Graduate Research Supervisor at George Mason University and worked for several years in LGBTQ+ advocacy and fundraising. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University.  

In this Issue:   The 10 "Do's and Don't's" of Successful Legislative Advocacy Happy New Year! Epi Corner: The Ins and Outs of Advocating for Policy Change What's Happening Around the Region? All New Training Events, Online Training, and a Data Video Series What's New at SAMHSA?

Join the Implementation Science work group for a webinar that addresses a common overarching question in prevention: "how can an evidence-based intervention  (EBI) be delivered with fidelity to its scientific components, while also responding effectively to changing real-word conditions?” Mindful of the public health adage, “one size doesn’t fit all,” how can intervention delivery staff respond effectively to these conflicting demands? This session will summarize major challenges and their resolution as illustrated by the “Fidelity-Adaptation Dilemma.” A general prevention science goal is to effectively disseminate, adopt, implement, improve, and sustain relevant EBIs to benefit residents from a local community. Strategies for addressing this dilemma across diverse real-world settings will be discussed. This webinar is designed to compliment the Implementation Science Work Group's four-module course on selecting evidence-based programs and interventions, available on HealthEKnowledge.  It is recommended that participants are familiar with the contents of that course prior to attending this webinar, but not required.   Slides: Download

The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 26th episode of our weekly podcast: Walking in Wellness. This series is dedicated to empowering prevention professionals like you with the mindset and skill set necessary to prioritize wellness...every day. This weekly podcast can be accessed via Soundcloud or Spotify. Be sure to follow or subscribe to have episodes delivered weekly!   

Grant Writing Series 2024 – From Basics to Application Part 2: Getting Your Grant Started Dan Webb, PhD January 16, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION In this session, participants will learn how to read a grant announcement and create a plan for responding to a request for proposals (RFP). LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn how to determine eligibility for grant funding Explore best practices for building a grant writing team Tips and tricks for making the grant writing process smooth 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.  

  The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), in partnership with ACF, developed a youth facing/youth developed digital platform resource.   Help young men develop good mental health practices. Share the latest resource from We Think Twice™, designed to encourage self-awareness and offer a set of tools for managing mental health. Please adapt the background information and social media posts to connect this mental health resource with those who need it.  

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The January 2024 issue features the third installment of the Counselor's Corner blog series: Integrating Spirituality and Counseling with African American Clients, information on the Opioid Response Network's 2022-2023 regional summits, and a call for applications for the upcoming HEART (Healing Ethno And Racial Trauma) Training for Behavioral Health Providers Serving Hispanic & Latinx Communities intensive training series. As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!   Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!

        Prevention in Pictures: Using Prevention Graphic Novels to Facilitate Conversations with Youth Sarah Johnson, MA, PS-C, and Scott Gagnon, MPP, PS-C January 10, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Join us to learn about a unique prevention tool: Graphic Medicine. Graphic Medicine are evidence-based ways of accessibly communicating health information. In the Air is a graphic medicine built to foster conversations with and among young people around vaping, choices about substance use, and social factors. This graphic novel-styled story of five teens going through high school incorporates the behavioral science of substance misuse prevention with the stories, interests, and ideas of members of the Tobacco Free Rhode Island Youth Ambassadors. The novel has questions to help guide the discussion, a strong research base, and roots in risk and protective factors. During this session, participants will become familiar with the resource, how to use it to facilitate conversations with young people, and how to use the accompanying facilitator guide. Participants will learn how to request copies and learn about an upcoming resource in the same style that addresses youth problem gambling. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions and explore how this and future products can work to support their prevention work. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn what a graphic medicine is and how you can use this format in prevention efforts with young people. Understand the process of creating a graphic medicine through a prevention lens with cultural responsiveness and youth voice as driving factors. Learn about an upcoming resource being designed with this format specifically to foster conversations around youth gambling prevention. Practice facilitating conversations with the tool. PRESENTERS Scott Gagnon, MPP, PS-C New England PTTC Director - Associate Executive Director, AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, Inc.     Sarah Johnson, MA, PS-C Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, Inc.        

This brief compares and contrasts the mission, services and audiences of the PTTC Network and SPTAC, and describes how to take advantage of their excellent free prevention resources.

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The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 25th episode of our weekly podcast: Walking in Wellness. This series is dedicated to empowering prevention professionals like you with the mindset and skill set necessary to prioritize wellness...every day. This weekly podcast can be accessed via Soundcloud or Spotify. Be sure to follow or subscribe to have episodes delivered weekly!   

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 Building Protective Factors Using the Social Development Strategy (Dec. 2023) webinar.   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 risk 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   PRESENTATION RESOURCES Printable presentation slides Printable version of the participant workbook  Flipbook version of the participant workbook                   PRESENTER Kris Gabrielsen, MPH, CPS  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.    

Grant Writing Series 2024 – From Basics to Application Part 1: Introduction to Grant Writing Dan Webb, PhD January 9, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION In this session, participants will learn introductory elements of grant writing. This session will introduce participants to grant terminology, where to find grant opportunities, and how to read grant announcements. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Review commonly used grant terminology Discuss how and where to find grant opportunities appropriate for your organization Explore next steps when finding an application that is of interest 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.  

  Harm Reduction Guide for Prevention Professionals in Rhode Island   This educational resource aims to advance the practice of harm reduction within the substance use continuum of care through a prevention lens. It was created by Public Consulting Group and the New England PTTC for the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH). Information in this guide intends to help prevention professionals in Rhode Island learn more about harm reduction, including shared goals and priorities between the harm reduction and prevention communities, ways to collaborate, best practices for communication and services, and includes practical resources both for prevention professionals and people with a substance use condition. Though it was created for the state of Rhode Island, this guide can be used widely by prevention professionals in any state to enhance their understanding of harm reduction, the types of resources available, and how prevention can both contribute to and benefit from the advancement of harm reduction within the substance use continuum of care.   Stack the Deck Rhode Island This product, made with input from people with lived and living experience in Rhode Island, aims to empower everyone with harm reduction tools, compassionate care resources, and guidance about how to use substances more safely. This deck of cards is sized to fit into harm reduction kits. It is intended to serve as a reference guide for people with a substance use condition about the harm reduction approach to care and practical community and medical resources to help them live the life they want. Information in the deck includes ways to voice needed changes in Rhode Island’s continuum of care, a grievance hotline, services and supplies available, why and how to test for contaminants such as fentanyl and xylazine, how to create a safe environment when using substances, housing options, instructions on how to use injectable and nasal naloxone, information on the state’s Good Samaritan Law, and what to do if an overdose is suspected.   Download the guide. Download stack the deck.   SAMHSA defines harm reduction as a practical and transformative approach that incorporates community-driven public health strategies — including prevention, risk reduction, and health promotion — to empower people who use drugs and their families with the choice to live healthy, self-directed, and purpose-filled lives.    Funding Acknowledgement This guide was prepared by Public Consulting Group (PCG) for the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (New England PTTC). The PTTC is supported by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award with 100 percent funded by SAMHSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Cooperative Agreement # 5H79SP081020-05M005

  Sustainability is one of the overarching principles of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). It sits in the middle of the Framework touching every step of the SPF. Yet we often fail to consider sustainability in our daily work. Sustainable, community-driven, outcome-focused substance misuse prevention isn’t built in the last 6 months of a grant cycle. Creating sustainable prevention happens every day, in every step of the SPF process. In this 90-minute webinar, we will explore how to build sustainability into each step of the SPF process through our daily prevention work.   PRESENTATION SLIDES AND HANDOUT:  Printable Presentation Slides  Printable Handout    LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define sustainability Describe how sustainability is woven into each step of the SPF process List the “everyday” tasks associated with building sustainable substance misuse prevention programs   PRESENTER: Erin Ficker, MPAff, CSPS Erin Ficker serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes PTTC. For more than 16 years, Erin has worked in substance abuse prevention supporting communities to use evidence-based strategies and data-driven processes in substance abuse prevention planning and implementation.  She works with community-level prevention practitioners and schools in the development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of prevention interventions.

Mountain Plains PTTC is pleased to offer a new infographic based on new research on risk and protective factors for the three most commonly used substances among adolescents.

  Webinar Description SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) is a preventive public health approach used to identify and intervene with persons whose pattern of use put them at risk for, or who are experiencing, substance-related health and other psychosocial problems, such as HIV and HCV, or exacerbated mental health issues. Prevention with Latinx communities includes a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive framework conducive to screening and early intervention. The content will inform on how taking a few minutes to conduct a person-centered brief intervention can help motivate reduction of substance use with Hispanic, Latino and Latinx communities. The approach further identifies those with high potential for a substance use disorder and opportunities for accessing culturally relevant resources.     Presenter Information Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-T, is a Research Project Manager at New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center. She is a senior staff trainer for the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Transfer Technology Center Network (NeC-ATTC), and a member of the ASAP-NYCB Trainer Registry. As a cultural agent, Ms. Padilla promotes an equity lens in trainings for engaging diverse communities in need, aligning with evidence and strength-based strategies within behavioral health, addiction, prevention, and recovery supports fields and professional capacities.     Additional Documents PowerPoint Flyer

The January 2024 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: COVID-19 Impact on Substance Use Disorder and Recovery | Mental Health: Heart Disease and Mental Health Disparities in Black America | Prevention: Celebrating 20 Years of Prevention Excellence | ORN: ORN Consultant's guidance on Recovery Houses  Additional sections include behavioral health observances, virtual training and webinar events, Region 3 news, and new resources. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated on the first Tuesday of each month. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter.  Sign up to receive the Dialogue in your mailbox. 

In this Issue:   Advocacy is Not a Spectator Sport Additional Resources: Preparing to Meet Your Legislator Epi Corner: Xylazine: An Emerging Threat What's Happening Around the Region Job Announcements What's New at SAMHSA Wrapping up 2023

The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 24th episode of our weekly podcast: Walking in Wellness. This series is dedicated to empowering prevention professionals like you with the mindset and skill set necessary to prioritize wellness...every day. This weekly podcast can be accessed via Soundcloud or Spotify. Be sure to follow or subscribe to have episodes delivered weekly!   

  Webinar Description This interactive four-hour workshop reviewed how mitigating factors such as stress, discrimination, microaggressions and societal attributions influence racial stigma and differential prevention services. The intersecting challenges of social drivers of health and development of racial trauma in communities of color will also be explored. The content will offer bias reducing strategies that help mitigate stigma and benefits of integrating culturally responsive care to help attain and retain highest levels of person-centered care for people of color and other marginalized communities.     Presenter Information Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-T, is a Research Project Manager at New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center. She is a senior staff trainer for the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Transfer Technology Center Network (NeC-ATTC), and a member of the ASAP-NYCB Trainer Registry. As a cultural agent, Ms. Padilla promotes an equity lens in trainings for engaging diverse communities in need, aligning with evidence and strength-based strategies within behavioral health, addiction, prevention, and recovery supports fields and professional capacities.     Additional Documents PowerPoint Flyer  

The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 23rd episode of our weekly podcast: Walking in Wellness. This series is dedicated to empowering prevention professionals like you with the mindset and skill set necessary to prioritize wellness...every day. This weekly podcast can be accessed via Soundcloud or Spotify. Be sure to follow or subscribe to have episodes delivered weekly!   

Dr. Fred Rottnek is a Professor and the Director of Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Program Director of the Saint Louis University Addiction Medicine Fellowship. His clinical practices currently include addiction medicine and correctional healthcare. He teaches in the School of Medicine, the Physician Assistant Program, and the School of Law. Board-Certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, he is the Medical Director for the Assisted Recovery Centers of American (ARCA) and Juvenile Detention in Family Court for the City of St. Louis. He serves on the boards of the Saint Louis Regional Health Commission and Alive and Well Communities.  Email: [email protected] The funder of this project, along with all other products of the Mid-America PTTC is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although funded by SAMHSA, the content of this recording does not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA. The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. Drugs can alter important brain areas that are necessary for life-sustaining functions and can drive the compulsive drug use that marks addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a great recourse available titled Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. For more information visit -  https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain It is reported that only 25% of parents speak with their children about the dangers of drugs. How can we educate parents on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and provide them with the tools needed to guide and engage children through this very rough and sensitive terrain? Addiction is Real can help answer this simple question – to learn more visit www.addictionisreal.org  We’d like to hear from you, please send your comment, topic or guest suggestion to [email protected]