Products and Resources Catalog

In today’s episode, Alicia and Chris Dzurick discuss how a youth-led campaign is often more impactful when the intended audience is in fact youth. Chris shares the Missouri Youth Ambassador's latest campaign, "Don't Take the Vape Bait!" Read the comic here: actmissouri.org/vaping-information Follow ACT Missouri on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actmissouri 

  COURSE DESCRIPTION In webinar 2, participants explore ways to adapt qualitative data collection methods during the pandemic. Specifically, participants learn to identify effective methods for adapting qualitative data collection during a pandemic and describe ways to address confidentiality concerns during online qualitative data collection. Select the View Resource button above to watch the recording. Below is the link to the PowerPoint. PowerPoint   PRESENTER Kyle Barrington, Ph.D., has over 30 years' experience in the field of substance misuse prevention and treatment. His experiences include being a substance abuse counselor, director of a dual-diagnosis hospital unit for adults and youth, director of an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth, and evaluator for local and statewide organizations. Dr. Barrington has extensive experience evaluating the impact of alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs and practices. He has five published, peer-reviewed articles, has been quoted in several scholarly articles, and has conducted over 200 program evaluations.     

Presentation to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on behalf of the National Hispanic and Latino PTTC. Presented by Pierluigi Mancini, PhD., MAC

In this Issue: Preventing Trauma and Its Consequences Additional Resources What's Happening Around the Region? Upcoming Events Data Collection During the Pandemic, January 26 SAMHSA's Annual Prevention Day, February 1 Epi Corner: Adverse Childhood Experiences: Implications for Prevention

           Durante los últimos meses, los esfuerzos de prevención del uso indebido de sustancias, especialmente los programas de prevención escolares, han experimentado una multitud de cambios. En cada área del proceso integral de planificación de prevención: desde la evaluacion y cómo continuar con las actividades de prevención; seguir las modalidades y horarios cambiantes de enseñanza en los centros escolares; hacer adaptaciones de programas; o la transición a la programación virtual, ya no es algo habitual. Los profesionales que implementan programas de prevención en las escuelas principalmente con jóvenes de habla Hispana también deben abordar el tema del COVID-19 y como los factores culturales afectan los esfuerzos de prevención entre jóvenes. Esta serie de Seminario Web y Pláticas Entre colegas organizada en colaboración por el Centro Nacional Hispano Latino de Capacitación y Asistencia Técnica en Prevención y el Centro Regional de Capacitación y Asistencia Técnica en Prevención del Noreste y del Caribe brindarán una oportunidad para que los profesionales de la prevención examinen las lecciones aprendidas para continuar los esfuerzos de prevención escolares durante COVID y apliquen estrategias culturalmente efectivas para trabajar con jóvenes Hispanos/ Latinos que reconocen el impacto de COVID en las comunidades Latinas. Sesión 1. Título: Mejorando los esfuerzos de prevención en las escuelas para las poblaciones Hispanas y Latinas en el contexto cambiante de COVID. Seminario web: 27 de Enero de 2021 de 3:00 p.m. a 4:30 p.m. hora del Este En la primera sesión tendremos el seminario web, revisaremos las mejores prácticas para implementar programas y estrategias de prevención en las escuelas ya sea en forma virtual, en persona, o híbridos. Discutiremos el impacto desproporcionado del COVID en las comunidades Hispano/Latinas y cómo estas disparidades podrían afectar los esfuerzos de prevención y cómo pueden proporcionar a los profesionales de la prevención estrategias para integrar un enfoque de 'La cultura como prevención', utilizando aspectos de la cultura Hispano/Latina como factores de protección en los esfuerzos de prevención. Recursos Grabación de presentación Diapositivas de presentación Recursos Addicionales Translations       Presentadores Michelle Baroni Nací en Secaucus, Nueva Jersey. Mi padre es peruano y mi madre chilena. Mis hermanos y yo somos la primera generación. Un mes después de mi nacimiento, mi familia y yo nos mudamos a Norcross, Georgia, donde fuimos los únicos hispanos que se vieron en 1987. Me sentí muy diferente a todos los demás, pero eso era todo lo que sabía. Yo era única y estaba de acuerdo con eso. Con el paso de los años, el condado de Gwinnett comenzó a cambiar y comencé a conocer a más personas que se parecían a mí. Me puse más en sintonía con quien soy como individuo y ¡guau, necesitaba mejorar mi español! En 2005, me gradué de Berkmar High School en Lilburn, GA y comencé a estudiar Psicología en Gainesville State College. En 2006, comencé a trabajar como aprendiz de prevención para CETPA, Inc. Donde trabajé dando un plan de estudios basado en la evidencia a los jóvenes latinos. En 2012, recibí mi certificación de Especialista en Prevención del Prevention Credentialing Consortium of Georgia. Ese mismo año recibí mi certificación TEFL de la Universidad de Oglethorpe y en 2013 me convertí en director del Club de Prevención llamado Club Mixtura. para CETPA, Inc., una clínica de salud mental ubicada en Norcross, Georgia. Mi principal pasión es trabajar con los jóvenes de la comunidad en la que me crié. Siempre me ha apasionado mucho la prevención de las drogas, los niños solían etiquetarme como la "niña buena" solo porque nunca quise participar en nada de esas "cosas." En un momento, simplemente dejaron de preguntar. Desde 2006, he tenido el honor de servir a más de 5.500 jóvenes y espero continuar con esta misión durante toda la vida. “No puedes salvarlos a todos, pero puedes plantar esa semilla de esperanza en cada uno de ellos con un cálido abrazo y una sonrisa amistosa" Shai Fuxman Nací en Jerusalén, Israel a padres argentinos. A los siete años, me mude con mi familia a la Ciudad de México donde vivimos durante tres años, y luego a Caracas, Venezuela. Estas experiencias me ensenaron a navegar a través de diferentes culturas, tradiciones e idiomas. Vine a los Estados Unidos para estudiar en la universidad Brandeis, donde aprendí una nueva cultura que eventualmente adopte como mia propia, mientras mantengo mi orgullo y conexiones con los diferentes países donde creci. En la universidad, me inspire por la idea de utilizar la educación para promover cambios sociales positivos. Este concepto me inspiró a obtener primero una maestría y luego un doctorado en educación.Hoy en día trabajo como investigador científico en EDC, donde lidero diferentes proyectos que promueven el desarrollo positivo de los jóvenes, en particular los jóvenes de comunidades marginadas, incluyendo los jóvenes LGBTQ y los jóvenes con discapacidades. También tengo experiencia en Aprendizaje Social y Emocional (SEL), desarrollo juvenil, apoyando a estudiantes impactados por trauma, y prevención del abuso de drogas. También tengo experiencia en evaluación de programas, competencia cultural e investigaciónes cuantitativas y cualitativas. Como el director de la Academia de Salud Mental y SEL de EDC, proveo capacitación profesional para ayudar a educadores en escuelas a promover el SEL y la salud mental de estudiantes. Como especialista en capacitación y asistencia técnica de Prevention Solutions @ EDC, también apoyo a agencias estatales y organizaciones comunitarias para implementar y evaluar programas efectivos de prevención del abuso de drogas.

Produced in partnership with Chase Brexton's LGBT Resource Center, this fact sheet serves as a resource for Prevention Professionals working with LGBTQ Communities.    Please download the Engaging LGBT Elders in Prevention Programs During COVID-19 Fact Sheet using the download link above. Check out our recorded webinars for additional information on these topics! Vaping and LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention and LGBTQ Communities Prevention Strategies to Engage the LGBTQ Community

Produced in partnership with Chase Brexton's LGBT Resource Center, this fact sheet serves as a resource for Prevention Professionals working with LGBTQ Communities.    Please download the Managing Anxiety and Depression in LGBTQ Populations During COVID-19 Fact Sheet using the download link above. Check out our recorded webinars for additional information on these topics! Vaping and LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention and LGBTQ Communities Prevention Strategies to Engage the LGBTQ Community

This webinar is the final installment of a four-part series, The Six Elements of Effective Coalitions, produced by the PTTC Network Community Coalitions and Collaborators Working Group. This webinar will answer the question, ‘how do you ensure your coalition is working efficiently toward its overall goals as well as building cohesion among its members?' We will explore how to foster cohesion intentionally and how to work efficiently, highlighting real-world examples with two coalition spotlights.   Six Elements of Effective Coalitions: Efficiency and Cohesion from PTTC Network on Vimeo.      

This PTTC event took place on January 27th, 2021.

Improving Health Outcomes for Diverse Populations Part 3: Cultural Humility in the Behavioral Health Space Anthony President January 26, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST   COURSE DESCRIPTION Behavioral Health Staff support diverse populations throughout the day that may have cultural backgrounds different from their own. It is imperative that workers build a bridge of understanding to better communicate and relate to a broad range of clients. Cultural Humility is a tool that allows workers to explore the culture of others as they explore themselves. Cultural Humility is achieved through respect, open mindedness, and a willingness to learn about diversity. This workshop explores the dynamics of cultural humility and how it can help bridge the gap between staff and diverse clients. “Cultural competence is widely seen as a foundational pillar for reducing disparities through culturally sensitive and unbiased quality care”- (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services) LEARNING OBJECTIVES Participants will define cultural humility. Participants will understand cultural humility as a dynamic process that involves self-reflection & self-examination. Participants will examine potential barriers to achieving cultural humility. Participants will use strategies to employ cultural humility in client engagement and delivery to reduce behavioral health disparities. PRESENTER Anthony President is a Certified Trainer with the Institute for Human Services, Ohio Human Services Training Program, Author and Executive Coach. He holds a BA in Sociology from John Carroll University. He has served with distinction as the Senior Training Officer, for Cuyahoga County Human Services and worked with fragile families as a Social Services Worker. Anthony has over 20 years training experience in both the public and private sector on a variety of Human Service and Employee Development topics. HOSTS This training was developed under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) task orders (Reference #s 1H79TI080210, 3H79SM081785, and 1H79SP081018) and is for training use only. Learn more about the Central East ATTC, Central East MHTTC, and Central East PTTC. The Central East ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC are managed by The Danya Institute.

Prevention Practices that WORK!  A webinar for Prevention Professionals in Region 8 States: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, & Wyoming    In prevention, we do more than just meet - we strive to change in your community. Change in community behavior can come from implementing prevention strategies. Figuring out the right prevention strategy for YOUR community can be a challenge. By following an evidence-based model, you will learn how to change your community by selecting the prevention practices that meet your unique needs. This session will review the evidence-based strategic models to help you select programs, policies or practices right for your community. Specific evidence-based model programs will be highlighted in the session.  Objectives: Identify at least three evidence-based prevention programs that are considered model programs.  Demonstrate understanding of strategic evidence-based models to guide professionals in identifying appropriate prevention strategies for their community.  Explain where to find additional support and resources to implement the Strategic Prevention Framework model successfully.    Presented by: Susannah Burt, Prevention Program Administrator, Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Webinar Recording (Captions will be added soon) Presentation .PDF Slides

  The Great Lakes PTTC, ATTC and Peer Recovery Center of Excellence offer this training for prevention practitioners in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. This is a 90-minute webinar.   Data-driven decision making for recovery and recovery support services is possible. Indiana has made some key policy changes at a state and agency level that increase the availability of data across agencies. The Recovery Supports Workgroup of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) has is now using this data to evaluate gaps in key recovery supports, to make the recommendations, and track outcomes. In this session everyone will learn innovative ways of looking for, collecting, and utilizing recovery-specific data that drives and enhances recovery outcomes.    Learning Objectives Attendees who attend this webinar will learn:  How Indiana is collecting and defining recovery data How Indiana plans to use the recovery data   Co-Sponsored by the Great Lakes PTTC, Great Lakes ATTC and the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence         Speakers:  Jay Chaudhary, JD: Jay is the Director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Previously, he was the Managing Attorney and Director of Medical Legal Partnerships for the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.           Erin Quiring: Erin works for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction as the Assistant Deputy Director for Quality Improvement. Her responsibilities at DMHA primarily focus on the monitoring and improvement of treatment services provided by DMHA’s certified, licensed, and funded mental health and substance use agencies. Erin is thrilled to be part of the team using data to expand access to quality recovery supports throughout Indiana.         Ari Nassirri: Ari works for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction as the Director of Behavioral Health Integration. His responsibilities at DMHA focus on progressing the level of integration across the continuum of care for behavioral health and substance use disorder providers in Indiana, as well as increasing the integration of data sources among such providers and at the state level. Ari is very excited to work with the Recovery Support Workgroup and with their strategy to expand and utilize recovery data.       Amy Brinkley: Amy works for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction as the Bureau Chief for Consumer and Family Affairs. She is also the Chairperson for NASMHPD’s National Division of Recovery Support Services. Her responsibilities at DMHA and as a National Chairperson primarily focus on the expansion of quality peer recovery and recovery support services initiatives. She’s excited to be part of Indiana’s team advancing recovery support services and setting the bar nationally for the collection of recovery data.        

Structural racism affects every aspect of American life and society, but it can be confronted at an organizational level with anti-racist actions. These organizational action items will empower prevention professionals to incorporate anti-racism into the operational practices and community outcomes of their prevention work.

Mountain Plains PTTC team member, Rori Douros, Assistant Project Coordinator, wrote this months PTTC Post January 2021 Article:      Rori Douros is the Assistant Project Coordinator at the Mountain Plains PTTC located within the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. She has been in the field of substance misuse prevention, in various capacities, for over 15 years. Rori enjoys working with the states in Region 8 as well as her colleagues within the PTTC network. She is passionate about helping others, connecting people with needed resources and workforce development.         

Bridging the Gap Between Prevention and Recovery Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip January 20, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Behavioral health services exist along a continuum, from mental health promotion and substance use prevention to treatment through to recovery support. The behavioral health continuum of care framework is both an organizing principle and a way of identifying opportunities for collaboration across service providers. One such opportunity may exist between substance use prevention providers and recovery support service providers. Although they are serving different populations, both seek to address risk and protective factors for substance use and there can be overlap between prevention and relapse prevention. This webinar will examine this potential overlap and discuss opportunities for collaboration that may exist between prevention and recovery support services. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the behavioral health continuum of care Discuss the principles of recovery support services Identify the similarities and differences between prevention and recovery Explore potential opportunities for collaboration 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.               

Improving Health Outcomes for Diverse Populations Part 2: The Hidden Self- Exploring our Implicit Bias Anthony President January 19, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST   COURSE DESCRIPTION Bias in all human being begins in childhood and is a natural cognitive function of us all. Well intentioned people who consciously disapprove of bias can still harbor implicit bias. Implicit bias can occur instantly &involuntarily with certain groups of people (Justice Research & Statistics Association, 2018). This workshop challenges Behavioral Health Staff to examine their implicit biases which can influence service engagement, case decisions, actions, attitudes and behaviors towards those we serve. We will assess our implicit biases and learn strategies to limit and manage them in the behavioral health setting. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Participants will define and understand implicit bias. Participants will understand the challenges and potential effects of implicit bias in behavioral health care. Participants will assess and determine implicit biases they may possess. Participants will use strategies to help cleanse implicit bias. PRESENTER Anthony President is a Certified Trainer with the Institute for Human Services, Ohio Human Services Training Program, Author and Executive Coach. He holds a BA in Sociology from John Carroll University. He has served with distinction as the Senior Training Officer, for Cuyahoga County Human Services and worked with fragile families as a Social Services Worker. Anthony has over 20 years training experience in both the public and private sector on a variety of Human Service and Employee Development topics. HOSTS This training was developed under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) task orders (Reference #s 1H79TI080210, 3H79SM081785, and 1H79SP081018) and is for training use only. Learn more about the Central East ATTC, Central East MHTTC, and Central East PTTC. The Central East ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC are managed by The Danya Institute.

Monthly e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.  January 2021 issue features: Hall of Fame Inductees, Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment, and Recovery Counselor's Corner State Spotlight: Minnesota Complete calendar of upcoming events New SAMHSA products

Workforce Vicarious Trauma: Management Guidelines Kate Bishop, MSSA January 13, 2021, 1-2 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought incredibly challenging working conditions to many in health and human services fields. Many workers are logging on remotely and struggling with simultaneous demands like homeschooling children or caring for a sick family member, while others may be grieving unfathomable losses or managing a personal mental health crisis while trying to carry on for the sake of the vulnerable populations they serve. Studies have diagrammed a predictable cascade of trauma-worker mental health difficulties, starting with burnout, progressing through compassion fatigue, and tumbling into a vicarious trauma condition. Vicarious trauma can leave helpers feeling helpless, struggling with the cumulative weight of the stories they’ve heard and seen. Some may develop trauma responses like hypervigilance, nightmares, clinical anxiety and depression that impact their personal functioning, work performance, and job retention. This webinar will introduce what we know about how vicarious trauma impacts individuals, examine how the current crisis exacerbates these conditions, and offer supportive attitudes, interventions, and policies for managers and supervisors to implement. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the impact of witnessing and assisting trauma survivors on health and human service workers. Examine the effects of COVID-19 and lockdown measures on workers who staff the social safety net. Develop a toolbox of supervisory attitudes, skills, and interventions designed to support front line workers who are dealing with vicarious trauma. Explore best practices, policy guidance, and implementation considerations in becoming a trauma-informed workplace. PRESENTERS Kate Bishop, MSSA, the Education Coordinator at the LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton, is a seasoned professional development trainer with expertise in working with LGBTQ populations, sexual and reproductive health care, adolescent development, intimate partner violence, and sexual trauma. She is certified as a trainer through GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) as well as SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders). Before joining the Chase Brexton team, she developed the capacity building program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s STAR TRACK Adolescent HIV program, providing cultural responsiveness trainings for agencies that serve sexual minority youth of color. Ms. Bishop holds a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from Hiram College and a Masters in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University.    

Improving Health Outcomes for Diverse Populations Part 1: Inequality, Systemic Racism and Disparities Impact on the Behavioral Health of our Clients Anthony President January 12, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST   COURSE DESCRIPTION The Pandemic and recent incidents of Police Brutality have shed new light on age- old problems in the U.S. – inequality, systemic racism and disparities in behavioral health. These problems have caused an increase in substance abuse, suicides, child abuse, and depression. Unfortunately, equality in behavioral health care is the ideal but not yet the real. Disparities occur across many dimensions, including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, location, gender, disability status, and sexual orientation – Kaiser Family. This workshop will discuss how the recent incidents of civil unrest due to police brutality and the disproportionate impact of COVID 19 on African Americans, Latin X and aged populations. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Participants will be able to define systemic racism and disparities. Participants will be able to understand the extent of how systemic racism, civil unrest, and disparities has impacted our client population. Participants will be able to list the factors that can contribute to behavioral health care disparities such as provider bias, economic issues and sociopolitical factors among diverse populations. PRESENTER Anthony President is a Certified Trainer with the Institute for Human Services, Ohio Human Services Training Program, Author and Executive Coach. He holds a BA in Sociology from John Carroll University. He has served with distinction as the Senior Training Officer, for Cuyahoga County Human Services and worked with fragile families as a Social Services Worker. Anthony has over 20 years training experience in both the public and private sector on a variety of Human Service and Employee Development topics. HOSTS This training was developed under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) task orders (Reference #s 1H79TI080210, 3H79SM081785, and 1H79SP081018) and is for training use only. Learn more about the Central East ATTC, Central East MHTTC, and Central East PTTC. The Central East ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC are managed by The Danya Institute.

  The Southeast PTTC Prevention Workforce Development Suite Training 3: Community Organization for the Prevention Professional Time: 90 minutes Download Resource Guide Description:  The Community Organization training provides information which community preventionists can use as they work to plan and implement prevention efforts in their communities. The training focuses on elements and skills needed to engage and organize a community's prevention efforts. Participants will experience how these skills are relevant to each element of the SPF.  Learning Objectives: Participate in behavioral health planning and activities Identify steps of community organization using the SPF Build skills to engage in community organization Engage in mobilization and group processes and build collaboration with community partners Instructors: Carlton Hall is the President and CEO of Carlton Hall Consulting LLC (CHC) , a multi-faceted, full-service consulting firm designed to provide customized solutions and enable measurable change for communities, organizations, families and individuals. Carlton Hall has been providing intensive substance abuse prevention focused and community problem solving services to the nation for the last 25 years. His responsibilities, unique set of skills and experience have made him one of the most highly sought after instructors and guides for community problem solving in every state and territory in the nation as well as internationally, with successful achievements in South Africa, Ghana, Bermuda, Kenya and others. Currently, Carlton and the CHC team provide executive training and technical assistance support to the Southeast PTTC (Region 4).     Tracy Johnson is the Founder & Managing Partner of TTJ Group, LLC (2013- Present) with over 29 years of experience, he has worked closely with states, nonprofits, small businesses, universities, communities and coalitions in helping them with community organizing, environmental strategies, strategic planning, substance abuse prevention, and cultural competence.  Mr. Johnson provides interactive and resourceful trainings for participants. He has presented on Opioid Prevention strategies for communities (including faith based) and integrating cultural competence within opioid prevention strategies. Currently, Mr. Johnson is working with Ohio’s Partnership for Success Strategic Prevention Framework (PFS- SPF) SAMHSA funded statewide grant supporting twelve (12) rural Appalachian counties in developing coalitions to reduce the opioid crisis. His team has also provided training to SAMHSA Minority AIDS and HIV new grantees since 2010.    Dave Shavel has extensive experience in the substance abuse prevention field at the community, state and federal levels as a community organizer, coalition director, trainer and technical assistance provider, researcher, and state prevention manager.  Dave specializes in technical assistance and training in the areas of strategic planning; needs, resource and readiness assessment; prevention program planning, implementation and evaluation; promoting youth involvement; and, community and state capacity building.  

Click "download" above to access: Slide Decks & Transcript     This 60-minute webinar will highlight overdose disparities in rural and urban populations, with an emphasis on the unique challenges associated with engaging diverse populations in these settings.  Presenters from Illinois and Michigan will share data on disparities in their respective states, along with examples of strategies being implemented to engage disparate populations in overdose prevention. This webinar is the second in a series that highlights overdose prevention efforts in HHS Region 5.     Learning Objectives Highlight urban–rural differences in drug overdose death rates by sex, age group, and the type of drugs involved. Review challenges associated with engaging urban-rural at-risk populations Present current strategies being employed in Illinois and Michigan to address overdose disparities through harm reduction   Speakers Chuck Klevgaard, BSW Prevention Specialist  Great Lakes PTTC Chuck Klevgaard delivers training and technical assistance to support substance misuse prevention throughout the Midwest. He has supported communities and health agencies as they adopt evidence-based alcohol, opioid, and other substance misuse programs or policies. Chuck also serves as a prevention manager to the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Chuck delivers training and technical assistance to support substance misuse prevention throughout the Midwest. He has supported communities and health agencies as they adopt evidence-based alcohol, opioid, and other substance misuse programs or policies. He also serves as a prevention manager to the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Chuck earned his BSW from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He is a Certified Senior Prevention Specialist through the Illinois Certification Board, Inc.   Brandon Hool, BS Harm Reduction Analyst  Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Viral Hepatitis Unit   Brandon Hool is a Harm Reduction Analyst with MDHHS, where he works with communities across the state of Michigan to increase the availability of, and access to, syringe service programs (SSPs). Expanding these programs is one of the 6 pillars of Michigan’s Opioid Response Strategy. SSPs are also heavily entwined with the state’s overdose prevention efforts. From October, 2019 – September, 2020, these programs distributed over 29,000 Naloxone kits resulting in over 1,600 reported overdose reversals.  Prior to working with MDHHS, Brandon was with The Grand Rapids Red Project as manager of their recovery programs. These programs were focused on improving health among people who used drugs and included syringe access, overdose prevention and response, hepatitis C screening and recovery coaching.  Brandon earned a bachelor’s degree in community development from Central Michigan University in 2018.  He also has a robust history of personal drug use experience and has been able to draw on this resource to guide him professionally.   James Kowalsky Bureau of Prevention Services Illinois Department of Health Services/SUPR/Bureau of Prevention Services James Kowalsky is the Project Director for a SAMHSA-funded grant to prevent prescription drug and opioid overdose deaths at the Illinois Department of Human Services, in the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. He serves as the Drug Overdose Prevention Program Coordinator and provides support to Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) providers throughout the state of Illinois.      

The January 2021 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction | Mental Health | Prevention| ORN Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. 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.       

Peer Support and Community Reentry for Prisoners with Opioid Use Disorders Dr. Derek Kreager January 6, 2021, 1-2 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar overviews a treatment intervention targeting PA prisoners with opioid use disorder (OUD)  to promote their recovery and reduce heightened relapse in the high-risk period immediately following community reentry. Core to the intervention is connecting eligible participants, while they remain incarcerated, to community-based Certified Recovery Specialists (CRSs) who will assist in the transition from prison to community. Specifically, the CRSs will (1) connect clients to community treatment resources (i.e., continuity of care), (2) provide informal coaching and personal support, (3) understand and assist clients’ families, to include the provision of naloxone, and (4) monitor the recovery progress and encourage treatment retention. This case-management system will operate in parallel to parole staff to increase client trust, communication, and treatment compliance. The goals of the project are to create inter-organizational linkages between correctional administrators and community non-profit providers to implement and evaluate a scalable intervention for a high-risk population. COVID-19 and related obstacles to treatment make this study even more timely. Results of the pilot should establish proof-of-concept and inform a larger proposal for a randomized controlled trial across multiple sites. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand the risks facing incarcerated individuals with OUD as they reenter communities Understand the roles and responsibilities of Certified Recovery Specialists Discuss the challenges facing inter-organizational interventions targeting vulnerable populations Share preliminary results and project activities from the pilot project PRESENTER Dr. Derek Kreager, is a Professor of Criminology and Director of the Criminal Justice Research Center at Pennsylvania State University. He received his M.A. and PhD in Sociology from the University of Washington and his B.S. in Psychology from the United States Military Academy. His research focuses on social networks and health, particularly among incarcerated and reentering populations. His research of prisons and reentry has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and National Institute of Justice. In his role as CJRC Director, he helps bridge research and practice, to include fostering university partnerships with local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies.               

This course provides an overview of how policy change can be an effective strategy for prevention professionals to address community-level problems with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The goal of the course is to dispel some of the concerns around policy and help community coalitions and partners see that it is feasible, do-able and most importantly, impactful. There are 5 main objectives designed to prepare participants to design and work on a policy change campaign.   Objective 1 - to review the concept of risk and protective factors as they relate to ATOD prevention strategies. Objective 2 -  to provide an overview of the two main approaches to prevention interventions, namely individual and environmental strategies. Objective 3 -  to define policy and explain how it can impact ATOD problems at the community level. Objective 4 -  to illustrate how public policy and organizational policy differ. Objective 5 -  to introduce the concept of preemption and briefly discuss how it can hinder policy efforts.   The course content was developed by: Kristin Kidd, MA, WF School of Medicine Kimberly Wagoner, DrPH, MPH, WF School of Medicine Michael Sparks, MA, SparksInitiatives, Inc. Mark Wolfson, PhD, UC Riverside