Products and Resources Catalog

The Northeast and Caribbean Summer 2023 Newsletter (English | Spanish) is here. This issue highlights resources for professionals in academic settings and parents, as well as, our upcoming trainings.   

The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 6th 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 training looked at the importance of Data Informed Decision Making, or DIDM, in strategic prevention planning, and the value of using data within each step of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to identify priority needs and achieve prevention goals. During this webinar, presenters defined key data-related terminology, described the benefits of using a data-informed prevention planning process, discussed common challenges and barriers to using data to plan and examined data-informed decision making within each SPF step.   Presenter Emily Bhargava is a Training and Technical Assistance Associate with Education Development Center (EDC). She is skilled in facilitation, data literacy, strategic and sustainability planning, and evaluation design. For over 15 years, she has led community-level health promotion efforts. She is an expert in the prevention of substance abuse, violence, suicide, teen pregnancy, obesity, and HIV, guiding the planning and implementation of culturally and linguistically responsive community-level prevention and health promotion efforts across Massachusetts and the United States.   Additional Resources  Flyer  PowerPoint

The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 5th 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!   

A series providing an exploration of Indigenous prevention methods. The sessions will provide experts to share Indigenous ways of knowing that support strength-based approaches from a cultural context to assist tribal communities in healing. JULY 12 Dr. Jacque Gray, Cherokee and Choctaw descent “Looking at Indigenous Frameworks”. Click HERE to access the event recording. 

In this Issue:   *New South Southwest PTTC Prevention Onboarding Roadmap Other PTTC Resources for Onboarding the New Prevention Professional Epi Corner: Using a Multi-faceted Approach to Adolescent Opioid Misuse and Overdose What's Happening Around the Region?

Addressing and preventing the spread of substance use disorders (SUDs) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are both vital areas of public health. Many risk factors are shared across SUD and HIV, though each present unique challenges. This product summarizes the scope of HIV in the United States and SAMHAS Region 3. It also discusses how having HIV can increase risk of substance use and how engaging in substance use can increase risk of HIV. It also shares examples of evidence-based prevention programs.

This product is developed by Cheyenne Chee under the 2022-2023 Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Fellowship Program. This toolkit is designed to provide Native American parents/ guardians with valuable resources and information to prevent cannabis use among youth. By utilizing the PTTC Network and Gray Matters campaign as primary resources, this toolkit aims to empower parents/guardians in promoting healthy choices and supporting their children's well-being. Additional relevant resources are also included to enhance the effectiveness of prevention efforts. 

This product is developed by Morgan Neavill, M.S. under the 2022-2023 Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) 2022-23 Fellowship Program. Are you interested in advocating for the health and wellbeing of Montanans, but not sure where to begin? This toolkit will give you an overview of what it means to advocate on the issue of marijuana, and how to do so effectively. Montana Alliance of Prevention Website

This product is developed by Steve Otero under the 2022-2023 Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Fellowship Program.

LGBTQ Affirming Prevention Messaging: Safety, Engagement, Retention, Strategies Randall Leonard, LCSW-C August 16, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION LGBTQ people, particularly youth, gender diverse folks, and individuals of color, are often labeled both “high-risk” and “hard to reach” populations. Taking the time to understand the medical mistrust dynamics within the community is essential to an embracing welcome. Often, what makes the difference in reaching out to LGBTQ communities with prevention messages is a well-considered, community-designed, targeted campaign featuring high-impact images and culturally-responsive text. This webinar will describe some of the threats that LGBTQ community members may be concerned about in treatment, discuss impactful ways to communicate safety and respect, and give practical examples of prevention messages that have been effective with these populations. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe common experiences of safety and threat for LGBTQ people accessing services. Define signals and dynamics in agency messaging that may impact engagement and retention with LGBTQ clients. Identify at least 3 evidence-based outreach strategies that can be effective with LGBTQ community members PRESENTERS Randall Leonard, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker who has specialized in the care of LGBTQ individuals for four years. They currently serve as a Staff Therapist at the Center for LGBTQ Health Equity, a Center of Excellence of Chase Brexton Health Care, providing individual therapy as well as assessments for gender-affirming surgery. They also facilitate “Identity Talk”, a group for trans and gender-diverse people of color to process intersectionality between culture and gender. Before joining the Chase Brexton team, Randall served survivors of intimate partner violence at Family and Children’s Services, where they provided individual therapy and a weekly support group. In addition, they worked as a Behavioral Specialist in the Emergency Department of Union Memorial Hospital. They started their social work career working with people with severe and persistent mental illness at Sheppard Pratt Health Systems. Randall holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work with a concentration in clinical behavioral health.  

The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 4th 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!   

The Central East PTTC is proud to share this resource for prevention professionals to better serve the LGBTQ community. This handout was created in partnership with our partner, the Center for LGBTQ Health Equity at Chase Brexton. Please download and share this resource.

   2023 RESEARCH & DESIGN (RAD) PRODUCTS: New research-based substance misuse prevention tools supporting Practical Resources to Address The Root Causes of Substance Misuse with a Focus on the IC&RC Prevention Domains. Prevention Product Development for the New England Region. Link to view the recorded webinar (recorded on August 17, 2023).    EXPLORING ROOT CAUSES OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE THROUGH SOCIAL STORIES This resource consists of a work of research on the trauma of underrepresentation experienced by Black communities and the ripple effects it has on Black children. This social story title ‘I Feel’ can be used in a variety of settings and tackles the topic of emotions while also confronting the difficulties that emerge from living with a parent who is beginning their path to recovery. READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD.     SUPPORTING YOUTH & ADDRESSING UNDERLYING CAUSES OF SUBSTANCE USE This handbook is designed for adults to better support youth while addressing underlying causes of substance misuse. Throughout this resource, the reader will build a better understanding of the role Adverse Childhood Experiences play in substance use and proven solutions to prevent and mitigate their impacts. The target audience is parents/caregivers, teachers, counselors, coaches, and anyone else who interacts with youth. READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD.     HEALTHY COMMUNITY, HEALTHY PEOPLE: COMMUNITY CANNABIS POLICY TOOLKIT FOR THE VERMONT PREVENTION PROFESSIONAL 2.0 A toolkit that prevention professionals and communities working on cannabis-related policy improvement can use to help support prevention and public health at a community level. This kit has been updated in 2023 to include additional tools and information, including stigma-free language relevant to this work, talking points to use with key audiences, questions to use for community polling, and template presentations for community and key audience education. READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD.     PREVENTING & ADDRESSING ACES IN HISPANIC AND LATINO This guide is designed for Hispanic and Latino Faith Leaders in Massachusetts and can be used to prevent and address adverse childhood experiences impacting Hispanic and Latino communities. Faith Leaders can learn about the connection between trauma and substance use disorder, specific impacts within the Hispanic and Latino community, and the interventions the faith community can deploy to mitigate the impact of ACEs. READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD.     PREVENTING ROOT CAUSES OF SUBSTANCE USE IN LGBTQIA+ YOUTH This toolkit is designed for prevention professionals and can showcase proactive techniques for upstream prevention efforts to address minority stress among LGBTQIA+ youth. This toolkit includes a call to action for the prevention workforce, highlights data and data limitations, research on minority stress and its connection to substance misuse, and provides evidence-informed recommendations for the reader.  READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD.       SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY AND PREVENTION FOR FAMILIES IN TREATMENT: A GUIDE FOR THERAPISTS, CLIENTS, AND FAMILIES A practical resource to be shared by clinicians with individuals in treatment for substance use disorder. This toolkit will provide the person in treatment with resources from the disciplines of prevention and peer recovery support. It will assist in increasing the family’s awareness of applicable prevention information and strategies and will educate about various levels of clinical and peer supports that are available in the community. READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD.       View the 2021 products.   View the 2022 products.

The National American Indian and Alaska Native PTTC has published its most recent newsletter. This issue focuses on vaping: trends, harms, and prevention.

Recording: Prevention Across the Continuum    This is the first webinar in a three-part series on implementing prevention strategies across the continuum of care. Prevention plays a critical role throughout the continuum of care and understanding this role can prepare prevention professionals to be the most effective in their work. Having a solid understanding of this model is one of the first steps prevention professional should grasp. Join us for an interactive webinar series that outlines each component of the continuum, and the role prevention has throughout, as well as identifying areas that prevention can serve in a supportive role as communities work collaboratively to reduce substance misuse. Information about the other two webinars can be found here:   This is a 3-part webinar series. Register now for the upcoming sessions using the following links: Understanding and Implementing Selective Prevention Strategies, August 23, 2023, 9:30-11:00 AM CT Understanding and Implementing Indicated Prevention Strategies, August 31, 2023, 9:30-11:00 AM CT   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants will be able to: Discuss the overall continuum of care and the role in which prevention plays throughout List prevention strategies that can be implemented in each portion of the continuum Identify how and who to connect with when working across the continuum of care   PRESENTER: Ashley Bodiford, MPH, MS, CSPS, ICP Ashley Bodiford, MPH, MS, CSPS, ICPS, is the Director of Prevention at LRADAC in which she develops, implements and maintains effective prevention services for Richland and Lexington counties in South Carolina. In her previous role at LRADAC, she served as the Alcohol Enforcement Team Coordinator in which she developed and implemented evidence-based programs to reduce underage drinking and impaired driving. Mrs. Bodiford has worked in the field of substance use prevention since 2010 and is skilled in universal, selective, and indicated prevention strategies. Mrs. Bodiford has served on the South Carolina Association of Prevention Professionals and Advocates (SCAPPA) board for several years, and served as the organization’s president from 2018-2020. Mrs. Bodiford holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Developmental Psychology, a Master in Public Health and a Master in Human Services.   The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.  

The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic (August 2023) Part 2: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip August 10, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will discuss evidence-based prevention interventions for addressing opioid use and review lessons learned from years of research on the epidemic. It will summarize use and overdose prevention best practices, including the role of harm reduction efforts beyond naloxone distribution. The webinar will also discuss strategies for polysubstance use prevention and the need for further studies. Additionally, it will overview the importance of collaboration and the ways key stakeholders can support opioid prevention efforts. Lastly, the webinar will provide a small group discussion peer learning opportunity for participants. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Assess evidence-based and promising practices for preventing opioid use and overdoses. Describe opportunities for improving polysubstance use prevention. Compare strategies for expanding opioid prevention collaborative activities. Identify other lessons learned from the opioid epidemic. 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 (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA 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 TTA, 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.  

Webinar This webinar occurred on 8/8/23 and a one-hour certificate of attendance is available here If you attended the live event on August 8, 2023. Webinar Resources: Slides. Webinar Presentation: Presentation. Certificate: A one-hour certificate of attendance is available here Summary: The webinar explored Cannabidiol (CBD) products are often marketed for a range of different health conditions; however, there is little evidence to support the safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter, non-FDA-approved CBD products for many of these uses. This webinar will highlight information presented in SAMHSA’s advisory titled, Cannabidiol (CBD) – Potential Harms, Side Effects, and Unknowns, which introduces readers to CBD, how it is derived, and how it differs from other cannabinoids and cannabis products. Participants will learn about the biological and physiological effects of CBD, the risks and harms of CBD use, which include interactions with other drugs and potential risks during pregnancy and fetal development, and common misconceptions about CBD, given its broad availability and marketing for several medical conditions despite limited evidence of efficacy. Panelists: Humberto Carvalho - SAMHSA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Krishnan Radhakrishnan - SAMHSA National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Krishnan Radhakrishnan, MD, PhD, MPH, Physician, Senior Advisor in the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory (NMHSUPL) within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is board certified in public health and general preventive medicine. Dr. Radhakrishnan has broad-based research experiences and published extensively in the clinical, epidemiological, biomedical, biological and physical sciences, supported by extensive computational modeling, data analysis, interpretation and synthesis. He received his BSc (Hons) from Imperial College London, MS from Cornell University and Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), all in Mechanical Engineering. After several years conducting research at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, focusing on mathematical/computational modeling of combustion, with applications in aero and space propulsion, Dr. Radhakrishnan returned to school, earning his M.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University and MPH from University of Kentucky, Lexington, where he received his residency training in general preventive medicine and public health and served as chief resident and American Cancer Society Fellow, focusing on cancer prevention and control. Amy Berninger, MPH - Abt Associates Health Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Senior Associate Amy Berninger, MPH, has over 12 years of experience working on a variety of projects related to behavioral health policy that have largely focused on research design, implementation, and evaluation in the areas of substance use disorder prevention and treatment. At Abt Associates, she works on both federal and state research projects for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and others. Through this work, Ms. Berninger has supported institutions with efforts to develop and implement policies and procedures that promote substance use prevention and improve capacity to provide effective treatment and recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders. Ms. Berninger received her MPH in Epidemiology from Boston University School of Public Health.

The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the 3rd 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!   

The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic (August 2023) Part 1: The Current Landscape of Opioid Use and Consequences Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip August 8, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide a broad overview of current opioid use and related trends in SAMHSA Region 3 and nationwide. It will review changes in use and consequences, and ongoing shifts in substance preferences— particularly the expanded use of fentanyl. Data on xylazine use are limited, but available information will also be shared. The webinar will also discuss the increasing frequency of polysubstance use involving opioids. It will review the different types of substances used—intentionally or unintentionally— with opioids, including xylazine, stimulants, and cannabis, and the extent to which this use occurs. Lastly, the webinar will review the latest research on the social determinants of health and other risk and protective factors impacting the opioid epidemic. LEARNING OBJECTIVES - Describe the latest opioid use and trend data.   - Identify the scope of opioid overdoses and the most impacted populations.   - Evaluate the latest information on polysubstance use and types of substances being used together.   - Assess the research on opioid-related risk and protective factors. 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 (TTA) in substance use, having overseen the development of hundreds of TTA 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 TTA, 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.  

  Webinar Description Creating a personal professional development plan can seem challenging, whether it’s finding time within our schedules or balancing family obligations, deciding which trainings to select, or overcoming difficulties and finding the motivation to continue. In this webinar we looked at the benefits of creating and regularly reviewing a professional development plan and examined the key components to include in creating professional development plans, including:   · Revisiting personal professional development goals and strategies considered or started · Assessing and identifying successes and challenges in personal development plans · Exploring strategies to overcome professional development challenges · Exploring potential career pathways and approaches to a career in prevention · Developing a personal 6-month professional development plan   Presenter Carol Oliver is a nationally recognized leader and trainer in substance misuse prevention. She has expertise in knowledge translation, instructional design, and strategic planning. She specializes in developing systems to solve complex health-related problems and creating effective behavioral health workforces. Nicole M. Augustine is a passionate prevention thought leader, dedicated to using innovative strategies to strengthen communities, address health inequities, and drive change. An experienced training and technical assistance (TA) specialist, she specializes in integrating equity throughout the strategic prevention framework. Nicole is a Certified Substance Use Prevention Consultant and a Master Certified Health Education Specialist. She is the author of Prevention Specialist Exam Study Guide (Routledge), a book that helps readers understand the competencies and knowledge necessary to become a certified prevention specialist.   Additional Resources  Flyer  PowerPoint  Handout

  Webinar Description This training will reviewed how Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is diagnosed and its associated effects on the body and long-term impacts on opioid users. Discussion included a review of cognitive impairment, compulsivity factors, risk factors, and physical dependence for OUD, which may have implications for screening and treatment. The stigma associated with opioid use and prevention strategies were also covered.   Presenter 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 Resources  Flyer  PowerPoint Supplemental Resource 

  The Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center is excited to announce the first 2 episodes 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!   

LGBTQ Youth and Substance Use Disorder Kate Bishop, MSSA July 26, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION It’s been a tough year for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) youth, as access to gender affirming health care, youth sports, and drag performances are vilified and outlawed in one state after another. Far from value-neutral, overhearing this political discourse too often leads to life-threatening shame, despair, and self-harm thoughts and feelings for young people just coming into their LGBTQ identity. As in many communities that experience discrimination, LGBTQ young people may overuse substances to cope with a hostile environment that insults their humanity. Though youth are especially vulnerable, LGBTQ people across the lifespan are at markedly higher risk for mental health challenges and harmful substance use than the public. Evidence has shown that identity-targeted interventions can be effective in supporting wellness within these communities. This webinar will describe these disparities, explore what makes young LGBTQ populations particularly vulnerable, provide suggestions about how best to support a young queer, trans, or nonbinary individual in crisis, and consider Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM)-targeted prevention frameworks and strategies. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define the impact of social determinants of health, including prejudice and discrimination, family rejection, trauma, and stress-related illness, on the substance use behaviors of Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) youth populations, highlighting how current policy conversations and conditions are affecting the population. Describe LGBTQ sub-cultural norms, attitudes, myths, and messages around substance use and misuse. Identify community-targeted intervention strategies to support SGM youth struggling with substance use disorder. PRESENTERS Kate Bishop, MSSA, 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.