Past Events

The Rise of Methamphetamine and How Implementing a Coordinated Prevention, Treatment, and Law Enforcement Response Can Make a Difference   Date & Time Tuesday, January 28, 2020 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Pacific   Description Because the impact of methamphetamine use disorder reaches far beyond the person using, a system and community-wide effort is needed to effect change. This webinar highlights new trends in use, production, prevention, and treatment. It will also include an extensive review of a case study involving law enforcement, community, families, and the criminal justice system. Attendees will receive prevention materials and resources to localize and use in their own community education efforts.   Presenters Shelly Mowrey, BJ, is the Demand Reduction Coordinator for Arizona HIDTA and is a leader in substance abuse prevention and education. Over the last 18 years, Shelly has developed substance abuse prevention programs, media campaigns, and professional development trainings for a variety of audiences that are instrumental in reducing youth drug use in the state of Arizona. Shelly has received extensive training provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, and the Arizona Narcotics Officers Association.   Wm. “Rodney” Irby, is the NATIVE HIDTA Task Force Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department, Assistant Chief of Police Commander. Asst. Chief Irby joined the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department in April, 2014, after retiring as Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement‘s, Homeland Security Investigations in Arizona. Asst. Chief. Irby has over 41 years of combined law enforcement and intelligence experience on the Southwestern border of the United States at the State/Local, Federal, and now, Tribal level.   Cost: Free!   Register here: https://casatunr.wufoo.com/forms/pchuz9v0uerfup/

Date: January 28, 2020 Format: Webinar Contact Hours: 1 NAADAC Time: 1 PM—2 PM ET Cost: FREE Missed Parts 1-2? Click here COURSE DESCRIPTION The second step to implementing a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to prevention is to build available capacity for engaging in prevention. This can include seeking out new sources of funding, hiring or training additional staff or volunteers, or building collaborative relationships with other prevention stakeholders. This webinar will discuss ways to identify new funding and training opportunities, as well as identifying and following through on potential collaborative partnerships. It will also walk through ways that technology can be used to support the capacity building process.   COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss the importance of building capacity Overview potential prevention funding sources Describe strategies for identifying and reaching out to potential partners Discuss the levels of collaboration and tips for maintaining partnerships SERIES DESCRIPTION A Six-Part Webinar Series on the Strategic Prevention Framework and Related Topics This six-part webinar series developed by the Central East PTTC will support and build the capacity of the prevention workforce. The series is a skill building training that will detail the steps to implementing a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to prevention using the five stages of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework: 1) Needs Assessment, 2) Building Capacity, 3) Planning, 4) Implementation, and 5) Evaluation. The series will explain the importance of each stage and what aspects of the strategic planning process they cover, techniques for completing each stage, and strategies for overcoming obstacles. This series will also discuss other relevant topics, such as: ethical approaches to prevention, how to prioritize data, and how to modify programs, among others. Webinars will be held on December 3, December 17, January 28, February 20, March 16, and March 26. Each webinar will be scheduled at 1pm EST and recordings will be made available 2-3 weeks after the webinar concludes on this site.   SERIES LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the importance of an evidence-based approach to prevention Discuss the five stages of the Strategic Prevention Framework Examine how to apply the Strategic Prevention Framework to implement evidence-based prevention interventions Describe common challenges and strategies for overcoming obstacles 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 training and technical assistance to numerous organizations at the Federal, state, and local levels. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The South Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (SSW PTTC), in collaboration with the Genomics and Ethics (GEN) Program for Native Students at the University of Oklahoma is pleased to announce a training by Abigail Echo-Hawk, Chief Research Officer at the Seattle Indian Health Board and Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute. This session will focus on data techniques that center indigenous needs so that tribal programs can develop and implement interventions grounded in indigenous values. Participants will learn how to use data to identify and assess strength-based activities and protective factors and how to describe disparities in health outcomes, behaviors, and risk factors in a way that benefits tribal communities. This event will be made available via live stream for participants who cannot attend in person: https://outreach.ou.edu/community-services/health-human-services/southwest-prevention-center/live-stream/ Abigail Echo-Hawk, MA (Pawnee), she was born in the heart of Alaska where she was raised in the traditional values of giving, respect for all and love. Ms. Echo-Hawk currently serves as the Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute, and the Chief Research Officer at the Seattle Indian Health Board. Urban Indian Health Institute is a Tribal Epidemiology Center that serves tribal people currently living off tribal lands nationwide. In addition, in UIHI’s role as the National Coordinating Center for Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country, she also works with approximately 100 tribal nations. Her work incorporates these core principles and activities: engagement and participation of community partners; research and evaluation on health, healthcare, and other community priorities; education, training, and capacity-building for Native people, including researchers, students, and communities; infrastructure development; technical assistance; and sharing results in a way that recognizes and respects the unique cultural contexts of American Indian and Alaska Native people. In these roles she also works with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and organizations to identify health research priorities and with health researchers to ensure research is done in a manner that respects tribal sovereignty and is culturally appropriate

  In this webinar, Michael Tynan of the CDC will review current data on e-cigarette and vape use among youth and policy strategies to prevent e-cigarette use. E-cigarettes are a tobacco product that produces an aerosol by heating a liquid that typically contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. Several factors have contributed to the popularity of e-cigarettes, including advertising and the vast array of available flavors. E-cigarette use is higher among young people than adults. As of 2014, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S youth. Youth use of e-cigarettes is unsafe. Adult smokers must completely quit to realize benefits from e-cigarettes. As the tobacco product landscape continues to diversify, it’s important to modernize tobacco control strategies to adapt.   Michael Tynan is a public health analyst at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health.  Michael works with states and communities on tobacco control policy issues and is a subject matter expert on issues such as tobacco prices, smoke-free polices and point of sale policies.  Michael previously served as the Policy Officer with the Oregon Public Health Division where he worked on various public health issues, including development of public health administrative rules on marijuana.  

Program Description: There is an alarming rise in the number of American teens and adults who are trying vaping. It is reversing the hard-fought declines achieved in the use nicotine. Vaping may pose serious and avoidable effects on health and brain development and the potential for addiction in youth. This Project ECHO will bring expert faculty together with groups from across New England who are focusing their efforts on substance use prevention to share knowledge and strategies to further their efforts to reduce vaping and its associated harms through case-based learning. This Project ECHO® on reducing vaping is first of a series of ECHO Projects to be initiated by the NEPTTC. Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an evidence-based distance learning method developed by researchers at the University of New Mexico. The 9-month program begins in October 2019 with monthly sessions between October and May.   Learning Objectives: Speed the dissemination and adoption of prevention evidence-based protocols, guidelines and practices. Share prevention efforts that are occurring across the communities in New England. Build prevention capacity across communities/states. Promote the ability to collect and analyze data.  

With cultural foundations, communication principles, and scientific methods for cultural adaptation now a part of our knowledge base, we will embark into the world of culture and clinical application. Culture and Clinical Application: Cultural Competency at Work, is a reflective training that will help us connect the “what” with the “why” and explore the internal and external forces that allow us to appropriately and responsibly apply what we know to the passions that brought us here in the first place. Cultural and Clinical Application will be by far be the most challenging of all the pieces of training you will receive in this series. This event is provided as a collaborative effort between the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC, the National Hispanic and Latino ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC, The Prevention Action Alliance, the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission, and the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services. This is a closed event. However, you can learn more about our upcoming training and technical events on the Great Lakes PTTC website under Upcoming Events. If no upcoming events are taking place near you, please contact your nearest state project manager to inquire about future training opportunities in your region.

  The cannabis regulatory debate facing the nation today has direct parallels to the policy debate at the repeal of federal Prohibition when states were granted the express authority to regulate and tax alcohol. The result is a tapestry of laws, rules, and regulations as varied as the states themselves. Much debate ensued around how states should regulate alcohol, and the analysis that drove many of the policies we still see today can provide a helpful blueprint for regulating cannabis in the present. From flavored products to outlet density, the policy debate around cannabis has renewed a much-needed discussion on the importance of balancing public health and safety considerations with the motive for profit of legal, controlled substances in the U.S.   Learning Objectives At the end of this session, participants will be able to explain the recommendations outlined in the historic alcohol analysis "Toward Liquor Control," and their implications for cannabis today. They will also have an understanding of the rationale behind the recommendations that created the blueprint for the alcohol regulatory framework in the U.S. and how this framework takes shape in their communities. And they will be able to describe how the cannabis debate has renewed a dialogue about public health and safety considerations applicable to alcohol.   About the Presenters:   Mary Segawa, M.S., has worked in community and statewide prevention and public policy for over 20 years. She was the Public Health Education Liaison at the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board from 2010 to 2019, where she worked closely with other state agencies and community organizations to coordinate prevention efforts, provide training, and develop resources. Mary played a key role in promoting public health policy at the WSLCB as they implemented two citizen initiatives that profoundly affected the agency's operations: privatization of liquor and legalization of adult cannabis use and retail sales. She currently consults with regulatory, public health, prevention and research groups providing translation of information from different fields to support actions that meet their shared goals of protecting public health and safety.   Cassandra Greisen is the Public Policy Manager at the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA), a trade association representing alcohol regulators. She has 15 years of public health experience related to the regulation, enforcement, and marketing of alcohol. Prior to joining NABCA, Cassie was Faculty Associate at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she worked on both statewide and national projects implementing and assessing strategies to address excessive alcohol consumption.

**Please note that participants must register SEPARATELY for the two days of the events. Links to both days are at the end.** Course Description: In 2017, there were an estimated 70,200 overdose deaths in the United States, more than two-thirds (68%) of which involved an opioid, which translates to an average of 130 Americans dying daily from an opioid overdose. Numerous strategies have been identified to prevent opioid overdose deaths in the areas of primary (e.g., prescribing practices, use of PDMPs, reduce marketing, alternatives to pain management, etc.), tertiary (e.g., Naloxone, Good Samaritan Laws, fentanyl alerts, etc.), and secondary prevention (e.g., screening and early identification, SBIRT services, Medication Assisted Treatment, and safe storage/safe disposal). Although the prevention of opioid overdose death requires multi-sector collaboration with action taken along the drug pathway from manufacturing, marketing, prescribing, dispensing, using, disposing, treatment, and recovery, it is incumbent among providers to identify how they can contribute to prevention efforts within the context of their discipline and service setting. The Northeast & Caribbean Prevention Technology Transfer Center (NeC-PTTC) will be offering a series of workshops that expand upon effective strategies for preventing the further escalation of the opioid crisis. This 3-hour introductory workshop will provide an overview of the prevention landscape as it relates to: (a) Tertiary Prevention— emergency response strategies to reduce the “acute” risk of opioid overdose deaths; and (b) Secondary Prevention–interventions and treatments for individuals who exhibit signs of opioid misuse and/or opioid use disorders. Trainer: Mary McCarty-Arias Cost: Free Credits: This training meets the requirements for three renewal hours (CASAC, CPP, CPS) and three initial hours (CPP, CPS) through New York State’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS). The NJ Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services offers reciprocity for CADC, LCADC, and LPC. Participants must attend both sessions in their entirety in order to receive a Certificate of Completion. Click here to register for Wednesday, January 15th: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e53bb704818a9f1859fcc35d656415f23 Click here to register for Thursday, January 16th: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e158c77bed6d68ccfe896e26de85c3894  

Follow-up coaching calls to review and implement skills learned in the Invitation to Change training. This is a closed event.  These monthly calls are limited to the participants of the Invitation to Change Face to Face training on November 16, 2019.  

Implementation Science and Cultural Adaptation: A Two-way Street on a Bridge, will use the two theories to create the needed connection between CLAS Standards and clinical practice. We will look at cultural adaptation from the perspective of the host country, analyze the data on how we welcome and adapt to immigrant groups using evidence-based research, and evaluate our current healthcare environments. We will likewise go through all the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (The National CLAS Standards) and start applying Cultural Elements: Communication Principles and learn firsthand how implementation science and cultural adaptation can work together to benefit our diverse populations. This event is provided as a collaborative effort between the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC, the National Hispanic and Latino ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC, The Prevention Action Alliance, the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission, and the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services. This is a closed event. However, you can learn more about our upcoming training and technical events on the Great Lakes PTTC website under Upcoming Events. If no upcoming events are taking place near you, please contact your nearest state project manager to inquire about future training opportunities in your region.

McKinleyville, CA

About the EPLS: This 7-week series offers a unique interactive experience that provides participants an opportunity to learn more about the key organizational elements that assist coalitions of all types to operate efficiently and effectively. This series will have a special focus on coalitions that promote healthy youth development to reduce substance misuse and other related problem behaviors. Participants will explore a variety of organizational principles that will assist them in the overall development of their coalition by learning more about how to engage and sustain the involvement of key stakeholders and members over time, how to utilize dynamic group-development strategies, and how their efforts can connect with other coalition efforts in their area. The learning series is structured to provide online consultation, skill-based learning and practice, group and self-study activities, reading assignments, and discussion on topics essential to an effective community coalition structure when focusing on primary prevention. Participants will have the opportunity during the course to discuss specific “next steps” questions. Facilitator: Phyllis Law is a Senior Systems Change Specialist at the Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support Center (EPISCenter) at Penn State University.  She was one of the first to receive Communities That Care (CTC) Plus Coaching Certification through the University of Washington. In addition to providing direct technical assistance to CTC sites, she also provides direction and assistance to all types of coalition-related efforts, provides direction to the Drug & Alcohol Prevention Programs (DDAP) Needs Assessment project, serves on the PA Youth Survey Advisory Group (PAYSAG), assists with facilitation of the state-level Cross-Systems Prevention Workgroup (CSPW) and assists with overall center development with a special focus on strategic planning and partnership development. Phyllis has been working in the field of prevention for almost 30 years where she has worked at all levels from state government to grassroots organizations by providing program oversight, coalition development, event planning, training, and technical assistance in many areas of prevention. Dates & Times Alaska: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm  Pacific: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Mountain: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm   Session 1 – January 9, 2019 Session 2 – January 16, 2019 Session 3 – January 23, 2019 Session 4 – January 20, 2019 Session 5 – February 6, 2019 Session 6 – February 13, 2019 Session 7 – February 20, 2019

About the EPLS: This 7-week series offers a unique interactive experience that provides participants an opportunity to learn more about the key organizational elements that assist coalitions of all types to operate efficiently and effectively. This series will have a special focus on coalitions that promote healthy youth development to reduce substance misuse and other related problem behaviors. Participants will explore a variety of organizational principles that will assist them in the overall development of their coalition by learning more about how to engage and sustain the involvement of key stakeholders and members over time, how to utilize dynamic group-development strategies, and how their efforts can connect with other coalition efforts in their area. The learning series is structured to provide online consultation, skill-based learning and practice, group and self-study activities, reading assignments, and discussion on topics essential to an effective community coalition structure when focusing on primary prevention. Participants will have the opportunity during the course to discuss specific “next steps” questions. Facilitator: Phyllis Law is a Senior Systems Change Specialist at the Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support Center (EPISCenter) at Penn State University.  She was one of the first to receive Communities That Care (CTC) Plus Coaching Certification through the University of Washington. In addition to providing direct technical assistance to CTC sites, she also provides direction and assistance to all types of coalition-related efforts, provides direction to the Drug & Alcohol Prevention Programs (DDAP) Needs Assessment project, serves on the PA Youth Survey Advisory Group (PAYSAG), assists with facilitation of the state-level Cross-Systems Prevention Workgroup (CSPW) and assists with overall center development with a special focus on strategic planning and partnership development. Phyllis has been working in the field of prevention for almost 30 years where she has worked at all levels from state government to grassroots organizations by providing program oversight, coalition development, event planning, training, and technical assistance in many areas of prevention. States & American Samoa: Mountain: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm   Pacific: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm  Hawaii: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm American Samoa: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Session 1 – January 8, 2019 Session 2 – January 15, 2019 Session 3 – January 22, 2019 Session 4 – January 29, 2019 Session 5 – February 5, 2019 Session 6 – February 12, 2019 Session 7 – February 19, 2019 Jurisdictions: Republic of the Marshall Islands: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Pohnpei & Kosrae: 10:00 am – 11:30 am   Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Chuuk & Yap: 9:00 am – 10:30 am  Republic of Palau: 8:00 am – 9:30 am Session 1 – January 9, 2019 Session 2 – January 16, 2019 Session 3 – January 23, 2019 Session 4 – January 30, 2019 Session 5 – February 6, 2019 Session 6 – February 13, 2019 Session 7 – February 20, 2019

Due to high interest, this is a second offering of the live webinar first held in December, to officially launch the PTTC Network Marijuana Prevention Education Toolkit.   The nationwide PTTC Network Marijuana Risk Work Group was convened to develop marijuana prevention technical assistance products to assist the nation's workforce in their very important and urgent marijuana prevention work. This past October, the Work Group was pleased to release the first set of resources in the Marijuana Prevention & Education Toolkit.     In this webinar, participants will receive a detailed overview of each of the four products in the toolkit. The following will be covered in the webinar: Description of each of the four tools, Goals and intended uses for each product, Tips and pointers for implementation,   Questions or comments from webinar participants.    At the conclusion of the toolkit overview, the remainder of the webinar will serve as a listening session where participants will have a chance to share with the PTTC staff, other issues or challenges related to marijuana prevention. This feedback and input will help to inform the development of future marijuana prevention tools, trainings, and technical assistance services.   All participants will receive the link to download the tools showcased in the webinar.

---This Webinar in Spanish/Este seminario web es en Español--- El Mercadeo social y la abogacía de medios son herramientas poderosas basadas en el modelo de salud pública que pueden ayudar a las organizaciones a alcanzar sus metas. Este Webinar es una introducción a ambos conceptos. Los objetivos principales serán: Definir qué es mercadeo social y abogacía en medios de comunicación Identificar las diferencias entre el mercadeo social y la abogacía en medios de comunicación Contextualizar su uso estratégico Identificar algunos métodos para su aplicación Social marketing and media advocacy are powerful tools based on the public health model that can help organizations achieve their stated goals. This Webinar is an introduction to both concepts. The main objectives will be: What social marketing and media advocacy is Identify the differences between social marketing and media advocacy Contextualize its strategic use Identify a few application methods Speakers Yimaris Menendez Consultant, Trainer @Promoviendo Alternatives Saludables Yimaris Menendez has 20 years of experience as a consultant and trainer for different public and private organizations in Puerto Rico, where she resides, Central and South America. She worked as a regional councils coordinator for the Puerto Rican Coalition for Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking in Puerto Rico. This coalition was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was one of thirteen in the US to receive the island wide grant. Ms. Menendez also managed and served as director of a youth project that was sponsored by the Traffic Safety Commission and provided educational programs related to traffic safety and underage drinking to the island’s youth. From 2005-2010, she coordinated a Drug-Free Community grant in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The grant enabled the Carolina Community Coalition to succeed in changing public policies related to alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among youth. Jose Malave Consultant, Trainer @Promoviendo Alternativas Saludables (PAS, Corp.) Mr. Jose Malave Rexach has a professional experience of more than 20 years working in the field of substance abuse prevention, community mobilization, public policy and development of community coalitions. He started in the substance abuse prevention field as research assistant of the Puerto Rico Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking (a grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Technical Assistance of the American Medical Association). In 2003 went to direct the efforts of the Coalition focused on environmental policy changes to reduce alcohol access to minors. He is one of the founders of Health Alternative Promotions; a consulting organization to promote health and help organizations to promote policies that contributes for personal and organizational quality of life, community mobilization and strategic planning. Mr. Malave was the project director of Carolina Alcohol and Drug Free Community by ASPIRA of Puerto Rico helping reducing Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs among youth

Program Description: There is an alarming rise in the number of American teens and adults who are trying vaping. It is reversing the hard-fought declines achieved in the use nicotine. Vaping may pose serious and avoidable effects on health and brain development and the potential for addiction in youth. This Project ECHO will bring expert faculty together with groups from across New England who are focusing their efforts on substance use prevention to share knowledge and strategies to further their efforts to reduce vaping and its associated harms through case-based learning. This Project ECHO® on reducing vaping is first of a series of ECHO Projects to be initiated by the NEPTTC. Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an evidence-based distance learning method developed by researchers at the University of New Mexico. The 9-month program begins in October 2019 with monthly sessions between October and May.   Learning Objectives: Speed the dissemination and adoption of prevention evidence-based protocols, guidelines and practices. Share prevention efforts that are occurring across the communities in New England. Build prevention capacity across communities/states. Promote the ability to collect and analyze data.  

Date: December 17, 2019 Format: Webinar Contact Hours: 1 NAADAC Time: 1 PM—2 PM ET Cost: FREE   COURSE DESCRIPTION The first step to implementing a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to prevention is to understand, to the fullest extent possible, the surrounding substance use landscape. This requires collecting, analyzing, understanding, and prioritizing data from multiple sources to develop a complete picture of the issues that need to be addressed. This webinar will describe how to conduct a substance use needs assessment, discuss potential data sources and how to access them, and explain techniques for analyzing and prioritizing needs assessment results. It will also walk through ways that technology can be used to support the needs assessment process.   COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss the importance of conducting a needs assessment Describe the key steps of a needs assessment Discuss strategies for overcoming needs assessment challenges Explain techniques for prioritizing results SERIES DESCRIPTION A Six-Part Webinar Series on the Strategic Prevention Framework and Related Topics This six-part webinar series developed by the Central East PTTC will support and build the capacity of the prevention workforce. The series is a skill building training that will detail the steps to implementing a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to prevention using the five stages of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework: 1) Needs Assessment, 2) Building Capacity, 3) Planning, 4) Implementation, and 5) Evaluation. The series will explain the importance of each stage and what aspects of the strategic planning process they cover, techniques for completing each stage, and strategies for overcoming obstacles. This series will also discuss other relevant topics, such as: ethical approaches to prevention, how to prioritize data, and how to modify programs, among others. Webinars will be held on December 3, December 17, January 28, February 20, March 16, and March 26. Each webinar will be scheduled at 1pm EST and recordings will be made available 2-3 weeks after the webinar concludes on this site.   SERIES LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the importance of an evidence-based approach to prevention Discuss the five stages of the Strategic Prevention Framework Examine how to apply the Strategic Prevention Framework to implement evidence-based prevention interventions Describe common challenges and strategies for overcoming obstacles 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 training and technical assistance to numerous organizations at the Federal, state, and local levels. 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.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Epidemiologists and evaluators provide a foundation for prevention programming by collecting, managing, and interpreting a program's data. Therefore, it is critical that program staff reflect on how to work with them for the best outcomes to the program. Participants in the field of prevention will hear from national experts, Drs. Kyle Barrington (evaluator) and Sandeep Kasat (epidemiologist) on the respective roles and responsibilities of those data collectors and how they help build the prevention program.       Trainer - Kyle Barrington, Ph.D.     Kyle Barrington, Ph.D., has over 30 years’ experience in the field of substance abuse 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.      Trainer - Sandeep Kasat, Ph.D.     Sandeep Kasat, Ph.D., is a senior epidemiologist and Westat Senior Study Director with 15 years of experience in behavioral health epidemiology, especially as it relates to substance misuse prevention. He has assisted all SAMHSA-funded states, jurisdictions, and tribes in using epidemiologic data and analyses to highlight disparities and at-risk populations, create data-guided plans, select evidence-based strategies, and monitor and evaluate results to assess prevention progress. As director of epidemiology on the Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) training and technical assistance contract, he assisted SAMHSA's prevention grantees in applying substance-related consequence, consumption pattern, and risk and protective factor data to prevention planning and decision making. Before joining Westat, Dr. Kasat was a principal investigator for SAMHSA's State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) contract. He also served as the substance abuse epidemiologist on Maine's Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG). Before coming to the United States, Dr. Kasat was a practicing physician in the Department of Skin, Venereal, and Infectious Diseases at the Government Medical College in Nagpur, India.   Moderator - Iris Smith, Ph.D. Iris Smith, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor Emeritus at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, leading graduate courses in program evaluation, substance abuse, social determinants of health, and the Mental Health Capson course. In addition to teaching, Iris also served as principal or co-investigator for numerous studies on the prenatal effects of alcohol and other drugs and treatment and interventions with women who misuse substances, including a treatment demonstration grant for pregnant and parenting addicted women and their children. Previously, Dr. Smith served as the Coordinator for the CAPT Southeast Resource Team. .  

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!! The New England PTTC announces the next installment in the Prevention in Action Webinar series.  Each webinar within this series will feature a success story in prevention in New England.  This is an opportunity to share across the New England states those successful prevention initiatives being implemented across the region. It's a chance to learn about a strategy or initiative you may be interested in implementing in your state or community.   Each webinar presentation takes participants through the steps taken to put the particular initiative into action.  At the conclusion of each presentation, webinar participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of the presenter and get tips on how they could replicate in their own state or community.     This month's webinar...   Vaping in Middle Schools: What Students Know, Experience, and Believe   Description:  This presentation will summarize findings from three focus groups about vaping conducted with middle school students located in Androscoggin County, Maine. The students discussed vaping and shared their thoughts, experiences, attitudes, and knowledge around this topic. In this 1-hour webinar, the presenters will discuss their research process, focus group findings, and distribute prevention resources developed based on their takeaways from this project.   Presenter Bios: Mary Caron is a health promotion coordinator at Healthy Androscoggin working primarily on their tobacco and substance use prevention efforts. In her role, she works extensively with young people, which she utilized to research vaping attitudes and beliefs among middle school students. Mary completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Southern Maine in biology and public health, respectively and she currently holds her provisional prevention specialist certification. Prior to working at HA, Mary worked on a variety of public health related projects including chronic disease epidemiology and program evaluation. Corrie Brown is a Prevention Manager at Healthy Androscoggin. She graduated from Boston College in 2008 with a Master of Social Work degree.  While at Boston College, Corrie specialized in macro-level social work which focuses on interventions at the community level.  In 2000, Corrie graduated from Regis College with a Bachelor of Social Work.  She currently holds a license as a Master-level social worker through the State of Maine and a certified Prevention Specialist through the IC&RC.  Corrie has worked throughout southern and central Maine with people and families of all ages who have been diagnosed with a mental health, substance use, and chronic disease or disorder.  Corrie is certified to teach Prevention Ethics, Prime for Life, and Responsible Server/Seller Trainings. In May 2019, Corrie joined the Board of Directors for Tri County Mental Health Services.  

Webinar Overview While there has been recent attention given to the opioid epidemic, many prevention practitioners remain concerned about rising rates of methamphetamine use in their communities. This webinar will highlight the emerging trends in methamphetamine use in the Northwest region of the United States including a discussion of the current and emerging data on demographics and use rates. The webinar will also highlight prevention approaches to address methamphetamine use and how organizations can collaborate across sectors to better understand and combat misuse in their communities. Register Here   Presenter Steven Freng, Psy.D., MSW., Prevention/Treatment Manager for the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NW HIDTA) The NW HIDTA, is a region of fourteen counties within Washington State that has been designated by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for special law enforcement and chemical dependency initiatives. Dr. Freng has acquired over 30 years of experience as a chemical dependency professional, having worked in clinical, supervisory, administrative and managerial capacities in the development and delivery of chemical dependency prevention and treatment services in the State of Washington.   Date and Time Thursday, December 12, 2019 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Alaska 12:00 pm - 01:30 pm Pacific 01:00 pm - 02:30 pm Mountain/Arizona

Young adults are an important population for substance use prevention efforts. This webinar will review the process of developing an evidence- based guide on substance use prevention for young adults, including: reviewing the literature and science examining emerging and best practices, determining key components of peer-reviewed models that effect policies and programs identifying challenges and gaps in implementation.   Kim Dash is a senior research scientist with Education Development Center. Her work focuses on translating research and practice on disease and risk prevention into evidence-informed interventions that improve public health. Dr. Dash recently served as a subject matter expert for the development of SAMHSA’s Evidence-Based Substance Misuse Prevention for Emerging Adults guidebook and as the scientific advisor for SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies. She has led a national initiative to grow the evidence base in substance misuse prevention working with more than 500 community-based organizations to refine program elements and develop their evaluation capacity.  She has an MPH from the University of North Carolina and PhD in Child, Youth, and Family Policy from Brandeis University.      

Part two: Learn how one Wisconsin school district partners with the county restorative justice program to engage with youth caught vaping on school grounds. Speakers:   Tim Wavrunek has 23 years of experience in the human services field. He has served as the   executive  director of the Eau Claire County Restorative Justice Program since 2005. In this role, he is   responsible for the day-to-day operations of the program, ranging from administrative and budgetary   duties to staffing and direct service provision, including Victim/Offender Conferencing, Peace Circles,   Accountability Workshops, and At-Risk Accountability Mentoring.    Kim Koller, Director of Administrative Services, Eau Claire School District     This is the second in a two-part webinar series on vaping. Part 1, Vaping: Health Effects and Program Spotlight: CATCH My Breath, was presented on December 5, 2019. A recording of the webinar will be available on the Great Lakes PTTC website and YouTube Channel.   

This event on marijuana will include the latest updates on marijuana policy, rules, and regulation trends in Maine with a focus on implementing prevention amidst the changing policy landscape.  Topics covered will include youth use in Maine, identifying marijuana forms, discussion on edibles, and issues related to potency.  Also included will be an overview of the new Marijuana Prevention Education Toolkit from the Prevention Technology Transfer Center.