South Southwest ATTC

Addiction and Recovery:  Cultural Elements in Working with Hispanic, Latino/a and Latinx/e Populations April 17, 2024    9:00am- 4:00pm CT Northwestern State University *THIS IS A CLOSED EVENT* Learn how Cultural Change can impact Substance Use Disorders and Recovery in Hispanic, Latino/a, and Latinx/e individuals, families, and communities. Learning Objectives: Identify and address barriers faced by Hispanic, Latinos/as, Latinx/e communities and service providers regarding access, quality of care, and readiness for treatment and recovery. Explain the relationship between culture and the continuum of care. Understand the impact of immigration and migration on mental health, addiction, and family dynamics. Identify approaches to integrating culture into your practice. Trainer: Haner Hernández, Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI Dr. Hernández is Puerto Rican, bilingual and has worked for over 36 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically intelligent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs. This event is in partnership with SSW ATTC Educational Consortium member, Northwestern State University. This event is for students, faculty, and partners of NSU only. It is not a public event. 

The Power of Perception: Why Addiction is a 'Disease' April 18, 2024 11am- 12pm CT VIRTUAL TRAINING 1.0 CEU Available Facilitator: Daphne Holmes Daphne Holmes serves as the Executive Director of CARE-Dallas, a non-profit organization committed to providing resources and education to individuals and families affected by addiction. This year, CARE is adding programs to extend its reach. Given the current Fentanyl crisis, there is a critical need for organizations like CARE to remain vigilant in their efforts to curb addiction. Daphne's personal journey has uniquely equipped her with the perspective to make a profound impact on the lives of others. Having overcome substance abuse herself, she is dedicated to serving individuals and families struggling with addiction. Through her own experiences and her work with individuals across Dallas, Daphne has gained unparalleled insights into the challenges, facts, myths, and potential solutions for addiction.  Summary: This webinar will explore addiction as disease, its physical and mental effects, the power of choice as it relates to addiction and the keys to recovery. Learning Objectives: Define addiction & recognize its effect on the brain and how it impacts choice and control. Understand the factors that contribute to the development of addiction, such as predisposition, environmental factors, and co-occuring mental health disorders. Understand why recognizing addiction as a disease reduces stigma and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based treatment.   Hosted by SSW ATTC Educational Consortium Partner, UNT Dallas as a part of their 2024 Brown Bag Webinar Series, every 3rd Thursday between April – August.

SSW ATTC Annual Advisory Board Meeting April 24, 2024 8:30am- 3:00pm  In- Person event in Austin, TX   The annual convening of the SSW ATTC Advisory Board members, stakeholders, and partners. This meeting will focus on the current needs and current services for HHS Region 6 States; AR, OK, NM, LA, and TX. We will discuss on promising practices in the field, current drug trends, planned activities and trainings hosted by the SSW ATTC and its Educational Consortium partners. It will also create valuable networking opportunities to foster relationships and promote collaborations among Region 6. *This meeting is by INVITATION ONLY.*

The purpose of the listening sessions was to gather information from family members and loved ones of people with substance use challenges to better understand family members’ experiences supporting and seeking support for their loved one who is using substances; to ask what questions family members have about supporting their loved one who is using substances; to ask who or what is providing support for family members; and the unmet needs for support for family members. Version 1 of this report in February 2023, which described the process and findings from the initial round of listening session in 2022. Version 2 of this report describes the process and findings of additional follow up community outreach in 2023 to enhance the first phase of this consultation process: including a new round of listening sessions with family members and loved ones of people who use substances.  This project is in collaboration with the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and National Hispanic and Latino ATTC.

  The South Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (SSW ATTC) collaborates with Faith Partners, Inc. a non-profit 501©3, which was founded in 1995 by religious leaders seeking ways to mobilize faith communities’ resources to address alcohol and drug issues in their communities. Faith Partners provides the leadership, training, educational materials and consultation to initiate, develop and sustain a faith communities’ efforts to address drugs and alcohol and its impact on their members. Faith Partners provides an individualized plan to start an effective team effort to address the needs of the whole faith community. As part of the process of building capacity and identifying the unique needs and goals of each faith community around the development of their ministry, Faith Partners utilizes community surveys at several points in time. Following is a practical guide developed by the South Southwest ATTC with best practices for engaging the entire faith community in the survey process.

The purpose of the listening sessions was to gather information from family members and loved ones of people with substance use challenges to better understand family members’ experiences supporting and seeking support for their loved one who is using substances; to ask what questions family members have about supporting their loved one who is using substances; to ask who or what is providing support for family members; and the unmet needs for support for family members. This report describes the process and findings of the first phase of this consultation process: listening sessions with family members and loved ones of people who use substances. This project is in collaboration with the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and National Hispanic and Latino ATTC.