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  Download the attached flyer or read below to see what the Mountain Plains ATTC has planned for grant year number 5!   The Landscape is Getting Greener: A Series on the Current Science of Cannabis BEGINNING IN DECEMBER Webinar trainings covering multiple aspects related to medical and recreational marijuana use DEC 1, 2021 Cannabis 101: Beau Kilmer DEC 15, 2021 Prevention: Ruben Baler JAN 12, 2022 Cannabis Use and Addiction in Rural Populations: Alan Budney JAN 26, 2022 Cannabis and Medical Marijuana Issues Panel: Charlie Smith, Moderator; Alan Budney; Aaron Norton; and Roneet Lev FEB 9, 2022 Serious Mental Illness & Marijuana: Andy McLean FEB 23, 2022 Adolescents: Christian Thurstone MAR 9, 2022 Older Adults: Namkee Choi MAR 23, 2022 Cannabis & Maternal Health: Maridee Shogren MAR 30, 2022 Wrap-Up with Live Q&A session: Roneet Lev APR 8, 2022 The Clinician’s Guide to Addressing Medical Cannabis in Substance Use Treatment Settings: Aaron Norton   Learn More about the 2021-2022 Cannabis Series   Policy Briefs COMING IN DECEMBER State-specific statistics and priorities to provide information and education to your state policy-makers and legislators   Enhanced Professional Learning (EPL) Series for your intensive training needs NEW SERIES TO BE ANNOUNCED Topics coming in 2022: Motivational Interviewing-Into Practice: Jan 11 - Mar 8, 2022 (Register Here) ASAM: March 30 - May 11, 2022 Trauma-Informed Approach: April - May 2022 Technology-Based Clinical Supervision SBIRT New Ethical Dilemmas Co-Occurring Disorders   Alcohol Misuse COMING IN 2022 A series of podcasts addressing emerging issues related to alcohol misuse in our Region, women and alcohol, the impact of COVID-19 on alcohol consumption, and more.   Educators’ Toolkit SPRING 2022 Resources and modules that can be used by faculty in social work, counseling, nursing, medicine and behavioral and allied health professions to infuse substance use disorder content into existing courses   Workforce Development SPRING 2022 We’ve heard your concerns and workforce needs. MPATTC staff are working on resources for effective workforce recruitment and retention strategies in behavioral health field.  

Todd Molfenter, Ph.D. Director, Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC Principal Investigator, Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network’s (JCOIN) Implementational and Translational Research Core Jessica Vechinski, M.S.W Project Coordinator, Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network's (JCOIN) Imple

The ATTC Network is funded by SAMHSA and the author’s opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of SAMHSA or the ATTC. We respectfully offer this article to encourage healthy discussion to advance our field. By Nevaeh Burton-Anderson SimplyVee LLC September is recovery month; this is a ti

3-Session Virtual Learning Community Session 2 Please join us for our Detoxifying Machismo series that takes a critical look at how Latino fathers have often been ignored, forgotten and even vilified by behavioral health professionals and the system of care. Explore intersections of stigma/culturally relevant healing, care provision in mental health and substance use disorder, and in developing care for Latino fathers. Our three panelists and moderator will provide their personal and professional perspectives as Latino fathers working in behavioral health care providing fields. Participants will be engaged in meaningful dialogue on this dynamic topic and will leave the series with practical tools to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate standards in their behavioral health delivery services to better engage with, recruit and retain Latino males and fathers in their programs. Learning Objectives: Uncover and Address Myths about Latino Fathers. Address the Machismo Stigma: Unpacking then rebalancing how current narratives negative impact perceptions of Latino father. Present and Discuss Models for Care and Support of Latino Fathers/Latino Men Understand the bi-directional impact machismo has had on access to and perception of behavioral health service delivery. Pierluigi Mancini, PhD, MAC - Moderator Project Director for the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center and the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Roberto Gurza, LMFT - Panelist Over a 40-yr career, has worked as a public and nonprofit leader, focused on the individual, organizational, and systemic factors involved in the delivery of culturally and linguistically relevant care to un- and under-served communities. Juan Escobedo, MA - Panelist Experienced in strategic planning, program development, evaluation, implementation, and consultation for numerous agency initiatives, committees, and non-profits in the public sector. Currently a program officer working for Caring for Denver Foundation improving the mental health and substance misuse needs of all residents of the City and County of Denver. Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC - Panelist CEO/Founder of Serna Solutions and a trainer and consultant in behavioral health issues related to Evidence Based Practices, Cultural Considerations and Ethical Issues. He is also the Director of the Addictions, Abuse and Recovery Certificate at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM and the current President of NAADAC New Mexico.

3-Session Virtual Learning Community Session 2 Please join us for our Detoxifying Machismo series that takes a critical look at how Latino fathers have often been ignored, forgotten and even vilified by behavioral health professionals and the system of care. Explore intersections of stigma/culturally relevant healing, care provision in mental health and substance use disorder, and in developing care for Latino fathers. Our three panelists and moderator will provide their personal and professional perspectives as Latino fathers working in behavioral health care providing fields. Participants will be engaged in meaningful dialogue on this dynamic topic and will leave the series with practical tools to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate standards in their behavioral health delivery services to better engage with, recruit and retain Latino males and fathers in their programs. Learning Objectives: Uncover and Address Myths about Latino Fathers. Address the Machismo Stigma: Unpacking then rebalancing how current narratives negative impact perceptions of Latino father. Present and Discuss Models for Care and Support of Latino Fathers/Latino Men Understand the bi-directional impact machismo has had on access to and perception of behavioral health service delivery. Pierluigi Mancini, PhD, MAC - Moderator Project Director for the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center and the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Roberto Gurza, LMFT - Panelist Over a 40-yr career, has worked as a public and nonprofit leader, focused on the individual, organizational, and systemic factors involved in the delivery of culturally and linguistically relevant care to un- and under-served communities. Juan Escobedo, MA - Panelist Experienced in strategic planning, program development, evaluation, implementation, and consultation for numerous agency initiatives, committees, and non-profits in the public sector. Currently a program officer working for Caring for Denver Foundation improving the mental health and substance misuse needs of all residents of the City and County of Denver. Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC - Panelist CEO/Founder of Serna Solutions and a trainer and consultant in behavioral health issues related to Evidence Based Practices, Cultural Considerations and Ethical Issues. He is also the Director of the Addictions, Abuse and Recovery Certificate at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM and the current President of NAADAC New Mexico.

3-Session Virtual Learning Community Session 1 Please join us for our Detoxifying Machismo series that takes a critical look at how Latino fathers have often been ignored, forgotten and even vilified by behavioral health professionals and the system of care. Explore intersections of stigma/culturally relevant healing, care provision in mental health and substance use disorder, and in developing care for Latino fathers. Our three panelists and moderator will provide their personal and professional perspectives as Latino fathers working in behavioral health care providing fields. Participants will be engaged in meaningful dialogue on this dynamic topic and will leave the series with practical tools to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate standards in their behavioral health delivery services to better engage with, recruit and retain Latino males and fathers in their programs. Learning Objectives: Uncover and Address Myths about Latino Fathers. Address the Machismo Stigma: Unpacking then rebalancing how current narratives negative impact perceptions of Latino father. Present and Discuss Models for Care and Support of Latino Fathers/Latino Men Understand the bi-directional impact machismo has had on access to and perception of behavioral health service delivery. Pierluigi Mancini, PhD, MAC - Moderator Project Director for the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center and the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Roberto Gurza, LMFT - Panelist Over a 40-yr career, has worked as a public and nonprofit leader, focused on the individual, organizational, and systemic factors involved in the delivery of culturally and linguistically relevant care to un- and under-served communities. Juan Escobedo, MA - Panelist Experienced in strategic planning, program development, evaluation, implementation, and consultation for numerous agency initiatives, committees, and non-profits in the public sector. Currently a program officer working for Caring for Denver Foundation improving the mental health and substance misuse needs of all residents of the City and County of Denver. Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC - Panelist CEO/Founder of Serna Solutions and a trainer and consultant in behavioral health issues related to Evidence Based Practices, Cultural Considerations and Ethical Issues. He is also the Director of the Addictions, Abuse and Recovery Certificate at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM and the current President of NAADAC New Mexico.

This meeting will provide an overview of this intensive training and technical assistance project to build capacity within DSAMH and DSCYF in fully integrating Motivational Interviewing (MI) into administration, onboarding, supervision and the provision of programs and services. During this meeting, we will: Provide orientation to the Central East ATTC and its role & commitment to behavioral health workforce development. Describe the partnership between Central East and DE DHSS, specifically DSAMH and DSCYF, in this project. Provide a basic understanding of MI and the plan to build capacity in DSAMH and DSCYF, and the larger DE system of care. Describe the purpose and structure of the intensive technical assistance project, including time investment and timeline. Answer questions surrounding participation. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in Delaware in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing (MI) into administration, supervision and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates. Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill building. Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turn over, vacancy rates and increased job satisfaction.  

The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. This is an invite-only event.

The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. This is an invite-only event.

The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. PRESENTERS: Sky Kershner & Christine Higgins This is an invite-only event.

The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. PRESENTERS: Sky Kershner & Christine Higgins This is an invite-only event.

DESCRIPTION The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. ABOUT MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. PRESENTERS Christine Higgins, M.A., is an expert trainer in Motivational Interviewing, a counseling technique that helps people understand how to make a change and how to increase motivation to create that change. Often people want to make a change or know they should make a change, but they are not sure what’s holding them back or getting in the way of moving forward. Motivational Interviewing is a highly effective, non-judgmental technique that allows individuals to see what might be creating a barrier to change and to engage them in a change plan discussion that is energizing. Ms. Higgins attended MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), a national training organization, in 2005, and she has been training professionals in this technique ever since.   Sky Kershner, LPC, LCSW, ALPS, is the Executive Director of the KPCC Counseling in Charleston, WV, and is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at WVU School of Medicine, Dept of Behavioral Medicine. Sky has a Doctor of Ministry degree as well as a Masters in Clinical Social Work. Sky is a Member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Sky has received several awards for his professional work, including the WV Civil Rights Award and WV Counselor of the Year. Sky was a contributing author for the book “ACT Therapy for Pastoral Counselors,” edited by Steven Hayes, and his biggest “15 minutes of fame” moment is that he once appeared as a guest therapist on the Discovery Studios show “Hoarders.”  Sky lives in Charleston with his wife, two teens, a dog, and five chickens.   This is an invite-only event.

DESCRIPTION The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. ABOUT MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. PRESENTERS Christine Higgins, M.A., is an expert trainer in Motivational Interviewing, a counseling technique that helps people understand how to make a change and how to increase motivation to create that change. Often people want to make a change or know they should make a change, but they are not sure what’s holding them back or getting in the way of moving forward. Motivational Interviewing is a highly effective, non-judgmental technique that allows individuals to see what might be creating a barrier to change and to engage them in a change plan discussion that is energizing. Ms. Higgins attended MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), a national training organization, in 2005, and she has been training professionals in this technique ever since.   Sky Kershner, LPC, LCSW, ALPS, is the Executive Director of the KPCC Counseling in Charleston, WV, and is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at WVU School of Medicine, Dept of Behavioral Medicine. Sky has a Doctor of Ministry degree as well as a Masters in Clinical Social Work. Sky is a Member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Sky has received several awards for his professional work, including the WV Civil Rights Award and WV Counselor of the Year. Sky was a contributing author for the book “ACT Therapy for Pastoral Counselors,” edited by Steven Hayes, and his biggest “15 minutes of fame” moment is that he once appeared as a guest therapist on the Discovery Studios show “Hoarders.”  Sky lives in Charleston with his wife, two teens, a dog, and five chickens.   This is an invite-only event.

DESCRIPTION The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. ABOUT MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. PRESENTERS Christine Higgins, M.A., is an expert trainer in Motivational Interviewing, a counseling technique that helps people understand how to make a change and how to increase motivation to create that change. Often people want to make a change or know they should make a change, but they are not sure what’s holding them back or getting in the way of moving forward. Motivational Interviewing is a highly effective, non-judgmental technique that allows individuals to see what might be creating a barrier to change and to engage them in a change plan discussion that is energizing. Ms. Higgins attended MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), a national training organization, in 2005, and she has been training professionals in this technique ever since.   Sky Kershner, LPC, LCSW, ALPS, is the Executive Director of the KPCC Counseling in Charleston, WV, and is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at WVU School of Medicine, Dept of Behavioral Medicine. Sky has a Doctor of Ministry degree as well as a Masters in Clinical Social Work. Sky is a Member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Sky has received several awards for his professional work, including the WV Civil Rights Award and WV Counselor of the Year. Sky was a contributing author for the book “ACT Therapy for Pastoral Counselors,” edited by Steven Hayes, and his biggest “15 minutes of fame” moment is that he once appeared as a guest therapist on the Discovery Studios show “Hoarders.”  Sky lives in Charleston with his wife, two teens, a dog, and five chickens.   This is an invite-only event.

DESCRIPTION The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.  Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.  Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. ABOUT MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care. PRESENTERS Christine Higgins, M.A., is an expert trainer in Motivational Interviewing, a counseling technique that helps people understand how to make a change and how to increase motivation to create that change. Often people want to make a change or know they should make a change, but they are not sure what’s holding them back or getting in the way of moving forward. Motivational Interviewing is a highly effective, non-judgmental technique that allows individuals to see what might be creating a barrier to change and to engage them in a change plan discussion that is energizing. Ms. Higgins attended MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), a national training organization, in 2005, and she has been training professionals in this technique ever since.   Sky Kershner, LPC, LCSW, ALPS, is the Executive Director of the KPCC Counseling in Charleston, WV, and is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at WVU School of Medicine, Dept of Behavioral Medicine. Sky has a Doctor of Ministry degree as well as a Masters in Clinical Social Work. Sky is a Member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Sky has received several awards for his professional work, including the WV Civil Rights Award and WV Counselor of the Year. Sky was a contributing author for the book “ACT Therapy for Pastoral Counselors,” edited by Steven Hayes, and his biggest “15 minutes of fame” moment is that he once appeared as a guest therapist on the Discovery Studios show “Hoarders.”  Sky lives in Charleston with his wife, two teens, a dog, and five chickens.   This is an invite-only event.

Implementing Motivational Interviewing in West Virginia Behavioral Health Provider Organizations Project Interest Meeting Intensive TA Capacity Building Project The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are: The timely, appropriate and effective engagement individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services and supports. Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates. Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building. Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates and increased job satisfaction. Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state. Our approach is driven by: The impact of the current opioid epidemic in Region 3, particularly in WV; The knowledge that the majority of individuals with behavioral health disorders are not in treatment; The effectiveness of MI to increase engagement and retention of behavioral health professionals and the individuals and families they serve; The need to increase the implementation of evidence-based practices throughout the WV public health system.  Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care.   Building Organizational Capacity Through recent training and technical assistance efforts, there are over 3000 individual WV practitioners trained in MI. A component of this project aims to work with WV provider organization change leaders to create an “MI spirit” within their organizational culture that supports the training, application and full integration of MI skills throughout the employment and service delivery structure, thereby supporting many of these previously trained practitioners. It offers the possibilities to improve not only organizational culture but also the possibilities of improving the organizational bottom line through increased show rates for the initial appointment, increased show rates for follow up, decreased termination of services prior to treatment plan completion, increase employee retention and job satisfaction as a protective factor against compassion fatigue. This project serves to sustain the WVPBHS MI capacity in the existing 3000+ clinicians, and to enhance that capacity through organization clinical supervision and support, virtual MI application real-time technical assistance sessions, and additional training of practitioners.  The organizational capacity-building portion of the project will be achieved over a six- to nine-month period through face-to-face Implementation Facilitation and MI Basic and Advanced MI training, coupled with intensive technical assistance to implement and sustain the knowledge and skills. The Central East ATTC will also provide a training of trainers (TOT) to ensure organizational capacity is sustained over time.   Interested organizations will be invited to submit an application with senior leadership endorsement.  Up to five (5) organizations would be selected to participate in this process. 

Addressing health disparities and advancing equity is a major area of focus for the New England ATTC. Our ATTC offers multiple training and TA events on this topic regionally. Recent highlights include: New England School of Best Practices and School of Addiction and Prevention Studies[BD1]&nbs

Maureen NicholsDirector, South Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer CenterHHS Region 6 Co-authors: Pat StilenDirector Mid-America Addiction Technology Transfer CenterHHS Region 7Thomasine HeitkampPI and Co-DirectorMountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Mountain Plains Addiction

Description: This technical assistance is intended to provide skills in the Motivational Interview approach. It will focus on recruiting and retaining qualified teens for, or participating in, the project. The objectives of this technical assistance are: Present the Transtheoretical Model of Change and its stages as tools to understand how change occurs Discuss the fundamentals of the Motivational Interview (theoretical aspects) so that the participants become familiar with the principles and strategies that this approach uses CEUs are not offered for this training. A certificate of attendance will be provided.

Description: This third technical assistance is focused on practicing how the learned MS skills can be implemented, as an essential part of the recruitment and retention of adolescents. The objective of this technical assistance is: • Strengthen, through practical exercises, the integration of the fundamentals learned from the Motivational Interview in the implementation of services. CEUs are not offered for this training. A certificate of attendance will be provided.