Products and Resources Catalog

The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. The April 2024 issue spotlights content celebrating National Minority Health Month and Alcohol Awareness Month. It also features links to upcoming trainings focused on supporting Black students experiencing racial trauma, harnessing AI for substance misuse prevention, and process improvement. Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!  

  While men’s addiction and mental health treatment has been quite successful, there is great room for improvement. This new framework, developed by Mr. Griffin and colleagues, integrates the latest thinking on addiction and recovery, relational cultural theory, male psychological development, and trauma. Current treatment models and theories fail to adequately consider the relational needs of men; often omit a clear understanding of the impact of the socialization process on men; fall short of adequately addressing the impact of abuse and trauma that is so strongly linked with addiction and the life of the male addict; and often ignore any social context and/or the consequences of political, social, and economic power.     TRAINER:   Dan Griffin, MA, is an internationally recognized author, thought leader, and expert on men’s relationships and masculinity. Dan has dedicated his life and work to exploring and redefining what it means to be a man in the 21st century. He is committed to helping men be better men by understanding the impact of the Man Rules on their lives. Dan also helps men find the success in their personal lives they are striving for in their professional ones. Griffin’s books and curricula are all focused on helping men and dads live their best lives. Dan served as a senior fellow at The Meadows, world-renowned experts treating addictive disorders and trauma, from 2015 to 2017. Dan earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Kansas. For his graduate work, Dan completed the first qualitative study centered on the social construction of masculinity in the culture of Alcoholics Anonymous. Dan is in long-term recovery and lives with his family in Los Angeles   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 Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. The March 2024 issue spotlights content celebrating Women's History Month and National Social Work Month. It also features updated versions of the Sustainability Planning in Prevention Guidebook and Sustainability Planning in Prevention Toolkit, as well as upcoming trainings focused on provider well-being and culturally responsive services for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) clients. As always, you will also find links to all scheduled events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC! Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!  

    In this virtual panel presentation, the 2024 Hall of Fame Award Recipients from the Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment, and Recovery will participate in a panel presentation discussing the importance of providing culturally-responsive care and ways practitioners can be more effective when working with African American clients.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of this presentation, you will be able to: Work more effectively with African American clients Better provide cross-cultural care when working with African American clients Be guided by research on best practices when providing culturally-responsive care in your work with African American clients Articulate effective harm reduction strategies for African Americans with substance use disorders     PANELISTS:    Corrie Vilsaint, PhD Dr. Vilsaint is the associate director of recovery health equity at the Recovery Research Institute and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on addiction recovery capital, reducing discrimination among individuals in recovery, and racial health equity in remission and recovery. Dr. Vilsaint’s research is supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism, and her work as a community psychologist has been awarded by the American Psychological Association.     Fred Dyer, PhD, LADC Dr. Dyer is a practitioner, presenter, consultant, and writer specializing in providing culturally responsive treatment for African American adolescents, emerging adults, and emerging adult refugees. Dr. Dyer has over 100 scholarly publications on the treatment of mental health, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders for African American adolescents and emerging adults. He is also the executive director of Hope Recovery Center and a recipient of the key to the city for Laurel, Mississippi—an honor award to him by the city’s mayor in recognition of his innovative consultations and trainings on culturally responsive services for African American teenage girls in the justice system.     Chyrell Bellamy, PhD, MSW Dr. Bellamy is a professor at Yale University's Department of Psychiatry, and she also serves as director of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health, director of the Peer Support Services and Research, director of the Yale Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy, director of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health. Dr. Bellamy also co-designs and conducts community-based participatory research with communities of color and people living with psychiatric Illness, substance use disorders, HIV, homelessness, and incarceration histories. Her research also focuses on healthcare disparities, sociocultural pathways of recovery, and the development of culturally responsive interventions.   Representative La Shawn Ford Representative Ford is the representative of the 8th District of Illinois. He is founder of The Westside Heroin and Opioid Taskforce which serves as an innovative strategic model for creating recovery-oriented systems of care in underserved communities across the nation. The taskforce has mobilized over 33 organizations to work together in the community to reduce overdose and promote recovery on the west side of Chicago. These partners include persons with lived experience; the formerly incarcerated; recovery community organizations, substance use disorders and mental health treatment providers; mobile treatment providers; hospitals; and harm reduction specialists. Last year, the taskforce's work resulted in 2,000 fewer emergency calls for overdose thanks to the training it provided to over 3,300 community residents on the distribution and use of Narcan. The Westside Heroin and Opioid Taskforce was awarded the winner of the 2023 SAMHSA Behavioral Health Equity Challenge. Thanks to his dedicated service and contributions to the behavioral healthcare field, Representative Ford was named as the recipient of the Illinois Chapter of NAADAC's Advocate of the Year award and the Nelson Mandela Award for Justice.    Dr. Felecia Pullen Dr. Pullen is a qualitative researcher exploring structural racism's impact on attaining recovery capital for people of color with histories of drug use. Her research has resulted in the creation of MRCAT, an assessment tool for professionals who develop recovery plans in partnership with clients. Dr. Pullen is also the president and CEO of three organizations: Let's Talk Safety, a not-for profit teen led prevention program; The Pillars, Manhattan's first OASIS-funded recovery community and outreach center; and The SAFETY Net, a teen-designed club house in Harlem. Dr. Pullen's policy advocacy and activism has been widely recognized. She has also delivered numerous workshops on culturally responsive recovery.         MODERATORS:   Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC Mark Sanders is the Illinois state project manager for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC and PTTC. He is an international speaker and behavioral health consultant whose presentations and publications have reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, West Indies, Lithuania, and Guam. Mark is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards, including NAADAC’s prestigious Enlightenment Award, the National Association for Addiction Professionals’ 50th Anniversary Legends Award, the Illinois Certification Board's Professional of the Year Award and Jessica Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession as an alumnus of Loyola University of Chicago.    Kisha Freed, BA Kisha serves as an outreach program coordinator with CHESS BHE-TAC and has co-authored multiple blog series with Mark Sanders for the Great Lakes ATTC’s Counselors Corner blog. She is a certified professional coach with a special emphasis in emotional intelligence and mindful leadership. Utilizing her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Kisha has worked in her community helping people to get in touch with suppressed emotions through the creative arts, such as poetry writing, storytelling and hip hop and emotional intelligence online workshops. She is also an event host, public speaker, and performing spoken word poetry. She resides in Huntsville, AL with her two sons and two-year old granddaughter.     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 Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The February 2024 issue features content from the Great Lakes ATTC celebrating Black History Month, including our upcoming 2024 Black History Month Panel Presentation. It also features a new educational brief on health equity in crisis systems, upcoming prevention trainings on drug trends in the region, and updates to the Classroom WISE curriculum for 2024. As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!   Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The January 2024 issue features the third installment of the Counselor's Corner blog series: Integrating Spirituality and Counseling with African American Clients, information on the Opioid Response Network's 2022-2023 regional summits, and a call for applications for the upcoming HEART (Healing Ethno And Racial Trauma) Training for Behavioral Health Providers Serving Hispanic & Latinx Communities intensive training series. As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!   Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter, and thank you for reading!

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The December 2023 issue shares recorded content on wound care and xylazine, social media basics for preventionists, an infographic on providing behavioral healthcare to people living with HIV, and SAMHSA's tips for supporting your mental health through the holidays. As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!   Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list, so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter and thank you for reading!

    This webinar focuses on increasing knowledge among providers in the assessment and treatment of wounds as related to intravenous drug and xylazine use.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Explain opioid use disorder as a chronic illness. Increase level of comfort in the treatment and assessment of wound care as it relates to intravenous drug and Xylazine use. Share best practices for incorporating harm reduction philosophies and principles in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).     TRAINERS:   Nicole Gastala, MD   Dr. Gastala is board certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine. She graduated from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Iowa. In her clinical role, she has developed and expanded MAR by mentoring new prescribers, precepting residents, and training clinicians within the Chicago and Illinois communities.  She has also focused on the development of a walk-in integrated behavioral health, addiction, and primary care program within her FQHC system. In January 2021, Dr Gastala joined the team at the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Division of IDHS as the medical director.     Michael Huyck, NP   Michael Huyck is a Family Nurse Practitioner at the UIH Mile Square Health Center and adjunct clinical assistant professor with the University of Illinois College of Nursing. His clinical role at Mile Square is focused on integrative substance use disorder treatment and primary care. His clinical interests involve decreasing barriers to addiction care, piloting evidenced based interventions to address problems specific to populations with SUD, and training future nurses to care for those experiencing addiction. He provides a full range of SUD treatment including buprenorphine and methadone within his practice. His current projects include wound care and ultrasound guided phlebotomy for people who inject drugs.     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 Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The November 2023 issue honors National Native American Heritage Month, National Homelessness Awareness Month, and a brand-new Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy intensive technical assistance opportunity. As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   Make sure you're subscribed to our email contact list, so you never miss a month of The Great Lakes Current newsletter and thank you for reading!

  Substance use disorder is a biopsychosocial disease that impacts women differently than men. There are varying treatment approaches for men and women that are vital for effective treatment. Stigma continues to be a barrier for women accessing treatment and treatment providers offering care. Historically, women in the United States have had less access to treatment, and they still do today. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors may significantly affect a woman's ability to achieve long-term sobriety. This workshop will shed light on common emotional and physical differences experienced by women before, during, and after treatment as compared to their male counterparts. We will also discuss common treatment issues and considerations for clinicians, peers, law enforcement, family members, and more.   TRAINER Ashley Yassall, MPA, PMP Ashley's experience and education lie in the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors. She has held various leadership positions in behavioral health and excels at project management, task execution, and her ability to improve organizations. Ashley is the Principal Consultant and Owner of Ashley Ryan Consulting LLC, a nonprofit-focused consulting firm supporting project management, compliance/accreditation, program evaluation, and other practice management needs. Ashley was previously the executive director at the Women’s Recovery Center (WRC) in Cleveland, Ohio. At WRC, she and the team increased revenue by 40% from 2018 to 2022 (from $700,000 to a $1.2 million budget). She led the organization to achieve the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in 2021. Ashley works part-time for Catholic Charities Corporation in Cleveland at Matt Talbot residential facility. Ashley is a CDCA (Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant in Ohio) and seeking her LCDC II (Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II Licensure in Ohio) by the end of 2023. Ashley achieved her MPA from the University of North Carolina in August 2022. Ashley earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) credential in February 2023. Ashley is pursuing her Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) in 2024. Ashley holds a bachelor's in actuarial science/mathematics from The Ohio State University.     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 Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The October 2023 issue honors National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, World Mental Health Day (October 10), and the newest installment of the NIATx in New Places blog series on the ATTC/NIATx Service Improvement Blog! As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!

    Throughout the United States, an estimated 1-2 million older adults are in need of treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). This presentation addresses evidence-based best practices for treating older adults with substance use disorder.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify commonly used drugs for older adults and the risks associated with these substances. Describe logistical differences in treating and responding to older adults with SUD. Present effective treatment strategies for treating older adults.     TRAINER: Randall Webber, MPH, CADC, has worked in the addiction field for the past 45+ years as a counselor, program director and trainer. He has provided training on street drug pharmacology, addiction science, counselor ethics, and substance abuse treatment strategies. Randall has authored or co-authored numerous publications and has held teaching positions at several colleges and universities. He also serves on the board of directors of the Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals     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 Roadmap for Training and Technical Assistance Efforts in Substance Use Service Administration monograph (2019) was meant to serve as a guide for instituting and practically applying the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards across the areas of prevention, substance use disorder, and behavioral health. Join our long-time trainer and subject matter expert, Harold Gates, MSSW, CISW, HS-BCP, as we revisit these efforts and learn how to move DEI beyond good intentions to make a difference in the lives of an ever-growing and diverse client population. In order to do this, we should approach the topic with the “fierce urgency of now,” to quote Dr. Martin Luther King. This webinar will start us off on a journey to do just that! We will be using Lily Zheng's DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right as a reference resource throughout this training.  “Instead of like a zero-sum game we all need to engage in DEI for collective learning, for collective growth. We are doing this work to get a greater understanding of how different populations experience the workplace. And to the extent that some populations are not being treated well, we're going to understand why and rectify those inequities because we really care about a workplace that's fair. That framing tends to really activate people.” Lily Zheng-DEI Deconstructed     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards. Describe one way the CLAS Standards can help you with your DEI initiatives. Share what are you trying to achieve through your DEI work Learn if your organization has done a CLAS or DEI assessment and used data to measure your success or opportunities for continuous improvement Describe stakeholder involvement in your DEI efforts. Understand what would the work look like when it’s done effectively     Save these Dates for the DEI Learning Collaborative where will dig deeper into Lily Zheng's DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right  An application will be available after the September webinar. Tuesday October 3 at 12-1pm Central Tuesday November 7 at 12-1pm Central Tuesday December 5 at 12-1pm Central Tuesday January 9 at 12-1pm Central     TRAINER: Harold Gates, MSSW, CISW, HS-BCP, President, Midwest Center for Cultural Competence, LLC Harold Gates is the president and co-founder of the Midwest Center for Cultural Competence, LLC, which was established in 2003. The Center provides training, education, and consultation for organizations that are seeking to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services, with the goal of helping to create a culturally competent multicultural community.

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The September 2023 issue honors National Recovery Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, Addiction Professionals Appreciation Day (September 20), and the 10th anniversary of the ATTC/NIATx Service Improvement Blog! As always, you will also find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The August 2023 issue honors International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31), opioid overdose prevention training on HealtheKnowledge, and the newest NIATx in New Places series blog post written by Lynn Madden, PhD, MPA.  And as always, you will find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!  

  The Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC are dedicated to integrating cultural responsiveness into all our training and technical assistance offerings. We aim to help develop workforce competencies to provide equitable and inclusive care to all. Download this guide to learn more about our growing inventory of evidence-based trainings designed to improve the delivery of culturally-responsive prevention, treatment, and recovery approaches!   If you have questions about the culturally-responsive trainings we currently offer or suggestions for additional culturally-responsive trainings that would support the behavioral health workforces in our region, please contact:  Alfredo Cerrato, Senior Cultural & Workforce Development Officer ([email protected])  

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The July 2023 issue honors National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and World Hepatitis Day (July 28) by sharing events and resources on these topics. This issue also features newly released episodes from the Checking-In Podcast that focus on PTSD treatment providers' self-care and a new HealtheKnowledge course developed by the Great Lakes ATTC: NIATx Change Leader Academy: Rapid-Cycle Change for Teams.    As always, you will find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!  

DESCRIPTION: These resources are being developed from an ongoing learning collaborative for supervisors and mentors of pregnant and parenting women (PPW) programs. Although the application deadline to attend the live learning collaborative sessions has closed, the Great Lakes ATTC is making the content and recordings from these sessions publicly available so those working in PPW programs can benefit from the information and best practices being shared. New materials will be added to this page after the conclusion of each session, so don't forget to check back throughout the summer!  This free learning collaborative is funded by the Great Lakes ATTC.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Develop and hone the skills that foster well-being across teams. Explore interpersonal micro-moments you can leverage in staff meetings, supervision, and day-to-day interactions to create an enabling context for well-being among team members.   RECORDINGS AND HANDOUTS: June 8, 2023 Session 1 - Well-being in the Workplace Starts with You: Core Components of Sustaining Your Own Self-care and Fostering Work–Life Harmony as a Team   July 13, 2023 Session 2: Leading from the Inside Out: Lean Into Your Strengths and Values   August 10, 2023 Session 3: Being a Beacon of Belonging: Build Bold, Inclusive Spaces That Enable Psychological Safety       September 14, 2023 Session 4: Activating Agency: Help Each Team Member Succeed by Fostering Intentionality, Anticipation, Action, and Self-reflection     TRAINERS: Tara Fischer, MSW, LICSW, is a senior program manager II for Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) who brings 28 years of practice in the behavioral health field. She has extensive experience providing clinical direct care and designing, implementing, and monitoring behavioral healthcare service delivery improvements for public sector organizations. Ms. Fischer provides training, technical assistance (TA), and consultation to health and human service organizations to strengthen the workforce’s capacity to address behavioral health needs, coordinate care, and mitigate social determinants of health. She has developed and implemented trainings, learning collaboratives, and job aids to support the provision of care coordination, crisis response, contingency management, trauma-informed supervision, person-centered care planning, and specialized services for PPW with substance use disorders (SUDs). Additionally, she has managed multiple TA projects under the Massachusetts Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program as well as a multimillion-dollar Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) project for the State of Illinois aimed at supporting employee mental health and well-being in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her experience as a behavioral healthcare administrator, provider, clinician, and consultant spans multiple settings, including outpatient, residential, Medicaid managed care, state mental health authority, primary care, accountable care, and family-driven, youth guided systems of care. She holds a master of social Work degree from Simmons University and is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW).   Tiffany Malone, MA, is a senior program manager at AHP with 20 years of experience. She supports the Mentored Internship Program (MIP), which is part of the Behavioral Health Workforce Development efforts of the California Department of Health Care Services. As the lead grantee coach, Ms. Malone delivers training and TA for behavioral health organizations developing mentored internship programs to help expand California’s behavioral health workforce. Her work includes using data from surveys to create SMART goals; creating implementation plans to support the identified goals; conducting monthly webinars and 1:1 coaching calls; collaborating with grantees, outside vendors, and other key stakeholders to organize and facilitate affinity groups and learning collaboratives; and providing support to the internal MIP team to ensure successful implementation of the MIP project. Ms. Malone has expertise in in-person, virtual, and self-paced training and TA development and facilitation on several different platforms. She has extensive hands-on experience in all levels of management, including performance management, quality assurance, coaching, virtual instructor-led training and development, and remote team management. Ms. Malone holds an M.A. in teaching applied behavior analysis from National University.   Chantal Laperle, MA, CPHQ, PCMH, CCE, CTL, is a senior program manager at AHP. She has more than 25 years of experience in project management and oversight, having managed state and federal contracts from grant proposal initiation through award, implementation, reporting, and closeout. Ms. Laperle also has extensive coaching experience in the development, implementation, and monitoring of health initiatives aimed at improving the care of our country’s most vulnerable populations. She has held many leadership positions in both public and private sectors, using her clinical and operational experience to effect change. She has hands-on experience coaching teams through the development, implementation, and monitoring of quality improvement initiatives. Ms. Laperle is widely experienced in accreditation and recognition programs from The Joint Commission (TJC), the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). She is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and certified in healthcare risk management through the University of Florida. She is also certified in advanced facilitation and the 7 Tools of Quality Control through GOAL/QPC, has been an instructor for Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI), and is a Certified Content Expert (CCE) through NCQA. Ms. Laperle is from a family that has experience with and understanding of the impact mental health and substance use issues can have. She holds an M.A. in counseling psychology from Lesley University.   Linzi A. Jack, MA, is a senior program associate I with AHP. She has more than 10 years of experience in inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings working with a variety of populations including individuals living with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Ms. Jack supports the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Technical Assistance and the Hub and Spoke State Opioid Response III projects. She aims to ensure that participating Federally Qualified Health Centers are supported and equipped to provide equitable, high-quality health care for all. Before joining AHP, Ms. Jack was a public health analyst and immunization quality improvement program consultant for the District of Columbia’s Health Department (DC Health) Immunization Division. She has an extensive background in helping primary care centers implement programs such as the NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home Certification and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers program. SMs. Jack holds a B.S. in psychology from Howard University and an M.A. in integrative health and wellness coaching from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She also earned a nationally recognized coaching certification from the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching.   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 Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The June 2023 issue honors National Pride Month, National PTSD Awareness Month, and Men's Health Month by sharing events and resources on these topics. As always, you will find links to all upcoming events and trainings hosted by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC!  

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The April-May 2023 issue honors National Mental Health Awareness Month, National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, National Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, and National Prevention Week by sharing events and resources on these topics. This issue also features an upcoming in-person conference and an exciting, new intensive technical assistance training series sponsored by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.    As always, you will find links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC in The Great Lakes Current.   

    DESCRIPTION: As the illicit opioid supply includes more and more fentanyl, there have been increasing concerns about increasing rates of buprenorphine initiation precipitating opioid withdrawal. This session will describe why we believe this is happening, how common it is, and buprenorphine initiation strategies to support patients in avoiding precipitated withdrawal.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the challenges of buprenorphine initiation in the fentanyl era. Name three potential approaches to buprenorphine initiation. Counsel on reducing fentanyl-related harms.     TRAINER: Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Community Health and Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin. She is the Program Director of the Preventive Medicine Residency and core Faculty for the Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Salisbury-Afshar is board certified in family medicine, preventive medicine/public health and addiction medicine and her expertise lies at the intersection of these fields. Her work has focused on expanding access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction services. Past public health roles include serving as Medical Director of Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore, Medical Director at Heartland Alliance Health (a healthcare for the homeless provider in Chicago), and Medical Director of Behavioral Health at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Dr. Salisbury-Afshar received her Medical Degree from Rush University Medical College and her Master’s in Public Health from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.     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.

    DESCRIPTION: Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFWs) support their communities by recognizing recovery from substance use challenges as a strength and by being willing to work intentionally with people in recovery.  RFWs encourage a healthy and safe environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by addiction. Join us to learn how becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace promotes the physical health and mental wellbeing of all employees. In this 90-minute session we’ll learn about New Hampshire’s national RFW initiative and hear from a panel of professionals leading RFW efforts in their states.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Learn how to best replicate New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative Identify and summarize RFW Initiatives in the Great Lakes region Identify the strengths, opportunities, and challenges of supporting RFW Initiatives     TRAINERS: Samantha Lewandowski is the Program Director of New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) initiative. She first served as a Recovery Friendly Advisor for the initiative, where she worked 1:1 with over 80 workplaces, and then as its Assistant Director. She manages the day-to-day operations of the initiative, including overseeing staff and subcontractors, ensuring workplaces are supported in the RFW process, and promoting effective collaboration with partners, as well as helps implement the initiative’s strategic vision. She is also currently serving as RFW’s Multi-State Liaison, where she provides TA to other states looking to implement NH’s model.   Tyler Meenach graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Criminal Justice in 2011. He spent the next 10 years developing his career in correctional rehabilitation—earning his MS in Criminal Justice along the way. In late 2021, Tyler began a new career as a health coordinator with Hamilton County Public Health where he has been active in the development and growth of the Recovery Friendly Hamilton County program—a recent recipient of a Workforce Champion award from the Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio. He is an avid bookworm, movie buff, and record collector.       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.

    DESCRIPTION:  In this webinar, Dr. Ryan Westergaard will review the epidemiology of HIV and Hepatitis C infection among people who use drugs. He will discuss current and future approaches for addressing infectious disease risks as the epidemics of opioid and stimulant use continue to evolve, sharing research findings from the National Institutes of Health Rural Opioid Initiative.  With examples from community-based research conducted in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the Midwest, Dr. Westergaard will illustrate how changes in injection drug use, policies around harm reduction services, and the COVID-19 pandemic influence communities’ vulnerability to HIV outbreaks and pose challenges to the national goal of viral hepatitis elimination.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Understand how changes in the epidemiology of opioid and methamphetamine use disorder have posed obstacles to the goals of ending the HIV epidemic. Recognize the potential impact of incorporating screening, linkage to care, and low-threshold treatment for hepatitis C infection in addiction treatment settings. Discuss a research agenda for a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to health and safety of people who inject drugs.       TRAINER: Dr. Ryan Westergaard, MD, PhD, MPH, is a physician and epidemiologist, specializing in treatment and prevention for HIV and viral Hepatitis, with a special dedication to harm reduction among people who inject drugs. He is currently serving as Wisconsin’s Chief Medical Officer for the Bureau of Communicable Diseases (DPH, DHS). This is in addition to his research and physician-faculty position at the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health where he’s an Associate Professor of Medicine and an Infectious Disease Physician for UW Health. Holding these positions has paved the way for building bridges between the institutions and leverage the many resources of all to benefit the health and well-being of residents across Wisconsin.         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 Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The March 2023 issue honors National Women's History Month by sharing resources from the Mental Health Technology Transfer (MHTTC) Network that focus on an array of behavioral health issues affecting women and girls. This issue also features an exciting, new intensive technical assistance training series sponsored by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.  As always, The Great Lakes Current provides links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.