Products and Resources Catalog

  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 audio recording from the webinar, “Peer Support: Why Your Program Needs It” (described above) is also available for download.

by Raymond Crowel, PsyD, Clinical Director, The Danya Institute  In March 2020, COVID-19 made its presence felt literally around the world. Within weeks, our lives were upended, as businesses shuttered their doors, schools closed, and our social connections were severed. The same was true for substance use and recovery programs when outpatient addiction treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and residential treatment programs closed. In the early months, both face-to-face services and AA/NA support networks were nonexistent. Successful substance use recovery requires access to treatment, connection to people, and a strong community that supports recovery. Limited access to treatment and services, paired with isolation, anxiety, and depression caused by the pandemic, proved to be devastating for many people in recovery. Relapse and overdose rates jumped in the first year of the pandemic, destroying the progress that was beginning to be made in combating the opioid abuse epidemic. In addition, many vulnerable people turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the chronic stress, loneliness, loss of work, and grief. Lastly, the drug trade in fentanyl exploded. The result was a dramatic spike in overdoses and substance use-related emergency department visits. While the COVID-19 pandemic has become less deadly, substance abuse has not. The ongoing trauma from the pandemic, untreated relapses in recovery, limited treatment capacity, and increasing potency and availability of illegal drugs contributed to more than 100,000 deaths in 2022 (NIDA). The pandemic forced substance use treatment systems to think of creative ways to continue to support recovery. Peer Recovery Specialists, trained in outreach and connecting with persons ready to begin their recovery process, shifted to disposable cell phones and virtual support services and support groups. Flexible Federal and state government policies allowed medication-assisted treatment programs to provide more walk-up and take-home dosing. The entire substance abuse and mental health service system migrated to telehealth services to provide safe access to ongoing treatment. Online networks and virtual referral processes made identifying and matching treatment providers with those seeking treatment easier.  As residential programs reopened, providers implemented masking, testing, safe distancing, and sanitation processes to protect residents and staff from COVID-19. Many such practices put into place during the height of the pandemic have remained in place, permanently altering how services are delivered.  Sadly, our rates of addiction, overdose, and death by overdose remain high. Although education, prevention, and treatment efforts are back to near pre-pandemic levels, still more needs to be done to save the lives of the many still struggling with addiction. At a minimum, we need: More treatment professionals, including Peer Recovery Specialists and credentialed foreign-trained professionals.   Integrated approaches to healthcare that consider both mental health and substance, along with social determinants of health. Increased adoption of harm reduction efforts, including the widespread distribution of Naloxone, needle exchanges, and fentanyl test kits, as well as supervised consumption sites.   COVID-19’s legacy is one of suffering and rising to the challenge. We are hopeful that the enduring legacy will be a stronger system of care for behavioral health, built with the same determination brought to combatting COVID-19.   

The New England ATTC, in partnership with RICARES, held the next monthly installment of the Recovery Science and Harm Reduction Reading Group series. We discussed a paper titled, “Predictors of Retention and Drug Use Among Patients With Opioid Use Disorder Transferred to a Specialty "Second Chance" Methadone Program” by Moses and colleagues. A summary of the discussion is available for download.

November 2023 Dialogue: ATTC: Trans Awareness Week | MHTTC: School Well-Being Learning Community | PTTC: Fostering Inclusivity and Substance Use Prevention | ORN: Finding a Voice. Additional sections include behavioral health observances, virtual training and webinar events, and new resources. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the HHS Region 3/Central East region. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected].   Sign up to receive the Dialogue and our weekly training bulletin in your mailbox.   Visit the Dialogue Archives.

The New England ATTC, in partnership with RICARES, held the next monthly installment of the Recovery Science and Harm Reduction Reading Group series. We discussed a paper titled, “Mobile low-threshold buprenorphine integrated with infectious disease services” by Rosecrans and colleagues. A summary of the discussion is available for download.

National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible. Hosted by the ATTC, and MHTTC Network, in collaboration with SAMHSA, this hour-long event showcases the winners of the 2022 Recovery Innovation Challenge through a “talk-show” format. Hear from four of the ten Challenge Winners who share their innovative strategies for recovery, lessons learned from implementation, and recommendations for replication in other communities. Download the slides by clicking on the green "download" button above.

Beyond sobriety, programs dealing with substance use disorders have embraced a more comprehensive goal: Recovery. There are four recognized domains of recovery: Health, Home, Purpose, and Community. There are a myriad of resources, both internal and external, that make up recovery capital. As a person begins their journey, they draw on their initial store of recovery capital and as that journey continues, they gain more recovery capital. More recovery capital, more recovery. More recovery, more recovery capital. By assisting an individual identify their recovery capital and make plans for its increase, their recovery becomes stronger.  This session, presented by Norma Jaeger, PhD (ABD), Executive Director of Recovery Idaho, explored the many potential elements of recovery capital and how to support an individual in building more recovery capital to support their life in recovery. View recording | Download slides | Download handouts: Recovery Capital Scale, Recovery Capital Worksheets 

September 2023 Dialogue – Addiction: Nurturing Purpose in Recovery: Unveiling Passions and Living Intentionally | MHTTC: Improving Suicide Prevention Strategies in Maryland | Prevention: National Suicide Prevention Month | ORN: Addressing Regional Needs. Additional sections include behavioral health observances, virtual training and webinar events, Region 3 news, and new publications/resources. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the HHS Region 3/Central East region. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected].   Sign up to receive the Dialogue and our weekly training bulletin in your mailbox.   Visit the Dialogue Archives.

****Available in English and Spanish**** This snapshot of information is intended to provide resources to individuals, parents, professionals, and providers regarding the peer recovery specialists' impact on behavioral health among Latinos in the United States.   ESPECIALISTAS EN RECUPERACIÓN ENTRE PARES PARA UNA SALUD MENTAL EQUITATIVA ENTRE HISPANOS Y LATINOS Esta reseña informativa tiene por objeto proporcionar recursos a individuos, padres, profesionales y proveedores sobre el impacto de los especialistas en recuperación entre pares en la salud mental de los Latinos en Estados Unidos.

    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.

Recording: Black History Month Panel Presentation Featuring 2023 Hall of Fame Recipients of The Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment, and Recovery   DESCRIPTION: Join the Great Lakes ATTC and the 2023 Hall of Fame recipients of the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery for a panel discussion about substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, culturally appropriate service delivery, and recovery in African American communities. The panelists will share their expertise and years of experience on these topics with an emphasis on defining recovery in African American communities, understanding culturally specific approaches to working with African Americans with SUDs, practicing effective cross-cultural counseling, and learning how the entire African American community can serve as a recovery community.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants will learn: How to anchor recovery in African American communities A working definition of recovery in African American communities Culturally specific approaches to working with African Americans with SUDs How to build rapport with African American clients in a cross-cultural counseling relationship     PANELISTS:  

The November 2022 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: Multiple Pathways to Recovery | Mental Health: Coping After a Death by Suicide | Prevention: SAMHSA’s 19th Annual Prevention Day | ORN: African American History Month, and Regional Spotlight: Beyond Bars. Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the HHS Region 3/Central East region. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected].   Sign up to receive the Dialogue and our weekly training bulletin in your mailbox.   Visit the Dialogue Archives.

Presenters: Sean Mahoney, Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon December 2022 It's one thing to believe in harm reduction but how do we actually have those conversations with people actively using substances? And what other things should we know about besides Narcan and clean needles? Peer and recovery mentor Sean Mahoney has been having these conversations for years and is excited to share his experience navigating these difficult conversations with safety, compassion and love. Mahoney has also seen how this conversation has changed over the years due to fentanyl, COVID and the emerging mental health crisis. Harm reduction for opioids and heroin for sure but also for meth, alcohol, benzos and beyond will be covered in this course as will the techniques and approaches to have a trauma informed conversation to let the people we serve know that their lives matter. Download slides | Watch recording

Lack of buy-in can interfere with attempts to expand use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders. These three fact sheets offer strategies to build support for this evidence-based practice.  MAT Fact Sheet #1: Securing Buy-in            MAT Fact Sheet #2: Reducing Risk of Misuse and Diversion          MAT Fact Sheet #3: Making the Case for Medication

The September 2022 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction:  Families in Recovery | Mental Health:  National Suicide Prevention Month | Prevention:  Suicide Prevention Awareness | ORN:  Mobilize Recovery, and Regional Spotlight: A Journey to Recovery, by Demetrie Garner. Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected].   Sign up to receive the Dialogue and our weekly training bulletin in your mailbox.   Visit the Dialogue Archives.

This Issue: CONNECTIONS: HONORING CULTURE AND EMBRACING CHANGE This issue will bring awareness to the National Recovery Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and National Suicide Prevention Week. Our Executive Director, Mr. Fred Sandoval shared more details about the work NLBHA is doing in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We are also providing more details about our upcoming National Latino Behavioral Health Conference. Please read to learn more about the resources we are highlighting this quarter, our upcoming events and projects, and more. In This Issue Our Mission Dicho of the Quarter Page 01 A reflection by our Director Page 02 NLBHA and AFSP: National Suicide Prevention Week Awareness Page 03 Story time: meet our team member, Ana L. Chavez-Mancillas, MSW Page 06 Highlighting the experts, Quarterly Highlights and Celebrations Page 07 Article by Eva Moya, PhD Page 08 Media Corner Page 10 Conference Highlights Page 11 NHL Executive Leadership and Fellowship Program Page 12 Community Campaigns: National Suicide Prevention Week, National Recovery Month, Hispanic Heritage Month Page 10 Staff Contact information Page 15   Español Esta Publicación: Conexiones: Honrando La Cultura Y La Aceptación Del Cambio Português Esta Edição: Conexões: Honrando a Cultura e Abraçando Mudanças

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.   Alcohol is STILL a Drug: An Exploratory Webinar Series (August 2, 2022) Recording       DESCRIPTION  Alcohol is STILL a drug.  The opioid crisis, increase in stimulant misuse, and marijuana legalization dominate the news— yet alcohol remains the number one substance causing health, social, legal and financial problems throughout the US.  While this series will focus on the hopefulness of recovery from alcohol use disorder, we’ll also take a deep dive into what we know about the full impact of alcohol overuse and the ways it affects every person in the US.     SERIES LEARNING OBJECTIVES These are the overall learning objectives for the full 10-session series:  Summarize the current impacts of problematic alcohol use in various/special populations, including pregnant women, youth, rural, and minority populations.  Assess and prioritize alcohol reduction efforts in targeted settings.  Describe the current efforts to curb problematic alcohol use, including best practices in providing treatment.      PRESENTER Kris Kelly, BS Kris Kelly is a project manager for the Great Lakes Addiction, Mental Health, and Prevention Technology Transfer Centers, a woman in long-term recovery, and subject matter expert on peer-based recovery support services. Kris is also leads the Recovery Community Organization Capacity Building core area for the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence. She has worked with state and local government, recovery community organizations, treatment courts, withdrawal management/detoxification, and clinical treatment developing best practices for integrating recovery supports into systems and services. As a former executive director and director of programs of a Minnesota-based recovery community organization, Kelly is a leader in the peer support movement in Minnesota. Kelly has presented at state and national conferences on topics ranging from supervision in peer-based recovery support services and integrating peer support services into behavioral health organizations to recovery-oriented systems of care.  

The Mountain Plains and Pacific Southwest ATTCs are pleased to offer a two-part recording focused on recovery support services as it relates to People With Stimulant Use Disorders (PWSUDs). In both recordings, a review of the current research is highlighted along with people with lived experience in stimulant use and recovery discussing the findings and relating it to their own experiences. The three panelists with lived experience, all currently work at well-established recovery community organizations (RCOs), one in Colorado- Advocates for Recovery and one in Utah- Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness.  In Part 1 recovery support (e.g. definition of recovery, recovery capital, recovery benchmarks, etc.) and stimulant use (e.g., prevalence of use, impact on the brain, and craving) is discussed. While the Part 2 recording is focused on treatment and recovery services (e.g., treatment services, barriers to recovery, managing triggers and return to use, cessation triggers, 12 Step involvement, exercise, and involvement with RCOs). The overall goal of this two-part recording is to provide participants with a review of the latest science regarding stimulants within the context of people with lived experience highlighting the lessons learned from their recovery. Finally, promoting hope, community, and engagement as central/essential pieces to recovery from stimulant use disorders is a theme in both recordings with the panelists reinforcing that recovery is achievable for PWSUDs.   Recovery Support with Stimulant Use Disorders Part 1   Recovery Support with Stimulant Use Disorders Part 2        

Talking To Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, hosted by Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan, is a series of conversations exploring Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its influence on supporting individuals and groups as they make positive health and lifestyle changes. Talking to Change: An MI Podcast. Episode 54: MI in Peer Support Recovery Services, with John Burns In this episode of Talking to Change, hosts Glenn and Sebastian talk to John Burns, director of SOS Recovery Community Organization and founder of Families Hoping and Coping, about the use of MI in peer support recovery services. John shares his early MI story, talks about lessons learned from early experiences in recovery, and describes "game changers" he encountered after learning client-centered approaches. He then talks about how MI can help in peer support settings, the role of self-disclosure, integrating peer support services within organizations, management of a peer recovery support organization, and more. The episode ends with a role play and debrief.  

The March 2022 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: Consequences of Stigma | Mental Health: Older Americans and Mental Health | Prevention: National Prevention Week | ORN: Prevention Is Important | Regional Spotlight: The Tides that Bink, Inc. Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected]. Sign up to receive the Dialogue in your mailbox. Visit the Dialogue Archives.

The New England ATTC co-hosted the Recovery Science and Harm Reduction (RSHR) Reading Group meeting on April 28, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. This discussion reviewed the article, “Diagnostic remission of substance use disorders: Racial differences and correlates of remission in a nationally representative sample.”  View the April 2022 RSHR Reading group meeting summary that includes a brief article summary and key themes that arose in discussion with the participants.

The Encouraging Change podcast is hosted by Kris Kelly, BS and Laura Saunders, MSSW. This series addresses topics related to using motivational interviewing in peer recovery support. Laura is a Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) member and a MI trainer, and Kris is a program manager for the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence and an expert in peer recovery support services.   Episode 1 - Introducing the podcast and an overview of the application of MI skills in peer recovery support services. Episode 2 - Using MI Skills to Initiate and Develop Relationships Episode 3 - Providing Support: What Does It Mean? Episode 4 - Skillfully Sharing Lived Experiences of Recovery Episode 5 - Personalizing Peer Support: The Uniqueness of the Recovery Process Episode 6 - Recovery Planning: Are We There Yet? Episode 7 - Effective and Person-Centered Ways to Connect People With Resources, Services, and Their Communities  Episode 8 - Growth Through Discovery and Co-Learning Episode 9 - Peer Recovery Support Providers Coming Alongside Recoveries In Crisis Episode 10 - Valuing Communication Through Active Listening  Episode 11 - Developing Effective Relationships, Partnerships, and Family Systems Episode 12 - Promoting Leadership and Advocacy Episode 13 - Becoming More Reflective and Competent in Your Practice     You can find these episodes and many more from the Great Lakes Wave podcast channel on YouTube, Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other major podcast platforms!   

The March 2022 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: Equity-Grounded Leadership | Mental Health: Decreasing the Risk of Suicide for Black Boys | Prevention: Prevention Gambling | ORN: Peer Based Training | Regional Spotlight: Lost Dreams Awakening. Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected]. Sign up to receive the Dialogue in your mailbox. Visit the Dialogue Archives.