Products and Resources Catalog

The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. This webinar will discuss how health care organizations need to ensure that awareness, adoption, and implementation of the National CLAS Standards are incorporated to have a more inclusive definition of culture in order to better serve persons living with HIV/AIDS. OBJECTIVES: Learn about quality and compassionate care services for persons living with HIV (PLWH) Discuss impact of stigma and discrimination on the overall wellness of PLWH Analyze emotional, physical and psychological needs of PLWH Explore trauma-informed principles and holistic health support Address behavioral health care and related HIV care services   PRESENTERS: Jacqueline Coleman, MEd, MSM, BA, CPC, certified professional coach with extensive experience as a senior program manager. Jacqueline has expertise in workforce development, organizational development and contract management. She is a cultivator and trainer of professionals in multiple sectors.  Jacqueline provides strategic consultation on LEADERVATION (gender-tailored programs, equity and diversity initiatives, and systems change processes).   Michelle Lopez, CASAC. BA, Healthy Aging Specialist at GMHC. Ms. Lopez serves the HIV Positive LGBT client population. Her services include individual mental health and substance use screenings, brief interventions, and referrals; and educational workshops relevant to the health of aging LGBT clients with HIV including physical, dental, and mental health. As a private consultant, Michelle was able to implement HIV care and services at a private primary care facility under the Medical Practice of Brooklyn Family Medical Center.

While racism and classism are not exclusive to the United States, the American paradigm is unique due to its history of slavery, conquest, and immigration.  Each new wave of immigrants to America has experienced systematic inequality in a system based on ethnic and racial oppression. The pressure of conforming and confronting this system produces stress and mental anguish, which primarily afflicts minority communities.  In the recorded presentation Liberty Humiliation, and Identity: Race and the Suffering of America, Albert Thompson will cover how to engage in a dialogue about physical and mental health that encompasses societal morbidity. We will examine how particular events in our history demonstrate the consequences of racial views and our need to listen and engage. Behavioral health providers must consider race and the impact it has on leadership. Change leaders need to be politically and socially knowledgeable, listen, and understand a broader perspective of historical foreign and domestic policy related to race, ethnicity, and culture. To gain the agility necessary to navigate within an ever-growing diverse population in need of mental health and addiction services in our country, we must consider elevating skills that transcend culture and human-made racial boundaries.

The Region 7 Mid-America Technology Transfer Centers (TTCs) recognize that Black communities in our country are hurting as the result of violence, bigotry and racism. Racism and discrimination are associated with dire behavioral and physical health issues, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders. We know that disparities in equitable access to services and resources perpetuate these issues. Across the Mid-America region, we commit to collectively increasing our efforts to develop a collaborative plan with our community partners to be part of a solution to promote equity, safety and health for our communities. As a start to our efforts to promote behavioral health equity for all, we have compiled some resources that may support you in your work. Download the document here.

June 2020 issue of the Great Lakes Current, featuring resources and training event focused on building health equity and inclusion in the COVID-19 era.   

Our Recovery Month 2019 podcast features an interview with Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, a behavioral health trainer and consultant whose work has reached thousands across the United States and beyond. In this episode, Mark discusses the many pathways to recovery in the African American Community. 

Dr. Haner Hernandez reflects on the 2018 National Recovery Month theme, Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community, and offers recommendations on ways that treatment organizations can meet the needs of their Hispanic and Latino clients. 

  Presenter: Dr. Pang Foua Yang Rhodes Dr. Rhodes offers insight on the effects of social distancing and stigma within Hmong communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rhodes elaborates on the struggles facing Hmong Americans and provides social and historical context of Hmong culture that should inform providers' treatment methods and crisis response services during this difficult time.   EnglishTranscript_Culturally Relevant Services in Crisis(Part 3)_Rhodes_04_28_20 HmongTranscript_Culturally Relevant Services in Crisis(Part 3)_Rhodes_04_28_20  

  Presenter: Dr. Michelle Evans Recorded on April 17, 2020 Providing mental health services in the present and future conditions will require a new consideration for cultural elements and linguistic tools via a re-imagined perspective on policy and technology when serving culturally diverse communities. Dr. Michelle Evans will guide us through the use of these tools, the challenges, and the opportunities we now have amid a crisis.        

This webinar record is Part 1 of the "Providing Culturally Relevant Crisis Services During COVID-19" series.  Presenter: Albert Thompson Although COVID-19 continues to be a daily concern, large-scale epidemics are certainly not solely a 21st century issue. In this presentation, Thompson expands our focus from the world's present circumstances so we can better understand how society has responded to past health crises and the disproportionately devastating impact these events had, and continue to have, on marginalized populations as a result of prejudicial treatment and economic disadvantage.       

The Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC are pleased to offer a menu of intensive technical assistance options to help organizations build and enhance their skills in working with clients from diverse backgrounds. Download a summary of the training options here.  Published February 11, 2020

African Americans have lower rates of retention in substance use disorder treatment. In this one-hour webinar, Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, provides an overview of the factors that prevent African Americans from continuing in treatment, along with strategies that organizations can apply to improve engagement.  Presentation Slides Presented on February 5, 2020. 

African Americans have lower rates of retention in substance use disorder treatment than the general population. In this one-hour webinar, Mark Sanders, LCSW, CSC, presents an overview of the factors that prevent African Americans from engaging in treatment, along with strategies that treatment organizations can use to increase engagement.  Presented on February 5, 2020.  Download the presentation slides. 

This session will provide an overview of the application of SAMHSA’s Best Practices and Suggested Guidelines for Substance Use Disorders Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities.  The session will provide a basic overview of housing policies that ensure support for people suffering from a substance use disorder who are in need of supportive recovery-oriented transitional housing. The focus will be on the lessons learned in developing housing in rural communities and housing that supports the inclusivity of all cultures. Learning Objectives This session will provide participants with: A case study on housing principles and policies that support recovery, prevent relapse, recidivism, and overdoses. An understanding of how to address housing supports for people in recovery in geographically remote areas and best-practices to serve a diverse population to ensure inclusion. Best practices to ensure safety for residents.   Presenter Jessica Thomasson serves as the CEO of Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of North Dakota. Jessica and the LSS team are active in the areas of affordable housing, childcare, mental health, disaster response, aging services, and support for young families. Download "Housing as an Intervention" slides here.    

 A series of educational products, guidance, and technical assistance for mental health providers, substance abuse treatment providers and primary care physicians who seek to elevate cultural competence efforts to include an understanding of the presence and impact of implicit racial bias in health care and substance abuse treatment. This pamphlet describes the evolution of the term African-American, and provides insight and guidance on how to use this information to improve retention among African-American individuals being referred to and receiving substance abuse treatment.

  A series of educational products, guidance, and technical assistance for mental health providers, substance abuse treatment providers and primary care physicians who seek to elevate cultural competence efforts to include an understanding of the presence and impact of implicit racial bias in health care and substance abuse treatment. This pamphlet defines implicit racial bias and microaggression, and offers evidence-based strategies for addressing both substance use treatment programs.  

A series of educational products, guidance, and technical assistance for mental health providers, substance abuse treatment providers and primary care physicians who seek to elevate cultural competence efforts to include an understanding of the presence and impact of implicit racial bias in health care and substance abuse treatment. This pamphlet focuses on evidence-based interventions that have been demonstrated to reduce the negative impact of implicit bias on healthcare outcomes. Systemic, organizational, and individual perspectives are presented.

The one-day workshop is designed to highlight and explore the needs of treatment professionals working with culturally diverse individuals, organizations, and communities.  The participants will learn about Health Disparities, Cultural Intelligence, CLAS Standards and proven techniques and strategies for engagement and improving outcomes.

The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. This webinar will discuss how health care organizations need to ensure that awareness, adoption, and implementation of the National CLAS Standards are incorporated to have a more inclusive definition of culture in order to better serve individuals within the Latinx community. OBJECTIVES: Define the CLAS standards Explore the CLAS Themes and Recommendations Understand how CLAS applies to decreasing health disparities in behavioral health for Latinx communities Learn how to implement the CLAS standards in organizations PRESENTERS: Jacqueline Coleman MEd, MSM, BA, CPC Certified Professional Coach   Pierluigi Mancini PhD, MAC Consultant and Speaker on Mental Health and Addiction

The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. This webinar will discuss how health care organizations need to ensure that awareness, adoption, and implementation of the National CLAS Standards are incorporated to have a more inclusive definition of culture in order to better serve individuals and families affected by the opioid crisis. OBJECTIVES: Highlight the enhanced CLAS Standards that contribute to positive health outcomes for all Americans Increase awareness of the Healthy People 2020 leading indicators and the Opioid Epidemic Understand the domestic and societal impacts of the Opioid Epidemic and the growing harm of opioid misuse Review a toolkit of critical steps to address this epidemic: the most effective way to treat those who are at-risk identifying high-risk members models of compassionate care the role and responsibilities of health providers   PRESENTERS: JACQUELINE COLEMAN MEd, MSM, BA, CPC Certified Professional Coach   DIANE MARIE JONES LICSW, LCSW-C Owner of Next Level Therapeutics Interventions, LLC

The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. This webinar will discuss how health care organizations need to ensure that awareness, adoption, and implementation of the National CLAS Standards are incorporated to have a more inclusive definition of culture in order to better serve victims and survivors of the human trafficking. OBJECTIVES: Highlights of the enhanced CLAS Standards that contribute to positive health outcomes for clients Understand the distinctions between victims, survivors, and thrivers Identify risk factors for victims and survivors of human trafficking Understand the barriers to engagement How to assess your agency and community service PRESENTERS: JACQUELINE COLEMAN MEd, MSM, BA, CPC Certified Professional Coach     BRYTTANI DEBRO M.P.A Change Agent for the Voiceless

The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. This webinar will discuss how health care organizations need to ensure that awareness, adoption, and implementation of the National CLAS Standards are incorporated to have a more inclusive definition of culture in order to better adolescents. OBJECTIVES: Highlights of the enhanced CLAS Standards that contribute to positive health outcomes for Men who have sex with Men populations Increased awareness on Health, Healthcare and Intersectionality for Men who have sex with Men The impacts of health equity and demographics/societal issues on Men who have sex with Men A profile of innovative services and programming to support wellness for this population PRESENTERS: JACQUELINE COLEMAN MEd, MSM, BA, CPC Certified Professional Coach   ANTHONY FOX LGPC Division Chief for the Capacity Building, Housing and Community Partnerships Division within the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration for the District of Columbia Department of Health. 

  Acronyms can improve memorability. Proper use of acronyms can benefit listeners. First and foremost among their benefits is increased memorability. Acronyms can also help form the culture of organizations, work groups, and professional disciplines. They can even shave a few seconds off the length of many communications.However, overusing acronyms unconsciously can be damaging and abusive to listeners. All too often, people aren't even aware of their acronym usage, nor have they thought about the appropriateness of using acronyms with a target audience. This deadly combination can result in: Confusion for — and alienation of — your listeners. Mistakes and disagreements based on false interpretations your listeners may make. Cheapened listener-perceived value of your products, solutions, and/or services. This infographic is to assist special populations, providers and organizations in understanding the most commonly used acronyms in public health, behavioral health, and addiction medicine. 

The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. This webinar will discuss how health care organizations need to ensure that awareness, adoption, and implementation of the National CLAS Standards are incorporated to have a more inclusive definition of culture in order to better adolescents. OBJECTIVES: Highlight enhanced CLAS Standards that contribute to positive health outcomes for Black/African immigrants and Persons of African and Caribbean descent Increase awareness of the health and lifestyle attitudes for Afro Caribbean and immigrants Understand the importance of Intergenerational family education and support for this population Increase emphasis on: health beliefs and practices cultural tailoring service delivery resiliency factors   PRESENTERS: JACQUELINE COLEMAN MEd, MSM, BA, CPC Certified Professional Coach   RONALD MURRAY MPA, LSW, LCDC-III Founder and CEO of P.E.A.C.E. of Mind, LLC

Dr. Haner Hernandez has been working to improve health equity and for more than 20 years. In this 14-minute podcast, Dr. Hernandez shares recommendations for ways that treatment organizations can address the needs of their Latino clients.