Training and Events Calendar

The Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Topic 2 (Overview Session): Assessment  and Screening of Co-occurring Disorders This 30-minute overview session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the assessment and screening of co-occurring disorders.   Learning Objectives This overview session will address the assessment and screening of co-occurring disorders in women with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   Trainer: Carmela J. DeCandia, PsyD, is a licensed clinical child psychologist who has dedicated her career to advancing best practices and policies to support vulnerable children and families, and to improve the systems which serve them. In practice for nearly 30 years, her primary work focuses on building trauma-informed systems of care. Her specialties include: child and adolescent development, family homelessness,  addressing the impact of traumatic stress, program development and systems change, neurodevelopmental testing and family assessment. A compassionate clinician and effective leader, she is nationally recognized as a writer, advocate, and public speaker. She has led direct service and national agencies including St. Mary’s Women and Children’s Center and The National Center on Family Homelessness. Currently, Dr. DeCandia is the Owner and President of Artemis Associates, LLC where she provides training and consultation to organizations  to enhance resilience for children, families, and their providers. In addition, she maintains a clinical practice in neurodevelopmental and psychological testing of children at Strong Roots Counseling center, and is the Principal Investigator on a NICHD funded project to develop the screening instrument - NEST Early Childhood. Dr. DeCandia has published extensively in academic journals and educational reports, and lectures on lifespan development and psychological testing at Boston College Graduate school in Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology. For her work, she was named the recipient of the 2016 Horace Mann Spirit of Service Award by Antioch University.   The Great Lakes ATTC 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 Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Topic 3 (Overview Session): Considerations for Male Clinicians Treating Women with SUDs This 30-minute overview session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to considerations for male clinicians treating with women with SUDs.   Learning Objectives This overview session will address the assessment and screening of co-occurring disorders in women with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   Trainer: Tim Devitt, Psy.D., LCPC, CADC, is a clinician, trainer, consultant, researcher and executive leader with a 35+ year commitment to providing recovery-oriented services to individuals, families and organizations. He currently operates a clinical therapy and consultation practice in the Chicago Metropolitan Area with a specialization in integrated mental health and substance use care for adolescents and adults. His past programmatic development work has included leading the integration of mental health and substance use treatment in assertive outreach, residential and center-based outpatient and intensive outpatient programing. Tim has presented nationally and co-authored 20 peer-reviewed articles and a book chapter on the integration of evidence-based practices to best meet the comprehensive needs of people with substance use and mental health conditions. Tim is the proud recipient of the 2022 William White. Lifetime Achievement Award (awarded by the IL Chapter of The National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Counselors, NAADAC), a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), a lecturer at the University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, a senior adjunct faculty at Adler University (MA in Military Psychology and MA in Applied Psychology), and serves as board member for Serenity Academy of Chicago, a start-up 501(c)(3) organization committed to the formation of alternative peer groups and a recovery high school for youth and families struggling with addiction and Edna’s Circle, a start-up recovery home and comprehensive recovery services program on the Westside of Chicago. The Great Lakes ATTC 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.

This learning collaborative will focus on the implementation of cultural responsiveness in behavioral health settings with the goal of helping community-based organizations, service providers, and individual community leaders to move from good intentions to actionable outcomes and sustainability. The learning collaborative is open to anyone and everyone who is committed to learning about and advancing DEI efforts, and the knowledge base gained through this series aligns with the National CLAS Standards and the NIATx Change Leader Academy curriculum.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the trust level in your organization regarding DEI Learn to reframe your thinking about DEI work as being driven by outcomes Discover how DEI progress is helped or hindered by power dynamics Explore a novel approach to identity/difference that builds on mutual understanding and defuses backlash Gain an understanding of how to use the necessary tools for building an effective DEI strategy   REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: This learning collaborative has a maximum capacity of 30 participants. Participant registrations will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Due to the limited capacity, individuals working in HHS Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) will be accepted into the learning collaborative first. Individuals working outside HHS Region 5 are welcome to register and will be accepted into the learning collaborative on a first come, first serve basis to fill any remaining space until the max. capacity is reached.   TO REGISTER: Click the “register” button and complete the Zoom registration form. You will be notified via email if your registration has been approved and that confirmation email will contain the “join meeting” link.   REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 7, 2025   TRAINING SHEDULE: All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom from 10:00 AM–11:00 AM CT / 11:00 AM–12:00 PM ET on the following dates: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 Wednesday, February 12, 2025 Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Wednesday, April 9, 2025   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   The Great Lakes ATTC 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 NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA) is the web-based version of the popular NIATx Change Leader Academy. The CLA has given thousands of behavioral health organizations the tools to make real changes that improve their systems of care. This interactive, expert-led program includes four weekly 90-minute learning sessions. An optional organizational consultation is available following the four sessions. This training and consultation are offered at no cost and are supported by funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).   TRAINING SCHEDULE: Sessions will take place on January 23, 30, February 6 and 13, 2025 from 10:00 AM–11:30 AM CT / 11:00 AM–12:30 PM ET. NOTE: Participants must attend all sessions dates to receive NAADAC continuing education hours.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants in the virtual CLA will learn: The NIATx principles and how they motivate positive change How to build a change team and integrate NIATx principles at the organizational level How to conduct a change project to improve a specific process within their organization   CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will be eligible to receive 6 NAADAC-certified continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates will be sent to qualified individuals via email within two weeks after the training.     PRESENTER: Mat Roosa, LCSW-R Mat Roosa was a founding member of NIATx and has been a NIATx coach for a wide range of projects. He works as a consultant in the areas of quality improvement, organizational development, and planning, evidence-based practice implementation. His experience includes direct clinical practice in mental health and substance use services, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and human service agency administration.     The Great Lakes A/MHTTC 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.

Human service providers are struggling to hire and retain the staff they need to fulfill their missions. Service providers are challenged by staffing shortages, competition for talent with other industries, and the high costs of staff turnover. This training series will combine training sessions focused on organizational culture and the power of the NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA) to help providers better understand and improve staff hiring and retention.   Using the lenses of the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards, DEI, workforce wellness, and coaching/mentoring, the initial training series will help you to focus on the cultural elements that impact your capacity to recruit, hire, retain, and promote the team that you need. This series will then be followed by a NIATx CLA designed to focus specifically on the recruit-hire-retain-promote continuum. The CLA will provide tools that will enable you to engage in data-driven changes that will improve your recruitment and hiring   Learning Objectives: Participants in the RHRP series will: Apply a culture lens to organizational workforce challenges using the CLAS Standards Develop their workplace team using core wellness, coaching, and mentoring tools and concepts Use NIATx tools and rapid cycle PDSA cycles to improve recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion   Training Schedule:  Sessions will take place on January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 2025, from 1:00 PM–2:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM–3:00 PM ET. NOTE: Participants must attend all sessions dates to receive NAADAC continuing education hours.   Continuing Education: Participants who fully attend all sessions in this series will receive 4 continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates are distributed via email to qualified participants within two weeks after the conclusion of the series.   TRAINER Mat Roosa, LCSW-R Mat Roosa was a founding member of NIATx and has been a NIATx coach for a wide range of projects. He works as a consultant in the areas of quality improvement, organizational development, and evidence-based practices implementation. His experience includes direct clinical practice in mental health and substance use services, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and human service agency administration.     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 Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Topic 5 (Overview Session): Intersections of SUDs and Trauma This 30-minute overview session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the intersections of SUDs and trauma.   Learning Objectives This overview session will address the intersections of SUDs and trauma in women with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.    Trainer: Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, (they, them, elle) is the Associate Director at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, as well as a Lecturer at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Gabriela brings 20 years of experience supporting people impacted by structural and interpersonal violence and their traumatic effects through innovative and evidence-based clinical, housing, resource advocacy, peer-led, harm reduction, and HIV-integrated care programs. As a person with lived experience of violence and trauma, they center survivor-driven solutions, nonpathologizing approaches, and intergenerational healing in their work. Their current work focuses on authoring best practices, leading national capacity-building efforts, and providing trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice. Outside of work, Gabriela deeply values volunteering as a trauma therapist with survivors of torture and spending time in nature with family   The Great Lakes ATTC 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 Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Topic 5 (Training Session): SUDs Treatment for Women with Children This 2-hour training session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the treatment of SUDs for women with children.   Learning Objectives This training session will address the intersections of SUDs and trauma in women with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   Continuing Education Participants who fully attend this series will be eligible to receive NAADAC certified continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates are distributed to qualifying participants via email within two weeks after the session.    Trainer: Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, (they, them, elle) is the Associate Director at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, as well as a Lecturer at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Gabriela brings 20 years of experience supporting people impacted by structural and interpersonal violence and their traumatic effects through innovative and evidence-based clinical, housing, resource advocacy, peer-led, harm reduction, and HIV-integrated care programs. As a person with lived experience of violence and trauma, they center survivor-driven solutions, nonpathologizing approaches, and intergenerational healing in their work. Their current work focuses on authoring best practices, leading national capacity-building efforts, and providing trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice. Outside of work, Gabriela deeply values volunteering as a trauma therapist with survivors of torture and spending time in nature with family   The Great Lakes ATTC 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 Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Series Learning Objectives This series will address the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   Topic 6 (Overview Session): Considerations for Treating Women with SUDs Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) This 30-minute overview session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the considerations for treating women with SUDs who have experienced IPV and/or TBI. When most people hear the terms “concussion” or “traumatic brain injury,” they think of football, military service, or unfortunate accidents. Fewer people are aware that brain injury can be caused by overdoses, head injuries while under the influence of substances, domestic violence (e.g., domestic, sexual), and strangulation or choking. Many clinicians are unaware of the role IPV can play in the lives of their clients, including how substance use and mental health coercion can affect one's overall health, including their needs and ability to participate when receiving behavioral health services. We lack awareness of the significant role TBI and IPV can play in a person’s recovery journey as well as accessing and successfully engaging with supports. We will discuss strategies to incorporate knowledge of IPV and TBI into behavioral health services so clients can continue to live the lives they deserve.    Session Learning Objectives:   Attendees will: Learn at least two tactics of substance use coercion   Identify at least two ways in which unidentified brain injuries can contribute to challenges accessing behavioral health services   Develop at least two strategies to integrate knowledge of IPV brain injury into behavioral health services     CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   Trainer: Rachel Ramirez, LISW-S, RASS is the Director of Health and Disability Programs and the Founder of The Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury at The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN). Her focus is on supporting professionals and systems to better understand traumatic stress and the impact of brain injury, which translates into more accessible and effective services. She provides extensive statewide, national, and international training, technical assistance, consultation, and program support. Rachel has co-authored several peer reviewed journal articles and has been featured on National Public Radio as well as in The New York Times Magazine and The Washington Post. Rachel has a MSW from The Ohio State University and is a licensed independent social worker and a registered advocate with senior standing and has been with ODVN for 17 years.   Cheryl Stahl, LPCC is ODVN's Substance Use/Mental Health Program Director. She is overseeing ODVN's substance abuse and mental health project to better prepare domestic violence programs to serve survivors who use substances or are in recovery and/or have mental health diagnoses or concerns.   Cheryl is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Ohio and began her career volunteering on a crisis line at Townhall II in Portage County. She went on to work as a Victim Advocate, Prevention Educator, Crisis Line Volunteer Training Coordinator and finally as a counselor in outpatient services. Cheryl has worked in both an outpatient setting and, prior to joining ODVN, was the Program Manager for the Portage Area Recovery Center (PARC), a program of Family & Community Services, Inc. PARC is a 23 bed women’s residential recovery housing program which Cheryl was responsible for creating from its inception.  Cheryl has a great passion for working with the substance using/dependent population and continues to work to reduce the stigma associated with addiction and mental health. Cheryl earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Philosophy and Criminal Justice, and her Master of Education Degree in Community Counseling at Kent State University   The Great Lakes ATTC 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.

Human service providers are struggling to hire and retain the staff they need to fulfill their missions. Service providers are challenged by staffing shortages, competition for talent with other industries, and the high costs of staff turnover. This training series will combine training sessions focused on organizational culture and the power of the NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA) to help providers better understand and improve staff hiring and retention.   Using the lenses of the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards, DEI, workforce wellness, and coaching/mentoring, the initial training series will help you to focus on the cultural elements that impact your capacity to recruit, hire, retain, and promote the team that you need. This series will then be followed by a NIATx CLA designed to focus specifically on the recruit-hire-retain-promote continuum. The CLA will provide tools that will enable you to engage in data-driven changes that will improve your recruitment and hiring   Learning Objectives: Participants in the RHRP series will: Apply a culture lens to organizational workforce challenges using the CLAS Standards Develop their workplace team using core wellness, coaching, and mentoring tools and concepts Use NIATx tools and rapid cycle PDSA cycles to improve recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion   Training Schedule:  Sessions will take place on April 2, 9, 16, 23, from 9:00 AM–10:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM–11:00 AM ET. NOTE: Participants must attend all sessions dates to receive NAADAC continuing education hours.   Continuing Education: Participants who fully attend all sessions in this series will receive 4 continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates are distributed via email to qualified participants within two weeks after the conclusion of the series.   TRAINER Mat Roosa, LCSW-R Mat Roosa was a founding member of NIATx and has been a NIATx coach for a wide range of projects. He works as a consultant in the areas of quality improvement, organizational development, and evidence-based practices implementation. His experience includes direct clinical practice in mental health and substance use services, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and human service agency administration.     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 Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Topic 7 (Panel Presentation): Cultural Considerations for SUDs Treatment and Recovery for Women from Diverse Racial/Ethnic Groups This 1.5 hour panel presentation will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the cultural considerations for treating SUDs for women from diverse racial/ethnic groups.   Learning Objectives This panel presentation will address the cultural considerations for treating SUDs for women from diverse racial/ethnic groups with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   Panelists: Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, (they, them, elle) is the Associate Director at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, as well as a Lecturer at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Gabriela brings 20 years of experience supporting people impacted by structural and interpersonal violence and their traumatic effects through innovative and evidence-based clinical, housing, resource advocacy, peer-led, harm reduction, and HIV-integrated care programs. As a person with lived experience of violence and trauma, they center survivor-driven solutions, nonpathologizing approaches, and intergenerational healing in their work. Their current work focuses on authoring best practices, leading national capacity-building efforts, and providing trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice. Outside of work, Gabriela deeply values volunteering as a trauma therapist with survivors of torture and spending time in nature with family.     Kateri Coyhis, Mohican Nation, is the Executive Director of White Bison in Colorado Springs, CO.  White Bison, Inc., is an American Indian non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to creating and sustaining a grassroots Wellbriety Movement that provides culturally based healing to the next seven generations of Indigenous People.  Kateri serves the Wellbriety Movement by providing community presentations to bring awareness to the programs White Bison offers for individual family, and community healing.  She has been providing training, delivering a variety of presentations, and offering technical assistance for over 20 years.  She is also a Board Member for the National Association for Children of Addiction. Kateri is co-author for a chapter in Radical Psychology: Multicultural and Social Justice Decolonization Initiatives (2018).  Kateri received her Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.     Dawn Nickel, PhD is a respected thought leader in the women’s recovery sphere and (along with her daughter Taryn Strong) the Co-Founder of the SHE RECOVERS® Foundation, a nonprofit charity whose mission is to redefine recovery, inspire hope, end stigma and empower women in or seeking recovery from substance use, trauma, mental health issues and related life challenges. Dawn is a Certified Professional Recovery Coach, with a PhD and over two decades of research, writing and consulting experience related to women and health care policy. In her professional work, Dawn has focused largely on exploring how best to support women who experience challenges related to substance use, mental health issues or intimate partner violence, the three things that prompted Dawn to start her own personal recovery journey in 1987. Dawn is also the author of She Recovers Every Day: Meditations for Women, published by Hazelden in early 2023.   Mary Roberson, EdD has more than 30 years of proficiency in the Behavioral Health field. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO). NIRCO is a nationally recognized Recovery Community Organization whose mission is to promote recovery principles for individuals, families and communities impacted by substance use and mental health. Dr. Mary retired from Nicasa Behavioral Health Services where she served as Managing Director. She facilitated women’s specialized groups on various traumas for the Circuit Court of Lake County and serves as a member its Drug Court Team and Veterans Treatment Assistance Court. She has consulted and trained in Illinois, Wisconsin and Florida on several behavioral health topics related to women, veterans and the criminal justice system.  Dr. Roberson is a proud Navy veteran with deep roots in the veteran’s communities and a person in sustained recovery   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.  

Limited space available. Priority registration will be given to those working in Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI and those who have completed Level 1- Relational Skills. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based collaborative conversational style used to help strengthen an individual's own motivation and commitment to change. In this interactive, skills-based workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and practice the spirit and relational skills of MI.   Note: Participants must complete Motivational Interviewing: Relational Skills (Level 1) to be eligible to attend the subsequent training in the MI series: Motivational Interviewing: Technical Skills (Level 2). Those who fully attend Level 1 will automatically receive an invitation to register to attend Level 2.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing Motivational Interviewing: Technical Skills (Level 2), participants will: Define and summarize the processes of focusing and evoking Identify different strategies for focusing and how to apply them to client interactions Define and recognize change talk, sustain talk, and discordance Differentiate between client cues of readiness, ambivalence, and discordance Construct effective responses to different client cues Design a plan for advancing individual MI skills   Training Dates: Sessions will take place on May 21, 28, and June 4, 2025, from 8:30 AM–11:30 AM CT / 9:30 AM–12:30 PM ET. NOTE: Participants must attend all sessions dates to receive NAADAC continuing education hours.   CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 9 NAADAC certified continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates are sent via email within two weeks after the conclusion of the training.     TRAINER: Laura A. Saunders, MSSW Laura A. Saunders, MSSW is with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Engineering, CHESS.  Since 2001, Laura has designed, facilitated, and delivered MI and SBIRT training and coaching in the fields of health care, human services, public health, and criminal justice.  She has coached hundreds of learners to use EBP’s to fidelity.  Laura has also conducted train the trainer events.  She joined the International group of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2006     To ensure all participants get the most out of these interactive virtual trainings, we ask that everyone be prepared to do the following in every session:     The Great Lakes A/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.

Limited space available. Priority registration will be given to those working in Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based collaborative conversational style used to help strengthen an individual's own motivation and commitment to change. In this interactive, skills-based workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and practice the spirit and relational skills of MI.   Note: Participants must complete Motivational Interviewing: Relational Skills (Level 1) to be eligible to attend the subsequent training in the MI series: Motivational Interviewing: Technical Skills (Level 2). Those who fully attend Level 1 will automatically receive an invitation to register to attend Level 2.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing Motivational Interviewing: Relational Skills (Level 1), participants will: Have an introductory level understanding of the purpose, benefits, and challenges of MI Understand and practice the four processes used in MI: planning, evoking, focusing, and engaging Recognize differences between helpful client engagement vs. harmful client engagement Prepare to apply the spirit of Motivational Interviewing to patient interactions Observe and practice the core skills of MI: listening, open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summarization.   Training Dates: Sessions will take place on April 30, May 7 and 14, 2025 from 8:30 AM–11:30 AM CT / 9:30 AM–12:30 PM ET. NOTE: Participants must attend all sessions dates to receive NAADAC continuing education hours.   CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 9 NAADAC certified continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates are sent via email within two weeks after the conclusion of the training.     TRAINER: Laura A. Saunders, MSSW Laura A. Saunders, MSSW is with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Engineering, CHESS.  Since 2001, Laura has designed, facilitated, and delivered MI and SBIRT training and coaching in the fields of health care, human services, public health, and criminal justice.  She has coached hundreds of learners to use EBP’s to fidelity.  Laura has also conducted train the trainer events.  She joined the International group of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2006     To ensure all participants get the most out of these interactive virtual trainings, we ask that everyone be prepared to do the following in every session:     The Great Lakes A/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 Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Topic 7 (Overview Session): Peer Supports for Women with SUDs in Recovery This 30-minute overview session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the peer supports available to women with SUDs in recovery.   Learning Objectives This overview session will address peer supports for women in recovery with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   Trainer: Kris Kelly is a Project Manager at the Center for Addiction Recovery Support, leading the Recovery Community Organization capacity-building team through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With over a decade of experience in the in the recovery field, Kris has worked with a wide variety of systems and settings designing and implementing strategies to empower people with lived experience to lead the process in systems change, peer services integration, and recovery-oriented practices development. Kris has a passion for holistic wellness in her own recovery journey and has dedicated her personal and professional life to ensuring those who struggle have the opportunity to achieve wellness- without judgement or having to jump through countless hoops, with choice and dignity throughout the process.       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.

This learning collaborative will focus on the implementation of cultural responsiveness in behavioral health settings with the goal of helping community-based organizations, service providers, and individual community leaders to move from good intentions to actionable outcomes and sustainability. The learning collaborative is open to anyone and everyone who is committed to learning about and advancing DEI efforts, and the knowledge base gained through this series aligns with the National CLAS Standards and the NIATx Change Leader Academy curriculum.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Delve into the self-work needed to become an inclusive leader and DEI practitioner Use new frameworks to diagnose, analyze, research, and communicate effectively to strengthen and support organizational change process Champion inclusive leadership that moves organizational culture toward greater inclusion and equity Learn to use conflict resolution skills that specifically address and resolve interpersonal harm Create systems change using tools that build, implement, and measure outcomes of your DEI efforts   REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: This learning collaborative has a maximum capacity of 30 participants. Participant registrations will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Due to the limited capacity, individuals working in HHS Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) will be accepted into the learning collaborative first. Individuals working outside HHS Region 5 are welcome to register and will be accepted into the learning collaborative on a first come, first serve basis to fill any remaining space until the max. capacity is reached.   TO REGISTER: Click the “register” button and complete the Zoom registration form. You will be notified via email if your registration has been approved and that confirmation email will contain the “join meeting” link.   REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 12, 2025   TRAINING SHEDULE: All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom from 1:00 PM–2:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM–3:00 PM ET on the following dates: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Tuesday, August 12, 2025   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   The Great Lakes ATTC 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 NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA) is the web-based version of the popular NIATx Change Leader Academy. The CLA has given thousands of behavioral health organizations the tools to make real changes that improve their systems of care. This interactive, expert-led program includes four weekly 90-minute learning sessions. An optional organizational consultation is available following the four sessions. This training and consultation are offered at no cost and are supported by funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).   TRAINING SCHEDULE: Sessions will take place on June 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025 from 1:00 PM–2:30 PM CT / 2:00 PM–3:30 PM ET. NOTE: Participants must attend all sessions dates to receive NAADAC continuing education hours.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants in the virtual CLA will learn: The NIATx principles and how they motivate positive change How to build a change team and integrate NIATx principles at the organizational level How to conduct a change project to improve a specific process within their organization   CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will be eligible to receive 6 NAADAC-certified continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates will be sent to qualified individuals via email within two weeks after the training.     PRESENTER: Mat Roosa, LCSW-R Mat Roosa was a founding member of NIATx and has been a NIATx coach for a wide range of projects. He works as a consultant in the areas of quality improvement, organizational development, and planning, evidence-based practice implementation. His experience includes direct clinical practice in mental health and substance use services, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and human service agency administration.     The Great Lakes A/MHTTC 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 Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by diverse women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Historically, access to treatment for women has been limited, a disparity that persists today. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for gender-specific services.   Topic 8 (Overview Session): Considerations for Treating LGBTQ+ Women with SUDs This 30-minute overview session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to SUDs treatment for LGBTQ+ women.   Learning Objectives This overview session will address considerations for SUDs treatment for LGBTQ+ women with a special focus on the following information: Women’s treatment history and current aspects of women-centered treatment in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women Trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches for specific racial/ethnic women in recovery Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.   Trainer: The majority of De'An Roper PhD, LCSW-S, 20+ year clinical career has been in community mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Dr. De'An Roper worked with multiple leadership teams to develop an innovative community-based program for people with co-occurring disorders and criminal justice involvement to reduce the number of people with law enforcement involvement and the county jail. Program goals were to decrease emergency room pressure and align systems of care with matched treatment needs. She had a primary role in the clinical development and training of community clinicians for this program. Throughout my clinical career, my role was program development in complex environments as well as teaching and training SUD and mental health clinicians. In addition, Dr. Roper redesigned the largest SUD residential treatment program for Dallas County Community Corrections. The redesign was based on turning a previous therapeutic community into an evidence-based program, delivering the most up-to-date criminal justice SUD treatment interventions available in the field. Her experience in developing criminal justice SUD treatment programs and training the clinicians helped me to understand that treatment is more complex than a one size fits all treatment philosophy, which dominates SUD community treatment programs. I understand the intersection of all of our identities is a complex road.  Dr. Roper has special training in working with LGBQ and Transgender people and also with women. She can help with relationships, coming out issues, family problems, addictions, Depression, Bipolar disorder, career changes, trauma and parenting concerns.   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.

Limited space available. Priority registration will be given to those working in Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI and those who have completed Level 1- Relational Skills and Level 2- Technical Skills.   Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based method for reducing harm and improving outcomes for patients with substance use disorders. This SBIRT training will prepare participants to deliver SBIRT interventions in health care and other settings. In this interactive, instructor-led workshop, you will learn the SBIRT process, practice using SBIRT screening tools, practice administering and interpreting assessments, and understand how to give feedback and make recommendations, including recommendations for treatment.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define the five categories of use on the substance use continuum Explain the rationale for universal SBIRT Understand how to use motivational interviewing to conduct each step of the SBIRT process (screening, brief assessment, and intervention/referral) Administer SBIRT to adult patients Discuss how to conduct patient follow-up after initial SBIRT sessions Describe indications, adverse effects, and dosing for FDA-approved medications for substance use disorders Delineate common barriers to administering high-quality SBIRT systematically to all patients and how to overcome those barriers     TRAINING SCHEDULE: Sessions will take place on July 16, 23 and 30, 2025, from 8:30 AM–11:30 AM CT / 9:30 AM–12:30 PM ET. The last session on July 30, 2025, will be shortened: 8:30 AM–10:30 AM CT / 9:30 AM–11:30 AM ET. NOTE: Participants must attend all sessions dates to receive NAADAC continuing education hours.   CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 8 NAADAC-certified continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates are sent to qualifying individuals via email within two weeks after the event or training.     TRAINER: Laura A. Saunders, MSSW Laura A. Saunders, MSSW is with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Engineering, CHESS.  Since 2001, Laura has designed, facilitated, and delivered MI and SBIRT training and coaching in the fields of health care, human services, public health, and criminal justice.  She has coached hundreds of learners to use EBP’s to fidelity.  Laura has also conducted train the trainer events.  She joined the International group of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2006   To ensure all participants get the most out of these interactive virtual trainings, we ask that everyone be prepared to do the following in every session: The Great Lakes A/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.