Training and Events Calendar

The Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), in collaboration with the Mountain West AIDS & Education Training Center (MWAETC), is offering a unique virtual learning series designed to help those working with individuals affected by substance use disorders (SUD) to incorporate HIV prevention, especially HIV PrEP, into their lives as a component of recovery. This series is tailored specifically for substance use treatment providers, counselors, and healthcare professionals in treatment settings, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate PrEP counseling, referral, and/or prescribing into their practice.. Sessions cover a range of topics including the basics of PrEP, identifying who may benefit, addressing sexual health, available HIV PrEP options, discussing payment resources/billing, and more. By the end of this series, attendees will have gained practical skills in counseling, prescribing, and supporting clients with PrEP, enhancing their ability to provide comprehensive care to people with SUD. Join us in making a difference in maintaining the health of your clients via HIV prevention and advancing your expertise in this essential area of care. Who is this for? This series is intended for substance use treatment providers, counselors, and prescribers that work with or at treatment centers. Download our flyer for more details on this series! Sessions What Is PrEP and Why Is It Important for My Work? March 13th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Learn about PrEP for HIV prevention and how it could benefit people with SUD Who Is Right for PrEP? March 27th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Exploring who among people experiencing SUD might benefit from PrEP Discussing Sexual Health April 10th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Strategies for taking a sexual health history among people with SUD Paying for PrEP April 24th, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am Learn about the different ways clients can cover the cost of the medication The Details May 8th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Learn more about prescribing PrEP or counseling about PrEP before referring to a prescriber Give It a Try! May 29th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Practice counseling/prescribing skills and return to debrief and get additional support

Washington State is working towards eliminating hepatitis C (Hep C) by 2030. People who currently or formerly use drugs are at the highest risk for Hep C. Providing Hep C services—such as screening, testing, treatment, and referrals—presents a valuable opportunity to engage this high-risk population, many of whom are already connected to healthcare. This Hep C training workshop is designed to raise awareness and foster interest in the community-based delivery of Hep C services, as well as enhance knowledge and readiness to adopt Hep C-related practices. Additional sessions for 3 other workforce types are also available: Behavioral Health Staff, Medical Staff, and Administrators. Visit our Event Calendar to find dates/registration for those sessions. Main objectives Provide an overview of key aspects of hepatitis C – epidemiology, science, testing, treatment, and care pathways. Encourage organizations and providers to start or expand hepatitis C services for their clients. Highlight resources regarding hepatitis C to provide ongoing support to hepatitis C programs. 7-part structure Introduction and epidemiology Hepatitis C testing Hepatitis C treatment Care pathways Science Case studies Office hours About the trainer Apoorva Mallya is the Executive Director of the Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) – a nonprofit dedicated to combating viral hepatitis. In this role, he leads the organization’s work to raise awareness, drive supportive policies, educate, and deliver direct services to those at high-risk of viral hepatitis. He works closely with partners to drive towards hepatitis elimination. Previously, Apoorva worked for 15 years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on polio eradication and strengthening immunization systems. Apoorva worked with Governments and partners enhancing operations and developing innovations to overcome the last challenges and stop polio forever. In addition to an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, Apoorva has completed graduate certificates in epidemiology and development economics.  

This training is designed to equip professionals, healthcare providers, and community workers with the tools to engage in trauma-informed harm reduction conversations. Led by peer and recovery mentor Sean Mahoney, the session offers practical strategies for approaching individuals facing substance use challenges with empathy, safety, and compassion. Topics will include harm reduction for opioids, meth, alcohol, benzos, and beyond, as well as techniques to create supportive, non-judgmental conversations that affirm the value of those being served. By the end of the session, participants will have the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful, compassionate harm reduction conversations, helping individuals feel seen, heard, and supported in their journey toward wellness. Objectives: Why Peers and Harm Reduction Harm Reduction Basics Conversation Starting Points Leading with our stories Substance by Substance Naloxone Basics Who Should Attend: This training is ideal for professionals in healthcare, social services, addiction support, and community outreach who work with individuals impacted by substance use and mental health challenges. Professionals must be working in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. About the facilitator: Sean Mahoney, PWS, CRM, is a peer support specialist, trainer/facilitator, writer, recovery advocate and human in long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol. He works as a program manager and peer supervisor for the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon. He also serves on the City of Portland’s Ryan White Funding Council for humans living with HIV/AIDS. He is also a longtime faculty member of the Oregon ECHO Network. He lives in Portland with his black cat Larry.

Note: This course is for Alaska State tribal organizations, pre-professionals, chemical dependency counselors and others who provide care for Indigenous communities. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a transformative, evidence-based approach that empowers individuals to navigate change by tapping into their intrinsic motivation. This free 2-day online workshop provides participants with essential skills to facilitate meaningful conversations, grounded in empathy, collaboration, and respect for autonomy. Whether you're new to MI or seeking to enhance your expertise, this interactive training will provide you with the skills to foster change, strengthen connections, and harness the transformative potential of neuroplasticity. Day 1: Outline MI Foundations 1. Define Motivational Interviewing. 2. Demonstrate the four key skills of Motivational Interviewing. 3. Describe methods to build rapport using the spirit of MI. Day 2: Intermediate Techniques and Integrating MI Through a Cultural Lens 4. Identify and strengthen change talk. 5. Identify and soften sustain talk and resistance. 6. Describe the neurobiological processes involved in behavioral change. 7. Apply MI through a cultural lens. 8. Develop strategies for addressing cultural differences in MI conversations. This workshop meets the 16-hour MI requirements for CDC certification in the state of Alaska and is approved for 12 NAADAC CEs.

This training is designed to equip professionals, healthcare providers, and community workers with the tools to engage in trauma-informed harm reduction conversations. Led by peer and recovery mentor Sean Mahoney, the session offers practical strategies for approaching individuals facing substance use challenges with empathy, safety, and compassion. Topics will include harm reduction for opioids, meth, alcohol, benzos, and beyond, as well as techniques to create supportive, non-judgmental conversations that affirm the value of those being served. By the end of the session, participants will have the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful, compassionate harm reduction conversations, helping individuals feel seen, heard, and supported in their journey toward wellness. Objectives: Why Peers and Harm Reduction Harm Reduction Basics Conversation Starting Points Leading with our stories Substance by Substance Naloxone Basics Who Should Attend: This training is ideal for professionals in healthcare, social services, addiction support, and community outreach who work with individuals impacted by substance use and mental health challenges. Professionals must be working in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. About the facilitator: Sean Mahoney, PWS, CRM, is a peer support specialist, trainer/facilitator, writer, recovery advocate and human in long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol. He works as a program manager and peer supervisor for the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon. He also serves on the City of Portland’s Ryan White Funding Council for humans living with HIV/AIDS. He is also a longtime faculty member of the Oregon ECHO Network. He lives in Portland with his black cat Larry.

Women who use drugs are at disproportionate risk of exposure to HIV and HCV, inadequate healthcare access, and interpersonal violence. While harm reduction practices are shown to improve outcomes associated with substance use, women experience unique barriers to accessing these services, including overlapping forms of stigma, fears of criminal-legal involvement, gender-based violence, and limited gender-responsive programming. Providers and organizations who work with women who use drugs should develop methods for bridging gaps in care based on the latest evidence. This talk will explore the current landscape of care for women who use drugs and equip providers with strategies to combat stigma and meet the healthcare needs of this community. A few learning objectives: Gain understanding of how gender influences experiences of stigma, violence, and criminalization among women who use drugs. Learn about gaps in healthcare and harm reduction services for this population. Identify opportunities for implementing gender-responsive services in your clinical practice. About the presenter: Alex Rains, MD, is a resident physician in psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. She studies substance use patterns and harm reduction strategies across the rural United States. She is particularly interested in women’s mental health, peripartum substance use, and exploring experiences of drug-related stigma. Her presentation captures her own experiences in this field and reflects the insights shared by women who use drugs with whom she has had the privilege of working over the years.

Washington State is working towards eliminating hepatitis C (Hep C) by 2030. People who currently or formerly use drugs are at the highest risk for Hep C. Providing Hep C services—such as screening, testing, treatment, and referrals—presents a valuable opportunity to engage this high-risk population, many of whom are already connected to healthcare. This Hep C training workshop is designed to raise awareness and foster interest in the community-based delivery of Hep C services, as well as enhance knowledge and readiness to adopt Hep C-related practices. Additional sessions for 3 other workforce types are also available: Behavioral Health Staff, Providers, and Administrators. Visit our Event Calendar to find dates/registration for those sessions. Main objectives Provide an overview of key aspects of hepatitis C – epidemiology, science, testing, treatment, and care pathways. Encourage organizations and providers to start or expand hepatitis C services for their clients. Highlight resources regarding hepatitis C to provide ongoing support to hepatitis C programs. 7-part structure Introduction and epidemiology Hepatitis C testing Hepatitis C treatment Care pathways Science Case studies Office hours About the trainer Apoorva Mallya is the Executive Director of the Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) – a nonprofit dedicated to combating viral hepatitis. In this role, he leads the organization’s work to raise awareness, drive supportive policies, educate, and deliver direct services to those at high-risk of viral hepatitis. He works closely with partners to drive towards hepatitis elimination. Previously, Apoorva worked for 15 years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on polio eradication and strengthening immunization systems. Apoorva worked with Governments and partners enhancing operations and developing innovations to overcome the last challenges and stop polio forever. In addition to an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, Apoorva has completed graduate certificates in epidemiology and development economics.  

Washington State is working towards eliminating hepatitis C (Hep C) by 2030. People who currently or formerly use drugs are at the highest risk for Hep C. Providing Hep C services—such as screening, testing, treatment, and referrals—presents a valuable opportunity to engage this high-risk population, many of whom are already connected to healthcare. This Hep C training workshop is designed to raise awareness and foster interest in the community-based delivery of Hep C services, as well as enhance knowledge and readiness to adopt Hep C-related practices. Additional sessions for 3 other workforce types are also available: Behavioral Health Staff, Providers, and Medical Staff. Visit our Event Calendar to find dates/registration for those sessions. Main objectives Provide an overview of key aspects of hepatitis C – epidemiology, science, testing, treatment, and care pathways. Encourage organizations and providers to start or expand hepatitis C services for their clients. Highlight resources regarding hepatitis C to provide ongoing support to hepatitis C programs. 7-part structure Introduction and epidemiology Hepatitis C testing Hepatitis C treatment Care pathways Science Case studies Office hours About the trainer Apoorva Mallya is the Executive Director of the Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) – a nonprofit dedicated to combating viral hepatitis. In this role, he leads the organization’s work to raise awareness, drive supportive policies, educate, and deliver direct services to those at high-risk of viral hepatitis. He works closely with partners to drive towards hepatitis elimination. Previously, Apoorva worked for 15 years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on polio eradication and strengthening immunization systems. Apoorva worked with Governments and partners enhancing operations and developing innovations to overcome the last challenges and stop polio forever. In addition to an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, Apoorva has completed graduate certificates in epidemiology and development economics.