Products and Resources Catalog

Description: For those who grew up associating drugs with natural sources like marijuana plants, poppy fields, and cocoa leaves, it can be tough to keep up with the shift to synthetic drugs made of chemicals some people may not know they’re ingesting. This workshop will help participants understand the current drug landscape, including stimulants (e.g. methamphetamine and cocaine), powerful opioids like fentanyl and nitazines, and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer increasingly showing up in the drug supply in some regions. It will also cover drug use trends, such as increasing polysubstance use, higher potency drugs, and the risks of mixing illicit drugs, alcohol, and medications. Participants will learn about factors that have contributed to rising overdose rates—including nonfatal overdoses—strategies to minimize risks, and how to recognize and respond to an overdose, as well as where to obtain naloxone. Goals: Increase participants’ awareness of current drug use patterns, the increasing potency of both plant-based and synthetic drugs, and how to prevent, recognize, and respond to an overdose. Workshop Outline: Discuss drug use trends (increasing polysubstance use, shift to synthetics vs. plant-based drugs, mixing prescription medications & illicit drugs, increasing stimulant use). Present graphics depicting increasing strength and potency of illicit drugs (cannabis, methamphetamine, etc.) and effects of different drugs. Overview of fentanyl and xylazine as well as other drugs like nitazines + kratom. Overdose statistics and definitions (opioid vs stimulant ODs). Risk factors for an overdose (including nonfatal overdoses). Strategies to reduce overdose risks. Signs of an overdose. Naloxone – brief overview and where to get it, plus sources for additional training. Good Samaritan laws protecting people who respond to an overdose. Trainer Bio Susan Stellin, MPH is a writer, educator, and public health consultant focusing on health-centered responses to substance use and addiction. Since earning a master's in public health at Columbia University, she has worked on projects about ways to reduce overdose deaths, reform punitive drug policies, and expand access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support. Recent clients include NYU Langone’s Health x Housing Lab, the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the Opioid Response Network, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Overdose Prevention Program at Vital Strategies, and the Vera Institute of Justice. She regularly leads training workshops for service providers working with people experiencing substance use, mental health, and housing challenges, and has also taught undergraduate courses about media ethics, collaborative storytelling, and the history of journalism.

Description: How did you learn about substance use, addiction, treatment and recovery? What are the sources of information that shaped your views? This workshop will discuss how news, entertainment, and social media, as well as personal experience, influence how people understand substance use disorders and different pathways to recovery. It will also address common beliefs like, “You have to hit rock bottom” and “Recovery is rare,” and explain how attitudes, practices, and data collection have evolved. Information from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and other sources will be presented, including prevalence of illicit substance use, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health challenges. Goals: Encourage participants to examine the sources of their attitudes and beliefs about substance use, addiction, treatment and recovery, reconsider any misperceptions, and expand their understanding of these topics by presenting current research and statistics. Workshop Outline: Discuss where participants learned about addiction, treatment and recovery (personal experience, news and entertainment media, etc.). Highlight themes that often appear in films, TV shows, books, music, and social media, including overview of research findings. Discuss critiques of media coverage of these topics. Address common beliefs and whether they’re supported by evidence (hitting rock bottom, enabling and co-dependency, tough love). Discuss how personal experience influences attitudes and beliefs. Present graphics illustrating types of substance use (experimental, social, risky, etc.). Discuss different reasons people use drugs, and how that varies for different substances over time. Present substance use and mental health statistics, using sources such as the 2022 NSDUH. Discuss criteria for diagnosing a substance use disorder (mild, moderate or severe). Trainer Bio: Susan Stellin, MPH is a writer, educator, and public health consultant focusing on health-centered responses to substance use and addiction. Since earning a master's in public health at Columbia University, she has worked on projects about ways to reduce overdose deaths, reform punitive drug policies, and expand access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support. Recent clients include NYU Langone’s Health x Housing Lab, the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the Opioid Response Network, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Overdose Prevention Program at Vital Strategies, and the Vera Institute of Justice. She regularly leads training workshops for service providers working with people experiencing substance use, mental health, and housing challenges, and has also taught undergraduate courses about media ethics, collaborative storytelling, and the history of journalism. Session Recording:

Changing the Conversation is the official C4 Innovations podcast, where hosts and guests discuss critical and timely topics focused on equity, substance use, mental health, homelessness, and trauma. The New England MHTTC has sponsored episodes of the podcast that explore a variety of specific topics, including reaching and engaging Native youth, the importance, and benefits of fostering an authentic and inclusive environment in the workplace, and honoring lived experience. Podcast host Ashley Stewart shared behind-the-scenes discoveries and lessons learned from fascinating conversations. Ashley was joined by Ronitia Hodges, C4 Innovations Program Manager.

The South Southwest MHTTC collaborated with the Texas Association of Community Health Centers to host the Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Series: Knowledge & Strategies for Health and Hope Session 5 on November 14, 2023. This session focused on TIC and Care for Individuals with SUD.     Trauma Informed Care is an evidence-based framework particularly suited to collaboratively identify risk factors to care, such as medication access and use, therapeutic engagement, and non-medical resource needs and navigation.

The second November issue of our newsletter spotlights three Northwest MHTTC webinars happening this week, MHTTC & ATTC network events, other events of interest and resources. 

Recording of the event The Impact of Cannabis Use on Mental Health, originally held on September 21, 2023.   Slide presentation

  RECORDING: The Importance of Dual Recovery   September is National Recovery Month – a time when those affected by substance use disorders (SUDs) come together at rallies, parades, and parties to share knowledge, experiences, and hopes for the future. This month also commemorates those we've lost and celebrates those who are traveling on or seeking out their own journey of recovery.    Substance use disorders and mental illness overlap at the rate of 50–70%. Despite this significant overlap, there is often not enough attention paid to co-occurring mental health concerns or dual recovery within SUD treatment. This presentation is an informational celebration of dual recovery.      LEARNING OBJECTIVES: In this webinar, participants will learn: Help clients define dual recovery for themselves Help clients improve the quality of life in recovery Articulate the tenants of person-centered recovery Recognize seven varieties of recovery experiences Help clients identify purpose in recovery Create ideas to celebrate dual recovery     PRESENTER: Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is the State Project Manager for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC and PTTC. Mark has worked for 40 years as a social worker, educator, and part of the SUD workforce. He is founder of the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery and co-founder of Serenity Academy of Chicago, the only recovery-oriented high school in Illinois. Mark is also an international speaker, trainer, and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and the British Islands.    Recently, Mark Sanders was named as the 2021 recipient of the NAADAC Enlightenment Award in recognition of his outstanding work and contributions to NAADAC, the field of SUD services, and SUD professionals. He is also the recipient of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health’s 2021 Lawrence Goodman Friend of the Field award in honor of the many years of dedicated service Mark has provided to communities throughout his home state of Illinois.     The Great Lakes 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.

  This toolkit offers resources and a roadmap from the National Family Support Technical Assistance Center, the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, and the National Center for School Mental Health to move schools from the tokenism that often comes with family involvement to authentic family engagement. Learn how incorporating Family Peer Specialists on school-based mental health teams can move schools towards family-driven partnership and support for youth experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.

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 "download" button above.

Hosted by SAMHSA, the MHTTC Network, and Abt Associates, this webinar highlights findings from SAMHSA's Guide, Best Practices for Successful Reentry From Criminal Justice Settings for People Living With Mental Health Conditions and/or Substance Use Disorders, which explores evidence-based strategies and promising practices to address community reentry from jail or prison. Following an overview of the goals of SAMHSA’s Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series by SAMHSA’s Joe Bullock; Angel Sanchez, Bureau of Justice Assistance, from the guide’s technical expert panel, discusses this guide’s development. Stephanie Fahy, Abt Associates, provides an overview of the framing of the guide, describing factors impacting reentry, and relevant evidence-based strategies for successful reentry. Representatives from organizations featured in the guide’s case studies discuss the development of their policies or programs to address reentry for individuals living with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders. Access the guide here. Download the slides by clicking on the "download" button above.

About this Resource: Dual Diagnosis is when an individual is diagnosed with having a substance use disorder and mental health condition concurrently. There are factors that contribute to an individual’s and/or community’s likelihood of having a dual diagnosis, including barriers to health care and treatment, minority stress from discrimination and stigma, and lack of awareness about dual diagnosis and symptomology. In 2018, The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that approximately 7.7 million adults were living with a dual diagnosis. This report has a specific focus on the LGBTQ+ communities in the US and highlights the context within the Southeast. For a downloadable PDF version of this resource, please click here. 

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The January 2023 issue honors National Birth Defects Prevention Month by sharing resources and media from SAMHSA that focus on the effects of marijuana use during pregnancy. This issue also features new products from the Great Lakes MHTTC and PTTC, HealtheKnowledge content specific to women's reproductive health, and opportunities for mental health and SUD professionals to participate in ongoing research studies.  As always, The Great Lakes Current provides links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The November‒December 2022 issue honors National Impaired Driving Prevention Month (December) by sharing resources and media from SAMHSA's "Talk. They Hear You.®" campaign for underage drinking prevention. This issue also features prevention-focused HealtheKnowledge courses, two new Counselor's Corner blog posts about the relationship between SUD and music, the Great Lakes ATTC's "Embracing Change" article on the ATTC/NIATx Service Improvement Blog, and even more brand new products and resources from HHS Region 5. 

In this session of the 2022 ABC Summit, different communities share ways that they have built strong partnerships between school districts and community treatment providers to meet the unique needs of the district and lessons in developing partnerships that last beyond specific individuals.   Download the slides

In this session of the 2022 ABC Summit, representatives from Texas Health and Human Services Commission provide an overview of children's mental health services, substance use prevention and mental health promotion, and substance use treatment and recovery supports.   Download the slides   Download session resources: Frequently Asked Questions handout

About this Resource:  In recognition of National Recovery Month, the Southeast Mental Health Technology Transfer Center hosted a panel discussion featuring Certified Peer Specialists providing Peer Support Services to individuals in dual recovery (from substance use and mental health concerns).  This infographic reviews highlights from the panel discussion, including the challenges and opportunities that CPS face in providing dual recovery peer support, the resources needed to build and maintain a successful community-based dual recovery program, and how communities and behavioral health providers can benefit from such programs. To access the on-demand recording of our "Certified Peer Specialists Providing Peer Support to Individuals in Dual Recovery" event, please click here. 

Let’s Talk about Intimate Partner Violence: Working at the Intersections of Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence–What Every Provider Needs to Know (Part 3)     DESCRIPTION: It has long been recognized that abuse by an intimate partner can have traumatic mental health and substance use effects. Research has found high rates of both past and current intimate partner violence (IPV) among people in substance use disorder and mental health care settings. A growing body of evidence has found that abuse is often targeted at a partner’s substance use and mental health in deliberate attempts to undermine and control survivors and keep them from achieving their recovery goals. These forms of abuse, known as substance use coercion and mental health coercion, not only jeopardize the well-being of survivors and their children, but also compromise the effectiveness of mental health and substance use disorder treatment. This session will clarify the relationship between IPV and substance use, as well as prepare participants to increase awareness of and better support survivors experiencing substance use coercion.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe ways of substance use coercion. Explain how substance use and mental health coercion influence in the effectiveness of treatment. Identify how clinicians can support individuals that experienced substance user coercion.     PRESENTER: Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, 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. Gabriela brings over 15 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, and HIV-integrated care programs. Currently, Gabriela authors best practices, leads national capacity-building efforts, and provides trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice.     The Great Lakes 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.

People with mental health and substance use conditions can and do recover. In this session we will explore the recovery model and its individualized approach. We will discuss the basics of recovery—principles, philosophy, practices and how to demonstrate empathy and collaboration in building a culture that is conducive to recovery. This module along with the rest of its series (Behavioral Health and Substance Use Awareness in the Workplace) are available on HealtheKnowledge. Learn more about HealtheKnowledge & sign up for modules here: HealtheKnowledge Courses    

This session will train employees to recognize and engage individuals with mental health conditions and substance use issues in the workplace. Being able to provide them with resources to seek care, or help fellow employees seek care is critical. In this session participants will be equipped with tools to create a safe, engaged, productive workplace. This module along with the rest of its series (Behavioral Health and Substance Use Awareness in the Workplace) are available on HealtheKnowledge. Learn more about HealtheKnowledge & sign up for modules here: HealtheKnowledge Courses  

Substance use and mental health conditions can make daily activities difficult and impair a person’s ability to work, interact with family and fulfill other major life functions. Prevention focuses on helping individuals develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to make good choices or change harmful behaviors. In this session participants will learn the importance of prevention and increase awareness of key factors that contribute to problems and crises associated with behavioral health conditions. This module along with the rest of its series (Behavioral Health and Substance Use Awareness in the Workplace) are available on HealtheKnowledge. Learn more about HealtheKnowledge & sign up for modules here: HealtheKnowledge Courses  

July 26, 2022 The United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. and the New England MHTTC would like to invite you and your staff to attend the Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO webinar series. Native Psychological Brilliance refers to the intelligence, strengths, balance, innate resources, and resilience of Native people. This no-cost telehealth series will be held throughout 2022 on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 11:00 am Pacific/12:00 pm Mountain/1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern. Each session will be one hour in length that will provide an opportunity for participants to:  Gain skills on strength-based approaches in partnership with Native People to enhance Native behavioral health,  Discuss ways that Native brilliance is demonstrated and supports behavioral health, and  Learn about Native brilliance examples to share with behavioral health and other health care staff, as well as with local Tribal Nation citizens.    In addition, the concept of Native psychological brilliance will be highlighted through Native music videos and Native spoken word performances as part of each session of the Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance series.    Who should attend? Tribal health directors, clinic staff, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal communities through the health or behavioral health sector are welcome to join. 

The Great Lakes 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.     Integrating Motivational Interviewing and Logotherapy to Help Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders Recover   DESCRIPTION:  One of the tenets of motivational interviewing is that people change when there is a discrepancy between a current behavior and a goal. Some clients with co-occurring disorders report not having the opportunity to focus on life goals for years, others lack hope that recovery is possible. This presentation focuses on the integration of motivational interviewing and Logo-therapy to help clients recover. Logo-therapy was developed by the renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl. Logotherapy helps clients turn life pain into life purpose.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Articulate the principles of motivational Interviewing. Utilize principles of logotherapy to help clients with co-occurring disorders have hope and a sense of purpose in recovery. Integrate techniques from motivational interviewing and logotherapy to help clients recover.     SPEAKER:   Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is the State Project Manager for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC and PTTC. Mark has worked for 40 years as a social worker, educator, and part of the SUD workforce. He is founder of the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery and co-founder of Serenity Academy of Chicago, the only recovery-oriented high school in Illinois. Mark is also an international speaker, trainer, and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and the British Islands.    Recently, Mark Sanders was named as the 2021 recipient of the NAADAC Enlightenment Award in recognition of his outstanding work and contributions to NAADAC, the field of SUD services, and SUD professionals. He is also the recipient of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health’s 2021 Lawrence Goodman Friend of the Field award in honor of the many years of dedicated service Mark has provided to communities throughout his home state of Illinois.

Integrated Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment     The Great Lakes 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.     DESCRIPTION:  Topics covered in this presentation include: Three types of co-occurring disorders treatment; the 10 components of integrated co-occurring disorders treatment; how to evaluate your program’s effectiveness in addressing co-occurring disorders and how to help clients with co-occurring disorders avoid slipping through the cracks, which involves going back and forth between mental health facilities, substance use disorders facilities; prisons and medical hospitals without recovering.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Articulate the tenants of 3 types of co-occurring disorders treatment. Utilize the 10 components of integrated co-occurring disorders treatment in your work. Evaluate your programs current effectiveness in addressing co-occurring disorders and be in position to improve effectiveness.     PRESENTER:   Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is the State Project Manager for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC and PTTC. Mark has worked for 40 years as a social worker, educator, and part of the SUD workforce. He is founder of the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery and co-founder of Serenity Academy of Chicago, the only recovery-oriented high school in Illinois. Mark is also an international speaker, trainer, and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and the British Islands.    Recently, Mark Sanders was named as the 2021 recipient of the NAADAC Enlightenment Award in recognition of his outstanding work and contributions to NAADAC, the field of SUD services, and SUD professionals. He is also the recipient of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health’s 2021 Lawrence Goodman Friend of the Field award in honor of the many years of dedicated service Mark has provided to communities throughout his home state of Illinois.

March 30, 2022 Creating a safe, engaging environment can make or break success in mental health and substance use disorder recovery. From helping to create a home (not just “housing”) to holding a safe space in a conversation, it starts with meeting people where they are through Person-Centered Planning. This workshop will help you set the stage for recovery-oriented transformation by establishing an environment where the condition of being human is priority number one and the evidence-based practice of Person-Centered Planning (PCP) is activated across the system of care. Part Two of this workshop will focus on the onboarding of new employees, training, and creating the infrastructure to ensure PCP is a daily practice.   to watch the recording, go to: https://youtu.be/1ieL-Le_7-c