Products and Resources Catalog

Newsletter published April 7, 2020

This fact sheet focuses on supported housing and resources that may be useful in assisting individuals struggling with homelessness. It also covers information on homelessness and supported housing specific to the Southeast, and explores whether supported housing is effective in saving lives.

Providing SUD services during a pandemic requires a mix of disaster preparedness, safety precautions, telehealth, and ethics. During her tenure as a leader in SUD treatment, Sheila Weix has been involved with emergencies related to the HIV epidemic, 9/11, and the 2008 economic collapse. She is currently applying this experience in an outpatient treatment service that includes medication-assisted treatment in rural Wisconsin during the COVID19 pandemic. Webinar participants will learn about: Safety precautions How to move all services to telehealth Reimbursement contingencies Leadership actions underway to address this rapidly changing situation    Transcript

The Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) recognizes the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 situation and has developed a webpage to assist individuals, providers, communities, and states across our region. Note, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stands ready to assist in any manner possible and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the most up-to-date information on COVID-19.   COVID-19 Mental Health Resources The COVID-19 Mental Health resources page houses dozens of reputable resources and evidenced-based models for addressing mental health during a pandemic. The webpages is continually being updated and is currently organized by the following topics: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources Housing Resources School-Based Resources Resources for Caregivers and Parents Additional Resources   If you have questions about this website or products you thing would be valuable on this page, please contact Shawnda Schroeder at [email protected].  

The fact sheet provides a brief overview of the peer support services and credentialing process available in Alabama.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the peer support services and credentialing available in Kentucky.

Suicide remains a leading cause of death in our country, affecting all segments of the population. People just released from prison are at higher-risk of suicide, particularly if they also struggle with substance use. This webinar will present lessons learned from a research study that evaluates the effectiveness of the Safety Planning Intervention, a strategy for reducing suicide events among people transitioning from jail to the community. Principal Investigator Dr. Jennifer E. Johnson of Michigan State University will describe the nature of the problem and ways to reduce suicide events, given frequent substance use in this high-risk population. Recorded on March 3, 2020 Download Presentation Slides This webinar was presented in collaboration with the Great Lakes ATTC and the Central East ATTC and MHTTC. 

This two-page fact sheet provides an overview of the criminalization of SMI, trans-institutionalization, the relationship between mental illness and criminal justice involvement, and the sequential intercept model.

Newsletter published March 3, 2020.

Executive Summary: Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Needs among Probation and Parole Officers This is an executive summary of the larger report: Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Needs: Findings, Implications, and Summary of a Survey of Probation and Parole Officers in Region 8.   The Mountain Plains Mental Health and Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) team, in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and state probation and parole offices, conducted an electronic survey in November and December 2019. The survey was distributed electronically to probation and parole officers in all six states located in the United States Department of Health & Human Services Region 8 in order to identify specific mental health training needs. Results will assist the Mountain Plains MHTTC staff to better serve correctional officers and stakeholders throughout the region. Additionally, the survey results will inform the development of new products, training materials, and technical assistance requests. This work includes expanding collaborations with entities serving probation and parole staff to address the training needs described. Authors Shawnda Schroeder Thomasine Heitkamp Desirae Martinefski

Criminal Justice Mental Health Resources Justice-involved individuals diagnosed with mental illness are often incarcerated instead of accessing community-based mental healthcare. As a result, they are overrepresented in jails and prisons throughout the U.S. A high prevalence of mental illness and substance use exist among jail inmates, and they reenter society without the necessary supports following incarceration. This occurs for a myriad of reasons, including the lack of community services to better ensure successful reintegration, and the lack of support to meet basic needs for food, housing, and transportation. The outcome is additional arrests and incarcerations. The Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) team is dedicated to addressing mental health among those who are involved with the criminal justice system. In response, the team conducted a needs assessment of training and technical assistance in December 2019 among probation and parole officers in Region 8. In response to the findings of that survey, the Mountain Plains MHTTC team has begun identifying existing resources and technical assistance available to those working with justice-involved individuals. Criminal Justice Mental Health Resources The Criminal Justice resources page houses dozens of reputable resources and evidenced-based models for those working with justice-involved individuals. If you have questions about this website or products you thing would be valuable on this page, please contact Shawnda Schroeder at [email protected]. 

The South Southwest MHTTC criminal justice trainings cover various points along the continuum shown above. This image will be used in all upcoming programming to indicate what stage on the continuum the training material is covering.

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

A brief description of the Southeast MHTTC's Year One activities.

Newsletter published February 4, 2020.

The South Southwest MHTTC's Annual Report for August 2018 - August 2019.

Increased attention to the overrepresentation of individuals with behavioral health challenges in prisons and jails across the country has led policymakers to establish reforms aimed at reducing the number of people in custody. According to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), access to community-based supports and services is critical to promoting recovery throughout the reentry process. During this 90-minute webcast, presenters will identify the factors contributing to justice system involvement among individuals experiencing mental illness and the ways in which incarceration can contribute to adverse mental health outcomes. The presenters will also introduce participants to Reentry Peer Specialists, an emerging role in the mental health workforce that draws on the shared lived experiences in the justice and mental health systems to support community reintegration.

Presented by: Katie Volk & Maria Restrepo-Toro

Findings, Implications, and Summary of a Survey of Probation and Parole Officers in Region 8 The Mountain Plains Mental Health and Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) team, in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and state probation and parole offices, conducted an electronic survey in November and December 2019. The survey was distributed electronically to probation and parole officers in all six states located in the United States Department of Health & Human Services Region 8 in order to identify specific mental health training needs. Results will assist the Mountain Plains MHTTC staff to better serve correctional officers and stakeholders throughout the region. Additionally, the survey results will inform the development of new products, training materials, and technical assistance requests. This work includes expanding collaborations with entities serving probation and parole staff to address the training needs described.   Full Report   The full report includes an overall assessment, a presentation of training needs among rural and urban probation and parole officers, varied training needs between probation and parole, and state specific reports.   One-Page State Summaries Colorado Probation and Parole: Mental Health Training Needs Montana Probation and Parole: Mental Health Training Needs North Dakota Probation and Parole: Mental Health Training Needs South Dakota Probation and Parole: Mental Health Training Needs Utah Probation and Parole: Mental Health Training Needs Wyoming Probation and Parole: Mental Health Training Needs Authors Shawnda Schroeder Thomasine Heitkamp Desirae Martinefski Additional Resources Addressing Mental Health for Justice-Involved Individuals A host of resources currently exist to serve the mental health training and technical assistance needs of both probation and parole staff, as well as other professionals who work with justice-involved individuals.   Resources Funded or Provided under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration funds and supports over a dozen programs and initiatives that can assist those who work with justice-involved individuals who also have a mental health and/or substance use disorder. These resources, toolkits, trainings, and webpages promote early intervention and treatment as healthier alternatives to detainment, help identify treatment resources, locate housing assistance, and address integrated care, among other topics.   Additional Resources Not Funded by SAMHSA Several organizations, associations, and governmental agencies have begun to address the mental health and substance use disorder needs among individuals involved in the criminal justice system. These resources include technical assistance manuals, diversion interventions, best practices, data reports, and a list of resources that provide a wealth of information about state, federal, and organizational resources for probation and parole officials.

The South Southwest MHTTC Annual Report two-pager highlights covering Center accomplishments from 2018 through 2019.

  Gender Violence among Latinas: Key Concepts and Cultural Considerations provides mental health clinicians an understanding of the main factors that influence Latina's vulnerability to experience gender-based violence. It also includes clinical recommendations for mental health providers and organizations.   This product explains the impact of gender and domestic violence among Hispanic and Latinas, describes the difference between domestic violence and intimate partner violence, and how cultural values like marianismo and machismo embedded in Hispanic and Latino populations could exacerbate differences in the role between males and females. Many Latinas may confront struggles regarding power balances due to their gender, and factors like immigration, anti-immigrant environments, low income, and cultural values might influence this. 

This is the fourth installment of our regional newsletter. This issue's focus is on mental health and the criminal justice system.

Newsletter published January 8, 2020.

Latino adults in the United States face serious mental health care disparities.  A combination of person-level barriers, such as stigma, negative attitudes toward mental health treatments, and limited mental health literacy, contribute to these inequities in mental health care.  This factsheet includes information on how person-level barriers impact mental health care disparities in the Latino community.  The factsheet also describes how a depression literacy tool entitled “Secret Feelings” that integrate cultural elements from the Latino community and uses an entertainment-education approach can help address these barriers to care. Information includes results from studies indicating that the use of “Secret Feelings” may improve mental health care in the Latino community