Looking Back on 2022

The Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) would like to thank you for a wonderful year serving the four-state region of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Our year began with a transition in leadership when Dave Closson departed in pursuit of his own consulting firm, and the PTTC welcomed Steve Miller for this role.

A few of the highlights from across the year include, another year of our Community of Practice (CoP) series on Coalition, Leadership, and Behavioral Health Workforce Development. In addition to the CoP series, Alicia Ozenberger led a workshop on developing a community needs assessment.

We conducted three training-of-trainers: Substance Abuse Prevention Skills (SAPST), Ethics in Prevention and Core Drug Endangered Children/DEC Approach courses. Look for these new trainers to be leading trainings across Missouri and Nebraska as we enter the new year. SAMHSA is developing a Prevention Core Competencies training and Crystal Dalmasso from Kansas and Kate Kelley from Joplin, Mo were among the first cohort to attend the pilot (read more about this opportunity inside this newsletter).

After a hiatus from the COVID-19 interruption of in-person trainings, TTC's from across Region 7 were able to host an Advisory Board meeting in Kansas City in late September. Our partner in workforce development, Hue Life, was brought in by the ATTC, MHTTC and PTTC to facilitate a day-long planning process with Single State Authority Leaders along with other partners in prevention. Another cross-discipline TTC project was our Leadership Institute Community of Practice. See the "Listen on Rewind" segment below for recordings of this series.

Hue Life was again brought in to help deliver a Community Engagement series in rural parts of Kansas and Nebraska. These day-long trainings took place in Hays, Kansas and Lexington, Nebraska and brought together coalition leadership to explore the practice of utilizing the Hue Conversation. Our thanks to Chad Childs from the Kansas Prevention Collaboratives (KPC) and Danielle Wing from Nebraska DHHS who were instrumental in planning and implementation of this training.

KPC was instrumental in two other projects which addressed DEI improvement among workforce participants and prevention practices. In cooperation with the National Hispanic and Latino PTTC a Promoting Behavioral Health Equity: training culminated in a CLAS Standards Deep Dive presented my Dr. Marilyn Laila Sampilo <view series here>. Nicole Augustine from RIZE Consulting was our lunch-n-learn series presenter on Structural Inequities Affecting Prevention Practices and included Foundational Concepts, Equity in Data, Equity in People, Equity in Planning and Equity in Action.

Community leaders from across Missouri completed a seven-week DEC Academy which consisted of building and strengthening participants’ knowledge and awareness of DEC. The Missouri academy also discussed the intersection between DEC and Human Trafficking and the harms of marijuana to children and families.

Looking ahead to the new year, you will also see some familiar products being offered, like the Community of Practices series, additional support for the DEC mission in our region, and another lunch-n-learn series from Nicole Augustine. Also, in 2023 we'll be launching a new cross TTC collaboration, develop a media literacy project, host a regional conference with The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, a facelift for this newsletter and a new podcast title.

Happy holidays everyone, we'll see you in the new year!

The Mid-America PTTC Podcast: Listen, Subscribe, Share!

A DEC Perspective: Law Enforcement

Ret. Lieutenant Eric Nation, began his career in law enforcement and it was this exposure that eventually led him to recognize the impact that drugs and drug environments have on children.

He now serves as the Director of Training and Development, and is a leading advocate’ for children and families caught in the cycle of drug use.

Listen: Episode 62

A DEC Perspective: Children's Services

Stacee Read is responsible for the development and oversight of State, Local, and Tribal DEC Alliances, and for providing training and TA within the DEC network.

Her previous work in such roles as Crisis Counselor, and a Fatality Review Team Facilitator provided her the foundation for understanding the needs of Drug Endangered Children.

Listen: Episode 63

(coming 12/15)

Prevention Core Competencies Training Coming in the New Year

Kate Kelley from the Alliance of Southwest Missouri attended the Core Competencies training pilot.

SAMHSA is in the final stages of rolling out a new Prevention Core Competencies training as part of a new workforce development initiative.

During the third week of November two Preventionist from Region 7 were identified as participants, and given the opportunity to partake in a pilot process being developed for SAMHSA by Nicole Augustine and Maria Luna.

The two individuals selected for the experience were vetted according to criteria set forth by the master trainers. Kate Kelley has less than 3-years experience in the prevention field, while Crystal Delmasso is a more experienced practitioner and trainer.

The goals of this training are:

Provide an overview of prevention science and its application to practice.

Strengthen understanding of effective planning and implementation approaches to prevention services.

Raise awareness about the training and credentialing needs for the field

Encourage pursuit of more specialized training.

During the TOT Delmasso stated, "they discussed how this course could benefit those working in prevention and determined this training outlines the “why” of prevention science while SAPST is the “how.”

Crystal Dalmasso works for DCCCA in Kansas and was able to attend the core training and ToT.

To help us better understand, the course objectives are listed as:

Describe the key elements of prevention planning and evaluation,

Understand the core prevention professional knowledge, skills and competencies,

Understand the theories and processes that support prevention interventions and policies,

Describe how evidence-based prevention strategies can be delivered across settings including the family, school, media, community or workplace.

Individuals come to the prevention field from a variety of backgrounds and trainings, this training will offer those individuals a shared language and knowledge of the prevention science. Having a deeper understanding of the theories and framework that outline evidence-based interventions will support prevention specialists as they work within their communities. This training also supports those working to complete their Prevention Certification."

SAMHSA hopes to roll out this

initiative early next year and begin trainings nationwide.

Keep an ear open in January for a podcast interview with both of these pilot attendees on the all new Prevention Perk from Mid-America PTTC.

Shanelle Moore was chosen to participate in the BOLD Fellowship funded by SAMHSA as part of a workforce development initiative.

BOLD Fellowship Established with Partners in Prevention

The Building Our Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) Prevention Fellowship Program (PFP) was established to focus on increasing the number of prevention scientists working within Black/African American communities. SAMHSA challenged each PTTC across the nation with the opportunity to participate in the program. The Mid-America PTTC entered into an agreement with the Partners in Prevention program, led by Joan Masters at the University of Missouri, who will oversee the project.

BOLD Fellows will receive mentorship from prevention staff associated with their placement and will be exposed to the day-to-day workings of the site. This is a paid fellowship. Fellows will work on projects as assigned by their placement approximately 55% of the time and will dedicate the other 45% of their time to learning and capacity development activities coordinated by the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) network.

Shanelle Moore, who was hired to represent the Mid-America PTTC through this process, is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in Public Health and Social Work from University of Missouri. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with emphasis in Family and Lifespan Development and a minor in Social Justice. After graduating, she began working in the community to help meet the needs of the people. She has over 10 years of trauma-informed social service experience that allowed her to be exposed to the issues communities face regarding substance use and health & wellness. While serving the community, she discovered her purpose in life, which is being the voice for the underserved populations in the face of adversity. Shanelle strives to bring equity, cohesiveness, and stability in communities to enhance quality of life. She was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She relocated to Columbia, MO in 2012 to begin her undergraduate career at the University of Missouri - Columbia. During that time, she developed a love for helping people and found that to be her area of passion.

⏪ Listen on Rewind ⏪

Leadership Institute Community of Practice

This series provided this space for current and emerging leaders in behavioral health disciplines to participate in dialogue and create space for our industries leaders of tomorrow.

If you missed your opportunity to participate, you still have a chance to listen on rewind to this four-part series by clicking the links below.

Workforce Innovations: Social Impact & Remote Working

Equity & Inclusion in Behavioral Health

Promoting Equity and Inclusion in the Workforce

Building Rapport & Working Overextensions

This training was developed for the Mid-America Addiction Technology Center (Mid-America ATTC), Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (Mid-America MHTTC), and the Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Mid-America PTTC) under a cooperative agreement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Behavioral Health and Substance Use Awareness in the Workplace

Behavioral health and substance use are common occurrences. Everyone in the workplace can make an impact by learning more about these conditions, working to reduce stigma, and learning how to talk to a coworker who might be struggling and help them to access supportive resources.

This 1.5 hour course is designed to educate employers and employees about mental health and substance use issues that may arise in the workplace and how to manage them. It is not designed for the mental health professional, and this series does not train the viewer to diagnose, only to recognize and respond.

Certificate of Completion Available

Take this Course

The Guide to the Eight Professional Competencies was designed to promote enhanced professional skills and ultimately significantly impact college students' decisions surrounding drugs and alcohol.

The Mid-America PTTC would like to thank Dr. Anderson and his team for their dedication to this initiative, which started from an idea that Dave Closson had during his tenure at Mid-America.

If you'd like to read, share, and comment on this work, please visit our website at www.preventioncompetencies.org.

Dave Closson from DJC Solutions

Dave Closson Returned to the PTTC to Lead a Series on Evidence Based Practices.

This three-part series on working with evidence based practices in your community, is designed to ensure your understanding of the importance of EBP's, learn the selection process, and finally implement with fidelity and for sustainability. Whether you are new to the prevention field, or really seeking to build your knowledge, this series will help your community select effective interventions with conceptual and practical fit.

Watch the Series