March 2024 Regional Newsletter: South Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center

March 2024

In this Issue

Collegiate Network Aims to Reduce Substance Misuse on Arkansas Campuses
Epi Corner: Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
What's Happening Around the Region?
Free Logic Model Technical Assistance
Webinar: Mobilizing Marginalized Communities to Prevention Substance Misuse
What's New?
Using Artificial Intelligence in Prevention

Collegiate Network Aims to Reduce Substance Misuse on Arkansas Campuses

By Darla Kelsay, Certified Prevention Consultant

Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator, MidSOUTH Center for Prevention & Training

The Arkansas Collegiate Network (ACN), Arkansas’ official collegiate coalition, has a higher vision than just local community impact; the network is committed to addressing substance misuse statewide. As a community coalition, ACN understands the importance of working together to create change. They understand that building strong collaborations and partnerships is critical to implementing effective substance misuse prevention programs. Read more about the Arkansas Collegiate Network...

Review these additional resources on college drinking.

Reducing Hazardous Drinking on College Campuses

South Southwest PTTC

Substance Use Prevention Resources for Youth and College

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

College Drinking Prevention

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Epi Corner

Youth in the Juvenile Justice Systems

By Iris Smith, Ph.D.

Youth involved in the justice system are known to be at high risk for alcohol and drug use, and mental and physical health problems. However, most juvenile justice systems do not screen for substance use or mental health disorders, provide substance use or behavioral health services, or have policies that link youth to community resources once released.

Read more about what works...

What's Happening Around the Region?

Still Available: Developing a Logic Model Technical Assistance Opportunity

Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to enhance your organization's grant readiness, bolster sustainability, and maximize the impact of your prevention initiatives. Get free logic model technical assistance for your team with one of our subject matter experts.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Empower your team with the tools to collect and analyze meaningful data. Make informed decisions, track progress, and showcase the success of your prevention programs.
Capacity Building: Empower your team with a strategic roadmap. The Logic Model provides a clear and concise framework, enhancing your team's capacity to implement, measure, and adapt prevention strategies effectively

Schedule Your Free TA Today

Mobilizing Marginalized Communities to Prevent Substance Misuse

Tuesday, April 26, 2024

9:30 -11:00 a.m. MT / 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT / 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET

Join us for an interactive session that will explore strategies for effectively engaging marginalized communities in prevention efforts. Participants will gain insights into the unique challenges faced by these communities and learn practical approaches to promote empowerment, inclusivity, and equity in prevention initiatives.

What's New?

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Create Social Media Posts

AI has become a catchall term for applications that perform complex tasks that once required human input. This month we are sharing a few resources to begin exploring how AI can help you manage some of your prevention programming tasks.

Below is an example of an AI-generated post using Microsoft Copilot for National Alcohol Awareness Month. Assisting with the creation of social media posts is one simple example of the many things that AI can do to help you manage your work efficiently.

User 

Write a social media post about National Alcohol Awareness Month in April

Bing 

🌟 April is National Alcohol Awareness Month! 🌟

Let's come together to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol and promote healthier choices. 🚫

🔴 What is Alcohol Awareness Month? Alcohol Awareness Month, observed every April, is an initiative by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Its mission is to educate the public about alcohol use disorder (formerly known as "alcoholism"), its risks, treatments, and effects on individuals, families, and communities. 🌎

🔴 How can you participate? Here are some ways to get involved:

Wear a Red Ribbon: Sport a red ribbon pin or find one online to show your support for Alcohol Awareness Month. Let's spread the message! 🎗️

Alcohol-Free 72 Hours: Make the first weekend in April alcohol-free. Encourage friends and family to join you. It's a powerful way to reflect on our relationship with alcohol. 🙌

Host Dry Parties: Throw alcohol-free gatherings in April. Explore delicious nonalcoholic drinks and mixers. Let's celebrate without booze! 🥤

Talk About Alcohol: Engage in conversations with kids, teens, and loved ones. Discuss the risks of alcohol misuse and prevention. Knowledge is key! 💬

Remember, together we can make a difference. Let's support each other and create a healthier, alcohol-aware community! 🌟

#AlcoholAwarenessMonth #ChooseHealth #SpreadAwareness

[Learn more about Alcohol Awareness Month]

Source(s)

Top 10 Free AI Websites to Work Smarter and Faster in 2024

Bookmark these AI websites to increase productivity in 2024. Best alternatives for ChatGPT to summarize, create content and images, and make videos and podcasts.

How are you using AI in your prevention work?

To write informative social media posts

Select

Social media monitoring

Select

To outline community presentations

Select

To create images specific to our prevention efforts

Select

Creating a draft of community resources to distribute at community events.

Select

Collecting data on alcohol/cannabis outlets

Select

Using predictive analytics to identify community areas at risk.

Select

I haven't tried it yet

Select

I have used AI in other ways

Select

Try AI today by clicking on the link below or scan the QR code to download the app to your phone. It’s fun to explore all the unique things you can do with AI!

Microsoft Copilot

Download the App for your phone.

We recommend this webinar hosted by the Great Lakes PTTC. Register soon!

Brainstorming the Future: Using Generative AI in Your Substance Misuse Prevention Work

April 18, 2024

9:00 - 10:30 a.m. MT / 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. CT / 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. ET

Dive into the world of generative artificial intelligence (AI) with an engaging 90-minute webinar that demystifies Large Language Models (LLMs) and their practical applications. It promises to enhance your understanding of AI's potential in substance misuse prevention work, while also highlighting the critical issues of misinformation and bias inherent in these technologies.

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ABOUT THE NETWORK

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About the PTTC Network

South Southwest PTTC Website

pttc6@ou.edu

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