Multimedia
The National Alliance on Mental Illness recognizes that current environmental factors are traumatizing people of color, which as a risk factor can also initiate or increase substance use and potentially developing trauma and stress complications. Provider bias in stigmatic language or other microaggressions affect a client’s capacity to respond to clinical interventions and are often identified in research, as components of poor behavioral health outcomes.
Culturally responsive organizations integrate cultural humility in all levels of practice and serve delivery, providing highest levels of patient centered care and building equity with persons of color and other marginalized communities. This interactive virtual training will review how to integrate cultural humility within care, review culturally and linguistically appropriate services for organizational capacity building and opportunities for provider practice, and show how cultural responsiveness can increase patient wellness for racial and ethnic populations.
This training was approved for two renewal hours (CASAC, CPP, CPS) and two initial hours (CPP, CPS) through New York State’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS). As an IC & RC member board, OASAS-accredited courses were granted reciprocal approval by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee.
Published: November 12, 2025
Multimedia
The Northwest ATTC is excited to announce the first presentation in the Making It Work series!
Behavioral health organizations across the country are finding creative ways to meet community needs and support their teams, often with limited resources. This virtual series highlights those stories. Each session features practitioners who are doing more with less: building equity-driven, recovery-oriented programs that not only serve their communities but also help retain and sustain the people delivering care.
Through real-world examples, this series will explore how community-responsive practices—like peer-led models, cultural healing, flexible service delivery, and reflective supervision—can reduce burnout, increase staff satisfaction, and strengthen the behavioral health workforce.
In this kick-off session, Tony Vezina, Executive Director of 4D Recovery, and Max Seger, Human Resource Director, presented 4D Recovery’s comprehensive addiction recovery service model. The presentation highlighted innovative adolescent programs and showcased human resource practices that foster professional development, support individuals with lived experience, and create a positive workplace culture.
Published: November 6, 2025
Multimedia
Clients with SUD often have quite different histories from the clients we treat with Gaming Disorder. It is not surprising, therefore, that what they need in treatment can be different. There is overlap, of course, but the differences need to be understood by clinicians in order for treatments to be effective.
One of the most common errors a clinician can make is to dismiss the problematic Internet behavior as purely symptomatic of underlying issues and, therefore, likely to clear up if those are addressed. This thinking can lead to treatment failure, as we know from the treatment histories of our reSTART clients. Clinicians know better than to make this mistake when assessing a new client who has a SUD.
In this training from Hilarie Cash, PhD, LMHC, Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at reSTART Life, you will have the opportunity to learn about the Internet-based behavioral addictions so that assessments are more accurate and treatment outcomes are more successful.
Watch the video | Download the slides
Published: November 5, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
The Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for different treatment methods.
SERIES LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This series will address:
Best practices for treating women with SUDs in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest
The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women
Using trauma-informed approaches during treatment when appropriate
Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs
TRAINERS
Carole Warshaw, MD
Kelly Lemon, APRN, CNM, FACNM
Odayme Quesada, MD
Melinda McMichael, CPRS, CD/PD(DONA), CTSS
Elizabeth E. Krans, MD, MSc
The Great Lakes ATTC 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.
Published: September 11, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides, Website
The Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for different treatment methods.
Series Learning Objectives
This series will address:
Best practices for treating women with SUDs in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest
The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women
Using trauma-informed approaches during treatment when appropriate
Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs
If you missed the series, view the recordings!
Published: September 11, 2025
Toolkit
DESCRIPTION
Building on the survey of states in Region 3, this workshop is designed to explore state strategies for addressing the workforce crisis in behavioral health. This event will briefly review the most common strategies in states nationally, and the survey findings from states in Region 3. This will be followed by a facilitated discussion and Q&A among representatives of Region 3 states participating in the workshop about successes and obstacles in addressing their workforce challenges.
To download the toolkit, please use the State BH Workforce button on the right side of this page.
This product was developed in collaboration with Michael Hoge, Ph.D.
Michael Hoge, Ph.D., is Professor Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and the Director of Yale Behavioral Health. For four decades at Yale, he has been developing and managing comprehensive systems of behavioral health care and a broad range of clinical, rehabilitative, educational, vocational, outreach, and recovery-oriented services for children, adolescents and adults. Simultaneously, he has worked to develop and evaluate innovative services, including alternatives to hospitalization, crisis response systems, programs for the homeless, and therapeutic schools. Dr. Hoge, a clinical psychologist, is a nationally recognized expert on behavioral health workforce development. He is a founding member and the Senior Science and Policy Advisor of The Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce.
Published: September 3, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
The New England ATTC presents speaker slides and the Zoom recording from a TA session on substance misuse among youth, led by subject matter expert Laura Grubb.
Published: August 22, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
The New England ATTC presents speaker slides and the Zoom recording from the third session of the three-part targeted TA series, "Foundations of Implementation Science: From Concept to Sustainable Impact" with subject matter expert Zabin Patel-Syed.
Published: August 22, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
The Take 10! Transforming Care for Women and their Families with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) series is designed to discuss current issues and challenges confronted by women presenting SUDs and those with SUDs who are in recovery. Studies have shown that women begin treatment for SUDs frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compare to men, implying the need for gender-specific treatment. Expert speakers from the substance use field will guide discussions and share evidence-based practices tailored to the specific needs of women. Participants will be able to enhance their knowledge and skills in the assessment and provision of mental health services for women from various backgrounds who experienced trauma, intimate partner violence, and discrimination. Other topics include the history of women in recovery, men counseling women, co-occurring disorders, barriers to accessing services, and other health related social issues. By engaging with the Take 10! series, individuals can actively contribute to the transformation of care for women and their families, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for those on the journey of recovery.
During this 2- hour training session, the presenter will discuss treatment models that are family-centered for mothers in recovery and experiencing substance use disorders.
These are the overall learning objectives for the series:
Understand the link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women.
Understand health needs observed in women in recovery and experiencing substance use disorders.
Discuss effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help to improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs
Trainer:
Michelle Evans, PhD
Dr. Michelle Evans, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider and Evaluator, has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families impacted by addiction, with a particular focus on the Hispanic/Latino community. Her extensive background includes leadership as a hospital administrator and work as a bilingual forensic evaluator and treatment provider. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Elgin Mental Health Center, a state forensic psychiatric hospital in Elgin, Illinois. In her private practice at Nickerson & Associates, PC, Dr. Evans specializes in the evaluation and treatment of adults and adolescents facing challenges with substance and sex addictions. Her clinical work addresses the complex intersection of addiction, trauma, and mental health, helping clients reclaim their lives and relationships. In addition to her clinical and administrative work, Dr. Evans is an educator who teaches social work and mental health courses at Aurora University and Indiana Wesleyan University. A passionate advocate for equity, justice, and culturally responsive care, Dr. Evans consistently works to advance awareness, compassion, and effective services for marginalized and underserved populations. Her career reflects an unwavering commitment to addressing addiction and mental health challenges through culturally grounded, person-centered care.
The Great Lakes ATTC 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.
Published: August 12, 2025
Print Media
This three-day workshop empowers organizational leaders to initiate strategies and institutionalize practices that support sustainable, caring workplace environments. Grounded in the foundations of trauma informed care, these sessions will provide a deep dive into the concepts of leadership self-care, culture-building, and frameworks for fostering resilient systems, teams, and people. Leaders will come away with tangible tools to quickly implement strategies in their organizations, along with support and collaboration with other leaders to energize innovative approaches.
Published: July 31, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
Stigma in rural areas often stems from strong community ties, traditional values, and limited access to resources. It can discourage individuals from seeking help due to fear of judgment or ostracization. In rural areas particularly, mental health and substance use stigma is prevalent, with residents facing higher suicide rates and fewer options for healthcare access. This webinar will address the prevalence and impact of stigma, especially surrounding mental health and substance use in rural communities and discuss strategies for reducing stigma to foster more supportive environments.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To provide the audience with an opportunity to understand the impact of stigma, barriers to treatment, and actionable ways to create more compassionate and supportive communities. Attendees will learn how to:
Discuss cultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to stigma in rural areas.
Examine the real-world effects of stigma, including barriers to seeking help, isolation, and increased suicide rates.
Share strategies for reducing stigma, including community-based initiatives, policy changes, and personal advocacy.
TRAINER:
Humberto Carvalho is a seasoned public health professional with extensive experience leading domestic and international initiatives funded by the U.S. government. He holds a Master of Public Health Leadership with a concentration in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Over the course of 13 years at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Humberto played a pivotal role in shaping public health policies and advancing key initiatives to promote mental health and substance use treatment and prevention
The Great Lakes ATTC 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.
Published: July 22, 2025
Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording & Slides: Understanding and Addressing Tobacco and Nicotine Use Disorder
Access the recording and slides from this practical, evidence-based webinar designed to help professionals better support clients on their journey to quit tobacco and nicotine. Whether you attended the live session or are exploring the material for the first time, these resources are available to deepen your understanding and enhance your practice.
Webinar Description:Tobacco-related illnesses significantly shorten life expectancy, yet many people who want to quit struggle to do so without support. Understanding and Addressing Tobacco and Nicotine Use Disorder: Treatment and Recovery equips providers with tools and insights to address this critical issue in a compassionate and effective way.
Participants will be able to:
Describe how nicotine affects the brain and body
Explore tools to screen for nicotine use
Explain how to support clients using evidence-based strategies
Address common myths and enhance motivation to quit
Published: July 17, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
Participants will receive an in depth training on how to navigate the Substance Use Disorders section of the DSM-5 TR. Training on how to ask questions about substances to elicit honest information from the client, how to recognize "red flags" that can help assess problematic use potential and the chance that the problem has progressed, and details on Dual Diagnosis labeling, Substance induced disorders will be given. Particular attention will be paid to special implications when diagnosing Opiate Use Disorder and Sedative Hypnotic Disorder. Specific tools and techniques will be shared, giving the beginner diagnoser to the advanced new tips on how to engage and label this population with an increased accuracy that will aid tremendously in treatment implications.
TRAINER:
Jennifer Haywood, LISW-S, LICDC-CS
Jennifer has been training helping professionals since 1998. Her specialties include diagnosis, motivational interviewing, addictions focus topics, drug free workplace trainings, ethics, and supervision. Jennifer goes to agencies state-wide to train staff in treatment models in order to help their clients and trained all the behavioral health and medical social workers at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Motivational Interviewing in 2011/2012. Currently, Jennifer is teaching at OSU in the MSW and BSSW programs, focusing on the addictions minor the university is offering, clinical diagnosing and motivational interviewing.
The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC 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.
Published: July 15, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
The New England ATTC presents speaker slides and the Zoom recording from the second session of the three-part targeted TA series, "Foundations of Implementation Science: From Concept to Sustainable Impact" with subject matter expert Zabin Patel-Syed.
Published: July 9, 2025
Multimedia
This is a recording of the webinar presented on July 1, 2025 with Humberto Carvalho, MPH.
Collaboration between law enforcement and public health agencies is an increasingly recognized approach to addressing complex societal issues such as substance misuse, mental health crises, homelessness, and violence. This interdisciplinary partnership aims to improve public safety and community well-being by aligning the goals and resources of both sectors. This webinar will explore how cross-sector partnerships can improve community outcomes, reduce crime, and address public health crises such as addiction, mental illness, and homelessness.
Published: July 1, 2025
Multimedia
Cognitive Processing Disorder (CPD) 101: Awareness and Support in the Field of SUD Treatment
DESCRIPTION
Challenges in processing information is a critical consideration for providers engaging in prevention and outreach to people living with substance use disorder. To empower assessment and intervention, providers need to increase their skills in information gathering and sharing with people whose diagnoses contain a cognitive processing challenge. This presentation will define and exemplify what cognitive processing disorder is, how it presents, and some basic considerations for navigating it. This course is considered a prerequisite for the Cognitive Processing Disorder Learning Collaboratives for Supervisors.
You may view the recorded webinar by clicking the View Resource button on the right side of the page.
You may also download the accompanying CPD Toolkit by clicking here.
This event was developed in collaboration with Laura Hinds of Hindsight Consulting Group, LLC.
Laura Hinds MSW, LCSW is a clinical social worker with experience in medical, behavioral and mental health settings. Laura has had the pleasure of working with high acuity special needs populations and their providers for over 22 years. An alumna and instructor at Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice for 13 years, and Bryn Mawr’s School of Social Work and Social Research for the past 4 years, Laura has supported the learning and education of new social workers, veterans in the field, and their interdisciplinary partners.
Published: June 13, 2025
Interactive Resource, Multimedia, Other, Toolkit
How to Use this Guide:
You are busy. When you’re in the business of helping people change health behavior, things move quickly. Finding time to work with patients on their motivation to change is hard work. And we all know a patient’s motivation to change waxes and wanes.
So, when the patient is ready for brief treatment (BT), we want to make it easy for you to engage with and get their continued participation in the BT process. We have designed this document as a way to help you do that effectively and efficiently. You’ll notice we refer to it as a "guide" but in no way is that intended to be prescriptive. You and your patients will have choices related to which exercises you'll use and how you'll use them. Sharing decision making and talking about choices is a big part of MI. Partnering with the patients regarding what they need to support themselves on their own journey contributes to more persistent and sustained engagement in the process. You might even think about how supporting your patients through difficult changes aligns with your meaning and purpose as a health care provider. Win-win!
Published: May 23, 2025
Multimedia
This interactive learning community conversation supports the work of peers and the use of their valuable experience.
Goals: To provide a space for workforce members with ‘lived experience’ to reflect on the especially important contributions they make to the lives of the people they support and guide. To explore the balance of self-disclosure that best meets the needs of people in care. To review a person-centered method of sharing information or offering our 'own story.'
Credits: This training was approved for two renewal hours (CASAC, CPP, CPS) and two initial hours (CPP, CPS) through New York State’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS). As an IC & RC member board, OASAS-accredited courses were granted reciprocal approval by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee. Many other states offered reciprocity.
Additionally, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., Training Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0694.
Published: May 8, 2025
Multimedia, Presentation Slides
The Take 10! Transforming Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and their Families series discusses current issues and challenges confronted by women presenting with substance use, SUDs, and who are in recovery. Women experience SUD in ways that are distinct from men. Studies show that when women begin treatment for SUDs, they frequently arrive with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social struggles compared to men. For these reasons, there is a need for different treatment methods.
Topic 7 (Overview Session): Peer Supports for Women with SUDs in Recovery
This 30-minute overview session will introduce participants to the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely impact women during treatment, and especially how these factors relate to the peer supports available to women with SUDs in recovery.
Learning Objectives
This overview session will address peer supports for women in recovery with a special focus on the following information:
Best practices for treating women with SUDs in the United States, with a focus on the Midwest
The link between trauma, substance use, and other co-morbidities in women
Using trauma-informed approaches during treatment when appropriate
Effective clinical strategies, interventions, and resources that help improve engagement, retention, and completion of treatment programs
Trainer:
Kris Kelly is a Project Manager at the Center for Addiction Recovery Support, leading the Recovery Community Organization capacity-building team through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With over a decade of experience in the in the recovery field, Kris has worked with a wide variety of systems and settings designing and implementing strategies to empower people with lived experience to lead the process in systems change, peer services integration, and recovery-oriented practices development. Kris has a passion for holistic wellness in her own recovery journey and has dedicated her personal and professional life to ensuring those who struggle have the opportunity to achieve wellness- without judgement or having to jump through countless hoops, with choice and dignity throughout the process.
The Great Lakes ATTC 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.
Published: May 6, 2025
Print Media
The Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) in Faith Communities flyer highlights the benefits of TIC for faith communities, provides an overview of key training topics, and outlines how to schedule a training for your congregation.
Published: April 1, 2025
Multimedia
This interactive webinar describes how effective client de-escalation improves provider and client wellbeing. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their experience of de-escalation and to consider events within a larger, supportive process of de-escalation. Effective verbal and non-verbal approaches will be reviewed and explored using a scenario. Ultimately, effective de-escalation is a team process; participants will leave this session prepared to talk with their co-workers and to make intentional choices about de-escalation in SUD treatment and recovery support settings.
TRAINING OBJECTIVES
Normalize heightened feelings experienced within SUD settings when clients become escalated.
Explore and reconsider ‘de-escalation’ as a process, not an event.
Review and discuss verbal and non-verbal approaches that supports client de-escalation.
State the rationale for why no one should de-escalate alone.
Presented by Paul Warren, LMSW
Published: March 13, 2025
Multimedia
There is a national shortage of addiction care professionals and societal needs for this workforce are projected to increase over the next decade. While many things contribute to this circumstance, a pervasive challenge is the stigma that often surrounds people with substance use disorders and the care available to them.
To combat such stigma about addiction care, the Northwest ATTC is offering positive public portrayals of individual workforce members in our region, via "Spotlight" interviews.
New videos are added every two months! Find the complete series here!
Published: March 1, 2025
Website
Mid-America ATTC invites participants to join a new Invitation to Change (ITC) support group, a holistic model designed to support families impacted by substance use. This group empowers family members with strategies to encourage positive change in their loved ones while also fostering self-care and resilience.
We’re excited to offer our 15-week Invitation to Change (ITC) support group in a virtual format to make it accessible to more families and loved ones. This group is open to anyone who serves as a support system for someone struggling with substance use.
📅 Dates: March 5 – July 2, 2025🕚 Time: Every Wednesday from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (CST)📩 For more info, contact Amber Takens at Amber.Takens@uhkc.org.
Published: February 3, 2025
Other
This flyer gives general information about the Leadership Institute, a 6-month in-depth Leadership development program for those in the Region 7 Behavioral Health Workforce!
Published: February 1, 2025