Coordinated Training Services RSS Feed

Motivational Interviewing on 21-May-12 8:00 AM

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Motivational Interviewing
Start Date: 21-May-12 8:00 AM
End Time: 21-May-12 5:00 PM
Location: Texas HIV Connection, Austin, TX 78744
Speaker: Texas HIV Connection

Event Details:

This will be the initial rollout of the new MI 201 course. We are looking for 12-16 participants to help us evaluate the new couse by participation followed with your feedback

This training is by invite only and is not open to general public.

Texas HIV Connection

4115 Freidrich lane

Austin, TX 78744

Advanced Prevention Training: Planning and Evaluation on 21-May-12 9:00 AM

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Advanced Prevention Training: Planning and Evaluation
Start Date: 21-May-12 9:00 AM
End Time: 21-May-12 12:00 PM
Location: San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, San Antonio, TX 78227
Speaker: Marcia Baker

Event Details:

This course will focus on steps for effective prevention program planning and evaluation.

The course objectives are:

Identifying specific goals and objectives
Reviewing the evaluation research
Creating and executing a data collection plan
Providing feedback to the intervention program

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

7500 Hwy 90 W, Ste 100

San Antonio, TX 78227

Advanced Prevention Training: Education and Skill Development on 21-May-12 1:00 PM

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Advanced Prevention Training: Education and Skill Development
Start Date: 21-May-12 1:00 PM
End Time: 21-May-12 4:00 PM
Location: San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, San Antonio, TX 78227
Speaker: Marcia Baker

Event Details:

This course will focus on education and skill development, and its importance.

The course objectives are:

What education and skill development have to do with prevention
Explore your experiences with education and skill development
Learning styles and group technique skill development
Tools to assist with education

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

7500 Hwy 90 W, Ste 100

San Antonio, TX 78227

All Stars Core on 22-May-12 8:00 AM

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

All Stars Core
Start Date: 22-May-12 8:00 AM
End Time: 23-May-12 2:00 PM
Location: Family Services of Greater Houston, Houston, Texas 77007
Speaker: Kathleen Nelson - Simley

Event Details:

All Stars™ is a school- or community-based program designed to delay the onset of or prevent high-risk behaviors in middle school-age adolescents, 11 to 14 years old. It affects youth substance use, violence, and premature sexual activity by fostering development of positive personal characteristics. "A highly interactive program, All Stars involves 13 lessons during its first year, and 9 booster lessons in its second year".

All Stars is based on strong research that has identified the critical factors that lead young people to begin experimenting with substances and participating in other high-risk behaviors. The program is designed to reinforce positive qualities typical of youth at this age; it works to strengthen five specific qualities vital to achieving preventive effects:

Developing positive ideals and future aspirations
Establishing positive norms
Building strong personal commitments
Promoting bonding with school and community organizations
Promoting positive parental attentiveness

Family Services of Greater Houston

4625 Lillian Street

Houston, Texas US 77007

Advanced Prevention Training: Community Organization on 22-May-12 9:00 AM

Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Advanced Prevention Training: Community Organization
Start Date: 22-May-12 9:00 AM
End Time: 22-May-12 12:00 PM
Location: San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, San Antonio, TX 78227
Speaker: Marcia Baker

Event Details:

This course will focus on defining, implementing, and utilizing Community Organization.

The course objectives are:

The definition of Community Organization
Understanding how Community Organization fits into substance abuse prevention
Understanding your community and its already existing Community Organizations

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

7500 Hwy 90 W, Ste 100

San Antonio, TX 78227

Advanced Prevention Training: Public and Environmental Change on 22-May-12 1:00 PM

Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Advanced Prevention Training: Public and Environmental Change
Start Date: 22-May-12 1:00 PM
End Time: 22-May-12 4:00 PM
Location: San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, San Antonio, TX 78227
Speaker: Marcia Baker

Event Details:

This course will focus on defining and understanding Public Policy and Environmental Change.

The course objectives are:

Defining and understanding Public Policy
Defining and understanding Environmental Change
Your role in Environmental Change

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

7500 Hwy 90 W, Ste 100

San Antonio, TX 78227

Advanced Prevention Training: Professional Growth and Responsibility on 23-May-12 9:00 AM

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Advanced Prevention Training: Professional Growth and Responsibility
Start Date: 23-May-12 9:00 AM
End Time: 23-May-12 12:00 PM
Location: San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, San Antonio, TX 78227
Speaker: Marcia Baker

Event Details:

This course will focus on defining Professional Growth and Responsibility.

The course objectives are:

Defining your personal goals in the prevention field
Understanding prevention ethics
Your responsibility to the field of prevention

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

7500 Hwy 90 W, Ste 100

San Antonio, TX 78227

Motivational Interviewing on 24-May-12 8:00 AM

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Motivational Interviewing
Start Date: 24-May-12 8:00 AM
End Time: 24-May-12 5:00 PM
Location: Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, Killeen, Texas 76543
Speaker: Texas HIV Connection

Event Details:

Course Description

By the end of this course, participants will be able to define motivational interviewing, describe the stages of change and how they relate to motivational interviewing, list and describe the principles underlying motivational interviewing, and list and implement the five early strategies of motivational interviewing while demonstrating reflective listening techniques.

This one-day course is for counselors familiar with motivational interviewing. It provides counselors with tools to enhance the application of this counseling technique and provides opportunities to practice the skills of motivational interviewing.

Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse

4520 E. Central Texas Expressway Suite 105

Killeen, Texas 76543

HIV/AIDS Update on 25-May-12 9:00 AM

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

HIV/AIDS Update
Start Date: 25-May-12 9:00 AM
End Time: 25-May-12 12:00 PM
Location: Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, Killeen, Texas
Speaker: Texas HIV Connection

Event Details:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to describe global, national, and local trends related to HIV/AIDS, discuss developments in prevention, testing and treatment, and identify issues for persons dealing with substance use and HIV. This course reviews the latest statistical information related to HIV/AIDS from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and Texas Department of State Health Services. Trends are examined in the larger context of health disparities currently impacting communities. Advantages and challenges related to new methods of prevention and advancements in testing and treatment are discussed. Finally, this training takes a special look at the connections between HIV and substance use, and considers approaches for those clients struggling with the diseases of HIV/AIDS and addiction.

Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse

4520 E. Central Texas Expressway Suite 105

Killeen, Texas

Hepatitis C (A & B): Basic Knowledge on 25-May-12 1:00 PM

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Hepatitis C (A & B): Basic Knowledge
Start Date: 25-May-12 1:00 PM
End Time: 25-May-12 4:00 PM
Location: Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, Killeen, Texas
Speaker: Texas HIV Connection

Event Details:

CEU Credit

3 Alcohol & Drug -Related credits will be provided for participants who complete the entire training. However, no partial credit will be given for incomplete courses. Certificates of Completion will be awarded to participants at the end of the training. Continuing Education Units are provided for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselors and Social Workers. Sponsors may apply for other types of credits.

To register, click the yellow bar at the top that says "Register Now."

Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse

4520 E. Central Texas Expressway Suite 105

Killeen, Texas

Additional NavigationNews Release SearchSpecial ReportsExpert DirectoryE-mail SubscriptionRSS Peak risk about 16 years old for teens misusing prescription drugs

Jason Cody - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Peak risk about 16 years old for teens misusing prescription drugs

Contact: Jason Cody, Media Communications, Office: (517) 432-0924, Cell: (734) 755-0210, Jason.Cody@cabs.msu.edu; James Anthony, Department of Epidemiology, janthony@msu.edu

Published: May 07, 2012 E-mail Editor ShareThis

James C. Anthony of MSU's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Courtesy photo

The peak risk for misusing prescription pain relievers occurs in mid-adolescence, according to new research out of MSU. Photo by G.L. Kohuth

Click on an image to view a larger or high-resolution version.

It takes a village to keep teens substance free

Victoria M. Indivero - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

During high school the parents of teenagers' friends can have as much effect on the teens' substance use as their own parents, according to prevention researchers.

"Among friendship groups with 'good parents' there's a synergistic effect -- if your parents are consistent and aware of your whereabouts, and your friends' parents are also consistent and aware of their (children's) whereabouts, then you are less likely to use substances," said Michael J. Cleveland, research assistant professor at the Prevention Research Center and the Methodology Center, Penn State. "But if you belong to a friendship group whose parents are inconsistent, and your parents are consistent, you're still more likely to use alcohol. The differences here are due to your friends' parents, not yours."

Cleveland and his colleagues report parenting behaviors and adolescents' substance-use behaviors to be significantly correlated in the "expected directions" in this month's issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Results show higher levels of parental knowledge and disciplinary consistency leading to a lower likelihood of substance use, whereas lower levels lead to a higher likelihood of substance use.

However if adolescents' parents are consistent and generally aware of their children's activities, but the parents of the children's friends are inconsistent and generally unaware of their own children's activities, the adolescents are more likely to use substances than if their friends' parents were more similar to their own parents.

"The peer context is a very powerful influence," said Cleveland. "We've found in other studies that the peer aspect can overwhelm your upbringing."

While long suspected to be the case, the researchers believe this to be the first study where parenting at the peer level proved to have a concrete and statistically significant impact on child outcomes.

The researchers surveyed 9,417 ninth-grade students during the spring semester, and then again the following spring semester. The students came from 27 different rural school districts in Pennsylvania and Iowa, all participating in the Promoting School-university-community Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) study. In ninth grade, the researchers asked the students to name five of their closest friends. The researchers identified social networks within the schools by matching up the mutually exclusive friendships. Overall, the researchers identified 897 different friendship groups, with an average of 10 to 11 students in each group.

At that time students also answered questions about their perceptions of how much their parents knew about where they were and who they were with. They were also asked about the consistency of their parents' discipline. In the tenth-grade follow-up, students responded to questions about their substance use habits, specifically their use of alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana.

Behaviors of friends' parents influenced substance use even when taking into account the effects of the teens' own parents' behaviors and their friends' substance use, demonstrating the powerful effect of peers on adolescent behavior.

"I think that it empowers parents to know that not only can they have an influence on their own children, but they can also have a positive influence on their children's friends as well," said Cleveland. "And that by acting together -- the notion of 'it takes a village' -- can actually result in better outcomes for adolescents."

###

Mark E. Feinberg, research professor, Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development, and D. Wayne Osgood, professor, crime, law and justice and sociology, both at Penn State, and James Moody, professor, sociology at Duke University, also worked on this research.

The W. T. Grant Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse supported this research. The National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism funded the PROSPER study.

14-May-12 12:00 PM

Majority of states fail to address youth exposure to alcohol marketing

Tim Parsons - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising and marketing is a missed opportunity for states to improve public health, according to a new review of state alcohol advertising laws from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The report examines the extent to which states' alcohol advertising laws incorporate eight different best practices to reduce youth exposure to alcohol advertising and marketing, and finds only eleven states use more than one of the eight and no state uses more than five. The report is available on CAMY's website, www.camy.org.

"We know quite a bit about how to reduce youth exposure to alcohol marketing and advertising," said David Jernigan, PhD, CAMY director. "Unfortunately, this report shows states have a long way to go towards using that knowledge to reduce youth exposure."

Alcohol is responsible for 4,700 deaths per year among young people under the age of 21. At least 14 studies have found that the more young people are exposed to alcohol advertising and marketing, the more likely they are to drink, or if they are already drinking, to drink more.

"Although the federal government has exercised primary responsibility with respect to regulating alcohol marketing, states have concurrent jurisdiction as outlined in the 21st Amendment of the Constitution," said James Mosher, JD, the report's lead author and consultant to the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth. "It's therefore disappointing to see how inactive states are in this legislative and regulatory arena."

The report identifies eight best practices states could use to address youth exposure to alcohol marketing and advertising:

Prohibit false or misleading advertising;
Prohibit alcohol advertising that targets minors;
Establish jurisdiction over in-state electronic media (TV and radio);
Restrict outdoor alcohol advertising in locations where children are likely to be present;
Restrict alcohol advertising on alcohol retail outlet windows and outside areas;
Prohibit alcohol advertising on college campuses;
Restrict alcohol sponsorship of civic events; and,
Limit the alcohol industry's ability to provide free goods (giveaways).

The authors then assessed each state's use of these strategies. Each state's law was rated as either "BP" (all elements of the best practice are present), "I" (at least one but not all elements of the best practice is present) or "--"(the state does not address the regulatory category, the law has none of the elements of the best practice, or the law may be unenforceable).

"Twenty-two states have no best practices across the eight policies, meaning almost half of all states in the U.S. are doing far less than they could to keep alcohol marketing from reaching youth," concluded Jernigan. "This report should open people's eyes to the unrealized potential of state action in this arena."

###

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth monitors the marketing practices of the alcohol industry to focus attention and action on industry practices that jeopardize the health and safety of America's youth. The Center was founded in 2002 at Georgetown University with funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Center moved to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2008 and is currently funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information, visit www.camy.org.

14-May-12 12:00 PM

About 1 baby born each hour addicted to opiate drugs in U.S., U-M study shows

Mary Masson - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Ann Arbor, Mich. — About one baby is born every hour addicted to opiate drugs in the United States, according to new research from University of Michigan physicians.

In the research published April 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, U-M physicians found that diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome, a drug withdrawal syndrome among newborns, almost tripled between 2000 and 2009.

By 2009, the estimated number of newborns with the syndrome was 13,539 – or about one baby born each hour, according to the study that U-M researchers believe is the first to assess national trends in neonatal abstinence syndrome and mothers using opiate drugs.

"Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report which found that over the last decade sales for opiate pain relievers like OxyContin and Vicodin have quadrupled," says Stephen W. Patrick, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., lead author of the study and a fellow in the University of Michigan's Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

"Although our study was not able to distinguish the exact opiate used during pregnancy, we do know that the overall use of this class of drugs grew by 5-fold over the last decade and this appears to correspond with much higher rates of withdrawal in their infants."

Patrick, a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at the University of Michigan, says multiple factors are likely to blame for the dramatic spike in use of opiate pain relievers, from their potential overuse for chronic pain to illegal sales of these drugs on the street. Overall, the U-M study showed that the number of mothers using opiate drugs increased five times over the last decade.

"Opiate use in our country is becoming an epidemic. Too often our health system reacts to problems; instead, we must address opiate use as a public health issue. To do this, we must limit opiate pain reliever use through healthcare provider education and statewide systems that watch for abuses, like people going to multiple doctors to get opiate prescriptions," Patrick says.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome causes a wide array of symptoms including increased irritability, hypertonia, or heightened muscle tone, tremors, feeding intolerance, seizures, and respiratory distress. In addition, babies with the syndrome are more likely to be born with a low birthweight.

"You can often stand in the hallway and know which babies are experiencing withdrawal. They are irritable, their cries are different, and they appear uncomfortable," Patrick says.

The majority of the mothers of babies born with the syndrome were covered by Medicaid for health care costs. The average hospital bill for babies with the syndrome increased from $39,400 in 2000 to $53,400 in 2009, a 35 percent increase. By 2009, 77.6 percent of charges for babies with the syndrome were charged to Medicaid.

In Florida, where opiate pain reliever death now accounts for four times the number of deaths as illicit drugs, the number of newborns diagnosed with the syndrome has increase five-fold in the last six years. The Florida state House and Senate recently passed legislation to form a task force to evaluate the issue.

"Given that newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome experience longer, often medically complex and costly initial hospitalizations, this study highlights the need for increased public health measures to reduce the number of babies exposed to opiate drugs," says Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., associate professor in the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit at the U-M Medical School, and associate professor of Public Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Davis is senior author on the paper and co-director of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar Program at U-M.

"We hope that state leaders will call for more research into the data we've provided because the majority of hospital expenditures for this condition are shouldered by state Medicaid programs."

###

The study is being released early to coincide with its presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting.

Journal citation: doi:10.1001/JAMA.2012.3951. Available to the media atwww.jamamedia.org

Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program.

Additional authors: From the University of Michigan: Robert E. Schumacher, M.D., professor of neonatal-perinatal medicine; Brian Benneyworth, M.D., M.S., fellow in pediatric critical care medicine; Jennifer M. McAllister, M.D., clinical lecturer in the pediatrics. From University of Pittsburgh Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology: Elizabeth Krans, M.D., M.S.

About the University of Michigan Health System:

For more than 160 years, the University of Michigan Health System has been a national leader in advanced patient care, innovative research to improve human health and comprehensive education of physicians and medical scientists. UMHS includes the U-M Hospitals & Health Centers, with its three hospitals and dozens of outpatient health centers and clinics throughout Michigan; the U-M Medical School with its Faculty Group Practice and research laboratories; and the Michigan Health Corporation.

The three U-M hospitals -- University Hospital, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital – have been recognized numerous times for excellence in patient care, including 17 years on the U.S. News & World Report honor roll of "America's Best Hospitals". The U-M Medical School is one of the nation's biomedical research powerhouses, with total research funding of more than $490 million. Together, the 22,000 members of the UMHS community are creating the future of health care through discovery.

14-May-12 12:00 PM

[firstname], HIV Connection's Newsletter 19-Apr-12

Joseph Duarte - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:42:53 GMT

One Column With Header

Hello [firstname],

Welcome to the HIV Connection's newsletter of upcoming events, articles, jobs and more from our membership.

Calendar Events for 19-Apr-12 to 11-May-12

STDs in the Lives of Substance Users
Sponsor: Region 9 PRC/Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: Texas HIV Connection
Day: Thursday 26-Apr-12 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Region 18 Education Service Center 2811 La Force BLVD Midland, Texas
Summary: ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Cultural Competency and Ethics in the Age of HIV
Sponsor: Region 9 PRC/Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: Texas HIV Connection
Day: Thursday 26-Apr-12 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Region 18 Education Service Center 2811 La Force BLVD Midland, Texas
Summary: Cultural Competency and Ethics in the Age of HIV Disease...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

HIV/AIDS Update
Sponsor: Region 9 PRC/Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: Texas HIV Connection
Day: Friday 27-Apr-12 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Region 18 Education Service Center 2811 La Force BLVD Midland, Texas
Summary: ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Hepatitis C (A & B): Basic Knowledge
Sponsor: Region 9 PRC/Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: Texas HIV Connection
Day: Friday 27-Apr-12 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Region 18 Education Service Center 2811 La Force BLVD Midland, Texas
Summary: ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

HIV Early Intervention Case Mgmt: Connecting Clients to Care
Sponsor: The Gulf Coast Center/Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: The Texas HIV Connection
Day: Thursday 3-May-12 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: The Gulf Coast Center 123 Rosenberg - 6th Floor Galveston, Texas 77550
Summary: By the end of this course, participants will be able to define and identify the principles and values of case management and the role of an HEI Case Manager. They will also be able to implement skills related to preparing for and assessing a client in order to create a coordinated service plan. Finally, participants...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Motivational Interviewing
Sponsor: Aliviane /Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: The Texas HIV Connection
Day: Monday 7-May-12 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Aliviane NO-AD Inc. 800 Wyoming, Suite F El Paso, Texas 79901
Summary: ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

HIV/AIDS Outreach in the Community
Sponsor: Aliviane /Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: The Texas HIV Connection
Day: Tuesday 8-May-12 8:00 AM to Wednesday 9-May-12 4:00 PM
Location: Aliviane NO-AD Inc. 800 Wyoming, Suite F El Paso, Texas
Summary: ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

HIV Early Intervention Case Mgmt: Connecting Clients to Care
Sponsor: Aliviane /Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: The Texas HIV Connection
Day: Thursday 10-May-12 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Aliviane NO-AD Inc. 800 Wyoming, Suite F El Paso, Texas 79901
Summary: ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Verbal Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior
Sponsor: Aliviane /Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: The Texas HIV Connection
Day: Friday 11-May-12 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Aliviane NO-AD Inc. 800 Wyoming, Suite F El Paso, Texas
Summary: Course Description ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Focus on LGBTQ Individuals
Sponsor: Aliviane /Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: The Texas HIV Connection
Day: Friday 11-May-12 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Aliviane NO-AD Inc. 800 Wyoming, Suite F El Paso, Texas 79901
Summary: ...
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Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Articles for 18-Apr-12 to 19-Apr-12

Advance Care Planning: For You, For Your Family

Author: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health

Release Date: Thursday 19-Apr-12 1:15 PM

April 16th is recognized each year as National Healthcare Decisions Day to inspire, educate, and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. - National Healthcare Decisions Day. All of us hope and anticipate that we will always be able to speak for ourselves and make our own decisions. However, if you were to become very seriously ill or injured and not able to communicate, who would speak for you? Who would make decisions about your... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

CDC Launches Tobacco Education Campaign

Author: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health

Release Date: Thursday 19-Apr-12 1:00 PM

A new CDC national tobacco education campaign called Tips From Former Smokers features real people who are living with the complications of smoking-related diseases. This campaign encourages smokers to quit. Support to Quit For free quit support, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669; TTY 1-800-332-8615). This service provides free support and advice from experienced counselors, a personalized quit plan, self-help... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

New Techniques Aim to Sniff Out Hidden HIV

Author: Ikè Nwankpa

Release Date: Thursday 19-Apr-12 1:00 PM

HIV infects cells of the immune system and reprograms them to spew out copies of the virus. But not all of these HIV-infected cells roam freely in the body; some HIV goes into hibernation instead, avoiding the attention of the immune system and of antiretrovirals. This hibernation is called latent infection. It results in reservoirs of undetected HIV tucked away in various parts of the body, ready to seed the body with more of the virus when triggered. There is still much we... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

Expansion of Sex Education in U.S Is Not Making Much Progress

Author: Kellee Terrell

Release Date: Thursday 19-Apr-12 1:00 PM

U.S. schools are not making much progress teaching their students about safer sex and preventing pregnancy and STDs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers compared 2008 and 2010 surveys from 45 states that asked school principals and health teachers how often they taught students a range of topics pertaining to sex ed and prevention. In these required classes, the CDC recommended that they touch upon 11 topics ranging from compassion for people... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

Adults experiencing mental illness have higher rates of certain chronic physical illnesses

Author: SAMHSA Press Office

Release Date: Thursday 19-Apr-12 12:00 PM

A new report shows that adults (aged 18 and older) who had a mental illness in the past year have higher rates of certain physical illnesses than those not experiencing mental illness. According to the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), adults aged 18 and older who had any mental illness, serious mental illness, or major depressive episodes in the past year had increased rates of high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

Releases for 5-Apr-12 to 19-Apr-12

Join us for the 1st Annual HIV Outreach & HEI Case Management Conference in sunny Austin, Texas

Author: Dago Garcia

Release Date: Thursday 12-Apr-12 10:00 AM

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW: The theme this year is Meeting at the Crossroads. For 17 years, street outreach workers and HEI case managers... [More Info]
Posted by: Dago Garcia

Stay up to date with our RSS feeds.

19-Apr-12 1:42 PM

Advance Care Planning: For You, For Your Family

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:15:00 GMT

All of us hope and anticipate that we will always be able to speak for ourselves and make our own decisions. However, if you were to become very seriously ill or injured and not able to communicate, who would speak for you? Who would make decisions about your healthcare? How would your healthcare team know what you wanted in the way of medical treatment?

Planning Ahead Can Be a Gift

CDC's public health activities to prevent and control disease include a substantial focus on chronic disease management. Having a conversation about advance care planning with your family can be a gift you give yourself and your family. A plan gives you the opportunity to provide your loved ones peace of mind that they will know what to do on your behalf should the need arise. While many of us do not think we will ever need a plan, too often the lack of one can result in questions, confusion, and disagreements on the part of family members trying to envision what you would want. A plan relieves them from having to guess whether they did the "right thing." A plan also helps your healthcare team make treatment decisions that reflect your preferences and values.

Think, Decide, Communicate, and Document

Advance care planning is not difficult but it does involve having thoughtful conversations with close family members or other loved ones about your care wishes and preferences, and documenting those preferences in writing through an instrument such as an advance directive or living will. Among the decisions to be made and documented is the name of the individual you have chosen to serve as your "healthcare proxy," or the person who will be responsible for making decisions for you on your behalf if the need arises. This person is someone you trust to help ensure that your wishes are honored and carried out.

Learn more about National Healthcare Decisions Day and watch a video highlighting the value of advance care planning.

A Lack of Planning Has Economic Consequences

At times, a lack of advance care planning results in unintended and unnecessary medical expenditures. Most terminally ill people would prefer to die at home, with family members and other loved ones present. However, the experiences of most seriously ill and dying people are the opposite of what Americans say they want. About two-thirds of Americans die in institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes, and many spend extended periods in intensive care settings. This reality often translates into substantial expenditures by individuals and their family members for medical treatment that the individual may not have wanted.

New, On-Line Course for Professionals

Professionals in the public health and aging services networks are in unique positions to help educate the public on the role and value of advance care planning. CDC now offers a new, on-line course especially for this audience. The course is free of charge and offers continuing education credits.

A lack of advance care planning, coupled with our rapidly aging society, also has a tremendous effect on our nation's healthcare resources. More than 25% of all Medicare expenditures are for care during the last year of life. This is true despite that many Americans have expressed preferences for "no heroic measures" when faced with a terminal condition. Documenting in writing what you would want and sharing your plan with your family, other loved ones, and healthcare providers helps to ensure that your wishes will be honored and carried out.

Where You Can Go for More Information

Many materials are available to help people better understand the value of advance care planning and how to complete a plan. Learn more about resources on advance care planning and related topics such as hospice, palliative care, caregiving, cognitive impairment, and relevant legal issues. While the list of resources is not exhaustive, it represents a variety of materials that you should find helpful, including tool kits, sample plans, and state-specific guidance.

19-Apr-12 1:15 PM

CDC Launches Tobacco Education Campaign

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Support to Quit

For free quit support, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669; TTY 1-800-332-8615). This service provides free support and advice from experienced counselors, a personalized quit plan, self-help materials, the latest information about cessation medications, and more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just launched a national mass media campaign to educate the public about the harmful effects of smoking and to encourage quitting. The campaign is called "Tips From Former Smokers" and features real people who have experienced a variety of illnesses stemming from tobacco use, including cancer, heart attack, stroke, asthma, and Buerger's disease. The ads not only show the toll that these smoking-related illnesses have taken on these individuals' lives—e.g., losing one's natural voice, experiencing paralysis, having a lung removed or limbs amputated—but they also provide encouragement to quit and information on how to access free help.

Personal Stories Provide Unique Perspective on Damage from Smoking

The "Tips From Former Smokers" campaign provides a unique and compelling perspective on the significant damage smoking causes to individuals—a perspective not often captured in statistics about the hundreds of thousands of deaths and the illnesses caused by tobacco. None of the individuals featured in the ads are actors. They are real people who used to smoke and became sick as a result. Most of them were diagnosed with smoking-related illnesses when they were relatively young—many in their 30s and 40s; one was only 18. They speak from experience, and all have volunteered to share their stories to send a single, powerful message: Quit smoking now. Or better yet—don't start.

The ads provide firsthand accounts of the health consequences of smoking. For example, Shane, from Wisconsin, was only in his 30s when he developed cancer of the esophagus and had to have his larynx removed. Brandon, a young man from North Dakota, had both his legs amputated in his early 20s as a result of Buerger's disease, a condition that cuts off blood flow primarily to the hands and feet and is strongly linked to cigarette smoking. Suzy, one of the women featured in the ads, is partially paralyzed after suffering a stroke caused by smoking and is dependent on caregivers, one of whom is her 23-year-old son. These and other stories in the "Tips From Former Smokers" campaign provide stark evidence of how damage from smoking can impact quality of life—for the rest of one's life. The people featured in this campaign showed incredible courage and commitment when telling their story, and all shared a common goal of inspiring and motivating others to take steps to quit smoking.

An Investment in Health

For the past 30 years, there has been no federally funded, comprehensive, mass-media campaign effort (i.e., that includes TV, radio, billboard, magazine, newspaper, theater, and online placements) to educate the public about the harmful effects of smoking and to encourage quitting. This has been detrimental to tobacco control and prevention efforts, particularly given the slowed decline in cigarette smoking rates over the past decade. To compound matters, states and communities currently are experiencing diminishing resources to conduct tobacco education campaigns. The "Tips From Former Smokers" campaign is an important and valuable step in countering the efforts of the tobacco industry, whose expenditures for marketing and promoting cigarettes exceed $1 million an hour—more than $27 million a day—in the United States.

Evidence-Based Strategy to Reduce Smoking

Scientific evidence indicates that hard-hitting, graphic, and emotionally impactful campaigns work. The most effective smoking-cessation advertisements depict the health risks and emotional impact of long-term tobacco use, encourage smokers to quit, and provide information on how to quit. For example, one of the ads gives voice to three former smokers who provide tips on how they successfully quit. Each tip, such as throwing away their cigarettes and ashtrays, exercising, identifying a strong reason to quit, and "just keep trying," has been shown to help. All of the ads contain a very clear and encouraging message to smokers that they CAN quit and that free resources are available by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or accessing www.smokefree.gov.

Smoking Persists as a Serious Public Health Problem

It has been nearly 50 years since the release of the first Surgeon General's report on the health risks of smoking. Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and illness in the United States and costs our nation billions of dollars every year.

Despite the known dangers of tobacco use, nearly one in five adults in the United States still smokes, and each day, about 1,000 people younger than 18 years of age begin smoking on a daily basis. The health and financial consequences are staggering:

Each day, more than 1,200 people in this country die due to smoking.
Each year, an estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from smoking, and an estimated 49,000 of these smoking-related deaths are a result of secondhand smoke exposure.
For every person who dies from a smoking-related disease, 20 more people suffer with at least one serious illness from smoking.
Each year, cigarette smoking costs the United States more than $193 billion (i.e., $97 billion in lost productivity plus $96 billion in health care expenditures).

Most smokers—nearly 70%—say they plan to quit, and half make a serious attempt for a day or longer each year. The "Tips From Former Smokers" campaign was designed to create a sense of immediacy about the damage smoking causes to encourage people to stop smoking now or not to start.

Campaign Rollout

The campaign ads will run nationally for 12 weeks beginning Monday, March 19, and include television, radio, billboard, magazine, newspaper, theater, and online placements. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other channels will help spread the campaign's messages more broadly, particularly among younger audiences.

For more information about the "Tips From Former Smokers" campaign, including profiles of the former smokers, other campaign resources, and links to the ads, visit www.cdc.gov/quitting/tips.

Cessation services and resources are also available online atwww.smokefree.gov, www.women.smokefree.gov, and in Spanish at http://espanol.smokefree.gov. These Web sites provide free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people trying to quit smoking. Also refer to the National Cancer Institute's new smoke-free teen initiative, www.teen.smokefree.gov.

19-Apr-12 1:00 PM

New Techniques Aim to Sniff Out Hidden HIV

Ik� Nwankpa - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:00 GMT

HIV infects cells of the immune system and reprograms them to spew out copies of the virus. But not all of these HIV-infected cells roam freely in the body; some HIV goes into hibernation instead, avoiding the attention of the immune system and of antiretrovirals. This hibernation is called "latent infection." It results in "reservoirs" of undetected HIV tucked away in various parts of the body, ready to seed the body with more of the virus when triggered.

There is still much we don't know about how latent HIV infection works, but many experts believe that if a way can be found to find this hidden HIV and eliminate its reservoirs in the body, it may bring us one huge step closer to a cure.

According to Futurity, destroying latent HIV infections may one day be possible:

The strategy involves reactivating the HIV and coaxing it out of hiding, but only after boosting other immune system T cells and preparing them to ambush and eradicate the virus as it emerges.
"Our study results strongly suggest that a vaccination to boost the immune response immediately prior to reactivating latent virus may be essential for totally eradicating HIV infection," says Robert Siliciano, professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

Dr. Siliciano is one of the world's foremost researchers in this area. He was the first who explained that HIV could survive in an inactive state, even after years of antiretroviral treatment. Now, he explains, getting to the stage where the virus can be successfully eradicated depends on finding a successful way to activate this latent HIV. He is one of a number of researchers exploring different ways to do this.

The AIDS Beacon reported that at CROI 2012, a recent HIV research conference, U.S. scientists discussed a new method that may help force out these latent viruses:

The study by researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill included six HIV-positive individuals whose HIV infections were well controlled with antiretroviral therapy. In this study, participants received a single 400 mg dose of Zolinza [vorinostat].
In contrast to the Melbourne-based trial, the results from this study suggested that Zolinza treatment resulted in a five-fold increase in the activity of HIV genetic material without serious side effects.

Another drug cited in many studies was disulfiram, which produced conflicting results.

You can read much more about recent research on eliminating latent HIV in this recap from HIV i-Base, which is part of our coverage of CROI 2012 at TheBodyPRO.com.

19-Apr-12 1:00 PM

Expansion of Sex Education in U.S Is Not Making Much Progress

Kellee Terrell - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:00 GMT

U.S. schools are not making much progress teaching their students about safer sex and preventing pregnancy and STDs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers compared 2008 and 2010 surveys from 45 states that asked school principals and health teachers how often they taught students a range of topics pertaining to sex ed and prevention. In these required classes, the CDC recommended that they touch upon 11 topics ranging from compassion for people living with HIV/AIDS and health consequences of HIV/AIDS, STDs and pregnancy to importance of condom use and the benefits of abstinence.

According to the study, 11 states had fewer middle schools teaching all 11 topics in 2010 than they did in 2008, and none had more. And there was a significant gap between the states whose schools were more likely to teach more topics and those states whose schools taught fewer topics.

The percentage of schools teaching all 11 suggested prevention topics in grades 6, 7 or 8 ranged from 12.6 percent in Arizona to 66.3 percent in New York.
School participation in teaching eight of the suggested topics in grades 9 to 12 ranged from 45.3 percent in Alaska to 96.4 percent in New Jersey.
Importance of using condoms consistently and correctly was taught in 26.8 percent of public high schools in Utah and 96.6 percent of high schools in Delaware in 2010.

Study author Laura Kann, Ph.D., told WebMD:

"Little progress has been made in the proportion of middle and high schools that offer education on the prevention of HIV, many STDs, and pregnancy. We are heading in the wrong direction."

While the data confirmed what is happening in these schools, it doesn't explain why. Yet given that these decisions are made on a local level, experts have their own theories as to why schools are stagnant. Reuters reported:

The push for higher test scores in recent years could mean that schools are less likely to expand health education, Monica Rodriguez, president and chief executive of the nonprofit group, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, told Reuters.
Also, the question of how best to teach students about preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases remains a divisive issue in many areas, Rodriguez said.

"For many teachers, it's often about fear, fear of controversy," she said.

In other sex ed-related news, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a new bill that would require all public schools that teach sex ed to promote abstinence and marriage as the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy, HIV and STDs. The Journal Sentinel also reported that this bill allows for schools to teach abstinence-only education, omitting any conversations about safer sex and condom use. This move undermines the 2010 Democrat-backed law that banned schools from teaching abstinence-only sex ed.

19-Apr-12 1:00 PM

Adults experiencing mental illness have higher rates of certain chronic physical illnesses

SAMHSA Press Office - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

For example, 21.9 percent of adults experiencing any mental illness (based on the diagnostic criteria specified in the 4^th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)) in the past year had high blood pressure. In contrast, 18.3 percent of those not experiencing any mental illness had high blood pressure. Similarly, 15.7 percent of adults who had any mental illness in the past year also had asthma, while only 10.6 percent of those without mental illness had this condition.

Adults who had a serious mental illness (i.e., a mental illness causing serious functional impairment substantially interfering with one or more major life activities) in the past year also evidenced higher rates of high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and stroke than people who did not experience serious mental illnesses.

Adults experiencing major depressive episodes (periods of depression lasting two weeks or more in which there were significant problems with everyday aspects of life such as sleep, eating, feelings of self-worth, etc.) had higher rates of the following physical illnesses than those without past-year major depressive episodes: high blood pressure (24.1 percent vs. 19.8 percent), asthma (17.0 percent vs. 11.4 percent), diabetes (8.9 percent vs. 7.1 percent), heart disease (6.5 percent vs. 4.6 percent), and stroke (2.5 percent vs. 1.1 percent).

The report also shows significant differences in emergency department use and hospitalization rates in the past year between adults with past-year mental illness and those without. For example, 47.6 percent of adults with serious mental illness in the past year used emergency departments as opposed to only 30.5 percent of those without past-year serious mental illness. Adults with past-year serious mental illness were more likely to have been hospitalized than those without past-year serious mental illness (20.4 percent versus 11.6 percent respectively).

“Behavioral Health is essential to health. This is a key SAMHSA message and is underscored by this data,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “Promoting health and wellness for individuals, families and communities means treating behavioral health needs with the same commitment and vigor as any other physical health condition. Communities, families, and individuals cannot achieve health without addressing behavioral health.”

To that end, since 2009 SAMHSA has funded the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) program, which works to improve the physical health status of people with serious mental illness and those with co-occurring substance use disorders by supporting community efforts to coordinate and integrate primary care services into publicly funded community-based behavioral health settings. Currently 64 community behavioral health providers receive the PBHCI grant, with the expected outcome of entering into partnerships to develop or expand their offering of primary healthcare services, resulting in improved health status for their clients. As of March 2012, over 17,500 adults with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders have been served via the PBHCI program. More information about the PBHCI program is available athttp://www.integration.samhsa.gov/about-us/pbhci .

Another SAMHSA effort -- its Wellness Initiative – builds on the HHS Million Hearts campaign and promotes wellness for people with mental and substance use disorders by motivating individuals, organizations, and communities to take action and work toward improved quality of life, cardiovascular health, and decreased early mortality rates. To learn more, please visit http://www.samhsa.gov/wellness andhttp://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html .

19-Apr-12 12:00 PM

Join us for the 1st Annual HIV Outreach & HEI Case Management Conference in sunny Austin, Texas

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:00:00 GMT

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW: The theme this year is Meeting at the Crossroads. For 17 years, street outreach workers and HEI case managers have convened at separate conferences to discuss the major obstacles and trends facing HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. It is time for these key players in the HIV/AIDS community to come together. Working together can only make us stronger and more effective. So, pack your bags and join us for this year's 1st Annual HIV Outreach & HEI Case Management Conference! We want to honor you for the important work you do and give you the chance to network with other people in your field. This event provides educational opportunities that can give you tools to more effectively do your job and help reduce new HIV/AIDS infections in the State of Texas! CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS: The Texas HIV Connection invites speakers to submit a proposal to present at the 2012 HIV Outreach & HEI Case Management Conference. Presentations...

2012 HIV Heroes and Sheroes Herald, Spring Edition

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:00:00 GMT

It is our pleasure to present to you, the second issue of the HIV Heroes and Sheroes Herald. In this edition, we highlight the Dan Rawlins Award, which will be presented at that 2012 combined HIV Outreach/HEI Case Management Conference. In this quarterly bulletin, you will also find articles, advice, and other information pertinent to your work in HIV prevention, education, and care. We would also like you to share your ideas, challenges, and best practices, so feel free to submit your own content, respond to our questions, send in your own questions to, Ask Eliza, and submit information about the activities for your agency to, Agency Spotlight. Your information and submissions may be included in future issues. We hope that the HIV Heroes and Sheroes Herald is helpful in the work you do and that it also enriches your work-life. To view the bulletin, please click on the link below: http://wap.adobeconnect.com/hs-spring12/ ...

Dan Rawlins Memorial Scholarship

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Once again, the Dan Rawlins award will be presented to the outreach worker of the year in the new 2012 combined HIV Outreach/ HEI Case Management Conference. This award is given to the person that most exemplifies the dedication Dan had for the work in reducing the risks of HIV/AIDS or the problems with any substance use disorder that contributed to the risks of infection of HIV/AIDS – Hepatitis C.

Mr. Rawlins set the bar on how we/you took on the problem of these diseases. He took it to the streets! Dan devoted his time, energy and knowledge to developing the first campaign on AIDS awareness and education in the State of Texas. In 1987 Dan became a founding board member of AIDS Services of Austin. Dan served as the HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator with TCADA/Dept. of State Health Services from the mid-'90s until his retirement.

To apply for the the Dan Rawlins Memorial Scholarship, please visit http://www.statewidetraining.org/rawlins/ . This award will include all expenses, hotel, travel, and per-diem. A plaque honoring the award recipient who has continued Dan’s mission will also be included.

Dan once said that his Hero was, the Street Outreach Worker.

2012 HIV Heroes and Sheroes Herald

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Dear HEI and HIV Outreach Program Staff - It is our pleasure to present to you, the first issue of the HIV Heroes and Sheroes Herald. In this quarterly bulletin, you will find articles, advice, and other information pertinent to your work in HIV prevention, education, and care. This information is intended to enhance your work with clients and the communities you serve. We hope you enjoy reading this. We would also like you to share your ideas, challenges, and best practices, so feel free to submit your own content, respond to our questions, send in your own questions to, Ask Eliza, and submit information about the activities for your agency to, Agency Spotlight. Since this is a quarterly HEI/HIV Outreach bulletin, your information and submissions may be included in future issues. We hope that the HIV Heroes and Sheroes Herald is helpful in the work you do and that it also enriches your work-life. ...

The 2012 NOVA Conference is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, January 19 & 20, 2012.

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Nova 2012:
January 19 & 20, 2012
3D Recovery: Discover, Develop, Diversify
"Life Beyond Addiction"

Please make plans to join us for this exciting conference!
We will be providing 20 hours of CEU's on topics ranging from
the latest innovations in addictions treatment and best practices
to new tools for clincial practice!

Location and presenters to be announced soon!

The Dallas Chapter of TAAP seeks to promote the advancement of addiction focused professionals

by uniting alcoholism and other addiction counselors throughout the North Texas Region.

http://www.dallastaap.com/nova-conference.html

Dallas TAAP is a member of NAADAC

http://www.naadac.org/

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CONFERENCE IS NOT BEING COORDINATED BY CTS. FOR INFORMATION ON THE NOVA 2012 CONFERENCE OR HELP WITH REGISTRATION, PLEASE CONTACT LISA HINSON AT THE DALLAS TAAP: lhinson@crchealth.com

URGENT!

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:00:00 GMT

******************************************URGENT***************************** ARCH NEEDS YOUR HELP! IF YOU SUPPORT HARM REDUCTION, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE: http://www.austinharmreduction.org/donate.html Austin Harm Reduction Coalition Harm reductionis a set of practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use, incorporating a spectrum of practices from safer use, to managed use, through abstinence. Harm reduction strategies meet drug users where they are, addressing conditions of use along with the use itself. We consider the following principles central to harm reduction practice: Accept, for better and for worse, that licit and illicit drug use is part of our world and choose to work to minimize its harmful effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them. Understand drug use as a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon that encompasses a continuum of behaviors from severe abuse to total abstinence, and acknowledge...

Region-Based Trainings On The Substance Use Disorder Benefits in Medicaid

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SUD treatment providers, Please find the chart with a schedule of upcoming region-based trainings on the substance use disorder benefits in Medicaid. HHSC is hosting a series of region-based trainings with the goal of providing an opportunity for providers to receive training from local Medicaid managed care health plans (STAR and STAR+PLUS) on health plan-specific billing and prior authorization requirements. These trainings will be conducted in a panel-style format, and are similar to region-based trainings held in August, 2010. They will include new information related to benefit changes made in 2011. Locations impacted by recent Medicaid managed care expansion have been added. To RSVP, click on the weblink HERE As a reminder, the comprehensive SUD treatment webinar training conducted by HHSC June 17, 2011, has been posted on the HHSC website at: http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/news/WebBased Update: The June 17th...

Thank you

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:00:00 GMT

We at the Texas HIV Connection and Worker's Assistance Program would like to thank everyone that participated in the 17th Annual Street Outreach Workers' Conference and making this year's conference one of the most successful yet. We are proud of each and everyone of you that is out there on the front line, doing the work that you do, and outreaching to those hard-to-reach populations.

If you have any further comments, please feel free to email them to us. Keep up the great work!!!

The Conference is almost here!!

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Greetings!

The 2011 Street Outreach Workers’ Conference is only a couple days away and we are working hard to make this year’s conference the best one yet. Here are a few reminders:

The SOWC will NOT BE HELD AT THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL as in previous years. We have changed venues and are delighted to be hosting the event at the OMNI SOUTHPARK HOTEL, 4140 GOVERNOR’S ROW, AUSTIN, TX 78744.
Registration/Check-in will begin on Sunday, June 12^th, 2011 from 4:00pm-8:00pm and will resume on Monday, June 13^th at 7:00am.
We would like you to remind you to dress in layers if you feel that you will be cold during the conference, as well all know how chilly it can get.
Please join us on Sunday night for our Opening Night Reception from 6:00pm-8:00 pm. Be prepared to be entertained by AIDS Services of Austin’s Talented Prevention Team as they take it back “old skool”. There will also be a special performance by an extremely talented hip-hop dance crew that will definitely set the mood for our time together.
If you want to make sure you have copies of the power point presentations please download the Power Point presentations for the conference, we have posted them on our website (www.hivconnection.org) so please feel free to visit the “Conferences” tab on the homepage.

We want you to enjoy yourself and relax this year, so we have multiple opportunities for you to take advantage of self-care. We have worked very hard to give you a conference that you deserve for all of your hard work and dedication. Safe travels!!

The HIV Connection

CALL FOR TRAINERS ANNOUNCEMENT

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:36:17 GMT

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training -Training of Trainers (SAPST -ToT) Dates of Training: August 22-24, 2011 Location: Coordinated Training Services, 4115 Freidrich Lane, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78744 The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with Coordinated Training Services (CTS), and CSAP's CAPT Southwest Resource Team/Southwest Prevention Center, is recruiting trainers to participate in the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training- Training of Trainers (SAPST-ToT). The training is based on the national curriculum developed by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). The selected participants will represent the broad diversity and geography of the eleven health service regions in Texas. Twenty-two trainers (two per region) will be selected to be trained and certified to deliver the SAPST curriculum in Texas. Training will be free to selected trainers. The selection...

Nutrition Analyst

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:25:52 GMT

Title: Nutrition Analyst Description: The Center Is Seeking a Nutrition Analyst Job Overview: The center seeks a nutrition policy analyst to focus on achieving food security for all Texans. The analyst reports to the Executive Director and supervises a part-time junior analyst and policy intern. Our nutrition team works at both the state and federal level to strengthen food assistance programs and improve nutrition by analyzing proposed changes in government policies, offering new approaches to achieving food security, providing technical assistance to policymakers, conducting research on implications of food and nutrition policy choices, and collaborating with others. This position offers opportunities to engage in research,...

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Creativity Contest!!!

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:39:16 GMT

TX DSHS Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division is holding its first statewide poster, writing, and video contest for children/youth to promote Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week May 6th-12th, 2012.

Texas Behavioral Health Institute

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:42:37 GMT

The Texas Behavioral Health Institute will be held on 7/16-7/20/12 in Austin, TX. Take advantage of this opportunity to network with other prevention professionals while earning CEUs at the same time. More information can be found here.

World No Tobacco Day 5/31/2012

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:06:31 GMT

The theme of this year's World No Tobacco Day is "Tobacco industry interference". Find out more about the World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative.

Community Coalition of the Month!

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:11:50 GMT

The Featured Community Coalition for April/May 2012 is Life Steps! Read all about the cool things that they are up to on coalitionstexas.org

CTS introduces E-Learning Options

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:58:45 GMT

As our world becomes increasingly connected through the use of telecommunication tools, CTS will create opportunities for our customers through the use of these tools while keeping our commitment to providing cost effective, accessible, high quality training. Keep an eye on our calendar for the next web-based training opportunities!

Alliance Work Partners,Training Solutions Within Reach

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:41:31 GMT

Why choose AWP for your professional and workplace training needs?

Since 1977 we have been providing reputable, high quality, professional development, employee assistance, and workplace training in Texas and across the United Sates.

PAL is Peer Assistance & Leadership!

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:00:51 GMT

Does your district have a PAL program? We keep your campus safe. Follow us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/OfficialPAL

About Our Staff

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:49:33 GMT

Meet the Team! Terry Cowan - CEO of Workers Assistance Program Ann Starr - Vice President Enterprise Services Debra Ellison - Grants Operations Director Samantha Thompson - CTS Director Scott Shipman - CTS Manager/Training Coordinator Travis Fowler - Training & Development Specialist Brad Lindgren - HIV Connection Program Director & Trainer Joseph Duarte - HIV Connection Training Specialist Tara Cowan - PAL Manager Tory Gant - PAL Training Director Maggie Cowan - Office Manager Capri Guerra - A-Team Terry Cowan CEO WAP's Chief Executive Office since 1984. He is one of the original employees from WAP's startup in 1977. Successful in the employee assistance programs and risk prevention training businesses for over 30 years, he brings an entrepreneurs' approach to non-profit management. Terry is active in Central Texas environmental, water quality and community work to address people's...

Region Contact Information

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:52:38 GMT

REGION 1 REGION 2 Lola Coppage, Coordinator Managed Care Center for Addictive/Other Disorders, Inc. 1715 26th Street LUBBOCK, Texas 79411 (806) 780-8300 FAX: (806) 780-8383 Email: lola.coppage@mccaod.com Web Page: http://www.prc1.org Kristi Le, Coordinator Abilene Regional COADA 104 Pine St., Ste. 4 ABILENE, Texas 79601-5926 (325) 673-3503 ext. 125 FAX: (325) 673-3717 Email: kristi.le@arcadatx.org Web Page: http://www.prc2.org/ REGION 3 REGION 4 Alison Watros, Coordinator Greater Dallas COADA 1349 Empire Central Drive, Ste. 800 DALLAS, Texas 75219-2138 (214) 522-8600 ext. 242 FAX: (214) 521-7253 Email: awatros@gdcada.org Web page:...

Parental Resources

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:22:21 GMT

ADHD Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Contraception Epigee Birth Control Guide Planned Parenthood Online An array of sexual health resources. See also the Sexual Health Glossary. Dating Dating Violence Futureswithoutviolence.org, formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund. Divorce Divorceandchildren.com This site was designed to bridge the gap for parents by making information and resources both available and easily accessible. Drugs and Alcohol Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters Call 888-4AL-ANON, M-F, 8 am - 6 pm for meeting info Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids See The Toll of Tobacco in Washington. Lots of facts on tobacco use and marketing of tobacco products. ...

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:15:07 GMT

Physical Activity Promotion Federal Nutrition Sites Physical Activity Promotion American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Assisting those involved in physical education, leisure, fitness, dance, health promotion, and education and all specialties related to achieving a healthy lifestyle. American College of Sports Medicine The American College of Sports Medicine promotes and integrates scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life. American Running Association The American Running Association (formerly the American Running and Fitness Association) is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to providing educational support to runners through program and sound information on training, nutrition, and...

Peer Helping

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:08:48 GMT

Texas Links Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Peer Assistance and Leadership National Links Learn and Serve America National Peer Helpers Association PAL of Orange County, California Bacchus and Gamma National Network for Youth America's Promise The Alliance for Youth The Points of Light Foundation Youth Service of America Search Institute Grants Grants Net

Disease Prevention

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:02:45 GMT

Aging Aging Activities This CDC site offers resources for the aging population including, trends in health, a longitudinal study of the aging, news flashes, and links to other aging web sites. National Institute on Aging The AARP Guide to Internet Resources Related to Aging Environmental Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) prevent exposure and adverse human health effects associated with exposure to hazardous substances National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) The NCEH work to prevent illness, disability, and death from interactions between people and the environment. Spanish Version of NCEH (Página del CDC Centro de Salud Ambiental en español) General Health Health Topics AZ CDC topical list (in alphabetical order)of disease and health...

Funding

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:22:00 GMT

Texas Links Texas Department of State Health Services Funding Information Center A list of programs that contract grants or monitor grant funding to and from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Window on State Government, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Provides access to a listing of grants available from the State of Texas and federal governement under Local Government Assistance. National Links Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)(publication) Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Provides access to GrantsNet, the online grant service from DHHS. GrantsNet provides access to grant programs, funding availability, and other grant related resources. Federal Register (publication) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information Provides access to NCADI's...

Gambling

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:58:26 GMT

Help & Treatment Self-Assessment Quiz Gamblers Anonymous Official Gamblers Anonymous website For Family & Loved Ones Gam-Anon Support for spouse, family, or close friends of the problem gambler Youth Gambling Don't Throw Your Chances Away The Department of Health and Hospitals is dedicated to fulfilling its mission through direct provision of quality services, the development and stimulation of services of others, and the utilization of available resources in the most effective manner. Youthgambling.com International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors Wanna Bet? Magazine For youth A Cool Magazine for Kids Concerned about Gambling Youthbet.net A fun, interactive site for youth about gambling RESEARCH ...

Recovery/Treatment

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:54:43 GMT

Resource center and meeting place for Al-Anon and AlaTeen Al-Anon/AlaTeen - Official web site. Co-Anon Family Groups Alcoholics Anonymous/Alcohol Resources Alcoholics Anonymous - Official web site. A.C.O.A. Online Resources Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) PageNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Join Together Online : communities working to reduce the harms of excessive alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Drug Addiction National Institute on Drug Abuse The Marijuana Anonymous Home Page Cocaine Anonymous Home Page Narcotic Anonymous Website Partnership for a Drug Free America Drug Awareness Pills Anonymous Partnership for a Drug Free Texas ...

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Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:14:12 GMT

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FY 13 Prevention Provider Training Needs Assessment Survey

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

CTS is currently fielding many responses from the field for trainings in FY13. We're excited to start off the next fiscal year with a bang, but we'd also like to make sure that we are using our resources responsibly. We would like to here from you, the prevention providers, about your training needs in the upcoming fiscal year. Thanks so much for your feedback!

Release Date: 18-May-12 8:00 AM
Expiration Date: 4-Jun-12 5:00 PM

Please coordinate internally and have only one person from your organization respond to the survey. Answers are required to ALL questions of the survey. Please do not leave any answers blank. Providers that do not respond to this survey will be assumed to have no training needs.

Kids/Youth Connection (Combined Training from Rainbow Days): 5/17/12 Round Rock, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Your feedback allows CTS to provide the most effective training services possible. We look forward to hearing about how you have implemented the knowledge you have gained from this training. Your prompt completion of these surveys is a vital part of our reporting process and is required as part of our DSHS grant to provide this free, valuable training to you and your organization.

Release Date: 16-May-12 5:00 PM
Expiration Date: 14-Aug-12 5:00 PM

These surveys are quick and easy to complete. Please answer all of the questions. thank you for your time and cooperation!

Media Advocacy: 5/15/12 Lubbock, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

These surveys are a vital part of our reporting process and are required as part of our DSHS grant to provide this free, valuable training to you and your organization. Your valuable feedback allows CTS to provide the most effective training services possible.

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 14-May-12 10:00 AM
Expiration Date: 12-Aug-12 10:00 AM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

SPF Environmental Strategies: 5/15/12 Lubbock, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 14-May-12 10:00 AM
Expiration Date: 12-Aug-12 10:00 AM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

Community Mobilization: 5/16/12 Round Rock, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 14-May-12 10:00 AM
Expiration Date: 12-Aug-12 10:00 AM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

SPF Environmental Strategies: 5/16/12 Round Rock, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 14-May-12 10:00 AM
Expiration Date: 12-Aug-12 10:00 AM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

Ethics for Prevention Professionals: 5/10/12 Austin, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 14-May-12 9:00 AM
Expiration Date: 12-Aug-12 9:00 AM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

CEPP Effective Prevention Services Begin with Effective Communication: 5/9/12 El Paso, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 10-May-12 12:00 PM
Expiration Date: 8-Aug-12 12:00 PM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

CEPP Hurt Hope and Healing for Children and Youth with an Addicted Parent: 5/10/12 El Paso, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 10-May-12 12:00 PM
Expiration Date: 8-Aug-12 12:00 PM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

CEPP Teaching and Training: The Art of Getting Your Message Across 5/9/12 El Paso, TX

noemail@statewidetraining.org — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Release Date: 10-May-12 12:00 PM
Expiration Date: 8-Aug-12 12:00 PM

Simply click the link and complete the survey. It should only take you a few minutes. Thanks!

SOWC-2011-243

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:33:34 GMT