Events
SPTAC is continually updating our events page with new events. We invite you to explore our tailored Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) options to address your specific needs. You can make a TTA Request here.
Upcoming Events
Dates and Times:
Part 1: Programmatic Requirements for the Synar Program: Inspection Study States and Territories
April 2, 3-4:30 p.m. ET (States and Territories)
April 3, 8-9:30 a.m. ET (Pacific Jurisdictions)
Part 2: Programmatic Requirements for the Synar Program: Designing a Coverage Study
April 16, 3-4:30 p.m. ET (States and Territories)
April 17, 8-9:30 a.m. ET (Pacific Jurisdictions)
REGISTER NOW!
Part 3: Programmatic Requirements for the Synar Program: Survey Sampling Methodology
April 30, 3-4:30 p.m. ET (States and Territories)
May 1, 8-9:30 a.m. ET (Pacific Jurisdictions)
REGISTER NOW!
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Synar Amendment is a critical public health initiative aimed at reducing youth access to tobacco products by requiring states, territories, and jurisdictions to enforce laws prohibiting sales to individuals under 21.
Presented by SPTAC, this 3-part webinar series will review Synar requirements and prepare SAMHSA grantees to:
- Conduct inspections
- Design a coverage study
- Develop a sampling methodology
Each webinar will last approximately 1.5 hours. If you are interested in the content but unable to attend, please contact SPTAC@edc.org and we will send you a recording of the webinar.
Audience: State-, territory, and jurisdiction-level Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Service Block Grant grantees
Presenters:
- Jessica Hawkins, M.A., SPTAC Associate, former NPN for Oklahoma
- Amy Fredrick, MEd, CPS, public health trainer/facilitator, Indiana University, Prevention Insights
Questions? Contact LaShonda Williamson-Jennings.
Date: April 17, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET (10-11 a.m. CT)
REGISTER NOW! (before April 16)
SPTAC Regions VI & VII invites you to the Focus Groups & Listening Sessions Open Lab Session. This session is for participants of the Voices Matter Utilizing Focus Groups & Listening Sessions webinar held in January 2025. Building upon the original webinar, this session provides participants with additional real-world examples and the opportunity to discuss the importance of focusing groups and listening sessions with your peers in a virtual setting.
The agenda for this interactive lab session will be co-created by participants in attendance and is an opportunity to receive individualized technical assistance on implementing focus groups or listening sessions in your work, so please bring your questions about collecting primary qualitative data in your program, community, and/or state. Feel free to send any questions or agenda topics to Epidemiologist, Kaitie Chakoian, ahead of time.
Audience: Participants and registrants from the January “Voices Matter: Utilizing Focus Groups and Listening Sessions for Impactful Prevention” webinar. All open lab attendees should have either attended the webinar or watched the recording.
Facilitator: Kaitie Chakoian, Epidemiologist for SPTAC, HHS Regions VI & VII
Questions? Please contact Kaitie Chakoian.
Date: April 17, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
Join Us to Explore Resources for Indigenous Communities! Tribal training and technical assistance (TTA) centers offer a wide range of free, tailored support for providers working to prevent substance use and mental health challenges in Tribal communities. Backed by SAMHSA funding and other sources, the centers provide resources designed to honor and recognize Tribal knowledge and evidence.
Featured Co-Presenting Tribal TTA Centers:
- SAMHSA Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center
- American Indian and Alaska Native Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
- Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center
- Opioid Response Network
Who Should Attend?
- Tribal leadership and organizations
- Healthcare professionals, including licensed clinicians and peer support specialists
- Behavioral health professionals, community leaders, and anyone supporting wellness initiatives in Tribal areas
Why Attend?
This 1.5-hour webinar is a unique opportunity to learn about other TTA centers, connect with peers, and access fundamental resources that will enhance efforts to promote substance use prevention and mental health across Tribal communities. We're committed to supporting your efforts and strengthening outcomes for your communities. Some programs may offer continuing education credits for participants!
Questions? Please contact Petrice Post.
Dates and times:
- April 23
- June 25
- August 27
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (Hawaii), 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Alaska), 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Pacific, including Arizona), 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Mountain)
Note: Dates for Guam grantees are April 24, June 26, and August 28, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC) Team (HHS Regions IX and X) cordially invites Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Navigator Grant Directors to join your fellow grantees in a series of peer-sharing calls.
SPTAC is organizing Prevention Navigator Grant Directors from Regions IX and X, interested in learning from one another on effective grant implementation. This peer-sharing opportunity will facilitate dialogue, covering topics such as data-informed approaches to implementation using the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), enhancing competencies to improve effectiveness, expanding access to services, and more.
Audience: Prevention Navigator Grant Recipients in HHS Regions IX & X (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Nevada, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington).
Presenter: Alicia Hughes, M.A., CPP | Region 9 & 10 SPTAC Senior Training/Technical Assistance Specialist
Registration: If interested in participating, please email Alicia Hughes (ahughes@casat.org) to request the calendar invite and Zoom link. Please also share any additional grant-related topics you would like to discuss during this or forthcoming calls.
Questions? Email Alicia Hughes.
Dates and times:
- April 24
- June 26
- August 28
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Hawaii), 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (Alaska), 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. (Pacific including Arizona), 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Mountain
Join SAMHSA’s HHS Regions IX and X SPTAC team for a series of peer sharing calls for Community-Level Partnerships for Success (PFS) Grant Directors.
SPTAC invites Community-Level PFS Grant Directors from Regions IX and X who are in years 1 and 2 of implementation and who are interested in learning about other states' methods of PFS grant implementation. This peer-sharing opportunity will provide the opportunity to discuss topics such as data-informed approaches to meet grant requirements, strengthening prevention systems, enhancing competencies in the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), and connect with other PFS grantees.
Audience: Community-Level Partnerships for Success (PFS) Grant Recipients from HHS Regions IX & X (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Nevada, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington).
Presenter: Alicia Hughes, M.A., CPP | Region 9 & 10 SPTAC Senior T/TA Specialist
Registration: If interested in joining these peer-sharing calls, please email Alicia Hughes (ahughes@casat.org) to request the calendar invite and Zoom link. Please also share any additional grant-related topics you would like to discuss during this or forthcoming calls.
Questions? Email Alicia Hughes.
Dates and times:
- April 24
- June 26
- August 28
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (Hawaii), 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Alaska), 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Pacific, including Arizona), 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Mountain)
Note: Dates for Guam grantees are April 25, June 27, and August 29, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Audience: Community-Level Partnerships for Success (PFS) grant recipients from HHS Regions IX & X (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Nevada, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington).
Presenter: Alicia Hughes, M.A., CPP | Region 9 & 10 SPTAC Senior T/TA Specialist
Registration: If interested in joining these peer-sharing calls, please email Alicia Hughes (ahughes@casat.org) to request the calendar invite and Zoom link. Please also share any additional grant-related topics you would like to discuss during this or forthcoming calls.
Questions? Email Alicia Hughes.
Date: April 30, 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET (1:30-2:30 p.m. CT)
REGISTER NOW! (before April 29)
Join SPTAC Regions VI & VII and the South Southwest PTTC to explore local opportunities to regulate alcohol consumption in ways that align with state alcohol preemption statutes.
Preemption is a legal doctrine that allows state governments to limit or override local policy initiatives. Designed to ensure consistency across a broader jurisdiction, preemptive statutes can make it challenging for communities to initiate local policy solutions, particularly related to underage drinking.
This session will examine the concept of preemption and its implications for local policymaking. Participants will explore ways to craft local policies that comply with state alcohol preemption statutes while effectively addressing community needs. By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the concept of preemption
- Identify local policy interventions that align with state preemption statutes
- Use the "Preemption and Alcohol Policy" fact sheets to identify local policy interventions that address local alcohol-related problems
Audience: SAMHSA-funded community grantees
Presenters:
- Michael Sparks, Alcohol Policy Specialist, Community Organizer, President of Sparks Initiative
- Ryan Treffers, Research Scientist at Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation & Prevention Research Center
- Kaitie Chakoian, Epidemiologist for Regions VI & VII, SPTAC
Questions? Please contact Kaitie Chakoian.
Live Sessions: Beginning on May 21, sessions take place every Wednesday, 12:30 – 2 p.m. ET
Join our unique Community of Practice: Deepening Connections for Effective Community Engagement. This virtual Community of Practice (CoP) is limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are a Partnership for Success (SPF-PFS) or Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) grantee from HHS Regions III and IV, then this interactive COP is designed specifically for you! Over the course of two months, you’ll learn about practical tools, receive peer support, and access hands-on learning opportunities to enhance your ability to engage rural communities and varied demographics effectively.
Commitment Required: These sessions will run for 7 weeks, and participants must attend all sessions to foster peer connections and maximize learning.
What to Expect:
- Learning Sessions: Gain foundational knowledge
- Lab Sessions: Hands-on practice & case studies
- Enrichment Activities: Deepen understanding with specially designed exercises
- Office Hours: Engage in Q&A and peer discussions
Session Schedule
Orientation Session
- May 21: Introduction, expectations, and participant goals
Topic 1: Bridging the Gap - Engaging Rural Communities
- May 28: Learning Session – Introduction to Rural Communities in Prevention Work
- June 4: Lab Session – Case Studies in Rural Engagement
- June 11: Office Hours – Addressing Challenges in Rural Prevention Work
Topic 2: Beyond Boundaries: Intercultural Competence
- June 18: Learning Session – Strategies for Engaging with Varied Demographics
- June 25: Lab Session – Applying Cultural Humility to Community Engagement
- July 2: Office Hours – Problem-Solving and TA for Cross-Cultural Engagement
Facilitator: Dr. Ty C. McNamee, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, Department of Higher Education, University of Mississippi
Why Join?
- Strengthen your ability to engage meaningfully with varied demographics
- Apply practical strategies tailored to real-world prevention work
- Build lasting relationships with peers in a supportive learning space
Questions? Space is limited: Please contact Elizabeth Rodriguez Diaz and/or Priscila Giamassi.