December 2013

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Tomorrow, December 17, 2013: Gathering Information and Using Your MIS
Presented by Claire Magowan, Division of Behavioral Health & Susie Amundson, Wise at Work
Topics for this webinar include how to use archival data and gather local information for your targeted indicators in the MIS, and how to use the MIS to support and manage your prevention efforts. To fortify your learning in this upcoming webinar, try your hand at building a simple MIS and bring along your questions!

January 14, 2014: A Trauma Informed Approach to Adverse Childhood Experiences: Promoting Resiliency and Prevention
Presented by Linda Chamberlain, PhD, MPH
The brain explains how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can become toxic developmental stressors for children. Dr. Chamberlain uses a protective factors framework to examine the impact of ACEs on children, youth and adults. Practical strategies to promote resiliency and buffer families from the effects of toxic stress are demonstrated with a state-of-the-art resource that supports universal education and trauma-informed parenting. Promising practices and community-based initiatives to prevent the intergenerational transmission of ACEs are highlighted. The presentation will:

• Identify three examples of how ACEs impact children’s physical, mental, behavioral and cognitive health.
• List three resiliency factors for children and youth experiencing ACEs.
• Give three examples of practical strategies to promote resiliency.
• Describe a resource for universal education and assessment that can be used to prevent and reduce the impact of ACEs.

To see a list of additional upcoming trainings, check out the SPF SIG website for more information.

back to top

Past Trainings

December 3, 2013: Developing an MIS and Dashboard for Prevention Efforts
Presented by Claire Magowan, Division of Behavioral Health & Susie Amundson, Wise at Work.
This session covered increasing your understanding of how a management information system (MIS) is key for environmental prevention work. In addition, participants also received assistance with building their own MIS, step-by-step, and created its dashboard in Excel. Click here to view the webinar. 

back to top

Mark Your Calendars!

Starting in 2014, the National Prevention Strategy, Region VIII Federal Partners is sponsoring a webinar series, Improving the Mental and Emotional Well-Being of Communities through the National Prevention Strategy. Each webinar in this series highlights ways Federal agencies are working with communities to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life – physically and mentally - by shifting the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on prevention and wellness. The National Prevention Strategy was developed as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The strategy outlines how Federal departments from a variety of sectors are implementing prevention efforts to improve the health of the nation. Click here to view a list of the training topics and date.

back to top

In the News

Online Alcohol Marketing Encourages ‘Culture of Intoxication’ in Young People, Study Suggests
A study, conducted by Professor Christine Griffin of the University of Bath and colleagues at Massey University in New Zealand, examined how 18 to 25-year-olds respond to online advertising of drink brands. The research found that online alcohol marketing aimed at young adults is “widespread, highly dynamic and takes an ever-expanding range of forms” as new digital and mobile technologies develop. According to Professor Griffin, “A wider range of policies and safer drinking initiatives that target the cultural norm of drinking to intoxication are required.”

back to top

No-Cost Extension

The Department of Behavioral Health is in the process of requesting a 1-year no-cost extension for the federal SPF SIG grant. This opportunity would give SPF grantees one additional year (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015). If awarded, there will likely be ongoing support from the Community Prevention Support Team in the form of additional training opportunities as well as individualized technical assistance. There would likely also be impacts on evaluation and reporting requirements and timelines. We will keep you posted as we learn more about this exciting possibility to continue alcohol prevention efforts in your communities.

back to top

Happy Holidays

As 2013 comes to a close, we would like to wish everyone happy holidays and a wonderful New Year! Thanks to everyone who is involved in the important work being done on SPF SIG. The tireless work you do is helping Alaska become a safer, more positive place.

back to top