February 2014

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Determining What to Sustain: Part 2
Sustainability doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. But how do you decide which elements of your initiative to sustain? In the first of this two-part training, we walked through the first two of five recommended steps for figuring out what to sustain, what to partner on, what to change, and what to let go. In the second part, we’ll go through the remainder of the suggested process, including tools you can use with your coalition to help ensure that what you decide to sustain makes the most sense and can achieve the best results for your community.

To attend the webinar, click here to access the Adobe Connect link which will give you the audio-visual connection. After clicking this link, you will be directed to a registration survey for your name and affiliation. Once completed, you will be redirected to the Adobe Connect site. Enter as a guest and type your name; then click on “enter room.”

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

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Past Trainings

Good news! If you missed the last webinar, Determining What to Sustain: Part 1, you can view it on the SPF SIG website. The presentation slides and related handout are also posted on the Training Opportunities page of the website (under January 21, 2014). 

All of the webinars, PowerPoints, and presentation materials can now be found on the Training Opportunities page of the SPF SIG website. 

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In the News

When it comes to suicide, speak up
http://juneauempire.com/opinion/2014-01-16/when-it-comes-suicide-speak 

Trying to help others
http://juneauempire.com/state/2014-01-03/trying-help-others

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Homer Prevention Project Uses PhotoVoice and Art to Discuss Underage Drinking

Congratulations Homer Prevention Project on receiving this awesome write-up in your local paper. This definitely reflects your hard work. Click here to read the article, "Young Photographers Explore Issue of Teen Alcohol Use."

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Suicide Resource

The Suicide Resource Prevention Panel (headquartered in California) designed Pathways to Purpose and Hope, a guide for creating a sustainable suicide bereavement support program that offers a variety of services on a long-term basis to meet the complicated needs of survivors. The guide is designed so that any lay person can use it to start a new program or enhance an existing one. Pathways to Purpose and Hope is available online from Friends for Survival at no charge.

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SPF SIG Gets Shout-Out at Alaska Public Health Association (ALPHA) Conference

Two SPF SIG grantees were highlighted during the closing keynote speech at the recent ALPHA  conference in Anchorage. Dr. Linda Chamberlain, an internationally recognized speaker, shared information about the body of research around Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, and highlighted work being done right here in Alaska. She spoke with enthusiasm about how the ACEs work is being integrated into realms such as alcohol prevention efforts and noted the Alaska SPF SIG project. She then spoke more specifically about what the SPF SIG communities of Yakutat and Homer have done to incorporate ACEs into their grant projects. Their strategies show that both communities are “thinking out of the box,” said Chamberlain. It’s great to see SPF SIG efforts getting these kinds of kudos!

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Sustainability Series in Nome

In the most recent sustainability training session, it was noted that while resources and templates are being offered as part of these trainings, there is no “one” right form or template to use; rather, communities can take the guidance and adapt it to fit their local needs. A great example of this was recently highlighted in Nome, where Lisa Ellanna-Strickling and Panganga Pungowiyi adapted the CDC’s Sustainability Planning Guide for a more localized version to use with their coalition, including forms for identifying resource needs and possible sources for particular strategies. Please feel free to adapt and utilize this Alaskan example to fit the prevention efforts in your community.

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Potential Funding Opportunity for Grantees

From time to time funding opportunities come to our attention that may be relevant for grantee communities. Please feel free to pass these along to others in your community who might be interested.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration - Drug-Free Communities Program 

• Description: The purpose of the DFC Support Program is to establish and strengthen collaboration to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent youth substance use.
• Eligibility: To apply for a DFC grant, a coalition must fall into one of the following three categories: A coalition that has never received a DFC grant; a coalition that previously received a DFC grant, but experienced a lapse in funding; or a coalition that has concluded the first five-year funding cycle and is applying for a second five-year funding cycle.
• Award Information: Proposed budgets cannot exceed $125,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) in any year of the proposed project.
• Deadline: March 24, 2014
• Contact information: Virginia Simmons, 240-276-1422, virginia.simmons@samhsa.hhs.gov

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