What’s the connection between substance abuse and childhood trauma? And what can we do about it?
Those are the big questions explored in Community Advocates Public Policy Institute’s new Substance Abuse and Trauma Training, led by PPI’s Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, Jeremy Triblett.
During this evidence-based training, substance abuse prevention specialists, youth workers, community advocates, and AODA counselors explore national, statewide, and local data on trauma and substance abuse.
First, though, Triblett asks participants to get personal by discussing their experiences with substance abuse and trauma. Getting that intimate with virtual strangers isn’t easy, which is precisely the point, Triblett explained. The exercise is intended to create empathy.
"We ask our clients to get personal right away, but we don’t do it ourselves," he told those gathered in a February 28 training.
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MCSAP Youth Summit:
What’s Your Natural High?
Friday, March 15
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MCSAP’s
third annual youth summit will focus on positive alternatives to substance use. Youth ages 11 and up are encouraged to attend this gathering, which will include mini-workshops, some of them youth-led, as well as two keynote
speakers, Kwabena Antoine Nixon and Khalil Coleman. The summit will be held on Friday, March 15, from
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Neu-Life Community Development, 2014 W. North Ave., Milwaukee. Bring your youth! Contact Jody Rhodes at
neulife1@sbcglobal.net
or 414-933-3924 to register by the end of day Monday, March 11.
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An Evening with Alex Kotlowitz, Author of
An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago
Wednesday, March 13
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Alex Kotlowitz, author of
There Are No Children Here
, set out to chronicle one summer in Chicago by writing about individuals who have emerged from the violence and whose stories capture the capacity -- and the breaking point -- of the human heart and soul. The result,
An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago
, is a spellbinding collection of deeply intimate profiles that upend what we think we know about gun violence in America.
Community Advocates Public Policy Institute
and the
City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention
are cosponsoring this
evening at Boswell Book Co.
,
during which Kotlowitz will discuss and sign
An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago
. Kotlowitz will appear from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at
Boswell Book Company
, 2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee.
This event is free and open to the public, but
please RSVP at this link
to allow Boswell to plan for all of our guests.
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Walgreens Will Provide Medical Deposit Boxes
in All Stores in 2019
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Stemming from an earlier announcement in 2018,
Walgreens
is continuing to follow through on their commitment to provide a safe, free, and reliable route of disposal for medication in all of their stores throughout 2019. More than 400 tons of reclaimed medication has been collected so far, which is more than the weight of an airliner! Walgreens hopes this effort will continue to provide a safe alternative to keeping often dangerous drugs -- including prescriptions and opioids -- out of potentially careless hands, preventing unneeded overdoses, contaminations, or even deaths in the process. For more information on the deposit boxes, click
here
.
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Community Connections
Parent Café Sessions
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The Parenting Network
is well aware of the stresses that come with raising a family. Tantrums, unexpected expenses, demanding jobs, illnesses… these are some of the many things that many in our community face daily. Come learn about the 5 Strengths or protective factors that are proven to help
all
families. Each session comes with a complimentary family meal, an opportunity to meet other parents in the community, learn new strategies and share strengths. Locations in the North, South & Downtown areas of Milwaukee:
●
Metcalfe Community Bridges, 3624 W. North Ave., Milwaukee. Second floor bookstore. Tuesdays, 5 to 7:30 p.m., April 9 & May 14.
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Christ St. Peter’s School, 2229 W. Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee. Tuesdays, 5 to 7:30 p.m., March 26 & April 30.
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Heartlove Place, 1927 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. (North Fourth Street), Milwaukee. Tuesdays, 5 to 7:30 p.m., March 19, April 16, May 21.
Sessions have childcare available, but space is limited. To register and/or inquire, please call Andrea Libber at 414-671-5575 (ext. 12) or email her
here
.
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Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference and Pre-Conference
Registration Now Open
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This year’s conference theme, "Connection: The Key to Prevention," will feature keynote speaker Mark Meier, LCSW, during
Prevent Suicide Wisconsin’s
annual conference
, on Friday, May 3, at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells. Also offered are two pre-conference trainings that do not require attending the actual conference, held on Thursday, May 2. The first workshop, Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk, is
here
.
The second, dealing with Compassion Resilience Facilitation Team Training, is
here
. Each event carries separate fees.
If you are interested in sponsoring, having an exhibit/resource table at the conference, or an ad space for your organization, please see click
here
for more information.
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City of Milwaukee Denim Day Activities
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For April 2019, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the City of Milwaukee is partnering with communities of color citywide to raise awareness and encourage group participation in coordination with the eighth annual Denim Day. The City is asking you and your organization to attend upcoming planning meetings on the Mondays of March 11 and April 8, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Office of Violence Prevention 1240 N 10th St., Room 227, Milwaukee. Please email
Karen Tyler
to register your organization or with other questions. Denim Day is Wednesday, April 24.
This year’s Denim Day Youth Ambassador Training is Thursday, March 14, from 5 to 7 p.m., and will be held at the Hmong American Women’s Association, 3727 W. National Ave., Milwaukee. A full list of City of Milwaukee Denim Day activities can be found
here
.
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Empower Me Foster Walk
Saturday, May 4
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The Empower Me Foster Walk
will begin at Lakeshore State Park, 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, at 9:30 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. This year’s event is meant to raise money and awareness for Foster Care Awareness Month (May). Please register in advance
here
.
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Hirsh Larkey Mental Health Conference
Tuesday, May 7
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Jewish Family Services of Milwaukee
presents "The Milwaukee Opioid Crisis: Taking A Deeper Look At Impact And Interventions," from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and "Biological and Contextual Ecology of Opioid Addiction: Impact and Intervention," from 1 to 4 p.m., both at the Alverno College Conference Center, 3400 S. 43rd Street, in Milwaukee, on May 7. The latter session is limited to licensed professionals. A fee is required for registration, which can be completed online
here
, and any questions can be sent
here
.
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State Budget Briefing
Tuesday, March 12
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The
Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force
will host Barbara Beckert and Sally Flaschberger of Disability Rights Wisconsin for a briefing on the upcoming state budget. The meeting will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at Independence
First
, 540 S. First St., Milwaukee, and will cover a range of topics including long term care, corrections, housing, and more. Please register in advance
here
. This will also serve as the March meeting of the Mental Health Task Force.
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Dare to Know:
The Truth about Vaping, Juuling...and Your Child
Wednesday, March 13
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Vaping and Juuling have skyrocketed among school age youth in the last few years, and
Homestead High School
, 5000 W. Mequon Road, Mequon, is hosting an informational event, resource fair, presentation aimed at both students and parents, and separate breakout sessions for parents and students. The activities begin at 6 p.m., featuring keynote speaker Dr. Charlene Gaebler-Uhing, MD, MHPE, in the James Barr Performing Arts Center. This event is free and open to the public.
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Living Well Workshops
Thursdays: March 14 - April 18
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Living Well
workshops are designed to help you take charge of your life, especially when living with ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain or anxiety. The sessions are every Thursday, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the
Greendale Library
, 5647 Broad Street, Greendale. Please call the
Greenfield Health Department
to register at 414-329-5275. The cost of the classes is free.
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Welcome Baby! Nurturing Program Offered Weekly
Thursdays through May 30
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The Parenting Network
, 7516 W. Burleigh Ave., Milwaukee, is offering weekly nurturing and parenting sessions for the crucial developmental period in a baby’s first year of life. You can receive parent coaching, connect with local resources, and meet other new parents. Classes run from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and registration is required. Please call 414-671-0566 to RSVP or get more information.
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Social Justice and Evaluation Conference
Friday, March 15
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¡Milwaukee Evaluation!
will host its 2019 Social Justice and Evaluation Conference on Friday, March 15, at the Goodman Community Center in Madison. Activities will include keynote speaker Vu Le, the executive director of Rainier Valley Corps, as well as information and discussions regarding cutting-edge issues facing evaluators today, methods-based, capacity-building breakout sessions, and networking opportunities with evaluators across the state.
¡Milwaukee Evaluation! is the Wisconsin statewide AEA affiliate and has identified three goals: to promote the science and practice of evaluation in the public and private sectors, to provide a forum for professional evaluators, and to establish and maintain a pipeline for evaluators of color and underrepresented groups.
Register for their conference here
.
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DHS Opioid Forum
March 19 & 20
~Registration is Open~
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The registration fee will be $75 per person for the full conference. The registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks on both days. Registration is open!
Click here for details and to register.
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A Conversation with Scott Allard
Author,
Places in Need: The Changing Geography of Poverty
March 28
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Did you know that more poor people live in American suburbs than in our cities?
Contrary to long-held stereotypes of suburbs as places of affluence far from the needs and stresses of urban life, Scott W. Allard reveals the truth about 21st century suburbs in
Places in Need: The Changing Geography of Poverty
. Allard explains that suburban poverty has more than doubled in the past 25 years and low-income households in the suburbs resemble their counterparts in the cities more than we realized. That said, suburbs don’t have adequate safety net support to meet the needs of their struggling residents.
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Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Response
April 2 & 3
~Registration is Open~
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Wisconsin Department of Health Services’
Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Response
is for mental health professionals, substance abuse counselors, medical professionals, law enforcement, and related professions. This event will feature workshops on trauma's role in the misuse and ab
use of opioids. Keynote speakers are
Honorable Rev. Everett D. Mitchell, M.Div., Th.M., J.D.,
and Mishka Terplan, M.D.
The registration fee will be $75 per person for the full conference, to be held at KI Convention Center in Green Bay. This event is part of Wisconsin's State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Register and get more information here
.
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Men’s Parenting Class
April 2 through May 2
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Mental Health America
is hosting a
FREE Men’s Parenting Class
on Tuesdays and Thursdays 1 to 2 p.m. from April 2 to May 2 at Mental Health America of Wisconsin, 600 W. Virginia St., Ste. 502, Milwaukee. Topics include a father’s role, communication, co-parenting, and balancing work and fatherhood. Please pre-register by March 22 by calling 414-276-3122.
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Latino Health Equity Summit
Tuesday, April 9
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Sixteenth Street Health Center
, in collaboration with the
Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition
, will host the 2019 Latino Health Summit at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee. The event, featuring a wide range of political, professional, and health/field workers, will feature a special section on Trauma and Mental Health in the Latino Community. Registration can be completed
here
; the fee is $40 fee (can be waived if you’re a current student). The event is from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., with networking to follow. Questions?
Email here
.
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Free Oral Cancer Screenings
Thursday, April 11
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April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and the
Aurora Sinai Medical Center
, 945 N. 12th St., Milwaukee, will host complimentary oral cancer screenings in the cafeteria from 1 to 4 p.m. No appointments or insurance plans are needed, and walk-ins are welcome. Please call 414-649-3920 for more information.
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UWM Seeking Participants in Study
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Assistant Professor Seok Hyun Gwon, PhD, Rn, of the
UWM College of Nursing
, is researching the potential correlation between e-cigarette and tobacco users’ attention towards e-cigarette, vaping, JUUL and other similar product ads. Upon completion of the study, participants will receive a $25 gift card for their time. Eligibility requirements: 18-29 years old, Smoker (nonsmokers and e-cigarette users are acceptable also), English speaking. You can email
Prof Gwon
with any questions.
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Our Partners & Allies Are Seeking...
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Milwaukee Prevention Journal Readers -- do you have:
- Job openings?
- Upcoming events?
- News to share?
- Suggestions?
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Community Advocates is supported by ReCAST MKE, a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services, under Grant No. 5H79SM063524.
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