Connecting the Dots

Welcome to our April newsletter!

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Wisconsin CONNECT is a collaborative. We seek to provide technical assistance and training opportunities for substance use prevention and treatment grantees, providers, clinicians, social workers, and support staff.


We draw on local and national academic and community resources to reduce and prevent substance use and improve overall health and wellness in Wisconsin.


To that end, we want to help you connect the dots with this newsletter. It is a tool to support our efforts to promote new research, share tools and trainings that aim to help you engage in different communities, enhance practice and improve the health of your clients and program participants.

2026 Motivational Interviewing Conference

Registration is Open


Motivational interviewing (MI) is a highly flexible and powerful approach to helping practitioners address behavioral change and growth for their clients and patients. MI is particularly useful because it can be applied to a variety of situations and settings, including behavioral health, human services, health care, education, corrections, business and more.


This summer, we invite you to explore how the practice of MI can improve your clients’ engagement, resulting in transformative outcomes.


The interactive Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference will share best practices, build skills and promote interprofessional networking. Breakout sessions will be offered at various levels, targeting students, providers who are new to MI and seasoned practitioners.

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We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful city of Madison, where you can learn more about this evidence-based practice, hone your skills and network with other MI practitioners and trainers from the Midwest.


Who Should Attend

The conference is for any helping professional who works directly with clients who are reluctant to change their attitudes, behaviors and/or thoughts. This training experience should be helpful for participants who have never learned about MI, have forgotten what they learned about MI or want a good review in order to recommit to this evidence based practice. It is designed for those who want beginning to advancing professionals working across the United States.


Learn more and register here.

A Look at CIFASD Researcher Sarah Mattson

from FASD United



Dr. Sarah Mattson is a researcher and key member of the Collaborative Initiative on FASD (CIFASD). In this short video, Dr. Mattson summarizes her research on FASD diagnosis, including BRAIN-online, a quick accessible screening tool for FASD, which can be completed in about 30-60 minutes. This screening tool improves diagnosis and has been found to identify about 80% of people affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.


Watch the video here.

GLP-1s have transformed weight loss and diabetes. Is addiction next?

from NPR


"There's new evidence that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic can reduce the risk of addiction.


A study of more than 600,000 veterans followed for up to three years found that those who started taking a GLP-1 drug for diabetes were about 15% to 20% less likely to misuse substances ranging from alcohol to opioids."


Read or listen to the article here.

 



Drug Take Back Day

from Wisconsin Department of Health Services


The next Drug Take Back Day is April 25, 2026.


Too often, unused and expired medications find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic. Bringing unused and expired medications to a Drug Take Back Day collection site protects you, your family, and your community.



How to participate

It's easy to participate in Drug Take Back Day. Just stop by a collection event and drop your items into a bin. That's it. No questions are asked. You can be in and out of a collection event in minutes.


Learn more here.

Learn more here.

 

Addiction, Relapse & Recovery Certificate + Ally Program

from UW-Green Bay


Addiction Recovery Noncredit Certificate (approximately 10 hours of content)

Learn about the psychological, social and biological factors influencing addiction and relapse, with an emphasis on trauma-informed care and harm-reduction approaches. Through evidence-based and interactive activities, case studies and expert insights, you will enhance your understanding and foster practical skills for supporting clients, co-workers, direct reports, colleagues and others on their path to healing.


Addiction Recovery Ally Program (approximately 4 hours of content)

Be the support they need. This brief, compassionate program helps friends and family understand addiction and learn simple, effective ways to support a loved one in recovery and make a meaningful difference.


Register here.

Register here.

Clearing the Haze: Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Long-Term Outcomes

from MotherToBaby

April 20

12:00pm ET

via Zoom


This free educational session from MotherToBaby is designed specifically for healthcare professionals and will review the latest evidence on prenatal cannabis exposure, including potential impacts on pregnancy outcomes and child development, along with guidance for patient counseling.


Register here.

Apply for Drug Overdose Prevention Supplies

from Wisconsin Department of Health Services


Drug Checking Technologies Program for Naloxone Direct Program Agencies

Naloxone Direct Program agencies that meet certain criteria are eligible to apply to receive drug checking technologies at no cost for community distribution. The drug checking technologies available through this program include fentanyl test strips, fentanyl test strip kits, xylazine test strips, and xylazine test strip kits.

Applications for the Drug Checking Technologies Program for Naloxone Direct Program Agencies are due by 11:59 p.m. April 19, 2026.  


EMS Leave Behind Program

Fentanyl test strip kits and xylazine test strip kits are available at no cost to EMS agencies operating leave behind programs.

Applications for the EMS Leave Behind Program are due by 11:59 p.m. April 19, 2026. 


Law Enforcement Overdose Prevention Program

Nasal naloxone, fentanyl test strip kits, and xylazine test stirp kits are available at no cost to law enforcement agencies. The nasal naloxone may be distributed through a leave behind program or provided when responding to a drug overdose in the community. The fentanyl test strips and xylazine test strips must be distributed to community members and not used for law enforcement activities.

Applications for the Law Enforcement Overdose Prevention Program are due by 11:59 p.m. April 19, 2026. 

Recovery Voucher Grant Program

from Community Advocates


Community Advocates recognizes that people who live with Opioid Use Disorder and are in recovery need to live in a safe and stable home. To make that happen, we are providing Recovery Vouchers for up to six months of supportive housing for individuals and their families. To be eligible, the individual must be age 18 or older and have documentation of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or receiving treatment to address OUD within the previous 12 months. In addition, the individual must have documentation of homelessness (Category 1, 2, 3, or 4).


To obtain a referral form, email Maudwella Kirkendoll.


The program is funded by the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Energy (DEHCR), Housing and Community Resources.


 

Save the Date for 2026 Conferences



NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference

April 10-11

In-person at the Hilton Appleton Paper Valley in Appleton, WI.


Wisconsin Maternal and Child Health Conference

April 13-14

In-person at the Glacier Canyon Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI.


Supporting Clients Navigating Health Conditions: A Professional Symposium

April 17

Virtual.


Wisconsin Peer Recovery Conference

April 20-22

In-person at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI.


Circles of Life Conference

May 14-15

In-person at Holiday Inn Stevens Point Convention Center in Stevens Point, WI.


Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Annual Conference

June 15-17

Hybrid. Location TBD.


Wisconsin Substance Use Summit

August 5-6, pre-conference August 4

Virtual and in-person at the Oneida Hotel in Green Bay, WI.


Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference

August 6-7. pre-conference August 5

In-person at the Best Western Premiere Park Hotel in Madison, WI.


Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference

June 16-17

Virtual.


 
Missed a Session?

Check out our video archive to find a session you might have missed.


You can also go back to the training session webpage to find other resources, slides and handouts.

 

Upcoming Trainings

 
Click here below to see all the upcoming trainings and events across topics.
 
Have a training interest? Looking for technical assistance? Simply fill out this online form with what you are seeking, and we will follow up to further explore your needs.
 
 
Wisconsin CONNECT Social Media
Go follow the new Wisconsin CONNECT social media pages for regular updates on training opportunities as well as to connect and network with other professionals.
 
 
 
 
 
Powered in Partnership
We do this in partnership with the Bureau of Prevention, Treatment and Recovery within the Wisconsin Department of Health Service's Division of Care and Treatment Services, UW-Milwaukee, and our network of training providers.