New RI Program will Divert Individuals with Substance Use Disorders from Incarceration and into Treatment

Training, education and implementation efforts provided by the Opioid Response Network (ORN) has helped to establish a new program in Woonsocket, RI. This program, championed by RI Superior Court Judge Kristin Rodgers, will divert individuals with an opioid or other substance use disorders who have been arrested away from jail and into treatment and recovery support services. An estimated 70 to 100 people arrested every year could qualify to participate in this program, which was recently awarded the funding needed to get it off the ground.

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline have announced a three-year $819,109 U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance grant for the Woonsocket Police Department (WPD). Working with the non-profit Community Care Alliance, this will fund the Law Enforcement Assisted Deflection, Engagement, and Retention (LEADER) in Treatment program. ORN, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-funded initiative, will continue providing WPD with education and training support as needed. Read more.

If an opportunity listed below sparks interest but you have questions or are not quite sure how it could fit into your own plans, email orn@aaap.org. We can help! All ORN trainings are provided at no cost. To coordinate a tailored training with an ORN consultant to meet your specific needs, submit a request at OpioidResponseNetwork.org. 

New Course: Improving Clinical Practice with Patients who have Stimulant Use Disorder 
Performance in Practice and Self-Assessment Activity

This new course is designed to improve the competence, performance, and patient outcomes of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals. Learners will determine individual practice gaps and address them through a performance improvement plan. Learners will assess and evaluate performance techniques used in their practices. This ORN course was developed by ORN lead organization the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. Read more.

Live Training: Certified Addiction Registered Nurse Exam Review for RNs/NPs - PART ONE: February 7, 2022

This ORN-funded training from the Boston Medical Center is an exam review course for RNs and NPs working in the addiction field who have an interest in becoming a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) or a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse - Advanced Practice (CARN-AP). This course is intended to support nurses studying for the CARN and CARN-AP exam by reviewing material the exam will cover. Read more.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a two-part training. You must attend both parts to receive continuing education credits. See here for information on PART TWO.

Live Training: Treating Stimulant Use Disorder
February 9, 2022

This ORN-funded training from the Boston Medical Center is designed to be a guide for addiction providers interested in providing and caring for people who use stimulants including cocaine and methamphetamines. The training will review the basic science of addiction related to stimulants as well as evidence-based treatment for people who use stimulants. The session will also talk about the practical implementation of evidence-based treatment for patients who use stimulants in the office-based addiction treatment setting. Read more.

Live Training: Recovery Community Organization Bootcamp
February 22 - 24, 2022

This ORN-funded, Faces & Voices of Recovery activity is a 13-hour free training for new and emerging Recovery Community Organization (RCO) directors, program managers and board members. The training covers all the basics to help build the capacity of small non-profit organizations. Breakout sessions focus on RCO start-up, governance, sustainability, policies and procedures, strategic planning, staff development and more. Read more.

On Demand Trainings: New Webinars Presented by Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses 

New ORN-funded webinars from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association have been posted and are available to all at no cost. These include:

·     What’s in Grandma’s Medicine Cabinet? – Understanding Substance Use Disorders in Older AdultsExplore how age-related physiological and social changes present unique challenges for the identification and treatment of this disorder.

·     Substance-Exposed Pregnancies: What to Know As They Grow Discover how substance use during pregnancy impacts maternal/fetal development and increases the neurological vulnerabilities of the neonate.  

·     A Primer on Stimulant Use Disorder: A Growing Concern Examine neuroscience changes as a result of a substance use disorder, along with the signs and symptoms that often present with the diagnosis as well as potential treatment options.

Read more.

Tailored Trainings: Providing Peer Based Recovery Support Services for Pregnant and Parenting Families

This ORN-funded training opportunity developed by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center prepares participants to meet the diverse needs of pregnant and parenting families in early recovery. Recovery and parenting both occur in the context of relationships. Trainings are designed to help participants build skills to support/ strengthen families as they grow and develop in their roles as nurturing parents. Submit a request for this training topic at OpioidResponseNetwork.org. Your local ORN Technology Transfer Specialist will connect with you to learn more about your specific needs and help facilitate a tailored, localized training on this topic. 

orn@aaap.org 401-270-5900
OpioidResponseNetwork.org