Addressing Substance Use in Alaska – ECHO

Join us for the Addressing Substance Use in Rural Alaska (ASUA-R) ECHO mini-series! 

Wednesdays @ 12-1:15pm AKT

May 28 | June 4 | June 11

Free Virtual Zoom Trainings | Continuing Education Offered

• Register now: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM1723155168669ERJD202TK8
• Invite colleagues to the conversation: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/GU3YBZz/asuar
• Contact chdecho@alaska.edu for more information

Rural communities in Alaska face limited access to culturally aware and trauma-informed care for substance use treatment. Geographic isolation and underfunded services further hinder support, and this contributes to ongoing health disparities and unmet needs in remote areas. Inspired by participant request, this special mini-series is a dedicated space for rural providers to look at substance use in rural Alaska. The sessions will provide an overview and assessment of the problem of substance use from first-time use to recovery, explore implementation of creative solutions that address the problem, and demonstrate how these creative solutions can incorporate, apply, and leverage traditional methods and cultural awareness. Each 75 minute session will include a brief didactic followed by a program or organization highlight. All sessions will be bookended by a rural community member sharing their perspective on the topic.

The Addressing Substance Use in Rural Alaska (ASUA-R) ECHO is an extension of the regularly scheduled Addressing Substance Use in Alaska (ASUA) ECHO which is a virtual learning network focused on the establishment of a multi-disciplinary community of practice that will help to reduce unmet treatment needs of substance use in Alaska, and to increase the knowledge of FDA-approved medications for the treatment of substance use disorders. This ECHO program is a strategy to bridge the gaps in the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services.

Intended Audience

Community Health Aides/Practitioners, Behavioral Health Aides, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family therapists, Social Workers, Masters of Addiction Counselors, Addiction Specialists, Peer Support Specialists, Medical Physicians, Mid-level providers, Registered Nurses, Psychologists, First Responders, Program Administrators, Department of Corrections and Public Safety Officials, Educators and Court Officials. 

Participants in this mini-series will be able to:

1. Apply culturally informed assessment and treatment strategies that improve recovery outcomes among clients in rural Alaska.
2. Implement trauma-informed and client-centered care models that address substance use in underserved and rural communities.
3. Improve treatment outcomes by adapting and integrating evidence-based interventions within the context of rural health limitations and cultural frameworks specific to Alaska Native populations.