Webinar provides both practitioners and administrators increased familiarity with the barriers faced by transgender individuals in need of substance use treatment. It will provide skill-building, knowledge-enhancing practical suggestions on how to offer sensitive, affirmative, culturally relevant, and effective treatment to transgender individuals in substance use treatment. Assists participant’s in their understanding of terms and concepts regarding transgender people’s lives and experiences. Identifies distinctions between gender identity and sexual orientation, and the importance of these differences in providing care for transgender patients. Presented by JoAnne Kelly, MSW (Director of the UCSF Center for Excellence for Transgender Health/NIDA).

Provides a general overview of cultural competency and why culture matters.

   The focus of this webinar is upon describing the importance of cultural proficiency in the screening and assessment processes. Mr. Osborne gives various examples of how a client's culture shapes his/her belief system and attitude toward such issues as child rearing, sexual roles, and punctuality.  He stresses the importance of a drug court program's ability to identify these differences and provide clients necessary support services.  He also discusses the process of identifying personal cultural characteristics, starting with cues and ending with behavior, and the importance of proper assessment of how these cultural characteristics may influence an individual's behavior. For example, he references the culture of wearing  baggy clothes and lack of verbalization frequent among young males which some drug court staff may associate with believe indicates that  the client is resistant or has a defeatist attitude when actually he/she is expressing a desire to belong.

Provides guidance to problem solving courts to assist programs in indentifying disparities and taking corrective action. 

 Webinar identifies the social and psychological aspects of HIV infection that may impact AOD treatment outcomes, discuss the experiences of special populations relating to stigma and discrimination as they relate to service delivery, and describe practical strategies that will support the HIV positive client in achieving his/her treatment goals. Present by Robert Charles Wright, LMSW, CASAC (Consultant Trainer, IRETA).

The implicit association test is a measure designed to detect the strength of a person’s automatic association between concepts in memory. It measures attitudes and beliefs that people may be unwilling or unable to report, including stereotypes and prejudices.

 The webinar serves as an introduction to culture and the effect it has in drug courts. The video explores the difference between cultural competency and cultural proficiency, and discussed the benefits cultural proficiency can provide for drug courts. The importance of cultural proficiency is then discussed in terms of the potential benefits it can provide for drug courts, such as higher retention rates and enhanced quality insurance. Presented by Andrew Osborne (NDRI).

Webinar discusses substance and medication abuse among older adults (including a thorough review of prevalence rates of misuse and risk factors), substance abuse screening and assessment, intervention mechanisms, specialized treatment options, and prevention strategies. Presented by Linda Shumaker, RN-BC, MA (Outreach Coordinator, Pennsylvania Behavioral Health and Aging Coalition).

Webinar focuses on the use of self in relation to working with disadvantaged families and it provides strategies that would allow the therapist to connect with the client and aim for a palpable change in the client's behavior. Presented by Dr. Harry Aponte (Clinical Associate Professor, Drexel University’s Couple & Family Therapy Department).