“Like all youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex youth and other sexual-and gender-diverse children and adolescents (LGBTQI+ youth) deserve to grow up in supportive environments absent stigma and discrimination that allow them to thrive and achieve their human potential. When seeking behavioral health treatment (both mental health and substance use interventions), these children and adolescents, like their peers, and their families deserve the best evidence-based care from knowledgeable health providers without the risk of harm" (SAMHSA, 2023).

This opening statement from the executive summary of the newly released SAMHSA report Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth highlights the importance of providing behavioral health providers, educators, researchers, policymakers, and other audiences with current, accurate knowledge about LGBTQI+ youth.

In recognition of Pride Month, the June PTTC Post provides detailed information about this March 2023 report, including the key findings and recommendations.

Read the Full Article

All six modules available now! Introduction to Prevention Core Competencies for Prevention Professionals professionals.

The course will introduce practitioners to the essentials of substance use and misuse prevention. It is based on the Prevention Core Competencies published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The six-module, self-paced course provides a foundation for service delivery based on prevention science and evidence-based practices. It strengthens the understanding of effective planning and implementation and encourages the pursuit of more specialized training and professional development.

You MUST complete all six modules to receive a certificate of completion and credit for finishing the course. 

Visit PTTC’s e-learning platform HealtheKnowledge.org to enroll in the course.

The National Hispanic and Latino PTTC are excited to announce the translation of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework guide from English to Spanish. Available to download here.

Stay on the cutting-edge with the SAMHSA funded Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity, who provides behavioral health practitioners with vital information on supporting the population of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, two-spirit, and other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.

Through training, coaching, and technical assistance we are implementing change strategies within mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems to address disparities effecting LGBTQ+ people across all stages of life.