As of January 2023, the X-waiver is no longer required to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. Any references to the X-waiver no longer apply. The educational content on this site that offers CME meets the MATE Act requirements of 8 hours of training required for DEA certification.

Pathways to Healing Logo

Pathways to Healing occur regionally and on a quarterly basis.

The objective of this series is to offer quarterly opportunities for Tribal, Urban Indian, and community-based behavioral health providers to learn more about culturally driven treatment modalities and practices for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals with SUD. The training curriculum and events will focus on implementing evidence-based and culturally-informed strategies that providers and clinicians can use to improve their treatment programming and services in ways that incorporate the Tribal beliefs, cultures, traditions, and values of their patients. Opportunities to network and engage with other providers, clinicians and communities treating AI/AN individuals across the state is a key element to this set of work.

These events integrate both web-based and in-person learning opportunities for Tribal, Urban Indian, and community-based behavioral health providers. Continuing Education (CE) offered at NO COST.

Pathways to Healing Statewide Conference. Embracing Culture in Crisis Response in California Indian Country.  Thursday, June 13, 2024.  The California Endowment, Sacramento, 9am to 3:30pm PDT

Nurturing Our Heritage: Prevention Strategies for Indigenous Youth

Presenter(s): Daniel Dickerson, DO, MPH, Inupiaq, and Casandra Stouder, Seminole, Navajo

Description: This 2-hour virtual training will provide an overview of youth prevention work in Indigenous communities, with a specific focus on the impact of historical trauma and culturally sensitive approaches to substance use disorder and healing. Through fostering understanding, cultural competency, and the utilization of Indigenous healing practices, participants will gain valuable knowledge and practical skills to support their prevention work with Indigenous youth.

The Power of Tribal Culture & Community in Crisis Response

Presenter(s): Joshua Severns, MSW, LCSW, ACADC, Little Shell/Gros Ventre/Yankton Dakota and Monica Super, CADC, CPS Pit River, Modoc

Description: A 2-hour virtual training on Tribal crisis response co-presented by Joshua Severns, a Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder (BH/SUD) subject matter expert. Joshua is a member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe and brings a wealth of expertise in emergency medical services, firefighting, Tribal crisis response and behavioral health. Monica Super is a member of the Pitt River Tribe and a Modoc descendant and will further enrich the training by delving into deep cultural nuances that inform the historical context of Tribal crisis response. A highlight of the training will be a traditional Native American story that will share the complex intersection. of Tribal wisdom and modern crisis response, offering tangible insights for both tribal and non-Tribal attendees.

   

Strengthening American Indian and Alaska Native Families

Presenter(s): Carrie Johnson, Ph.D., Wahpeton Dakota

Description: This two-hour virtual training provide a general overview of the cultural, social, and historical factors that have had and continue to have a significant impact on the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) families. The concept of wellness which incorporates the physical, mental, and spiritual health of AI/AN people will be discussed as a framework to effectively address the strength and resiliency in working with A/ANs. It is important to recognize the strengths and resiliency of AI/AN families as well as the values, identity, culture, and traditions that can assist in promoting positive changes.

   

Mobile Crisis Services in Tribal Communities

Presenter(s): Monica Reeves, Advocates for Human Potential

Description: Virtual training will focus on the elements of effective mobile crisis services and implementation with an emphasis on culturally informed practices in Indigenous communities. In California Indian country, crisis response teams are formed in more and less formal ways. These teams are meant to provide community-based crisis resolution that reduces unnecessary law enforcement involvement and emergency department utilization. The presentation will conclude with a discussion on how to implement resources to build and enhance mobile crisis teams throughout California.

 

Tribal Emergency Response

Presenter(s): MK Youngblood, Chief Officer of Emergency Management, California Tribal Emergency Response & Relief Agency (Haslett Basin Holkama Mono Tribe)

Description: This training is focused on culturally informed crisis response in Native communities. By taking an Indigenous lens to differentiate between opioid overdose and other opioid-related emergencies, healthcare providers and community members can ensure that those experiencing opioid-related emergencies receive the appropriate care and support. It is also essential to work with Indigenous community members, Elders, and traditional healers to develop culturally sensitive approaches to address crisis in Indigenous communities. The session will allow for active learning that addresses greater cultural competence and collaboration in crisis response efforts.

   

QPR Training with Indigenous Considerations

Presenter(s): Deborah Kawkeka, Training Coordinator

Description: QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. This is an emergency mental health intervention for persons with thoughts of suicide, as well as considerations when opioid, stimulant, or other substance use is involved. The curriculum focused on individuals ages 12 to adults. The curriculum included warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, ways to ask about suicide, and persuade the individual to accept help and make a referral to safety. This training focused on culturally informed strategies for utilizing the QPR in California Indian country.

CommUnity Connections - Bridging Best Practice and Cross-Cultural Care

Presenter(s): Anitra Warrior, PhD, Psychologist

Description: A statewide convening to bring together Tribal/Urban Indian and other substance use treatment providers to improve culturally-informed care for Native people in California.

 

Addressing Cultural Identity in Substance Use Treatment among American Indians / Alaska Natives

Presenter(s): Dan Dickerson, DO, MPH and George Funmaker, CATC

Description: Integrating culture into clinical practice can increase treatment engagement and success, especially in AI/AN communities. Treatment providers can improve clinical engagement and outcomes by determining an individual's level of acculturation and adapting treatment strategies, accordingly, including making referrals to culturally based practices. This two-hour interactive webinar will identify cultural traditions of AI/AN people to consider in treatment. The presenters will review an acculturation scale that providers can use to start a conversation about culture. Attendees will have an opportunity to use the scale in small group practice and determine ways to utilize the tool in their own practice.

 

A Sacred Trust: Decolonizing Screening and Assessment

Presenter(s): Danica Love Brown, MSW, CACIII, PhD

Description: For Tribal people, current and past political and social events help shape the context of their lives in ways that many other Americans do not experience. Dr. Danica Brown will discuss how Western psychological screening and assessment has left American Indian people without tools to adequately address psychological conditions for people from American Indian and Alaska Native backgrounds. This training is for Tribal and Urban Indian providers and all who are interested in the topic.

 

CommUnity Connections - Bridging Best Practice and Cross-Cultural Care

Presenter(s): Claradina Soto, PhD, MPH and Anitra Warrior, PhD

Description: These live virtual convenings are design for all substance use disorder treatment and recovery providers across California. In each session, participants will explore the key components of delivering effective, culturally-informed services to American Indian and Alaska Native people in mainstream, Tribal, and Urban Indian specific settings.

 

Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance

Presenter(s): Jeff King, PhD and Holly Echo-Hawk, Msc

Description: This two-hour live virtual training for California Tribal and Urban Indian providers offers a strength-based and historically reclaimed portrayal of the innate psychological brilliance of Native people - - past and present. Remembering Native brilliance is a powerful part of Native identity and can be an important key to Native recovery from substance use. The presenters will review examples of Native brilliance that are relied on not only to maintain today’s world existence, but have also influenced the development of modern psychology. Participants will learn about the advancement of Indigenous psychology and its needed role in in the transformation of substance use treatment and recovery for Native people.

 

Engaging Native People and Their Families in Healing Through Relationships

Presenter(s): Jeff King, PhD

Description: This two-hour live virtual training for California providers will focus on an overview of Indigenous psychology and will feature cultural-clinical approaches congruent with a Native way of knowing. Attendees will learn what kind of attitude and mindset are essential to effective counseling in this population. Case stories will be presented to illustrate the concepts. All providers who are interested in increasing their skills to provide culturally responsive behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment to Tribal/Urban Indian people are encouraged to attend.

 

Overview of Contingency Management in Native Communities

Presenter(s): Michael G. McDonnell, PhD, and Katerine Hirchak, PhD, MHPA

Description: This two-hour live virtual training will provide an overview of the theory and evidence of Contingency Management (CM) within Native communities. We will review the essential ingredients of an effective CM intervention, cultural adaption of CM, and compliance issues. This training is ideal for those interested in the basics of CM and how to adapt CM for Indigenous communities.

 

Addressing Stimulant Use

Presenter(s): Thomas E. Freese, PhD, and Daniel Dickerson, DO, MPH

Description: This two-hour live virtual training will describe the local and national scope of stimulant use, including current trends in use amongst Indigenous people in CA and nationally. The mental health and physical health consequences of stimulant use will be presented, including information on stimulant use and its impact on the brain, psychosis, and cognition. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of how to implement effective behavioral treatment interventions with people who use stimulants and the necessary adaptations needed for Tribal/Urban Indian health providers to engage and retain people in care.

 

Providing Culturally Responsive Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Indigenous Communities

Presenter(s): Art Martinez, PhD, and Daniel Dickerson, DO, MPH

Description: This two-hour live virtual training for California-based Tribal and Urban Indian health care providers will feature clinical strategies to infuse indigenous culture into evidence-based practice. Attendees will learn approaches to integrate culturally responsive evaluation and program development, with an emphasis on community engagement, including families, children, and elders. A motivational interviewing intervention developed specifically for Native American youth who use alcohol or drugs will be highlighted, as well. Activities will include small group discussion for attendees to discuss how they can implement takeaways from the presentation.

 

Overview of Tribal/Urban Indian Health System

Presenter(s): Virginia Hendrick (CCIUH) and Daniel Domaguin (CRIBH)

Description: Access to health care is essential for people to achieve positive health outcomes. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). For AI/AN in California, accessing high quality, culturally appropriate care is critical to the well-being of individuals and communities. This 2-hour training is an introduction for providers not familiar with IHS programs and services available to Tribal and Urban Indians in California.