SPF Application for Prevention Success Training (SAPST), September 9-12
The Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST) is an innovative training offered to practitioners to provide a comprehensive introduction to the substance abuse prevention field. Grounded in current research and SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework, the SAPST is designed to help practitioners develop the knowledge and skills needed to implement effective, data-driven prevention that reduces behavioral health disparities and improves wellness.
This training is sponsored by the Washington State Health Care Authority’s (HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), and will be facilitated by Scott Waller and Jennifer Dorsett, two long-time prevention providers and SAPST trainers.
The training is is pre-approved by the Prevention Certification Board for 26 CEH hours.
When
- September 9–11 | 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- September 12 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Where
- In-person 1025 Union Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98501
Prerequisite: Before attending, please complete the online Introduction to Substance Abuse Prevention: Understanding the Basics (Pre-SAPST Course).
Drug Take Back Day webinar and Starts with One campaign refresh
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 25. Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m., to learn how to promote Take Back events and safe medication disposal in your community using resources available through the Starts with One prescription opioid misuse prevention campaign. Also, get a preview of changes coming to the campaign in the near future, including a variety of new materials and updates to the website.
Register for the webinar!
The Starts with One safe disposal toolkit includes ready-to-use ads, posters, social media content, and other localizable materials and information.
Questions? Please email Mariah Johnson.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Resources
Each September, the nation recognizes Suicide Prevention Awareness Month as a time to raise awareness, share with one another, and spread hope to spark meaningful action.
Don’t suffer in silence, there are resources and help available. People and families can call, text, or chat 988 for 24/7 assistance for those in mental health crisis.
There are multiple additional resources that organizations, community members, or individuals can utilize in Washington State to help promote mental health conservation and prevent suicide in their communities.
Read the full article and and explore resources on The Athena Forum.
New SAMHSA tool for provider well-being
Check out SAMHSA’s new fact sheet for people providing behavioral health and recovery support. In order to not burn out while giving so much to others as a BH provider, self-care is essential. This document gives tips and information to keep yourself healthy.
Taking Care: Promoting Well-Being for Recovery and Behavioral Health Care Providers
Want to present at NatCon26?
If you’d like to share the impacts you’re making in mental health or substance use prevention and care, consider being a breakout or poster session presenter at NatCon 26. The Call for Presentations is open through September 25 and the conference will be held in Denver next April 27-29.
NatCon is also accepting nominations for both Awards of Excellence and MFHA Impact Awards.
Listening sessions at the National Tribal Health Conference
The listening session schedule at the National Tribal Health Conference (Phoenix, September 7-12) has been finalized.
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Monday, September 8
8:30–10:30 a.m. MT: National Tribal Behavioral Health Listening Session
- 10:45 a.m. –12:45 p.m. MT: Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Listening Session
- 2–4 p.m. MT: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Listening Session
- 4:15-5:15 p.m. MT: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Indigenous Data Sovereignty Policy and Implementation Guidance Related to the NIH American Indian Alaska Native Institutional Review Board Protocol (IRB)
Registration for the listening sessions is free; just select that option at the top of the page if you don’t want to attend the full conference.
Rural Health Transformation Program: Call for ideas
The federal reconciliation bill created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Federal funds will be available from 2026-2030. To participate in the program, each state’s Medicaid office must submit a detailed Rural Health Transformation Plan that is approved by the Center for Medicaid Studies (CMS). Plans must address how we will improve access to care, improve health outcomes, increase the clinical workforce, improve financial solvency, and more. For more information on the RHTP, here is a brief overview and a slide deck.
The RHTP application process will be a sprint. CMS must approve applications by December 31, 2025. Washington’s Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and Health Care Authority (HCA)—with support from the Governor’s Office—are partnering on the application. We will be consulting with Tribal nations. We are also soliciting ideas from stakeholders outside these agencies.
Please visit HCA's public website that details the process to submit ideas.
Please submit your ideas by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2025
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