In this episode, JBS Technical Expert Lead, Sue Gadacz, returns to guest-host a repeat conversation with RCORP grantee West Central Alabama Alabama Area Health Education Center (AHEC). They discuss RCORP successes, highlighting the importance of building partnerships with community leaders, community organizations, and community health workers (CHWs) for sustainability. They touch on medication drop boxes and CHWs in clinical settings.

Timeline:

• Introduction to West Central Alabama Staff 1:55
• How Substance Use Disorder Programming Has Been Expanded in their Community 2:30
• How Has The Community Responded to West Central Alabama AHEC 7:00
• Has The Program's Message Become Apparent to Your Community 8:30
• Highlights of the Program 11:40
• Community Education Elements That Were Developed Out of Southwest Alabama Opioid Response Project (SAOR) 15:50
• Why Is Community Messaging Important to Your Organization 18:00
• Impact of HOPE Dealers 20:50
• What's Next 25:00
• Advice You Wish You Knew From the Start of Your Grant 28:15

Craig PoVey, JBS Technical Expert Lead, is joined by two leading experts in the field of prevention as they discuss what is meant by primary prevention as well as provide an introductory overview of the science of primary prevention including lessons learned from early SUD prevention efforts. In this podcast episode, they will discuss risk and protective factors and other critical components of primary prevention and provide evidence-based resources that can guide practitioners, organizations, and community members in providing primary prevention services and programs that can improve the lives of real people. The experts will also explain how prevention coalitions and consortia in the community are instrumental in the success and sustaining of prevention services.

Timeline:

• Introduction of Guests 4:20
• Introducing the LMS Module 10:50
• Do We Need A Training System Like the LMS 12:40
• Resources That Could Be Helpful 21:40
• How Do We Learn About These Sophisticated Systems 25:15
• Two Things You Would Like the Listeners to Remember 32:15

Linda Edelman RN, PhD, FGSA, FAAN is a Professor of Nursing at the University of Utah. Her research focus is on improving access to care for older adults, particularly those living in rural areas or utilizing long-term services and supports. She leads workforce development research through her work with the Utah Rural Opioid HealthCare Consortium-Collaborative Care Model Program. She joins the show to talk in-depth about the unique aspects of farmer and ranch stress in rural communities.

Timeline:

• Background on Linda and Her Role 2:00
• Topic Overview 3:20
• What Makes This Type of Work Unique in Terms of Stressors Experienced? 5:10
• Signs of it 11:00
• Incidence of SUD 13:30
• Likelihood to Seek Help and Stigma 15:00
• What Can Be Done? 17:30
• What’s it like in Utah? 23:30
• How is the Consortium Involved and What Other Resources Are There? 25:40

Have you thought about starting a podcast of your own? Rural Roads Host, Tim Rabolt, gives a brief overview of some of the steps to consider for any grantee. From the "Why?" to the investment and the show's format- we'll cover what we tried, what's worked for us, and other options for RCORP grantees. Tune in to this short mini-episode as a first step along your own podcast journey.

For this episode in the Recovery Month Story Series, we sit down with Lester B. Howard, a native of Charlotte, NC. Lester works as both a Certified Peer Support Specialist and Forensic Peer Support Specialist for Agape Health Services in Washington, NC. In 1995, after an extensive bout with drugs and incarceration, Lester found recovery. Lester describes himself as dedicated to keeping the sanctity of poetry and the fine arts alive, while helping people realize the purpose in their own lives.

Timeline:

• What is a Certified Peer Support Specialist 2:00
• How Did You Find This Career Path? 4:15
• What Did Recovery Look Like For You? 7:00
• Being Young and Navigating Recovery 16:30
• Recovery Looks Different To Everyone 21:50
• Vulnerability Is Not A Weakness 24:00
• What Pathways Have Been Beneficial? 25:30
• What You Want People To Know 33:00

Byron Thompson lives in Milwaukee and oversees the growth and expansion efforts of The Phoenix in the region. For those unfamiliar with The Phoenix, their mission is to build a sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection. Byron is also a person in long-term recovery for over 20 years. He joins the show to talk about his work, his recovery, and journey in between.

Timeline:

• Background and Role at the Phoenix 1:30
• Benefits of the Phoenix 4:20
• Virtual Meetups for Rural Communities 9:00
• The Phoenix's Milwaukee Soberfest 11:30
• How Has Your Recovery Evolved? 13:20
• What Do You Wish People Knew About Recovery? 16:00
• Want To Learn More? 17:30

Jenna Sheldon is a subject matter writer and editor for JBS International. She has extensive experience working in the addiction recovery field at a local, state, and national level. She is a passionate advocate for recovery, harm reduction, and all aspects of the continuum of care. She joins the show to talk about her own recovery journey and how she’s applied what she’s learned into her career and day-to-day life.

Timeline:

• Background 2:00
• How Did Jenna Find Recovery? 8:30
• Challenges Faced 14:10
• What Has Been Helpful? 15:50
• Experience with the National Side of Things 21:00
• What Would You Want the Public at Large to Know? 26:40
• Lightning Round Questions 30:10
• What's Next? 33:00

Caroline Beidler is a Technical Expert Lead (TEL) at JBS International. She's also a mother, partner, author, and person in recovery. She's worked in the field in a variety of roles on local, state, and national levels. A self-described advocate at heart, Caroline cares about recovery on a policy level and for someone who just might be struggling. She joins the show to talk about her work, her insight, and to share pieces of her recovery journey.

Timeline:

• Caroline's Background 2:00
• What Worked For Caroline? 6:40
• Recovery Doesn't Make My Life Smaller 7:40
• What Identities are Important For You? 9:30
• Recovery with Infant Twins 10:50
• Working with JBS 14:00
• Helpful Tips 19:30
• Pillars and Anchors for Sustaining Recovery 21:50
• What Do You Struggle With? 23:00
• Quick Questions 25:00
• Up Next 25:40