Training

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Virtual meeting

Via Zoom

Description

The holiday season can be a particularly challenging time for people affected by substance use and for their families and loved ones. Changes in routine, family conflict, grief and loss, social expectations, financial stress, and increased exposure to alcohol and other substances can create additional challenges for individuals navigating addiction and recovery. Families may also experience uncertainty about how to provide support while maintaining healthy boundaries and caring for themselves.

This 90-minute interactive training will explore common challenges faced by people with substance use disorders and their families during the holiday season. A brief didactic presentation will review the impact of holidays and family dynamics on substance use and recovery, as well as approaches for supporting individuals and their loved ones through periods of increased stress and vulnerability. A multidisciplinary panel discussion will then provide practical perspectives on engaging families, supporting recovery, navigating difficult family interactions, and connecting individuals and their loved ones with appropriate resources and support.

Intended audience

Providers, nurses, social workers, psychologists, peer supports, other clinical staff, non-clinicians, and community members.

Speakers

Ken Feldstein, LADC I, MA PGS II, MBA

Ken has been a clinician practicing in East Bridgewater, MA since 2024. He’s credentialed to treat substance use disorder and gambling addictionm and has a special interest in how families are impacted by these diseases, and how to connect clients and their families to support resources that promote education, and fight pervasive stigma. He has lived experience with addiction and recovery, and uses that unique perspective to complement his training and education in the delivery of care. Prior to opening his practice, he served for 8 years as a Peer Recovery Coach in the greater Brockton area, working for various agencies such as High Point and Signature Healthcare. Ken supports all recovery pathways, and deeply believes that ‘recovery happens in the community.’

Matt Heerema, MS, LMHC, MAC

Matt is a Program Coordinator for Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance, where he prepares and implements research studies, and coordinates the development of educational content including videos and live training series such as the MA and SUD ECHO® programs. Matt earned a bachelor’s in sociology from Boston University and a master’s in mental health counseling from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. He is also a certified addiction counselor.

Theresa Rolley, MA

As a Wellness and Recovery Advocate Supervisor, Theresa teaches local audiences about Addiction and Social Determinants of Health. She is involved in the LEAP Academic Research Training Program of Boston Medical Center, where she contributes to peer-reviewed publications and projects. Prior to her work in the recovery field, Theresa served as director of a program serving women and children exiting out of sex exploitation and trafficking in Boston. In this role, she worked alongside the Plymouth County Human Trafficking Task Force to develop and upgrade policies and build a more coordinated and effective response to victims of crime.

Lisa Schott, LICSW

Lisa Schott is an experienced Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with extensive experience in community health and mental healthcare settings. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston University. Throughout her career, Lisa has held several leadership positions, including Director of Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration, Co-Director of an Office-Based Addiction Treatment program, and Lead Therapist for a large-scale addiction treatment program in the Boston area. Currently, Lisa serves as a Behavioral Health Consultant at Sun Life U.S., where she brings her expertise, compassion, and educational background to support individuals in the private sector who are unable to work due to mental health and substance use disorders. Additionally, she maintains a private practice focused on helping individuals and families affected by substance use. Lisa is actively involved with the Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance, where she co-facilitated the Empowering Loved Ones educational group for family members impacted by addictions. Her commitment to supporting families is further exemplified by her certification as a Level 1 Invitation to Change instructor through the Center for Motivation and Change. Drawing from personal experience as a family member affected by multi-generational substance use, Lisa brings a unique perspective and deep empathy to her work. In her spare time, she volunteers at the MSPCA/Salem, reflecting her love for animals and dedication to community service.

Alicia Ventura, MPH

Alicia is the Director of Special Projects and Research for Boston Medical Center's (BMC) Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance program and BMC's Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) program, overseeing all research and evaluation activities for both programs. Alicia has over 15 years of experience conducting public health and clinical research. She has spent the last decade focused exclusively on research, evaluation, and program development related to mitigating the harmful consequences of alcohol and drug use, including the impact on affected family members. Alicia is currently Principal Investigator of a qualitative study investigating the experience of affected family members. She is also Co-Investigator on a mixed-methods study examining perspectives of addiction treatment providers on working with family members. Alicia directs a harm reduction-focused educational program for family members affected by a loved one's substance use. She provides training and technical assistance to healthcare organizations on integration of the family into routine addiction care and is a board member of the Addiction and the Family International Network. Alicia has published on various topics, including reproductive health, HIV, alcohol, and drug use, and family members impacted by substance use. Alicia received her Master's in Community Public Health from New York University.

Objectives

At the end of this training, participants will have the knowledge necessary to: 

1. Identify common challenges and stressors that may affect people with substance use disorders and their families during the holiday season, including family dynamics, grief, social pressures, and changes in routine.
2. Develop practical, person-centered strategies for supporting individuals and families in navigating substance use, recovery, and difficult family interactions during the holidays.
3. Improve interprofessional, team-based care by identifying opportunities for clinicians, recovery professionals, family-support providers, and other members of the care team to collaborate in supporting individuals with substance use disorders and their families.
4. Define interprofessional collaboration strategies to enhance team-based care that promotes patient-centered recovery.

Sponsored by

Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction TTA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS)

Accreditation information

REQUIREMENTS for credit

1. Register for training.
2. Arrive/log into the Zoom meeting with the same email address associated with your addictiontraining.org user account no more than 10 minutes after designated start time for program.
3. Identify yourself by typing your full name, ensuring your zoom name matches that used to register for training (or you cannot be marked on attendance).
4. Be present through the end of the activity (i.e. until the designated end time of training).
5. Complete evaluation within 2 weeks of program completion.

Please note this policy is strictly enforced for accreditation purposes. Participants will forfeit collection of credit and certificates of completion if more than 10 minutes of the training is missed.

Joint Accreditation Statement for CME, Nursing, Social Work and Psychology

In support of improving patient care, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CME

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing

Nursing Contact Hours: 1.50 number of contact hours, of which 0.00 are eligible for pharmacology credit.

Social Work

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 clinical continuing education credits.

American Psychological Association (APA) CE Designation Statement

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. 

New York State Psychology Credit

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Barry M. Manuel Center for Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0181 Note: NYS psychologists must attend all sessions for credit. Partial credit is not allowed.             

The Department’s approval of a provider of continuing education does not constitute the Department’s endorsement of the content, positions or practices that may be addressed in any specific continuing education course offered by the approved provider

LMHC

BMC Grayken Center of Addiction TTA has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7188. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. BMC Grayken Center of Addiction TTA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. For this program, 1.50 contact hours will be offered to participants who attend the training and complete the evaluation.

LADC/CADC & Recovery Coach

Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS) to award LADC/CADC and Recovery Coaches who complete this training 1.50 continuing education credits. 

Disclaimer

Continuing education (CE) requirements vary by license and jurisdiction. When requesting continuing education credits, please ensure you are following the rules and regulations determined by the board regulating your license. Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction TTA does not oversee adherence to licensing requirements and regulations.

THIS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FOR QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. IN NO EVENT SHALL BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM. IN NO EVENT SHOULD THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE. NO PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS BEING ESTABLISHED. IN NO EVENT SHOULD INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS REGARDING LAWS, REGULATIONS, OR LEGAL LIABILITY BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE OR USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY.

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