Training Opportunities

Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) (1-1.5 hours):

This objective of the OEND training is to expand the implementation of OEND programs in communities where many are at high risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose. You will leave this training knowing how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, in addition to learning other applicable overdose prevention and response knowledge. We have also recently added more information about intramuscular naloxone in an effort to educate the public on other naloxone options.

Overview of training:

• National and Missouri landscape of the overdose crisis trends

• Drug supply trends and the introduction of Xylazine in the opioid supply

• Overdose risk factors, signs, and symptoms

• Overdose response including nasal and intramuscular naloxone administration

• Fentanyl myths

• Post-overdose response

• Good Samaritan law and calling 911

• How to train others on naloxone use and overdose response

Register for upcoming virtual training:

Thu, Nov 5th 12-1:30pm

Thu, Dec 17th 12-1:30pm

Thu, Jan 7th, 2027 12-1:30pm

This training will educate people who work with people who use drugs in a non-prescribing capacity to familiarize them with:

• The different types of medication assisted treatment available for people with opioid use disorder when seeking treatment

• How to talk to these clients about their options

• How to reduce stigma around treatment options

• How to provide support for their clients while they are utilizing medications as part of their treatment

Upcoming Dates:

“Meeting people where they’re at, but not leaving them there” is a common phrase to describe the principles and practices used to prioritize health and prevent disease for people engaged in substance use. The overarching idea of this training is to broaden how we think about working with people engaged with substance use, and move away from the notion that if an individual is not interested in treatment or abstinence, there is nothing that we can offer them. This training is oriented towards peers, community health workers, clinicians and others who work with people engaged with substance use, but everyone is welcome. 

Overview of training: 

• Understanding the principles, philosophy,  and practice of meeting people where they’re at and providing relevant resources and education 

• History of grassroots movements that have built these practices 

• Laying the foundation to utilize this framework in your own practice 

Register for upcoming training:

Thurs October 29th, Noon-1:30PM

*While not required, we recommend taking Meeting People Where They’re At - Foundations first.* 

This training explores communication practices to support individuals in assessing their options and making changes around substance use. Gain a better understanding of how to “meet people where they are” and the resources and tools you can offer to support an individual at any point in their relationship to substance use. This training is oriented towards peers, community health workers, clinicians and others who work with people engaged with substance use, but everyone is welcome. 

Overview of training: 

• Utilizing Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing to support individuals in identifying and making desired changes around substance use  

• Practical tools and resources to provide to people you’re working with  

• Hands on practice 

Register for upcoming training:

So you’re incorporating strategies to meet people where they’re at into your work, but not sure how to encourage greater adoption within your organization? This training is given by Missourians who have worked in various direct service roles and have experience advocating for organizational change.  

Bring your own experiences, problems you’re encountering, and goals to this training - we’ll have a mix of instruction and workshop time on the following topics:  

• Understanding your organizational context and identifying effective strategies to build support for health-based approaches to substance use in your setting  

• Having effective conversations with decision makers 

• Addressing objections and concerns about meeting people where they’re at 

• Connecting with others doing similar work and resources across Missouri.  

While not required, this training is the third in a series so if you’re not already familiar, we recommend you check out (1) Meeting People Where They’re At – Foundations and/or (2) Meeting People Where They’re At – In Practice. This training is designed for people who are already familiar with these topics and want to help their workplace or organization embrace the philosophy and practices of health-based and holistic approaches to substance use.  

Register for upcoming training:

Stimulant Education 101: Stimulant Use, Overamping, and Emergencies (1.5 hours)

While many substance use prevention efforts tend to focus on opioid use or Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), this training expands on strategies for people who use stimulants or have Stimulant Use Disorder (StimUD). This includes responding to overamping, the term we use to describe an adverse physical and/or mental reaction after using stimulants. The goal of this training is to inform community members and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) service providers on the basics of stimulant use and how to respond to stimulant overamping.

Overview of training:

• Stimulant basics: what they are, what they do, and why people use them

• Overamping vs overdose, what causes overamping, and overamping prevention

Register for upcoming trainings

Stimulant Education 102: De-escalation Strategies for Working with People Using Stimulants

While many substance use prevention efforts tend to focus on opioid use or Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), this training expands on strategies for people who use stimulants or have Stimulant Use Disorder (StimUD). This includes responding to overamping, the term we use to describe an adverse physical and/or mental reaction after using stimulants. The goal of this training is to inform community members and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) service providers on the basics of stimulant use and how to respond to stimulant overamping.

Overview of Training:

• Intervention strategies (beyond calling 911) for individuals experiencing severe psychological symptoms

• Clarifying when to use de-escalation strategies, call 988, or call 911

Offered by request for groups only - request here.

In this training we will cover how to use intramuscular (IM) naloxone and go over other important points for distributing IM naloxone. This information is covered in the 1.5 hour OEND training, but this is a refresher option for those already familiar with OEND who want to brush up on IM naloxone administration!

This training is available for groups by request only - request training here!

Access to medical care can be limited for many individuals, making basic wound care services a valuable asset for organizations serving the community. With the proliferation of xylazine and xylazine-related wounds, many organizations are also seeing an increased need for wound care support. This multi-part, self-paced course will introduce non-clinicians to:

• the basics of identifying common skin and soft tissue infections

• methods for prevention of wounds and care for existing wounds

• strategies for supporting an individual in caring for their own wounds and promoting healing

• ways to implement and advocate for wound care services within your organization

To view this trainings click here:
Wound Care for Non-Clinicians: Wound Care Fundamentals
(created 9/19/23)

Wound Care for Non-Clinicians: Wound Types
(created 9/19/23)

Wound Care for Non-Clinicians: Strategies to Support People Who Are Caring For Wounds
(created 9/19/23)

Our team at UMSL-MIMH along with a team of Certified Peer consultants developed a specialty series for Certified Peer Specialists. This series is available for FREE to Certified Peer Specialists to help them increase their knowledge beyond the first basic training course, gain contact hours to use for credentialing. You can take one or all of the courses at your own pace.

Courses include: How to Talk About Medications for Addiction Treatment; Professional Expectations, Ethics, and Boundries for Certified Peer Specialists; How to Identify and Address Stress, Compassionate Fatigue, Grief, and Secondary Trauma; How to work with peers with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders; How to assess and refer peers experiencing suicidality, domestic violence, and sex trafficking

Register for the specialty peer instruction series by clicking here - after registration you’ll receive an email with links to the videos!