Five from FSM selected as Substance Abuse Prevention Trainers

FSMDH&SA (October 25, 2013): On October 14-18, a training on the new Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST) curriculum conducted by Joshua Phillip, a consultant from the Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) West Regional Team based at the University of Nevada, and the Training of Trainers were held at Yvonne Conference room in Pohnpei State.  The trained trainers included Hilda Tefdelap from Yap, Florencio “Bobon” Walliby from Chuuk, Artina George and Kennedy Nedlic from Pohnpei and Shiro Sigrah from Kosrae. The training curriculum was developed under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for the Application Technologies. 

The training is designed to prepare practitioners to reduce the likelihood of substance abuse and promote well-being among individuals, within families, workplaces, schools, communities and across island nations.  The SAPST supports the need in the Pacific for workforce development around substance abuse prevention and demonstrates its direct connection to behavioral health.  This approach supports the integrated behavioral health used approach in the Pacific, which promotes positive mental health and preventing substance abuse or misuse.    

There were 25 participants from the National and States SAMH programs, Strategic Prevention Framework –State Intensive Grant ( SPF-SIG ) Advisory council members, Evidence Base Intervention group, SPF-SIG sub-recipients and NGOs attended the training. The Training of Trainers will begin providing the SAPT in the communities with the guidance of the FSM Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program and CAPT West Regional Team. 

For more information, email Mr. Kerio Walliby at kwalliby@fsmhealth.fm.