Webinar: Facilitating SAMHSA’s Community Conversations About Mental Health in Rural and Remote Communities

Description: Oregon State University’s Coast to Forest program has supported multiple rural counties in setting local policy priorities by adapting SAMHSA’s Community Conversations About Mental Health, a best practice toolkit that supports community collaboration for addressing mental health needs. This presentation will equip participants with the skills to adapt and deliver SAMHSA’s best practice framework for leading discussion and action planning on mental health, opioid use, and substance use broadly. Participants will also gain skills in convening diverse partners to engage in challenging conversations.  

Presenters: Abbey Kate Martin, MPH  Biography: Abbey received her MPH in health promotion and health behavior in 2020 after earning her bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship in 2018, both from Oregon State University. She has significant experience in group facilitation, program implementation, and collaborating with community partners to ensure equitable public health solutions. She currently serves as the Manager of Community Mental Health Promotion and Substance Use Prevention at the OSU Center for Health Innovation. In this role, she implements the Coast to Forest project which aims to promote mental health and prevent substance use across Oregon and the region (OR, WA, ID, AK) as part of the NW Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Collaborative (NW ROTAC).  

Objectives: 

• Describe an adaptation of SAMHSA’s Community Conversations About Mental Health in rural and remote communities. 
• Discuss necessary skills to replicate our adaptation, including specific guidance on tailoring and delivery.