National Mental Health Wellness Month
Mental Health Wellness Month refers to the actions you take to ensure your mental health needs are being met and maintained. Mental wellness can include the following:
Setting mental health goals and the steps to help you achieve them Volunteer or give back to the community
Meet with a mental health therapist to learn more about yourself
Attend a peer support group
Practice self-care, such as mindfulness, stress management, getting quality sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising
Engage in healthy relationships at work, home, school, and socially
Avoid mental exhaustion
If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, please call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (available 24 hours a day). You are not alone.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month
In January, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be kicking off the first national Substance UseDisorder Treatment Month – a time to raise awareness of the benefits and availability of evidence-based treatments for people with a substance use disorder. We know so many people view January as a time to take stock, reset, and take steps toward healthier living.
National Codependency Awareness Month
National Codependency Awareness Month aims at helping those who may be involved in codependent relationships. The greater Sacramento Co-Dependents Anonymous community is a great asset for Sacramento community members trying to break free from codependency and looking for support among those that have faced similar struggles.
Dry January Month
Dry January Month is a time when many people voluntarily stop consuming alcohol. This month can help normalize abstaining from alcohol or drinking less while developing changes in behaviors for the new year.
National Day of Racial Healing #HowWeHeal
Communities across the country will participate in the National Day of Racial Healing. It’s a special day to acknowledge the values we share, build common ground and inspire collective action that furthers #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism.
Communicating the Danger: Prenatal Fentanyl Exposure and the Vulnerable Child
Fentanyl use during pregnancy places the prenatally exposed child not only at high risk for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in infancy but increasing neurodevelopmental challenges as the child grows and develops. However, given the highly addictive nature of fentanyl and its impact on the physiologic functioning of the brain of the adult with fentanyl use disorder, communicating this risk is frequently very difficult. This session will present the effects of fentanyl use on the adult brain, discuss the impact of prenatal fentanyl exposure on the exposed child, and provide a conceptual framework for communicating with an adult with a substance use disorder.
Stigma and Bias in the Healthcare System: What can we do about it?
Stigma and bias are rooted in societal norms and attitudes that frequently are communicated on a personal level. Recognizing that effective healthcare often relies on our personal relationship with our patients and clients, acknowledging and correcting stigma is an essential step in supporting the growth and health of not only those patients and clients but also ourselves. This session will examine the history of attitudes toward substance use, misuse, and abuse in the U.S., will examine societal norms that allow bias and stigma to become embedded in the healthcare system, and will discuss how caring clinicians can examine and correct their own behaviors and communication styles in ways that will promote positive outcomes for our patients and clients.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK DAY)
Dr. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.
Sacramento County Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board Executive Committee
Sacramento County Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board Executive Committee
Time: 1:30 PM- 3:00 PM
Location: 7001A East Parkway, Suite 501, Sacramento
Please refer to the agenda at this link: https://dhs.saccounty.gov/BHS/Pages/Advisory-Boards- Committees/Alcohol-and-Drug-Advisory-Board/BC-2025-Alcohol-and- Drug-Advisory-Board-Meetings.aspx.
Marijuana and Pregnancy: A Public Health Perspective
With the legalization of recreational use of marijuana, rates of use during pregnancy have steadily increased. At the same time, public health messages have failed to communicate the possible negative effects of marijuana on pregnancy and child outcome. This session will describe the action of marijuana on the developing fetal brain, its impact on maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and implications of prenatal marijuana exposure on the child’s neurodevelopment. This information can be used to create strategies for prevention.
Sacramento County Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board Treatment Committee
Sacramento County Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board Treatment Committee
Time: 2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Location: WellSpace Health, 4441 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento
Please refer to the agenda at this link: https://dhs.saccounty.gov/BHS/Pages/Advisory-Boards- Committees/Alcohol-and-Drug-Advisory-Board/BC-2025-Alcohol-and- Drug-Advisory-Board-Meetings.aspx.
Sacramento County Opioid Coalition Meeting
Sacramento County Opioid Coalition Meeting
Time: 2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Register for Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtceGrqTkiH9wL4LjZsTW NCC8wfITOAjbR#/registration.
Meeting Agenda: SUPT and Coalition Community Updates Learn about Mental Health First Aid Training and How to Become Certified Proposition 36 and How It Addresses the Fentanyl Epidemic in Our Community
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
According to the State of California Department of Justice, Attorney General’s website: “Human trafficking is among the world's fastest growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150 billion-a-year global industry. It is a form of modern-day slavery that profits from the exploitation of our most vulnerable populations. One common misperception is that human trafficking requires movement across borders.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month
In January, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be kicking off the first national Substance UseDisorder Treatment Month – a time to raise awareness of the benefits and availability of evidence-based treatments for people with a substance use disorder. We know so many people view January as a time to take stock, reset, and take steps toward healthier living. What better time for us to highlight information and resources that can help support treatment and recovery from a substance use disorder?
For tips, resources, and free webinars to help people learn more about what substance use disorder is and how it can be effectively treated, check out the Treatment Month toolkit at samhsa.gov/sudtm.
Count Me, I'm in Fatherhood Conference
This is a conference you do not want to miss! Come one come all! Calling all fathers!!
Psychosocial Risk for Pregnant and Parenting Women with a History of Substance Misuse: Building a Foundation for Gender-Specific Treatment and Care
A history of personal or intergenerational trauma, beyond its impact on health and mental health, can impact an individual's view of the world and readiness to parent. This session will present a framework for understanding the impact of a pregnant or parenting woman’s personal history on her ability to accept health information and advice and how clinicians can use the information as a basis for developing and providing gender-specific treatment and care.
Recovery Happens
During the month of September, National Recovery Month aims to increase awareness and educate people about how substance use and mental health services can help people and their families live healthy and rewarding lives. With the right treatment, support, and resources, recovery is possible for everyone.
2024 FENTANYL AWARENESS & ACTION SUMMIT
Join us for an informative event on fentanyl awareness, education, prevention, treatment and harm reduction.
Make Room for Daddy: Engaging Fathers in Addressing the Needs of Families Affected by Substance Use in Pregnancy
Presented by Ira J. Chasnoff, MD
Most research and work in the field of perinatal substance use and misuse focuses on the pregnant and parenting woman. But the father of the baby can plan an important role in the woman’s cessation of substance use as well as influencing a positive developmental trajectory. This webinar will present the latest information regarding the impact of a male’s use of substances on reproductive outcome and consequences for the child’s long-term development. Strategies for engaging the father in family treatment services also will be discussed.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: An Approach to Early Recognition and Diagnosis
Children prenatally exposed to alcohol face increasing neurodevelopmental challenges as they grow and develop. This session will provide an approach to recognizing and diagnosing children within the fetal alcohol spectrum and discuss the implications for long-term outcome.
SAC County Meth Coalition Meeting
The goal of the Methamphetamine Coalition is to identify and implement initiatives addressing the methamphetamine use problem and reducing methamphetamine use and its impact in Sacramento County.
Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome vs. Neonatal Neurobehavioral Deficits: The Importance of a Correct Diagnosis
Neonatal abstinence syndrome [NAS] is a diagnosis that originally was restricted to infants going through withdrawal due to the effects of prenatal opioid exposure. However, over time, the term began to be applied to infants with jitteriness and irritability following prenatal exposure to other substances. A new term, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), recently emerged to ensure specificity in the diagnosis of infants affected by prenatal exposure to opioids. Whichever term is used, how do clinicians differentiate the effects of and infants’ dependence on opioids from infants with neurobehavioral deficits due to non-opioid exposure. This session will address that question and provide an effective approach to diagnosing NOWS in the newborn infant.
The Neurobiology of Attachment in Pregnant and Parenting Women with a History of Substance Use
This session will explore the biological and psychosocial factors that impact the development of a nurturing relationship between a woman with a history of substance misuse during pregnancy and her child and will provide an overview of intervention strategies that can promote positive attachment.
Psychosocial Risk for Pregnant and Parenting Women with a History of Substance Misuse: Building a Foundation for Gender-specific Treatment and Care
This session will present a framework for understanding the impact of a pregnant or parenting woman’s personal history on her ability to accept health information and advice and how clinicians can avoid stigmatizing language as they address the issue of substance use in pregnancy.
Putting It All Together: Ensuring Best Outcomes for Families and Children Affected by Perinatal Substance Use
SAC County Healthy Beginnings is only a beginning. As the County moves forward, this webinar will review the achievements and challenges of Healthy Beginnings’ first year and bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to lay out strategies for providing prevention and intervention services for families affected by substance use and misuse in pregnancy.
Myth Busters: Combatting Misinformation Regarding Substance Use in Pregnancy
This webinar will discuss multiple myths that mislead families when they are seeking information about healthy substance-free pregnancies. Preceded by a presentation by Dr. Chasnoff, the final portion of the webinar will be an open discussion for participants to bring forward the myths and misinformation they have come across.
Opiates, Methamphetamine and Cocaine: Changes in Brain Functioning in the Exposed Child
Although the opioid epidemic has captured the headlines, rates of methamphetamine use during pregnancy have remain unabated, and cocaine use is beginning to reappear among pregnant women. This session will examine the neurobiology of opiate, methamphetamine and cocaine use in pregnancy and present the short-term and long-term implications of prenatal exposure on the exposed child.
Marijuana and Pregnancy: A Public Health Perspective
With the legalization of recreational marijuana, rates of use during pregnancy have steadily increased. At the same time, public health messages have failed to communicate the possible negative effects of marijuana on pregnancy and child outcome. This session will describe the action of marijuana on the developing fetal brain, its impact on maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and implications of prenatal marijuana exposure on the child’s neurodevelopment and will raise the question of effective public health messaging.
Nourishing Connections: Breastfeeding by the Woman with a History of Substance Misuse
Make no mistake. We want women to breastfeed. However, if the woman has a history of substance misuse, we must be careful to protect the infant from exposure to substances that may harm the child in either the short- or long-term. This webinar will examine the biochemical features of substances of misuse and describe their clinical impact on the success of breastfeeding and the possible impact on infant growth and development.
Building Resilience in the Face of Trauma
A history of personal or intergenerational trauma, beyond its impact on health and mental health, can impact an individual's view of the world and readiness to accept health information and advice. This session will present a framework for understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and communities, with a focus on pregnant women and their families, and discuss how a trauma-informed framework can be applied to addressing issues of substance misuse, violence, and mental health difficulties in pregnant and parenting women and their families.
Misdiagnosis and Missed Diagnoses in Children with Prenatal Substance Exposure
The great majority of children with prenatal substance exposure (PSE) are misdiagnosed and are receiving inappropriate interventions and treatment. This session will analyze diagnostic errors in this population and discuss implications for treatment and intervention.
Prenatal Substance Exposure and the Developing Child
Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn. However, the impact on the child continues over his or her lifespan. This session will examine the structural and functional changes in the developing fetal brain induced by prenatal substance exposure and demonstrate how these changes ultimately impact learning and behavior in substance-exposed children.
Back by Popular Demand: Prenatal Substance Exposure – Mother and Infant
Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn and can interfere with the development of a nurturing relationship between mother and child. Most of these complications are preventable, however, if the woman at risk for substance use is identified early and provided appropriate interventions and treatment. This program will present a validated technique for screening pregnant women for substance use, providing brief interventions in the prenatal setting, and conducting appropriate referral of women for gender-specific treatment.
Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome vs. Neurobehavioral Deficits in the Newborn: The Differential Diagnosis
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a diagnosis that originally was restricted to infants going through withdrawal because of prenatal opioid exposure. However, over time, the term began to be applied to infants with jitteriness and irritability following prenatal exposure to other substances. A new term, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), recently emerged to ensure specificity in the diagnosis of infants affected by prenatal exposure to opioids. Whichever term is used, how do clinicians differentiate the effects of and infants’ dependence on opioids from infants with neurobehavioral deficits due to non-opioid exposure. This session will address that question and provide an effective approach to diagnosing NOWS in the newborn infant.
Building Resilience in the Face of Trauma
A history of personal or intergenerational trauma, beyond its impact on health and mental health, can impact an individual's view of the world and readiness to accept health information and advice. This session will present a framework for understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and communities and discuss how a trauma-informed framework can be applied to addressing issues of substance misuse, violence, and mental health difficulties in pregnant and parenting women and their families.
ONLINE TRAINING: SUBSTANCE USE IN PREGNANCY – MOTHER AND NEWBORN, May 24
Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn and can interfere with the development of a nurturing relationship between mother and child. Most of these complications are preventable, however, if the woman at risk for substance use is identified early and provided appropriate interventions and treatment. This program will present a validated technique for screening pregnant women for substance use, providing brief interventions in the prenatal setting, and conducting appropriate referral of women for gender-specific treatment.
ONLINE TRAINING: SUBSTANCE USE IN PREGNANCY – MOTHER AND NEWBORN, May 23
Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn and can interfere with the development of a nurturing relationship between mother and child. Most of these complications are preventable, however, if the woman at risk for substance use is identified early and provided appropriate interventions and treatment. This program will present a validated technique for screening pregnant women for substance use, providing brief interventions in the prenatal setting, and conducting appropriate referral of women for gender-specific treatment.