SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation uses its Virtual Learning Community (VLC) model to deeply explore topics of interest to the field centered around a common theme. VLCs are composed of a series of webinars, small discussion groups, and webinar supporting materials. These communities are open to the field at no cost to the participant.

Each webinar provides an opportunity to hear from national experts and state representatives. The presenters offer guidance on best and promising practices as well as practical lessons learned from on-the-ground experience. For updates on future opportunities, join the GAINS Center mailing list.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 VLCs

Early Diversion Series Recordings

This series addresses enhancing systems responses for people with mental and substance use disorders who are justice-involved or at risk for justice involvement. Topics include the following:

  • Strategies for addressing treatment engagement challenges with certain individuals
  • Addressing the critical need for housing and strategies to overcome barriers to improve housing access
  • Integrating forensic assertive community treatment (FACT) teams into early diversion response
  • Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with law enforcement that survive changing times
  • Supporting safety through 911 and crisis call line integration

The Future of Teleservices in Drug Courts Series Recordings

This series included the following events:

  • Where Are We Now? Recent Developments and Emerging Opportunities
  • Planning for Teleservices—Assessing Needs and Identifying Opportunities
  • Implementing Teleservices for Court Proceedings and Treatment

Medication-Assisted Treatment in Drug Courts Series Recordings

In this series, experts speak about a variety of topics related to the role of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in drug courts, including the following:

  • Addressing the concerns of court staff about MAT
  • Overcoming barriers to social integration for MAT participants
  • Introducing the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) MOUD toolkit

Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 VLCs

Developing a Crisis Response System for Criminal Justice-Involved Individuals with Behavioral Health Disorders

In this series, attendees learned innovative ways to ensure community crisis services are robust and effective. Webinar topics in this series included the following:

Data and Information-Sharing Across Behavioral Health, Health, and Criminal Justice

In this series, attendees learned practical ways to use data to improve the outcomes of people with mental and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Webinar topics for this series included:

Leveraging Teleservices in Drug Courts to Improve Treatment Access Series Recordings

Webinar topics in this series included the following:

  • Transform to Teleservices, Part 1: Expanding Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Drug Courts
  • Transform to Teleservices, Part 2—Innovative Approaches to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Happening Now in Drug Courts

FY 2019 VLCs

Advancing Early Diversion

This series highlighted data and information sharing in the early intercepts of the Sequential Intercept Model, follow-up strategies to improve treatment engagement, models of engaging emergency medical services in an early diversion initiative, and effective joint responses between law enforcement and mental health professionals.

Supported Employment

This series explored how supported employment could be used to enhance an individual’s recovery process. The webinar series explored the importance of employment in the recovery process, real-life success stories of individuals using a supported employment model, financing strategies to support a SE program, and overcoming common barriers to employment.

 Join the GAINS Center mailing list for information on future event announcements and registration.