Prevention Perk

The Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Mid-America PTTC) is designed to serve as a prevention catalyst, empowering individuals and fostering partnerships to promote safe, healthy, and drug-free communities across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. Our services are evidence-based, culturally competent, and locally focused. We provide intensive technical assistance to support organizations' and systems' efforts to implement evidence-based prevention strategies. The Mid-America PTTC also forms partnerships with local and regional stakeholders to ensure that the training needs of the region are identified and met.

The Mid-America PTTC goals are:

Accelerate the adoption and implementation of evidence-based and promising substance misuse prevention strategies.
Heighten the awareness, knowledge, and skills of the workforce that addresses substance misuse prevention.
Foster regional and national alliances among culturally diverse practitioners, researchers, policymakers, funders, and local communities.

Episode #95: Why Prevention Works

Apr 15, 2024

I am not a photographer by education or formal training. I often describe myself as an “accidental photographer” since most of what I know is self-taught - born out of a pure love of the outdoors and the beauty of creation.

My journey into photography began near the end of my career as a federal drug prosecutor...

Episode #94: A Community Needs to Assess the Impact of Alcohol

Apr 1, 2024

Rodney Wambeam, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Scientist at the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) of the University of Wyoming (UW). He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at UW. Dr. Wambeam completed his Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska in 1999 and served as policy advisor to...

Episode 92 - Social Media's Impact on Mental Health

Mar 1, 2024

My guest on this episode is Rikki Barton who has a passion for communicating essential messages to move individuals and communities onward in their goals. She is the Founder/Lead Consultant of Onward Consulting and holds the Missouri Advanced Prevention Specialist certification as well as international IC&RC...

Episode 93 - Risk Factors for Youth Substance Misuse

Feb 19, 2024

Kris Gabrielsen is the co-director of the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. She has worked in the substance misuse prevention field for over 30 years. Kris was the Associate Director of the Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT), co-authored the first Substance...

Episode #91: Building Blocks - Faith, Prevention, Recovery

Feb 12, 2024

Dr. Monty Burks Deputy, Director of the Governor's Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, where his role is engaging and connecting Tennessee’s faith communities to government and other non-profits with the goal of creating partnerships. In this episode we explore Building Blocks – Faith, Prevention,...