Iowa State Receives $3.6 Million Cooperative Agreement to Launch Prevention Training & Technical Assistance Center

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University is now home to the Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Mid-America PTTC) and will work to advance the prevention workforce by equipping professionals with the latest knowledge, skills and best practices in substance misuse prevention. 

“There are significant gaps in the accessibility and quality of substance misuse prevention training and resources, particularly in underserved and rural areas in our Midwest states,” said Greg Pliler, director of the Mid-America PTTC. “The Mid-America PTTC will leverage innovative technology and evidence-based practices to improve the reach and effectiveness of prevention efforts.”

Iowa State was awarded the $3.6 million cooperative agreement to establish the Mid-America PTTC  by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The center will primarily serve HHS region 7, which includes Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri

Region 7, which is considered to be 82% rural, also encompasses urban and suburban areas. Conducting a comprehensive assessment of each area’s unique needs will help identify the most suitable training, technical assistance and resources needed to advance the workforce.

“Using the latest e-learning technology and interactive platforms and knowing what each area needs, we can deliver accessible, high-quality training to prevention professionals in any location,” said Cassandra Knutson, co-director of the Mid-America PTTC. “This will ensure they have the latest knowledge and best practices to effectively tackle substance misuse in their community.”

The Mid-America PTTC is one of 10 regional centers that are part of the nation’s Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network (PTTC). Together, the PTTC Network is focused on providing training and assistance to the substance misuse prevention field in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Pacific Islands of Guam, American Samoa, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and the Mariana Islands.

“Through a targeted approach within a National Network, the Mid-America PTTC will seek to ensure all prevention professionals have equal access to high-quality training and assistance and that’s crucial to enhancing community resilience and health outcomes”, said Pliler.

About the Mid-America PTTC at Iowa State

The Mid-America PTTC is operated by staff members at Iowa State’s Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute (PPSI). The Institute conducts prevention and health promotion research that positively impacts the health and well-being of youth, adults, families, and communities. PPSI’s focus is on studying quality implementation, evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based interventions, while partnering with communities to build capacity and facilitate systems change to achieve sustainability and public health impact.

Contacts