From March 7-13, 2020, addiction and mental health professionals connected in Greece for the NAADAC and National Council for Behavioral Health delegation.
Led by NAADAC Executive Director Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, and Chuck Ingolia, President and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health, this World Learning program gave participants a unique opportunity to learn about the state of addiction and mental health programs in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Particpants earned up to 15 CEs!
The government-imposed austerity reforms following the economic crisis of 2010 in Greece severely impacted social programs for addiction counseling and mental health services. In the years since this dramatic reduction in programs, the new government has launched several initiatives to rebuild social and humanitarian support programs. This delegation visited new centers and met with counterparts to discuss the progress and advances in addressing addiction and mental health in Greece.
Professional visits focused on topics such as:
- Epidemiology of mental health and substance use disorders in Greece;
- Assessment, intervention, referral, and treatment and care options;
- Post-austerity reform programs to address the scarcity of service providers and access to treatment;
- Role of primary care and community-based services in the identification and treatment of addiction for patients and affected family members;
- Ongoing quality of life and community rehabilitation programming; and
- International refugee programs and treatment for post-conflict trauma disorders.
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Questions? Please contact Dawn Davis, at World Learning, at
[email protected] or 202.464.6742.
Leader Biographies
Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, is the Executive Director of NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals, the premier addiction professional association serving over 10,000 members and representing the professional interests of more than 100,000 addiction counselors, educators, and other addiction-focused health care professionals in the United States. Prior to this role, Moreno Tuohy had more than 20 years of experience serving homeless populations and dealing with the co-occurrence of poverty and substance use issues, serving as the administrator of multi-county, publicly-funded alcohol/drug prevention/ intervention/treatment centers with services ranging from prenatal care to serving the elderly. She has been a trainer in Domestic Violence/Anger Management and Conflict Resolution for over 35 years and is a curriculum writer in addiction screening and evaluation, counseling methods, conflict resolution, co-occurring disorders and medicated assisted treatment and recovery.
Charles Ingoglia, MSW, has over 20 years of experience in behavioral health, working as a provider, advocate, and educator for government and public sector organizations. Prior to becoming President and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health, Ingoglia served as the Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Practice Improvement, where he directed the federal and state affairs function of the National Council, and oversaw practice improvement and technical assistance programs offered to more than 500,000 behavioral health professionals across the U.S. Ingoglia is adjunct faculty at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Departure from the U.S. to Athens, Greece by individual arrangements. Delegates arrive throughout the day. Evening introductory program briefing.
Day 2: Full day cultural tour, including a visit to the Acropolis of Athens and the Acropolis Museum.
Day 3: Introduction to the healthcare system of Greece by the Ministry of Health. Meet with representatives of the European Monitoring Council for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) at the University Mental Health Research Institute.
Day 4: Meet with faculty and students at the School of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Counseling at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Visit a mental health facility and an addiction treatment facility in Athens.
Day 5: Travel to the region of Argolis in the eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Visit ancient Corinth and Mycenae, then continue to Epidaurus to see the best-preserved ancient theater.
Day 6: Enjoy a day on the island of Aegina, one of the most picturesque islands in the Saronic Gulf. Visit the Temple of Athena and enjoy lunch at a family home, then visit a local community center focused on addressing addiction and mental health concerns.
Day 7: Depart for the United States or continue on your own personal travel.
The program will be finalized based on the guidance of the delegation leader, the interests and composition of the group, and the scheduling needs of hosting resources in-country.