Tackling Tobacco Together • May 2025

Tackling Tobacco Together: A Deep Dive into Tobacco Recovery Treatment Within Priority Populations

This training is part of a series that deep-dives into integrating local and state policy and tobacco use interventions into substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment programs.

Attendees will first learn the basics of tobacco use disorder and the tobacco control policies that exist within Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) and California law. We will address how to incorporate the required tobacco control policies into programs in a trauma-informed and individually sensitive way. We will cover the basics of pharmacotherapy for Tobacco Use Disorder, motivational interviewing and other treatment strategies, public resources for tobacco treatment, and how to create recovery plans and kits for clients.

Who Should Attend: This training is designed for administrative and/or clinical staff of Alameda County Public Health Department-contracted provider organizations and Alameda County Behavioral Health-contracted substance use treatment and mental health programs.​

Format: This training will be held virtually, and registration is required. After registering through Eventbrite, you will be sent the Zoom meeting details.

Educational Goals

At the end of the training, participants will:

1. Feel confident in their understanding of California and Alameda County’s policies and requirements for tobacco use interventions in behavioral health settings.
2. Know what should be included regarding tobacco use on an intake form and tobacco use assessment.
3. Demonstrate familiarity with the use of motivational interviewing and treatment strategies with clients.
4. Know what types of public resources they can refer clients to, such as Kick It California.
5. Know the components of recovery plans and kits and how to develop them.
6. Understand the basics of NRT, be able to develop an appropriate pharmacotherapy treatment plan, and be able to make a referral to a prescriber, if needed.
7. Know when it is appropriate to refer a client to another provider or to further treatment.

Trainer: Dr. Tara Geer-Leiker, PhD

Dr. Tara Leiker has a robust, over 20-year, background in behavioral and mental health services, which has included working in treatment facilities and providing motivational interviewing counseling services to dependent users. After switching gears into program and policy development and management later in her career, Dr. Leiker now has a PhD in Health Services and Public Health Policy. Dr. Leiker is passionate about tobacco treatment and especially ensuring that tobacco policies are put into practice. She is focused on increasing access to tobacco treatment and awareness and implementation of tobacco policies throughout Alameda County.

This training is sponsored by Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services in contract with LifeLong Medical Care Tobacco Treatment Training Program, located EBCRP.

If you have any questions or need to request accommodations for disabilities, please contact [email protected].

For grievance information, including filing a grievance or to receive a copy of the grievance policy, please contact [email protected].

This course is pending approval for 3.0 hours of continuing education credit for LMFT’s, LCSW’s, LPCC’s, LEP’s, and SUD Counseling Staff as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).

Please note: To receive CE credit (if eligible) or a certificate of attendance, attendees must be present for the entirety of the training and complete the post-test/evaluation. CE credit can only be provided to individuals licensed in the state of California.

LIFELONG MEDICAL CARE (PROVIDER #128513) IS APPROVED BY THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS TO SPONSOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR LMFT’S, LCSW’S, LPCC’S AND LEP’S. LIFELONG MEDICAL CARE MAINTAINS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM AND ALL ITS CONTENT.

Event Venue

Online