Synergy is honored to announce that National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded us with two small business set-aside contracts: NIH PICS III and NIHCATS IV. These are both Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, providing Synergy and a limited number of other firms the opportunity to bid for a variety of work across NIH. In the area of communications and outreach services, Synergy is one of 17 contractors selected for NIH PICS III (5-year $1 billion). In the area of meeting and conference support services, Synergy is one of 15 contractors selected for NIHCATS IV (5-year $100 million). We look forward to supporting the important scientific and public health missions of NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices and to continuing the expansion of Synergy’s impact to other agencies.

Since 2011, Synergy has helped the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) HIV Research Program (HRP, formerly the AIDS Research Program) form and maintain an integrated vision and strategy to guide HIV/AIDS research about drug misuse within the United States and internationally.

NIDA's HRP supports the development, planning, and coordination of high-priority research at the intersection of HIV, substance use, and substance use disorders by working across the federal government and with local communities. To support this vision, Synergy developed the AIDS Research Projects Portfolio Tool, an online application to collect and display data from NIDA-funded AIDS research grants using real-time rapid reports and dashboards.

Synergy produced a special issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, a peer-reviewed journal, by collaborating with prominent researchers in the field of HIV and drug misuse that focused on the entwined epidemics of HIV and drug abuse in Central Asia. Our science writers and editors also helped develop and produce a special supplement to the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes about HIV prevention and treatment for women and girls who use or inject drugs.

Synergy collaborates with NIDA to plan and facilitate scientific meetings and conducts interviews for the annual NIDA Avant-Garde Award Program for HIV/AIDS Research and Avenir Awards, which support highly innovative, high-impact research in HIV/AIDS and drug misuse. Other support includes strategic communications, including creating the monthly newsletter HIV News from NIDA, and technical assistance through webinar support, graphic design, promotion and strategic partnership support, grant portfolio analysis, Section 508 compliance, editing, and the design of historical timelines released on World AIDS Day.

Learn more about NIDA’s HRP here: https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/organization/offices/hiv-research-program-hrp

Our strategic communications experts at Synergy ensure each client’s voice is heard loud and clear, cutting through the clutter to connect with audiences effectively. Read on to learn how Junior Communications Associate Nathalie Akbari helps our clients navigate communication challenges:

1. Audience-Centered Messaging: Craft clear, targeted messages that speak directly to your audience’s interests.
2. Media Training and Coaching: Help your client’s leadership team members improve their public speaking and interview techniques through training to ensure they deliver their important messages confidently and clearly.
3. Engagement Across Platforms: Maintain consistent communication across multiple channels. Remember, everyone does not use the same platforms!

Effective communication is key to any organization’s success. With team members such as Nathalie leading the way, we can ensure our clients’ most important messages reach their audiences with precision and impact.

It’s been an exciting summer for Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy)! With the award of several new federal contracts and key recompete wins, Synergy will continue to deliver work that helps improve lives and strengthen people, programs, and communities. The contract awards include the following: 

Technical Support Services for Drug Free Workplace Programs, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
This new contract supports the SAMHSA Division of Workplace Programs’ oversight and regulatory roles in the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100–71. Tasks for this contract include providing training and technical assistance to federal agencies developing or updating drug-free workplace plans and to agencies’ drug program coordinators; providing technical assistance to executive branch agencies in submitting data for the annual summary report describing implementation of drug-free workplace programs, data analysis, and preparation of annual agency and aggregate reports; and providing expertise in chemistry, drug testing policy, federal labor and employment practice, forensic toxicology, laboratory practices, medical review officer practices, medicine, psychology, and the study of alternative specimens.  

Meeting, Conference, and Workshop Support Services, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Synergy was honored to be awarded this blanket purchase agreement. Through this vehicle, Synergy will support NIBIB in coordinating a range of meeting logistics, including venue and audiovisual coordination, travel support, transportation logistics, web design, and graphics development. The virtual, in-person, and hybrid events will range from 30-person panel/working group meetings to multiday events with up to 50 panelists, multiple breakout rooms, and hundreds of attendees.

Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Task Order (TO) 3, the U.S. Department of Education’s CLSD National Literacy Center
Synergy is pleased to announce the award of an additional TO from the U.S. Department of Education under the CLSD National Literacy Center contract. The primary objective of this TO is to provide comprehensive technical assistance to state education agencies (SEAs) as they develop or revise their state literacy plans (SLPs), ensuring these plans are grounded in evidence-based practices. This TO facilitates peer-to-peer learning through communities of practice, where SEAs can collaborate to share insights, challenges, and best practices for literacy program development and implementation. Additionally, it provides support tailored to the specific needs of each state, with a focus on ensuring that SLPs promote equitable access to high-quality literacy instruction for all students, including those from historically underserved communities.

U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Evaluation Technical Assistance Center (ETAC)
Synergy received a new contract to support the operations, sustainment, documentation, training, and enhancement of the DoDEA ETAC web portal; provide grant management services; provide grantee technical assistance; and manage communications, including social media. DoDEA awards grants to military-connected local education agencies for academic and support programs in 36 states. These grants, totaling over $600 million, support college and career readiness among military-connected students (MCS). By participating in DoDEA’s programs, grantees gain access to high-quality technical assistance, resources, and professional learning opportunities to improve academic and social–emotional outcomes for MCS in pre-K through 12th grade.

Synergy has won two PR Daily Awards recognizing our team’s creativity and effort working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on the “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign. The awards include the following products:

Content Marketing Awards

• Content Marketing Campaigns
  • Winner: “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign
• Social Media and Digital Awards
  • Campaigns and Categories
    • Honorable mention: “Talk. They Hear You.”® mobile app

At Synergy, we use social media as a powerful tool that helps us connect our clients with a wider audience and foster meaningful connections with the communities they serve. With an array of storytelling tools at our disposal, including text-based content, images, videos, and live broadcasts, we tailor our approach to align with our clients' objectives. This versatility allows us to encapsulate various facets of our clients' stories, ensuring their narratives resonate authentically with their target audiences. Moreover, the interactive nature of social platforms facilitates seamless two-way communication, enabling our clients to deepen engagement, answer questions, increase impact, and humanize their organizations.

The U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance hosted the Alcohol Policy 20 Conference (AP20) May 14–16, 2024, marking the 20th anniversary of the Alcohol Policy Conference. The conference took place in Arlington, Virginia, at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel. There were over 350 participants including alcohol policy researchers, prevention workers, and advocates.
 
Since 1981, the Alcohol Policy Conference has been a forum for researchers, community practitioners, and public officials to meet and exchange findings, explore evidence-based solutions, and consider adoption of policies aimed at minimizing risks associated with alcohol use (https://www.alcoholpolicyconference.org/history-of-the-alcohol-policy-confe).

Alicia Sparks, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Timothy S. Naimi, M.D., M.P.H., served as co-chairs for the conference planning committee. Dr. Sparks currently serves as project director for both the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Alcohol Policy Information Systems (APIS) contract and the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) contract managed by Synergy Enterprises, Inc. 

During AP20, there was a panel presentation featuring representatives from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, APIS, and the STOP Act titled "The Role of Alcohol Policy in Accelerating the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking." The panel discussion points:  

• Outlined from a policy perspective how APIS and the STOP Act are intertwined and inform the work of policymakers, researchers, and other practitioners; and
• Provided a walkthrough example that used real-world facts to illustrate how APIS and the STOP Act can inform the understanding of the alcohol policy landscape. 

“The biggest highlight is always the networking that happens between sessions and seeing all the people come together and have conversations after sessions in the hallways. I hear time and time again that people leave the conference so invigorated and re-energized. This is the most diverse conference ever, and I'm really excited to see the new wave of people who are much more representative of this country doing the work." – Alicia Sparks, Ph.D., M.P.H. 

Synergy Enterprises, Inc., through its support of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) contracts, recognizes LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

NCES provides educational publications with data on various aspects of public and private education on all levels. Some data provide statistics on sexuality and sexual identity in addition to ethnicity, race, net worth, and more. SAMHSA provides insight on help for professionals, families, and communities that support the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals.

National data show that some public schools in the United States have student groups that acknowledge and recognize gender identity. Eighteen percent of public schools had a recognized student group that promoted the acceptance of students’ sexual orientation and gender identity, such as a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).* More and more, information on sexual orientation and gender identity is being requested in federal surveys and is available for public viewing.

The SAMHSA-funded Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides guidance, support, and strategies in support of LGBTQ+ youth.

Synergy salutes the LGBTQ+ community.

*https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=1136

“Confident—that’s how I felt when I learned that Synergy Enterprises would be a key player in producing the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health’s national strategy and report to Congress. Both products are of the utmost importance in saving and improving the lives of perinatal people and their families. Accuracy, accessibility, actionability, and an extremely quick turnaround were essential—and Synergy has the subject matter expertise, credentialed staff, and experience developing reports of this importance needed to do a great job,” explained Elaine McCarthy (formerly Rahbar), Vice President of Strategic Communications at Synergy. The task force was co-led by staff members at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Synergy consolidated a wealth of research and experts’ input and then wrote, edited, and designed its two reports. 

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries. Incidents and conditions related to mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs), including suicides and drug overdoses, are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., accounting for more than 22% of those deaths. An estimated 1 in 5 individuals are affected by mental health conditions—including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and postpartum psychosis—and SUDs during pregnancy and the postpartum period. These conditions disproportionately affect Black and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals and others in under-resourced communities.

“The vision and energy of our client leads at OASH and SAMHSA meshed perfectly with Synergy’s skills. Synergy brought years of focused expertise in women’s health—and maternal health in particular—to the table. Our specialized understanding also comes with the decisiveness and attention to detail necessary to develop successful products involving diverse groups of experts and stakeholders, as well as short timelines,” added McCarthy. 

As directed by Congress, in the fall of 2023, the HHS Secretary established the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, co-chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. The task force was charged with identifying, evaluating, and making recommendations for coordinating and improving federal activities related to addressing maternal mental health conditions and SUDs. The task force gathered information from a literature review, a report on lived experiences, listening sessions with state and local stakeholders, and public comments solicited from a request for information. The report to Congress and recommendations in the national strategy were based on this information—as well as the collective expertise and experience of the more than 100 members of the task force—and developed in under eight months.

However, the work does not end with these reports. OASH’s Office on Women’s Health, SAMHSA, their federal partners, and the task force will continue to monitor and evaluate maternal mental health care in the United States. The national strategy is a living document that will be updated regularly, and the task force will release other reports focused on implementing the recommendations and the role of state governors in improving the landscape for maternal mental health.

Synergy staff members Lori Whitten, Ph.D., Michelle Gaugh, M.A., and Eric Sarlin, M.A., M.Ed., served as the science writers. David Yontz performed the copyedit. Maggie Bray designed the graphics. Madeline Dewsnup and Kali Fry carried out desktop publishing for the documents. Jessica Freer and Charlotte Soriano planned and executed the launch of the national strategy and report to Congress, held at HHS headquarters and livestreamed on May 14, 2024.

At the event, Crystal McAuley, who has experienced a maternal mental health crisis, generously shared her story; she emphasized that “maternal mental health complications are temporary and treatable,” stressing that “there is so much hope, especially when we work together collaboratively.” Team Synergy wholeheartedly agrees.

This video on maternal health offers a brief overview of some of the signs and symptoms of maternal mental health conditions and steps that women experiencing difficulties and their families and communities can take. If you or someone you know appears to be experiencing maternal mental health issues, help is only a phone call or text away. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential mental health support 24/7 for moms and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. Counselors are available in English and Spanish, and interpreters are available to support callers in 60 other languages. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

Synergy Enterprises, Inc. was recently awarded an IDIQ contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Community Living (ACL), in the logistical support projects and other general services functional areas. We are thrilled to have been selected to assist ACL in achieving its goal of providing leadership and support to their networks, and to be a source of collaboration, innovation, and solutions for ACL and its partners.

Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy. And we want to do all that we can to reduce the burden of rising behavioral health concerns, including mental health conditions and substance use. Good news: There is plenty that parents and other loved ones can do and there is no better time to start than as we enter the holiday season. Recent findings from a national survey of parent–child dyads reveal that adolescents whose parents said they drank alcohol frequently (≥5 days/month), or said they had engaged in binge drinking, had significantly higher odds of drinking than adolescents whose parents did not drink frequently or binge drink. Additionally, growing bodies of research show that refraining from alcohol use reduces the risk of many diseases and that avoiding underage drinking reduces the risk of alcohol dependence in adulthood.

To help parents and other adults feel more confident talking with the children and teens in their lives about the risks of underage drinking, our colleagues at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have developed many helpful resources, including “Talk. They Hear You.”® This educational campaign provides valuable information, conversation starters, a screening tool, the family agreement form pictured in my post, and more. Many of the tools are in Spanish, too. Visit the campaign website or download the mobile app and access Screen4Success for more information.

Everyone can help protect youths from the dangers of alcohol by listening and talking—and walking the talk. Show kids that you love them—and that you love yourself—by celebrating wisely this holiday season, throughout the year, and for every year to come.

#TalkTheyHearYou, #Awareness, #Prevention

Synergy’s work on the U.S. Department of Education’s Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center contract was cited in a letter recently released by the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Office of National Drug Policy Control as a resource for schools and communities to support safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness, including opioid-related emergencies. The letter informs state education agencies, intergovernmental groups, and education associations about the current uptick in overdose deaths among adolescents. The REMS TA Center has created resources, including fact sheets, webinars, and announcements, that aim to support schools in mitigating opioid abuse and misuse, and is preparing information for the use of naloxone (Narcan®) in situations of overdose in educational settings. Synergy also engages in work around substance abuse via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Alcohol Policy Information System, “Talk. They Hear You.”®, and STOP Act grant contracts, in addition to the REMS TA Center contract. Various research studies point to an increase in overdose deaths, including a joint National Institute on Drug Abuse/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data collection released this year.

Available resources:

Announcement

• Integrating Fentanyl and Opioid Overdoses in K-12 and Higher Ed Emergency Management Planning (seiservices.com)

Fact Sheets

• Preparing for Opioid-Related Emergencies for K-12 Schools and Institutions of Higher Education
• Fentanyl and Opioids: Preventing Overdoses and Related Emergencies at K-12 and Higher Education Campuses

Webinars

• Opioids, Drug-Related Emergencies, and Substance Abuse Prevention Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
• The Role of Public Health Officials in School Safety Efforts as Community Partners
• Understanding the Role of School Nurses in Supporting School Safety Before, During, and After an Emergency

In this Industry Insight, two of Synergy’s policy experts delve into the shifts in alcohol policy brought about by the pandemic. Read what they shared below:

• Alcohol has become increasingly accessible, and there has been a general movement toward deregulating alcohol products. This includes allowing curbside pickup and home delivery.
• The push toward increased outdoor dining has led to the creation of “entertainment districts,” where a large number of bars and restaurants are clustered close together, and many allow open containers of alcohol within the district.
• Consumption rates increased during the pandemic (25% of people drank more than usual), as did death rates. For example, there was a 40% increase in alcohol-related deaths among people aged 35–44 between 2019 and 2020.
• The number of states permitting teenage sellers, servers, and bartenders has increased; the minimum age has decreased. In 2021, for example, West Virginia began allowing bartenders as young as 16.

Synergy Enterprises, Inc., (Synergy) recently won two new contracts that build on our deep expertise in women’s health and public health. 

HHS Office on Women’s Health

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health (OWH) awarded Synergy and our teaming arrangement partner Pinkston Group, Inc., a 5-year project titled “Behavior Health Change and Bridging Evidence to Practice in Women’s Health.”

The project is a natural progression of the work that Synergy has successfully performed for the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Research on Women’s Health over the last 5 years. Synergy will translate complex biomedical research into clear, sensible tools and recommendations that can help women make better informed healthcare decisions and work to improve the health of women. 

Health Resources and Services Administration

Through a blanket purchase agreement, Synergy will embark on a new relationship with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Synergy is on call to provide HRSA with a full suite of strategic communications services including social media, stakeholder outreach, media outreach, media training, speech writing, web content and design, as well as materials development and graphic design.

Synergy and HRSA share a mission to improve public health, especially for people living in underserved communities. Synergy and HRSA are also committed to reducing health disparities, increasing access to healthcare, and fostering wellness. Synergy is a newcomer to the HRSA team but has the decades of experience and capabilities needed to enhance HRSA programs. 

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) unveiled three new technical assistance centers aimed at enhancing student well-being, academic success, and school safety. We’re thrilled to share that all three centers will be powered by our teams at Synergy!  

For more than 20 years, we have proudly partnered with the ED, and we look forward to this opportunity to continue this vital work, contributing to efforts aimed at accelerating learning and enhancing student achievement. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3PXwcmS. 

We are delighted to announce that Synergy has been awarded new work in the vital domains of women’s health and public health.  

Teaming up with Pinkston Group, Inc., we’ve embarked on a 5-year project for the HHS Office on Women’s Health. Our mission: to transform biomedical research into practical tools and recommendations to enhance the health of women. 

Additionally, we look forward to forging a new partnership with HRSA, to work toward improving public health, reducing health disparities, and broadening access to healthcare. 

The Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Technical Assistance Center is a 5-year Blanket Purchase Agreement. Authorized under Sections 2222-2225 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Center supports the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED, or the Department) goal to create a comprehensive literacy program that advances literacy skills — including preliteracy skills, reading, and writing — for children from birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities. In May 2023, Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy) received a prime award to (1) provide technical assistance and subject matter expertise to support all states, the Bureau of Indian Education, and four outlying areas (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands); (2) provide monitoring support for the Department related to CLSD; and (3) produce ad hoc reports and data analysis. Dr. Bridget Humphries, Principal, will serve as the Project Director. Synergy is partners with the American Institutes for Research on this important effort. 

On February 1, 2023, Bronwyn Roberts, Senior Principal, Training and Technical Assistance, for the Title IV, Part A Technical Assistance Center (T4PA Center) and REMS TA Center, alongside Ruth Ryder, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy and Programs—Formula Grants in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, presented the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Updates and Best Practices for Student Well-Being” session during the 2023 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Conference. The session provided updates on two grant programs to increase access to mental health services for students that were funded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) and about technical assistance to states and districts in using BSCA state and local resources to invest in evidence based practices that support student well-being.  

On February 2, 2023, Candace Ferguson, Principal, Training and Technical Assistance, for the REMS TA Center and T4PA Center, presented for the “Addressing the Social, Emotional, Learning and Mental Health Needs of Students and School Staff” session during the conference. This session shared information from U.S. Department of Education resources and highlighted federal technical assistance resources that can be used to support state, district, and school efforts. Candace also serves as the Task Lead for the Best Practices Clearinghouse.  

On March 25, Synergy’s senior science editor, David Yontz, presented a session titled “Mistakes That Often Slip Through the Cracks” at the ACES: The Society for Editing conference in Columbus, Ohio. Almost 200 other copy editors attended it. He was also highlighted in the keynote address by Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Schultz, who praised him for being one of the four editors who have helped her the most in her career. 

Congratulations to Janelle Hughes, Principal, Training and Technical Assistance, for being recognized by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency team for her presentation at the inaugural National Summit on K–12 School Safety and Security. The summit had more than 3,500 attendees, and Janelle’s valuable contributions have helped the implementation of strategies for keeping schools safe. 

To read about Synergy’s award-winning work with the U.S. Department of Education and other agencies, click here.  

Synergy has won 6 Hermes Creative awards recognizing our team’s creativity and effort working with The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) “Talk. They Hear You.” ® campaign. The awards consist of 3 platinum winners, 1 gold winners and 2 honorable mention winners for the following products and materials:

Platinum Winners:

• “This Life For Us” Discussion Starter Video
• “What Parents Are Saying — Prevention Wisdom, Authenticity, And Empowerment.” Podcast Series
• “This Life For Us” Discussion Starter Video

Gold Winners:

• “This Life For Us” TV PSA

Honorable Mention Winners:

• “This Life For Us” Original Soundtrack
• “This Life For Us” Radio PSA

On Saturday, April 29, The Children’s Inn at NIH hosted An Evening for Hope gala at The Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Thanks to the remarkable generosity of sponsors and donors, they raised $2,000,000! Synergy’s President and CEO, Prachee Devadas, submitted two paintings that auctioned for $35,000.  These funds will be used to make childhood possible today and a cure possible tomorrow for the children, teens, young adults, and their families who stay at The Inn. 

The Procurement of Research Evaluation and Statistics Task Orders (PRESTO) is a 10-year IDIQ with a ceiling of $2 billion. It supports the entire Institute of Education Sciences (IES) mission as the U.S. Department of Education’s arm for independent education research, evaluation, and statistics. In February 2023, Synergy received a prime award on Domain Category 5 for IES Operational Support to enable ongoing project management and logistics support functions across IES. Specifically, this domain category covers project program integration and coordination, business case quality management support, institutional monitoring and modernization activities, compliance support, event planning, and help desk support activities. Dr. Sherri Lauver, Senior Principal, will serve as the PRESTO Director and business development lead.

Synergy Widens Focus to Alcohol and Cannabis Policy and Expands Work on Preventing Underage Drinking

Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy) recently won two new contracts that will expand our decadelong work in the prevention of underage alcohol consumption and illicit drug use.

NIAAA APIS Website

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) awarded Synergy a contract that began in January 2023 to broaden and promote its Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) website (https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov). APIS is an online resource that provides public access to detailed information on a variety of public policies related to alcohol and cannabis. APIS collects and analyzes statutes and regulations concerning alcohol and cannabis and is designed to simplify the process of accessing the relevant state laws for researchers studying the effects and effectiveness of alcohol- and cannabis-related policies. Synergy’s team of legal researchers, social scientists, communications specialists, and information technology professionals will collaborate with NIAAA on the important work of updating and sharing policies on alcohol and cannabis while increasing the dissemination of information to a wide variety of audiences, including researchers, practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and more.

STOP Act

In September 2022, the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, on behalf of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has engaged Synergy to support work on the congressionally required Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) reporting. These reports include current data on underage drinking, individual state reports on prevention and enforcement activities, and performance measures for evaluating best practices. They serve as the leading compendium of state and federal efforts toward reducing underage drinking. Synergy is responsible for compiling and updating data across multiple national surveys; working with 16 different federal agencies to track their efforts toward preventing underage drinking; conducting a review of the current state of published literature on underage drinking and related harms; and collecting data and conducting legal research on the 50 states’ and the District of Columbia’s activities related to underage drinking and their prevention policies. In addition, Synergy is developing educational products and materials related to the reports, and these will be disseminated to a wide range of audiences, including state prevention, treatment, and enforcement officials; state and federal policymakers; community coalitions; educators; and parents.

The STOP Act reporting and accompanying educational products are important tools in U.S. efforts to reduce and prevent alcohol and substance use disorders. Synergy takes great pride in our contributions to this work.

Synergy Extends Long-Term Work with the Office of School Support and Accountability

In September 2022, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of School Support and Accountability (SSA) has renewed its contract with Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy) for meeting and conference logistics and peer reviews, extending an already decadelong history, which includes Synergy’s performing as the prime contractor, a subcontractor, and then the prime contractor again.

SSA administers many formula grant programs and oversees the Student-Centered Funding Pilot and Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority demonstration grant programs and the Competitive Grants for State Assessments discretionary grant program. Synergy’s conference and meeting support helps SSA provide coordinated policy development, performance management, technical assistance, and data analysis services through a state support team structure that deepens partnerships with states and more effectively supports their implementation of key reforms that will lead to improved outcomes for all students.

The contract renewal is a testimony to Synergy’s deep commitment to maximizing the profound and beneficial impact that government services can have upon the lives of individuals.

Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy) is proud to announce two new contracts for 2022! First, Synergy was recently awarded the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Logistic Support contract under the U.S. Department of Education, Education Grants Management Support Services (EDGMSS) Blanket Purchase Order Agreement. NCES collects statistics on the condition of education in the United States; analyzes and reports the meaning and significance of these statistics; and works with states, local education agencies, and postsecondary institutions in improving their statistical systems. Synergy has been selected to work with NCES in fulfilling its mission by providing support in the areas of coordinating meetings and conferences, securing external experts to participate in meetings and conferences, performing editorial and graphics activities related to public release of NCES products, and fulfilling quick turnaround requests. We are proud to be a part of the NCES mission since 2005.

Synergy was also selected by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) to provide communications and technical logistics services for the virtual workshop titled “Technology to Improve Maternal Health.” With over 500 registrants, this event aimed to advance collaboration on maternal health technology to improve maternal health and to treat and/or prevent maternal morbidity and mortality! We are honored to support NIBIB on its mission to improve maternal health.

Recently, Synergy’s Junior Data Associate, Rachel Edsall, co-authored 2 papers for “Q Chat Space,” a platform designed for LGBTQ+ youth to come together and discuss a variety of topics in a safe and moderated environment.

Both of the papers analyze the chats to understand the impact of having an anonymous online space with trained facilitators on youth experience. With one of the papers focusing on youth comments during the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Majority of Rachel’s work was done through the Social Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) research lab at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she worked with them during undergrad between 2019 to 2020.

The two papers can be found at the following links: Q Chat Space: Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of an Internet-Based Support Program for LGBTQ Youth | SpringerLink and “I’m Kinda Stuck at Home With Unsupportive Parents Right Now”: LGBTQ Youths’ Experiences With COVID-19 and the Importance of Online Support—Journal of Adolescent Health (jahonline.org).

Recently, the Synergy Gives Back (SGB) team organized a casserole drive with Small Things Matter’s Kokua Foods Program. Small Things Matter is a 100 percent volunteer-run nonprofit whose mission is to help support children, families, and individuals in need via its food, literacy, and crafting for charity programs. The Kokua Foods Program provides more than 1,000 food-insecure families in Maryland with fresh produce and groceries, chicken, casseroles, non-perishable items, and other household goods through partnership with various organizations and volunteers.

Team Synergy’s volunteers prepared 21 casseroles to donate to marginalized and underprivileged communities. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of food-insecure families, but with donations from SGB and other volunteers, we can make changes in our communities.

The Kokua Foods Program takes donations every first and third Friday of each month. If you’re interested in donating in the future, check out their website at smallthingsmatter.org.

On February 11, Synergy employee Matthew Grossman had the opportunity to speak at a Starkloff Disability Institute and Permobil event called Inclusion Matters: Disability Allyship in the Workplace. Matt, who lives with an invisible disability and hearing loss, was joined by two other panelists to provide information and bring awareness to living life with a disability and the affect it has in the workplace. This “disabilities immersion” conversation allowed Permobil employees to understand, in depth, the experience of those living with visible and invisible disabilities.

Matt first began working with Starkloff in graduate school at Washington University, where he promoted disability events on campus and advocated for support enhancements within his program. Since receiving his master’s degree, he has also partnered with Starkloff to provide one-on-one career coaching for current Washington University students with disabilities.

Conversations like this are important. Synergy values an inclusive workplace and offers employees with disabilities — whether visible or invisible — an equal opportunity to succeed, to learn, to be compensated fairly and to advance.

Recently, Synergy employee Bronwyn Roberts has been helping with COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Yolo, California. As a Dispensing Assistant, she has assisted with providing more than 2,000 vaccines to community members over age 65, educators, first responders and others. Although she had no medical experience, Bronwyn received all her training on the spot and was able to work alongside a Dispenser (who administered the actual injection), by filling syringes and documenting patient information for public health records.

Bronwyn is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of history. As part of her volunteer efforts, she was able to receive her vaccine – and was able to hug her mom for the first time in a year.

Bronwyn plans on volunteering at other vaccine clinics on the west coast, including some in Oregon. She encourages everyone to look to their local public health departments if they are interested in volunteer opportunities.

In 2020, Synergy Enterprises, Inc.’s (Synergy) creative work with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) parent-oriented prevention campaign, “Talk.  They Hear You.”® received 12 accolades from the Hermes Creative Awards.

Synergy garnered recognition in every category it entered, winning six platinum awards (Hermes’ highest honor), four gold awards, and two honorable mentions for original public service announcements (PSAs) and videos, soundtracks, and brochures:

Platinum Winners

• Original Music (Video)—"By Your Side” PSA
• Original Music (Audio)—"By Your Side” Soundtrack
• Informational Video, Directing, Editing, and Videography—“By Your Side” Student Assistance Discussion Starter Video

Gold Winners

• TV PSA—"Clouded"
• TV PSA—"Choices"
• TV PSA—"By Your Side"
• Brochure—5 Conversation Goals: Talking With Your Teen About Alcohol and Other Drugs

Honorable Mentions

• TV PSA—"Helping a Friend"
• Brochure—Talk With Your Teen About Vaping: Keeping Your Kids Safe

Hermes Creative Awards honor the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications; branding collateral; websites; videos; and advertising, marketing, and communications programs. More than 6,000 entries were submitted for consideration in 2020.

Synergy’s strategic communications team works with SAMHSA to encourage parents and caregivers to talk with their children about alcohol and other drugs early on and as often as possible. “Talk.  They Hear You.” team members support all facets of the national media campaign, from concept testing through materials development, outreach and promotion, and evaluation. Their efforts have ensured important prevention messages reach parents and caregivers in all 50 states and Washington, DC.

In 2020, three National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) products that Synergy helped write, design, and produce won Communicator Awards. These awards include:

Communicator Award of Excellence. This award is the program’s highest honor and is given to those entrants whose ability to communicate positions them as the best in the field. Two ORWH products that Synergy worked on received this award: an online video titled “Maternal Morbidity and Mortality: What Do We Know? How Are We Addressing It?” and a booklet of the same name.

Communicator Award of Distinction. This award is presented for projects that exceed industry standards in quality and achievement. ORWH’s booklet on polycystic ovary/ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which Synergy worked on, won this award.

The Communicator Awards is an international awards program for marketing and communications programs that receives over 6,000 entries from companies and agencies, making it one of the largest of its kind. The awards honor work that has made a lasting impact and are decided by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, an invitation-only group consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative, and marketing firms.

Synergy’s strategic communications team works with the ORWH to promote women’s health research within and beyond the NIH scientific community. Synergy supports ORWH in the areas of project management, communications planning and research, materials development, media, outreach, promotion, conferences, events, information technology, and information tracking.

On Oct. 19, 2018, Prachee J. Devadas, president/CEO and founder of Synergy, joined the board of directors of The Children’s Inn at NIH. Located on the NIH campus, The Children’s Inn is a nonprofit hospitality house that provides free lodging and supportive services to families of children with rare and serious illnesses whose best hope is a clinical trial at the NIH. Every year, The Children’s Inn houses more than 1,700 children and their families from across the United States and the world to help reduce the burden of illness on families, make childhood possible despite illness and advance medical breakthroughs at the NIH that benefit children today and generations to come. In addition to serving on the board of directors of The Children’s Inn at NIH, Devadas serves on the advisory boards for So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.) and BB&T Bank.

Since fall 2017, several serious and consequential emergency events have raised conversations at the national, state, and local levels to new heights concerning preparedness and school safety. Whether it was the active shooter incidents in places like Las Vegas, Nevada, or Parkland, Florida; the hurricanes affecting areas of Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; wildfires in places like California and Montana; winter storms in the Northeast; or child fatalities across the country from influenza, those entrusted with caring for some of the most vulnerable members of our population—children and youth—have been prompted to consider strategies implemented, to date, and new approaches to the question of how to keep children and youth safe, especially when they are at school.

Synergy has administered the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students since 2012, with the aim of fulfilling this exact charge—to help keep the K-16 population, along with staff, administrators, and all other parts of the school community, safe. During this time, the REMS TA Center has provided support to thousands of schools, school districts, and school personnel, including their stakeholder partners, in the form of training and technical assistance to improve overall school preparedness in school safety, security, and emergency management programs.

Synergy has long-supported several non-profits that focus on the mental, social-emotional, and physical wellbeing of children and families. We have collectively donated thousands of volunteer hours to prepare meals; provide monetary and material goods; and organize outings for various non-profit organizations in the community. Specifically, Synergy has worked with the NIH Children’s Inn, a residential “Place Like Home’’ for families with children participating in leading-edge research studies at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. In 2018, our support will continue to grow as CEO Prachee J. Devadas has been selected to serve on the board of directors for the Children’s Inn. She also serves on the advisory board at SOME.