Prevention First’s Reimagine Youth Development Training and Technical Assistance and Support (RYD – TTAS) Team provides training, education, resources, and tools for prevention professionals working with youth and their families, schools, and communities. We are committed to bringing you training that reflects best practices on strategies proven to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors associated with youth development.


Training Events

Our live training events (in person and virtually) are offered throughout the fiscal year. To find the next scheduled event, search below. Training on demand (self-paced) can be found via search or browsing through the online training and recorded webinar descriptions below. 

 Training Series

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations

The Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations virtual classroom training series introduces participants to foundational strategies for convening and facilitating collaborative prevention groups, including community coalitions and advisory boards/groups (primarily comprised of adults or adults and youth, but not youth-only groups). The three courses in the series include:

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 1: Collaborative Purpose and Participation Search below for upcoming dates.

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 2: Structuring for Success Search below for upcoming dates.

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 3: Productive Group Processes and Facilitation Search below for upcoming dates.

 Live Training: Classroom (In Person or Virtual) and Webinars

Breaking Intergenerational Patterns of Trauma, Substance Use Disorders and Dark Family Secrets

Trauma and substance use disorders runs in families across generations and are often fueled by dark family secrets. Topics covered in this presentation includes: The role of youth development, prevention, and clinical professionals in breaking intergenerational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders and dark family secrets; breaking intergenerational patterns by focusing on the unique needs of children of parents with substance use disorders and children on the FASD spectrum; the role of parents and persons in recovery in breaking intergenerational patterns; mobilizing the entire community to help break intergenerational patterns of trauma and substance use disorders. You will learn about successful programs in breaking intergenerational patterns in Iceland, Native American, Metropolitan, and rural communities.

By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:

  • Begin to use strategies to help break generational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders and dark family secrets in your role as a treatment provider.
  • Begin to use strategies to help break intergenerational patterns of trauma and substance use disorders in your role as a prevention specialist.
  • Articulate the importance of prevention and treatment providers working together to break intergenerational patterns.
  • Utilize strategies to help parents break intergenerational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders and dark family secrets.
  • Address the unique needs of children of parents with substance use disorders.
  • Learn strategies to break intergenerational patterns from Iceland, Native American, Metropolitan, and rural communities.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 1: Collaborative Purpose and Participation

During this course, participants will discuss how to establish the function and purpose of community coalitions and collaborations, and identify strategies for recruiting a diverse group of stakeholders. To maximize learning opportunities, participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities.

*This course is 3 hours with an additional 30 minutes of prework required.*

Search below for upcoming dates.

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 2: Structuring for Success

During this course, participants will discuss how to structure and organize a community coalition or collaboration for success and infuse cultural respect and responsiveness into their processes. To maximize learning opportunities, participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities.

*This course is 3 hours with an additional 30 minutes of prework required.*

Search below for upcoming dates.

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 3: Productive Group Processes and Facilitation

During this course, participants will discuss best practices for coordinating and facilitating community coalition or collaboration meetings, keeping stakeholders engaged, and evaluating the group’s effectiveness to make improvements. To maximize learning opportunities, participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities.

*This course is 3 hours with an additional 30 minutes of prework required.*

Search below for upcoming dates.

Culturally-Responsive Trauma-Informed Practices for LGBTQIA+ Youth in Out-of-School Settings

In this interactive webinar, training participants will cultivate shared language, support increased organizational capacity for equity work, and develop commitments that build individual responsibility and capacity for systemic change.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Participants will build their own skills toolbox that addresses three main areas that support anti-racist/pro-queer approaches:

  • Protecting and empowering young people’s right to self-determination
  • Thoughtful and intentional communication
  • Addressing complex needs of harm, justice, and healing

Objective 2: Participants will be able to develop commitments that build individual responsibility and capacity regarding systemic change, as well as increase personal understanding of systemic oppression and their role in the system.

Objective 3: Participants will be able to discern between different types of accountability. Additionally, participants will understand the complexity of being accountable as an ongoing, ever-evolving practice.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Establishing and Elevating Inclusive Relationships

By the end of this webinar, training participants will be able to define and apply principles and practices for establishing and elevating inclusive relationships. Participants will learn strategies for cultural humility and accountability.

Trainer Bio:

Sylvester Baugh is the owner-operator of Baugh Training & Consulting (BTC) in Illinois. Sylvester is an author, speaker, trainer, and life coach.  Sylvester has assisted a variety of educational institutions, businesses, and individuals in developing and sustaining quality relationships and viable systems. Sylvester has dedicated his life to serving and improving others for over 35 years. Sylvester provides training and workshops in the areas of cultural awareness, managing conflict, effective leadership, team building, diversity, equity and inclusion, and much more. Prior to the tragedy of 9/11, Sylvester worked with United Airlines in the area of Diversity Management. His background is in communications and diversity coaching. His messages are inspiring and life-changing.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Foundations of Positive Youth Development Series: Everyone's an Asset Builder and Sharing the Asset Message

During this course, you will learn how to support young people in your life as well as engage the family and communities of the youth connected to your work.

Everyone’s an Asset Builder (Part I)

Developmental Assets are listed under all prevention-focused, youth development areas of services around which the RYD program will be designed, including improving academic performance, life skills education, caregiver involvement, recreation, sports, cultural and artistic activities, positive adult mentors, service learning, and STEM Learning.

The first day of the two-day training introduces the Developmental Assets® framework and the powerful role of individual asset builders in the lives of youth. This workshop will help participants:

  • identify the characteristics of effective asset builders and their own personal strengths and challenges
  • understand “circles of influence” and identify those circles in which there is potential for asset-building
  • make and share a personal commitment to asset-building action 

Sharing the Asset Message (Part II)

The second day of the training will prepare community members and groups to deliver a variety of asset-building messages to multiple audiences. This workshop will help participants:

  • discuss how the assets relate to other positive youth development efforts
  • develop engaging presentation strategies to meet the unique needs of any audience
  • download free curriculum materials to use in their program presentations

 * Note: This is a two-day training; participants must attend both training days to receive credit.

Search below for upcoming dates.

The Power of the Selfie: Images as Data Visualization

“Emergence is the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions. Emergence is a system that makes use of everything in the iterative process. It's all data.” - adrienne maree brown

As storytellers and strategists, we understand that data is everywhere and in everything. However, the field of evaluation and research can often feel very exclusive, especially when it comes to sharing findings. In this workshop, participants will tap into their imaginations and explore how photo elicitation and photo-voice can be an exciting, accessible way to reach their audiences and better understand their points of view. Using these creative methods, participants will also be able to practice and collaborate with one another, utilizing their learning in real time.

Search below for upcoming dates.

QPR: Question, Persuade, and Refer. An Emergency Response to Someone in Crisis & OEND Bonus Training

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

According to the CDC, youth suicide attempts soared during the pandemic. Rates of suicide among youth in Black and Brown communities have risen faster than in any other racial/ethnic group in the past two decades.  Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how in a short timeframe to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.

In the OEND bonus/add-on training, we will offer a 30-minute training session on “How to Use Naloxone aka “Narcan” which is the medicine that reverses an opioid overdose.

In the training, you will be trained on how to use the Naloxone Nasal Spray during a crisis and given a kit for your organization.  Please see the flyer for additional information.  Once you register for the QPR Training, you will receive an email where you can confirm whether you will attend the bonus training. This training is open to anyone who attends the QPR Training.  

Search below for upcoming dates.

Strengthening and Sustaining Intentional Relationships

By the end of this webinar, training participants will be able to define and apply principles and practices for building and sustaining strong relationships in families, schools, and communities. Participants will learn strategies for effective communication and conflict reconciliation.

Trainer Bio:

Sylvester Baugh is the owner-operator of Baugh Training & Consulting (BTC) in Illinois. Sylvester is an author, speaker, trainer, and life coach.  Sylvester has assisted a variety of educational institutions, businesses, and individuals in developing and sustaining quality relationships and viable systems. Sylvester has dedicated his life to serving and improving others for over 35 years. Sylvester provides training and workshops in the areas of cultural awareness, managing conflict, effective leadership, team building, diversity, equity and inclusion, and much more. Prior to the tragedy of 9/11, Sylvester worked with United Airlines in the area of Diversity Management. His background is in communications and diversity coaching. His messages are inspiring and life-changing.

*Attendance is required to receive a certificate of completion and CEUs.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Tired, Wired, Mired, and Inspired! Strategies for Preventing Burnout and Secondary PTSD

Many people who work in human services consider their work to be a "calling." There are two occupational hazards, burnout and compassion fatigue/secondary trauma, which threaten to undermine that calling and diminish your effectiveness. Burnout is caused by feeling ineffective in your work and organizational/team stress. Compassion fatigue (also called secondary trauma/secondary PTSD) is caused by absorbing the traumatic stories and experiences of clients. Both occupational hazards can lead to a loss of energy, loss of hope loss of enthusiasm, loss of idealism, spiritual distress, and decreased effectiveness.

This virtual presentation focuses on how to prevent and recover from burnout and compassion fatigue. Emphasis will be placed upon: self care; four things high performers do to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue; how to maintain energy and reduce frustration in your youth development and/or clinical work and feel a greater sense of success.

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this workshop participants will:

  • Be aware of the 4 stages of Burnout
  • Understand the differences between burnout and compassion fatigue
  • Evaluate your personal vulnerability for developing compassion fatigue
  • Be able to utilize 10 strategies to help prevent burnout and compassion fatigue 
  • Have skills to reduce frustration in your youth development/clinical work
  • Be able to feel a greater sense of success in your work.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Youth Mental Health First Aid + Opioid Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution (OEND) Bonus Training

During this course, you will learn how to support young people in your life and your work.

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adolescents ages 12-18. You will build the skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to young people who are struggling. You will also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

After the course, you will be able to:

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.

• Understand how to interact with a young person in crisis.

• Know how to connect a young person with help.

• Better understand trauma, substance use, self-care, and the impact of social media and bullying

Bonus OEND Training

Immediately after the Youth Mental Health First Aid training, we will be offering a 30-minute bonus training session on “How to use Naloxone, also known as “Narcan” the medicine that reverses an opioid overdose. This training is open to anyone who attends the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training.  In the training, you will be trained on how to use the Naloxone Nasal Spray during a crisis and given a kit for your organization. 

Search below for upcoming dates.

Online Training

Best Practices for Increasing Retention and Graduation Rates for Young Black Men

This training was originally delivered as a live webinar in March 2023. After identifying the need for both live and self-study training opportunities, Prevention First partnered with Dr. Lance Williams, Professor of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies at Northeastern Illinois University, to offer the training in an asynchronous format. Dr. Lance Williams, known for his keen intellect and fierce determination to uplift youth at risk, will share his extensive research related to inequities surrounding recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of young Black men and will share his vast experience of introducing youth to their inner strengths. By taking this course, participants will feel empowered to help prepare young Black men for college success. Participants will learn about historical points of view, examine data and prominent barriers that impede many urban youth’s educational and career aspirations, identify potential strategies to overcome barriers, and understand why Black and Brown males should consider enrolling in highly selective colleges and universities. This course will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.

Register

Collaborating with Key Stakeholders

This online course will increase participants’ knowledge and skills in building relationships and collaborating with key community stakeholders. Participants will learn strategies for identifying and engaging key stakeholders, building relationships, getting stakeholders on board, and convening local coalitions.

Register

The Dynamic Adolescent Brain (RPSA)

This online training will increase participants’ knowledge of how the teen brain develops, how adolescent brain development differs throughout various stages, and how adolescent brain development influences adolescent thinking and behavior. The impact of early life trauma and racism will also be explored. Participants will examine their beliefs and attitudes about adolescence and how they affect their work with youth. This training will also highlight the value of authentically partnering with young people.

Register

 Recorded Webinars

Alcohol Misuse as a Risk Factor for Gun Violence

This webinar was recorded on February 20, 2024. There are no CEUs available for recorded webinars.

Alcohol use and gun violence are leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. These issues are most deadly when they intersect with one another. This webinar will discuss research and policy recommendations from the report “Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence-Based Approach,” pointing to alcohol misuse as a risk factor for all forms of gun violence, including homicides and suicides, confirming the urgent need to adopt evidence-based policies that address this troubling link.  

View Recording

Breaking Intergenerational Patterns of Trauma, Substance Use Disorders, and Dark Family Secrets

Trauma and substance use disorders run in families across generations and are often fueled by dark family secrets. Topics covered in this presentation include the role of treatment and prevention specialists in breaking intergenerational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders, and dark family secrets; breaking Intergenerational patterns by focusing on the unique needs of children of parents with substance use disorders and children on the FASD spectrum; the role of parents and persons in recovery in breaking intergenerational patterns; mobilizing the entire community to help break intergenerational patterns of trauma and substance use disorders. You will learn about successful programs breaking intergenerational patterns in Iceland, Native American, Metropolitan, and rural communities. 

View Recording

The Science of Networks

During these complex times of change and transition within the healthcare environment, we need to know more about how to strategically build robust networks and measure and evaluate our networks' effectiveness. In this webinar, Dr. Danielle Varda, Associate Professor at the University of Denver and Founder/CEO of Visible Network Labs, shares her expert knowledge on applied network science, with specific expertise in health, public health, and educational system approaches. 

View Recording

The Three Ingredients of Successful Collaboration: Process, Power, and Platform

The webinar was recorded on November 18, 2021.

Collaboration can foster profound improvements in community health and well-being. Collaboration only works when designed to generate high levels of emotional commitment and sustains that commitment long enough to be contagious. An essential task of network leadership is designing collaborative processes and vigilantly monitoring process quality to sustain a commitment to effective implementation. Drawing on twenty years of field research across public and education contexts, Hicks will discuss three common ingredients of successful collaboration: the presence of an open and credible process motivating social cooperation, a feeling of authentic power that generates and sustains stakeholder commitment, and the use of platforms that engender emotional contagion.

Register Here

Classroom

Supporting Students of Color: A Workshop with Author Jennifer DeLeon

Wednesday, May 08, 2024
09:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Prevention First's Chicago Office (Branch Office) - Chicago, IL
Description

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Develop an identity-conscious practice when working with young people
  • Consider ‘case studies’ and engage in discussions around best practices for support
  • Understand strategies to build engagement and learning for all students, in particular students of color
  • Add to a collective ‘toolkit’ of knowledge and walk away with practical resources

 

Jennifer De Leon is the award-winning author of the Young Adult (YA) novels, Borderless, featured on the TODAY show, and Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From. Jenn is also the author of White Space: Essays on Culture, Race, & Writing, which won the Juniper Prize from the University of Massachusetts Press.

Jenn is the editor of Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education, an International Latino Book Award-winning anthology. As an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Framingham State University and faculty member in the Creative Writing & Literature Master Program at Harvard University, she has published prose in over a dozen literary journals, including Ploughshares, Iowa Review, and Michigan Quarterly Review. She is also a contributor for NPR. Jenn is the founder of Story Bridge, a program that aims to bring people together from all walks of life to shape, share, and hear each other’s unique stories. She lives outside the Boston area with her husband and two sons.

Read More
Virtual Classroom
THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE CONVENING COALITIONS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS SERIES

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 1: Collaborative Purpose and Participation

Thursday, May 09, 2024
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Online
Description

During this course, participants will discuss how to establish the function and purpose of community coalitions and collaborations, and identify strategies for recruiting a diverse group of stakeholders. To maximize learning opportunities, participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities.

*This course is 3 hours with an additional 30 minutes of prework required.*

Read More
Live Webinar

Breaking Intergenerational Patterns of Trauma, Substance Use Disorders, and Dark Family Secrets (RYD)

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Online
Description

Trauma and substance use disorders runs in families across generations and are often fueled by dark family secrets. Topics covered in this presentation includes: The role of youth development, prevention, and clinical professionals in breaking intergenerational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders and dark family secrets; breaking intergenerational patterns by focusing on the unique needs of children of parents with substance use disorders and children on the FASD spectrum; the role of parents and persons in recovery in breaking intergenerational patterns; mobilizing the entire community to help break intergenerational patterns of trauma and substance use disorders. You will learn about successful programs in breaking intergenerational patterns in Iceland, Native American, Metropolitan, and rural communities.

By the end of this presentation you will be able to:

  • Begin to use strategies to help break generational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders and dark family secrets in your role as a treatment provider.
  • Begin to use strategies to help break intergenerational patterns of trauma and substance use disorders in your role as a prevention specialist.
  • Articulate the importance of prevention and treatment providers working together to break intergenerational patterns.
  • Utilize strategies to help parents break intergenerational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders and dark family secrets.
  • Address the unique needs of children of parents with substance use disorders.
  • Learn strategies to break intergenerational patterns from Iceland, Native American, Metropolitan, and rural communities
Read More
Classroom

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training* + Opioid Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution (OEND) Bonus Training**

Wednesday, May 15 - Thursday, May 16, 2024
09:30 AM - 02:00 PM
Prevention First's Springfield Office (Headquarters) - Springfield, IL
Description

During this course, you will learn how to support young people in your life and your work.

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adolescents ages 12-18. You will build the skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to young people who are struggling. You will also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

After the course, you will be able to:

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.

• Understand how to interact with a young person in crisis.

• Know how to connect a young person with help.

• Better understand trauma, substance use, self-care, and the impact of social media and bullying

Bonus OEND Training

Immediately after the Youth Mental Health First Aid training, we will be offering a 30-minute bonus training session on “How to use Naloxone, also known as “Narcan” the medicine that reverses an opioid overdose. This training is open to anyone who attends the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training.  In the training, you will be trained on how to use the Naloxone Nasal Spray during a crisis and given a kit for your organization. 

 

*This is a two-day in-person training. Attendance on both days is required in accordance with Prevention First training policies.

**The OEND Bonus Training will be held on Wednesday, May 15th,  2:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Read More
Virtual Classroom
THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE CONVENING COALITIONS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS SERIES

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 2: Structuring for Success

Thursday, May 16, 2024
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Online
Description

During this course, participants will discuss how to structure and organize a community coalition or collaboration for success and infuse cultural respect and responsiveness into their processes. To maximize learning opportunities, participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities.

*This course is 3 hours with an additional 30 minutes of prework required.*

Read More
Virtual Classroom
THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE CONVENING COALITIONS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS SERIES

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 3: Productive Group Processes and Facilitation

Thursday, May 23, 2024
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Online
Description

During this course, participants will discuss best practices for coordinating and facilitating community coalition or collaboration meetings, keeping stakeholders engaged, and evaluating the group’s effectiveness to make improvements. To maximize learning opportunities, participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities.

*This course is 3 hours with an additional 30 minutes of prework required.*

Read More
Live Webinar

Strengthening and Sustaining Intentional Relationships

Monday, June 03, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Online
Description

By the end of this webinar, training participants will be able to define and apply principles and practices for building and sustaining strong relationships in families, schools, and communities. Participants will learn strategies for effective communication and conflict reconciliation.

Trainer Bio:

Sylvester Baugh is the owner-operator of Baugh Training & Consulting (BTC) in Illinois. Sylvester is an author, speaker, trainer, and life coach.  Sylvester has assisted a variety of educational institutions, businesses, and individuals in developing and sustaining quality relationships and viable systems. Sylvester has dedicated his life to serving and improving others for over 35 years. Sylvester provides training and workshops in the areas of cultural awareness, managing conflict, effective leadership, team building, diversity, equity and inclusion, and much more. Prior to the tragedy of 9/11, Sylvester worked with United Airlines in the area of Diversity Management. His background is in communications and diversity coaching. His messages are inspiring and life-changing.

*Attendance is required to receive a certificate of completion and CEUs.

Read More
Live Webinar

Tired, Wired, Mired And Inspired!: Strategies For Preventing Burnout and Secondary PTSD

Wednesday, June 05, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Online
Description

Many people who work in human services consider their work to be a "calling." There are two occupational hazards, burnout and compassion fatigue/secondary trauma, which threaten to undermine that calling and diminish your effectiveness. Burnout is caused by feeling ineffective in your work and organizational/team stress. Compassion fatigue (also called secondary trauma/secondary PTSD) is caused by absorbing the traumatic stories and experiences of clients. Both occupational hazards can lead to a loss of energy, loss of hope loss of enthusiasm, loss of idealism, spiritual distress, and decreased effectiveness.

This virtual presentation focuses on how to prevent and recover from burnout and compassion fatigue. Emphasis will be placed upon: self care; four things high performers do to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue; how to maintain energy and reduce frustration in your youth development and/or clinical work and feel a greater sense of success.

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this workshop participants will:

  • Be aware of the 4 stages of Burnout
  • Understand the differences between burnout and compassion fatigue
  • Evaluate your personal vulnerability for developing compassion fatigue
  • Be able to utilize 10 strategies to help prevent burnout and compassion fatigue 
  • Have skills to reduce frustration in your youth development/clinical work
  • Be able to feel a greater sense of success in your work.

 

Read More
Live Webinar

Establishing and Elevating Inclusive Relationships

Monday, June 10, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Online
Description

By the end of this webinar, training participants will be able to define and apply principles and practices for establishing and elevating inclusive relationships. Participants will learn strategies for cultural humility and accountability.

Trainer Bio:

Sylvester Baugh is the owner-operator of Baugh Training & Consulting (BTC) in Illinois. Sylvester is an author, speaker, trainer, and life coach.  Sylvester has assisted a variety of educational institutions, businesses, and individuals in developing and sustaining quality relationships and viable systems. Sylvester has dedicated his life to serving and improving others for over 35 years. Sylvester provides training and workshops in the areas of cultural awareness, managing conflict, effective leadership, team building, diversity, equity and inclusion, and much more. Prior to the tragedy of 9/11, Sylvester worked with United Airlines in the area of Diversity Management. His background is in communications and diversity coaching. His messages are inspiring and life-changing.

Read More
Live Webinar

Culturally-Responsive and Trauma-Informed Practices for LGBTQIA+ Youth in Out-of-School Settings

Thursday, June 13, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Online
Description

In this interactive webinar session,  training participants will cultivate shared language, support increased organizational capacity for equity work, and develop commitments that build individual responsibility and capacity regarding systemic change.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Participants will build their own skills toolbox that addresses three main areas that support anti-racist/pro-queer approaches:

  • Protecting and empowering young people’s right to self-determination
  • Thoughtful and intentional communication
  • Addressing complex needs of harm, justice, and healing

Objective 2: Participants will be able to develop commitments that build individual responsibility and capacity regarding systemic change, as well as increase personal understanding of systemic oppression and their role in the system.

Objective 3: Participants will be able to discern between different types of accountability. Additionally, participants will understand the complexity of being accountable as an ongoing, ever-evolving practice.

 

Read More
Online

Authentic Youth Engagement Online Course

Online
Description

Youth are critical partners in the development and implementation of programs and strategies that impact them. This course provides learners with the knowledge and skills to authentically engage youth in prevention and youth development programs. Topics include: adolescent development, the advantages of youth involvement, phases of authentic engagement, combating stereotypes and discrimination, adultism's impact, and effective youth recruitment and retention strategies. Participants will explore the importance of equitable power-sharing, recognize misconceptions, and understand how to engage youth effectively while navigating complexities in engagement practices.

Read More
Online

Best Practices for Increasing Retention and Graduation Rates for Young Black Men

Online
Description

This training was originally delivered as a live webinar in March 2023. After identifying the need for both live and self-study training opportunities, Prevention First partnered with Dr. Lance Williams, Professor of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies at Northeastern Illinois University to offer the training in an asynchronous format. Dr. Lance Williams, known for his keen intellect and fierce determination to uplift youth at risk, will share his extensive research related to inequities surrounding recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of young Black men and will share his vast experience of introducing youth to their inner strengths. By taking this course, participants will feel empowered to help prepare young Black men for college success. Participants will learn about historic points of view, examine data and prominent barriers that impede many urban youth’s educational and career aspirations, identify potential strategies to overcome barriers, and understand why Black and Brown males should consider enrolling in highly selective colleges and universities. This course will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.

Read More
Online

Collaborating with Key Stakeholders

Online
Description

This online course will increase participants’ knowledge and skills related to building relationships and collaborating with key community stakeholders. Participants will learn strategies for identifying and engaging key stakeholders, building relationships and getting stakeholders on board, and convening local coalitions.

Read More
Online

The Dynamic Adolescent Brain (RPSA)

Online
Description

This online training will increase participants' knowledge of how the teen brain develops, how adolescent brain development differs throughout various stages, and how adolescent brain development influences adolescent thinking and behavior. The impact of early life trauma and racism will also be explored. Participants will examine their beliefs and attitudes about adolescence and how they affect their work with youth. This training will also highlight the value of authentically partnering with young people.

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Alcohol Misuse as a Risk Factor for Gun Violence Archived Webinar

Online
Description

The webinar was recorded on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. You cannot receive CEUs for archived webinars. 

Alcohol use and gun violence are leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. These issues are most deadly when they intersect with one another. This webinar will discuss research and policy recommendations from the report “Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence-Based Approach,” pointing to alcohol misuse is a risk factor for all forms of gun violence, including homicides and suicides, confirming the urgent need to adopt evidence-based policies that address this troubling link.

Joshua Horwitz, J.D. is the Dana Feitler Professor of the Practice in Gun Violence Prevention and Advocacy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. He works to reduce gun violence by utilizing public health research and health equity analysis to build advocacy campaigns that meet critical opportunities in the policy development process. With over 30 years of experience, Professor Horwitz is a key leader in firearm policy development and education. Along with a small group of colleagues, Professor Horwitz developed the Extreme Risk Protection Order Policy, which is now law in 21 states and the District of Columbia. As a result, Josh is now the principal investigator of the National ERPO Resource Center at Johns Hopkins, a Department of Justice-funded training and technical assistance hub that provides support to states implementing extreme risk protection orders. Professor Horwitz has also developed many policy translation reports, including the newly released Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence-Based Approach for State Policy and the original report from the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy identifying ERPO as a needed policy tool titled, Guns, Public Health, and Mental Illness: An Evidence-Based Approach. He has also testified before numerous state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. Professor Horwitz is the co-author of Guns, Democracy and the Insurrectionist Idea, published by the University of Michigan Press in 2009. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1985 and his J.D. from The George Washington University in 1988.

Silvia Villarreal is the Director of Research Translation at the Center for Gun Violence Solutions. She aims to bridge the gap between research and policy by translating research into evidence-based materials for different audiences. Silvia is also the Managing Director for the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy where she coordinates a group of experts to craft gun violence policy solutions from a public health perspective. She has led several reports on firearm policy, such as the “Racial Equity Impact Assessment Framework for Gun Violence Prevention” and “Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: an Evidence-Based Approach for State Policy.”

Silvia began her career doing research and evaluation for community-based violence prevention programs in vulnerable communities in Mexico. Her research around gun trafficking, gun violence in Mexico, and the impact of US gun policies abroad has been published in different academic journals and news outlets. She has a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in public policy from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey.

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Recorded Webinar

Breaking Intergenerational Patterns of Trauma, Substance Use Disorders, and Dark Family Secrets

Online
Description

Trauma and substance use disorders run in families across generations and are often fueled by dark family secrets. Topics covered in this presentation include the role of treatment and prevention specialists in breaking intergenerational patterns of trauma, substance use disorders, and dark family secrets; breaking Intergenerational patterns by focusing on the unique needs of children of parents with substance use disorders and children on the FASD spectrum; the role of parents and persons in recovery in breaking intergenerational patterns; mobilizing the entire community to help break intergenerational patterns of trauma and substance use disorders. You will learn about successful programs in breaking intergenerational patterns in Iceland, Native American, Metropolitan, and rural communities. 

Presenter: Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC

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Recorded Webinar

The Science of Networks

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Description

During these complex times of change and transition within the healthcare environment, we need to know more about how to strategically build robust networks and measure and evaluate our networks' effectiveness. In this webinar, Dr. Danielle Varda, Associate Professor at the University of Denver and Founder/CEO of Visible Network Labs, shares her expert knowledge on applied network science, with specific expertise in health, public health, and educational system approaches. Click the link below and use passcode +9Au1Rk. to access the recording.

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