In conjunction with The Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Family & Community Services, training events are offered to enhance funded Teen Pregnancy Prevention grantees' skills, abilities, and knowledge. Training is designed to assist the grantees in effectively planning, implementing, and evaluating appropriate evidence-based strategies to address local Teen Pregnancy Prevention issues.

Training Events

Our 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

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. Participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities to maximize learning opportunities.

*This course is 3 hours; an additional 30 minutes of prework is 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. Participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities to maximize learning opportunities.

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

Search below for upcoming dates.

Effective Group Facilitation

The ability to lead groups is essential to various positions within the prevention field. This two-day training builds basic facilitation skills of individuals working with youth and/or adult groups. By the end of the training, participants will understand the stages of group development and the major issues associated with them, as well as how to identify and use interventions that will influence group behavior. This is an interactive training that will incorporate theory into discussions, group interaction, role-playing and practice, and applied learning.

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 in making improvements. To maximize learning opportunities, participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities.

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

Search below for upcoming dates.

Establishing and Leading a Youth Advisory Committee

In this one-day training, participants will learn how to establish and lead a youth advisory committee to support local substance use prevention efforts. Participants will learn best practices for engaging youth in advisory roles, how to establish an advisory committee structure, and strategies for recruiting and retaining youth advisors. Participants will also learn appropriate roles for youth committee members in substance use prevention activities.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Foundations of Prevention Ethics

During this course, participants will explore the six principles of the Prevention Code of Ethics. Participants will then learn and use an ethical decision-making process to apply the Prevention Code of Ethics to various realistic ethical examples that substance use prevention professionals may encounter.

This course was developed by the SAMHSA Center for Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) and will be facilitated by Prevention First’s Substance Use Prevention Training and Technical Assistance Specialists. A certificate for six (6) training hours is provided upon completion. This ethics training has been endorsed by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and meets the IC&RC’s prevention ethics education requirement for prevention specialist credentialing.

Search below for upcoming dates. 

Foundations of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Education

Foundations of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Education provides a basic understanding of the components and best practices related to implementing any TPPE program. This training will increase participants’ knowledge and skills related to planning, managing, facilitating, and evaluating Teen Pregnancy Prevention Education.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Online Training

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Strategies for Trauma-Informed Care

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact a child’s immediate and lifelong health as well as the well-being of their families, communities, and even society. Thankfully, ACEs are preventable, and with the right support, children can develop the resilience necessary to heal from the ACEs they’ve endured. This online training will not only help you understand and recognize ACEs but will also provide useful strategies for trauma-informed care. Get the insights you need to create positive childhood experiences for kids today, leading to bright futures for adults tomorrow.

Register

Authentic Youth Engagement

Youth are critical partners in developing and implementing programs and strategies that impact them. This course gives learners 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.

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

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

Health Equity in Prevention

This online course is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of health equity, emphasizing the urgent need for preventative measures in healthcare. Learners are invited to embark on a transformative journey from foundational knowledge to actionable strategies, ensuring that health equity is not just conceptualized but integrated into daily practices and organizational policies. Modules include: Health Equity 101, Health Equity 102, Exploring the Social Determinants of Health, Addressing Inequities, and Health Equity in Action. 

Register

Introduction to Engaging Youth in Prevention

This online training will provide an overview of youth engagement and best practices for working with youth committees/councils. Participants will learn about the benefits of engaging youth, levels of youth participation, strategies for addressing barriers to youth engagement, and best practices for youth/adult partnerships.

Register

Recorded Webinars

Adult Recruiting and Retention in Youth Programs

This recorded webinar provides participants with an overview of best practices for recruiting adult volunteers into the Youth Champion program.

Objectives: Participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the benefits to the program
  • Identify recruitment planning steps and practices
  • Recognize components in recruitment strategy
  • Identify the importance of diversity and barriers to specific populations
  • Recognize best practices in screening
  • Recognize the importance of orientation and training
  • Recognize retention and recognition strategies

View Recording

Youth Champion Recruitment and Retention Training

This webinar provides participants an overview of meaningful youth engagement, strategies to recruit and retain youth in programs, and steps to evaluate recruitment efforts. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from each other through group discussions and be provided the tools necessary to recruit youth for the Youth Champion program and other meaningful youth leadership opportunities.

Objectives: Participants will be able to:

  • Define meaningful engagement
  • Recognize the Spectrum of Adult Attitudes
  • Define recruitment
  • Recognize barriers, benefits, and competition to youth engagement
  • Identify steps for recruitment
  • Define retention
  • Recognize principles of retention

View Recording

Classroom

Establishing and Leading a Youth Advisory Committee

Wednesday, December 04, 2024
09:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Prevention First's Chicago Office (Branch Office) - Chicago, IL
Description

In this training, participants will learn to establish and lead a youth advisory committee to support local substance use prevention efforts. Participants will learn best practices for engaging youth in advisory roles, establishing an advisory committee structure and strategies for recruitment and retention of youth advisors. Participants will also learn appropriate roles for youth committee members in substance use prevention activities.

Read More
Classroom

Effective Group Facilitation

Tuesday, March 18 - Wednesday, March 19, 2025
09:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Prevention First's Springfield Office (Headquarters) - Springfield, IL
Description

The ability to lead groups is essential to a wide variety of positions within the prevention field. This two-day training builds basic facilitation skills of individuals working with youth and/or adult groups. By the end of the training, participants will understand the stages of group development and the major issues associated with them, as well as how to identify and use interventions that will influence group behavior. This is an interactive training that will incorporate theory into discussions, group interaction, role playing and practice, and applied learning.

Read More
Classroom

Effective Group Facilitation

Tuesday, March 18 - Wednesday, March 19, 2025
09:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Prevention First's Chicago Office (Branch Office) - Chicago, IL
Description

The ability to lead groups is essential to a wide variety of positions within the prevention field. This two-day training builds basic facilitation skills of individuals working with youth and/or adult groups. By the end of the training, participants will understand the stages of group development and the major issues associated with them, as well as how to identify and use interventions that will influence group behavior. This is an interactive training that will incorporate theory into discussions, group interaction, role playing and practice, and applied learning.

Read More
Classroom

Establishing and Leading a Youth Advisory Committee

Thursday, May 01, 2025
09:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Prevention First's Chicago Office (Branch Office) - Chicago, IL
Description

In this training, participants will learn to establish and lead a youth advisory committee to support local substance use prevention efforts. Participants will learn best practices for engaging youth in advisory roles, establishing an advisory committee structure and strategies for recruitment and retention of youth advisors. Participants will also learn appropriate roles for youth committee members in substance use prevention activities.

Read More
Online

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Strategies for Trauma-Informed Care

Online
Description

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact a child’s immediate and lifelong health as well as the well-being of their families, communities, and even society. Thankfully, ACEs are preventable, and with the right support, children can develop the resilience necessary to heal from the ACEs they’ve endured. This online training will not only help you understand and recognize ACEs but will also provide useful strategies for trauma-informed care. Get the insights you need to create positive childhood experiences for kids today that will lead to bright futures for adults tomorrow.

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

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

Facilitating Prevention Education Curricula

Online
Description

This course will assist prevention education facilitators in strengthening their facilitation and classroom management skills. The course is designed for facilitators who implement prevention programs in schools, but who are not school staff. Participants will learn to identify and address facilitation-related challenges via three key strategies: building strong partnerships with classroom teachers, making minor curriculum adjustments to increase engagement and relevance to the audience, and applying effective facilitation techniques. Participants will also hear real-life tips from experienced classroom facilitators.

Read More
Online

Health Equity in Prevention

Online
Description

This online course is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of health equity, emphasizing the urgent need for preventative measures in healthcare. Learners are invited to embark on a transformative journey from foundational knowledge to actionable strategies, ensuring that health equity is not just conceptualized but integrated into daily practices and organizational policies. Modules include: Health Equity 101, Health Equity 102, Exploring the Social Determinants of Health, Empowering Action, and Health Equity in Action. 

Read More
Online

Introduction to Engaging Youth in Prevention

Online
Description

This online training provides an overview of youth engagement and best practices for working with youth committees/councils. Participants will learn about the benefits of engaging youth, levels of youth participation, strategies for addressing barriers to youth engagement, and best practices for youth/adult partnerships.

Read More
Online

The Dynamic Adolescent Brain

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

Adult Recruiting and Retention in Youth Programs

Online
Description

This recorded webinar provides participants with an overview of best practices for recruiting adult volunteers into the Youth Champion program.

Objectives: Participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the benefits to the program
  • Identify recruitment planning steps and practices
  • Recognize components in recruitment strategy
  • Identify the importance of diversity and barriers to specific populations
  • Recognize best practices in screening
  • Recognize the importance of orientation and training
  • Recognize retention and recognition strategies

View the recording

Participant Guide

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Youth Champion Recruitment and Retention Training

Online
Description

This webinar provides participants with an overview of meaningful youth engagement, strategies to recruit and retain youth in programs, and steps to evaluate recruitment efforts. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from each other through group discussions and be provided the tools necessary to recruit youth for the Youth Champion program and other meaningful youth leadership opportunities.

Objectives: Participants will be able to:

  • Define meaningful engagement
  • Recognize the Spectrum of Adult Attitudes
  • Define recruitment
  • Recognize barriers, benefits, and competition to youth engagement
  • Identify steps for recruitment
  • Define retention
  • Recognize principles of retention

View Recording

Participant Guide 

 

Read More
1