Analyzing and Sharing Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) Data
This virtual classroom training event is the second of the Analyzing and Sharing Illinois Youth Survey Data series and is offered during IYS Non-Administrative years. During this training, participants will organize, examine, and summarize local IYS data to identify concerns, priorities, and outcomes. Participants will identify methods for displaying and packaging data and strategies for sharing and analyzing data with schools and stakeholders. Additionally, participants will identify ways to incorporate data into local prevention strategies. The first course of the series is Introduction to Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) Data.
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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 as well as 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; an additional 30 minutes of prework is required.*
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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; an additional 30 minutes of prework is required.*
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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, and an additional 30 minutes of prework is required.*
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Developing Materials for Locally-Designed Campaigns
During this interactive virtual classroom course, participants will learn the steps and best practices involved in planning and implementing a locally designed communication campaign. Participants will become familiar with print ad principles and obtain tips, tools, and resources for designing and pilot testing materials.
All SUPS and CSUPS staff implementing locally-designed communication campaigns who have not previously completed Planning and Implementing Communication Campaigns are required to complete this course.
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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 for individuals working with youth and/or adult groups. By the end of the training, participants will understand the stages of group development, the major issues associated with them, and how to identify and use interventions that will influence group behavior. This interactive training will incorporate theory into discussions, group interaction, role-playing and practice, and applied learning.
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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.
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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.
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Foundations of Youth Prevention Education
Foundations of Youth Prevention Education (YPE) prepares direct service providers to implement evidence-based Youth Prevention Education (YPE) programs. Participants will obtain a basic understanding of the components and best practices related to implementing any YPE model program. This training will increase participants’ knowledge and skills in planning, managing, facilitating, and evaluating a Youth Prevention Education program.
Foundations of YPE is offered in both the virtual classroom and classroom setting. The virtual classroom course requires participants to complete 3 hours of individual work to obtain credit for the course. Prework will be assigned for each session.
Note: All SUPP providers reporting hours for youth prevention education are required to complete this course.
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Getting Ready for the Prevention Certificate Exam: Strategy, Practice, and Confidence
Join Nicole Augustine from RIZE Consultants, author of The Prevention Specialist Exam Study Guide, on this interactive virtual training session to help prevention professionals prepare for their certification exam, focusing on strategy, confidence-building and interactive knowledge application. Participants will gain a better understanding of the Prevention Certification Exam structure, domains, and expectations. In addition to discussing evidence-informed test preparation strategies, Nicole will lead participants through a live quiz game using sample exam-style questions to assess knowledge and provide real-time feedback. All participants who attend the live session will also receive a free copy of the Prevention Specialist Exam Study Guide. Note; No CEU’s will be provided for this event.
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Illinois Introduction to Substance Use Prevention (IISUP) III: A Framework for Prevention
Illinois Introduction to Substance Use Prevention is a series of three courses to introduce Substance Use Prevention Program (SUPP) providers to the field of prevention (IISUP I), the state substance use prevention system (IISUP II), and prevention best practice (IISUP III). All SUPP grant staff are required to take all three courses in the series. IISUP I and II are online courses, and IISUP III is a virtual classroom course.
IISUP III: A Framework for Prevention introduces Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Substance Use Prevention Program (SUPP) providers to the prevention specialist’s role in service delivery. Participants will be introduced to program planning, capacity-building, implementation, and evaluation strategies. Participants will also learn about their role in prevention, including exploring ethical issues related to their personal and professional conduct.
IISUP I: Welcome to Prevention is a prerequisite course for this course.
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Illinois Prevention Summit
Get ready to ignite your impact! This one-day free virtual summit, hosted by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery and Prevention First, is your chance to connect with other prevention professionals across Illinois and learn about valuable tools and resources to amplify your prevention programs and services. The virtual summit is open to all those in Illinois working on substance use prevention, including Substance Use Prevention Program (SUPP) Grantees, Drug-Free Communities Coalitions, other prevention coalitions, StopAct grantees, BASE grantees, and other prevention advocates and partners.
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Power Hour for Peers
The goal of Power Hour for Peers is to create a collaborative space for SUPP prevention professionals to share successes, explore challenges, and seek guidance from both peers and SUP TTA Specialists. Each session will also highlight valuable resources to support ongoing learning and engagement.
Advancing Prevention through Partnerships: Strong prevention work is built on strong partnerships—with schools, law enforcement, local organizations, and community members. Come ready to discuss the successes and challenges you've experienced while building these connections. We’ll brainstorm together and encourage one another to develop creative, sustainable partnerships that move prevention forward.
Building Respectful and Engaged Classrooms: Join us for a group discussion on how to build classrooms filled with engagement, laughter, and respect. We welcome providers at all experience levels. Come ready to share your insights and pick up new tips and strategies to bring back to your YPE lessons.
Centering Culture in Your Prevention Work: Join us for a meaningful conversation on how prevention efforts can be shaped by community culture—and how to ensure your programs are truly responsive to the needs of those you serve.
Getting Ready for the Certified Prevention Specialist Exam: Join us for this Power Hour for Peers to network with others preparing their CPS application and studying for the exam. We will focus on sharing resources, studying tips, and test-taking techniques. This Power Hour is open to anyone going through the CPS process or just interested in learning more from others who are currently working towards their certification or have been recently certified.
Let's Discuss the Certified Prevention Specialist Process: Are you passionate about prevention work and wondering how to take the next step in your career? Maybe you have heard about the Prevention Specialist Certification but are unsure what it is and where to start. You are not alone. Join us during this Power Hour for Peers to network with other prevention professionals interested in the CPS process and those who recently passed the exam and can share their insights. Come with curiosity and questions.
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Preparing for Successful Focus Groups
This virtual classroom training event is the second of the Conducting Focus Group series. During this interactive course, participants will learn how to screen and recruit participants, develop effective questions to gain useful insights, moderate focus groups successfully and confidently, and analyze the results of the focus groups to bolster programming. Introduction to Focus Groups must be completed prior to registering for this course.
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SPF Application for Prevention Success Training (SAPST)
Join us for an innovative four-day, virtual classroom training that will equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to implement effective, data-driven prevention strategies that reduce behavioral health disparities and promote overall wellness. This training is perfect for entry-level prevention specialists, individuals seeking certification, public health professionals, and health educators.
The SAPST includes a self-paced online component and virtual classroom training, totaling 31 training hours. Before registration will be approved for the in-person training, SAPST participants MUST complete the online course Introduction to Substance Abuse Prevention: Understanding the Basics.
What Does The SAPST Prepare You To Do?
- Improve Practice: Develop a comprehensive approach to prevention guided by SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework.
- Reduce Disparities: Identify the needs of vulnerable populations and enhance cultural competency to reduce behavioral health disparities.
- Sustain Prevention: Collaborate effectively across sectors to address shared risk factors and improve community health and well-being.
Certified Prevention Specialist Hours:
- IC&RC's Prevention Specialist Credentialing Approved: This training offers 31 hours that can be applied toward meeting the education/training requirement.
- Continuing education hours (CEUs) are only available to participants who complete the online and in-person training components.
Note: Although some of the content is similar, the SAPST training does not meet the IDHS SUPP New Worker training requirements of IISUP I, IISUP II, and IISUP III.
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Too Good for Drugs 4th and 5th Grade
The Too Good for Drugs Program has a developmentally appropriate and separate curriculum for grade K-12. This training is designed to prepare facilitators to implement the Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) Program successfully for 4th/5th grade students and with fidelity within a classroom setting.
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Too Good for Drugs Facilitator Training
TGFD is a school-based prevention program designed to reduce the risk factors and enhance the protective factors related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among students. Participants will gain hands-on experience with the core curriculum while acquiring essential prevention education teaching strategies. The training will familiarize participants with the program's research, theory, and concepts and provide an opportunity for facilitation practice. This training is designed to prepare facilitators to implement the Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) Program successfully and with fidelity within a classroom setting. The Too Good for Drugs Program has a developmentally appropriate and separate curriculum for grades K-12; however, training is only provided for the SUPP-approved implementation for 4th and 5th grades, Middle School, and High School.
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Too Good for Drugs Middle School & High School Combined
The Too Good for Drugs Program has a developmentally appropriate and separate curriculum for grade K-12. This training is designed to prepare facilitators to implement the Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) Program for either MS or HS grades successfully and with fidelity within a classroom setting. It is most applicable to those that facilitate TGFD in both the MS and the HS settings. However, it will meet the IDHS training requirements for those implementing TGFD in either middle school or high school.
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Ten Steps for Planning and Implementing Communication Campaigns
During this interactive virtual classroom course, participants will learn about the steps and best practices involved in campaign planning and implementation. Introduction to Communication Campaigns must be completed before registering for this course.
This course is required for all SUPS and CSUPS staff reporting hours for communication campaigns who have not previously completed Planning and Implementing Communication Campaigns.
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