Prevention First’s Youth Prevention Resource Center (YPRC) provides training, education, resources, and tools for youth and adults who work with them.

The YPRC is committed to bringing you training that reflects best practices on strategies proven to reduce risks associated with substance misuse, teen traffic safety, and mental health and wellness. We also offer training to increase protective factors around the same, such as Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults.

Youth Prevention Resource Center

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. 

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

Beyond Vapes: Emerging Nicotine Products and Youth Prevention

As nicotine products continue to evolve, it is essential that adults who work with and support youth stay informed about emerging trends so they can provide effective guidance. This webinar will explore today’s youth nicotine landscape, including nicotine pouches, “smart” vapes, and other evolving products. Participants will learn what dual use means, why some young people may use more than one type of nicotine product, and how these patterns can affect prevention and intervention efforts. The webinar will also compare traditional prevention approaches with a comprehensive, health-based approach that emphasizes youth well-being, practical education, and supportive conversations. Participants will leave with actionable steps parents, caregivers, and adults who work with youth can use when they are concerned about a young person’s nicotine use, including how to start conversations, connect youth to resources, and promote healthier choices.

Search below for upcoming dates. 

Navigating Peer Influence: Practical Strategies for Supporting Youth

Peer pressure remains one of the most influential forces, and in today’s digitally connected world, it extends far beyond in-person interactions. This webinar explores how peer pressure can shape a young person’s behaviors in both social and online environments, including the impacts of social media, technology, and digital communities. Through real-life scenarios, participants will gain practical, actionable strategies to initiate supportive conversations with youth, strengthen their ability to resist unhealthy influence, and promote healthy boundary-setting.

Search below for upcoming dates. 

Online Training

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

IISUP I: Welcome to Prevention

IISUP I: Welcome to Prevention is a self-paced, online course introducing participants to youth substance use prevention. Participants of this course will explore why prevention matters, including the rates, effects, and consequences of youth substance use. Participants will also examine milestones and trends of substance use in our society over time, how prevention efforts have evolved throughout history, and the components of effective prevention. This course consists of six modules. Estimated completion time for the entire course is 3 hours. The estimated completion time for each module is 30 minutes.

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

The Dynamic Adolescent Brain

This online training will increase participants' knowledge of how the teen brain develops, including key changes throughout various stages. Participants will learn how brain development shapes learning, emotions, decision-making, and risk-taking. The training also explores how substance use, screen time, and stress affect the developing brain. Participants will also learn strategies to communicate with teens, build authentic relationships, and help teens manage stress and build resilience.

Register 

Recorded Webinars

Engaging Youth in Prevention

This is a recorded webinar. No CEUs are offered for recorded webinars.

Presenters: Kellie Henrichs, Randyl Wilkins, Kathy Murphy, Jody Heavilin, and Jacob Levinson

This webinar will share effective strategies that have been shown to engage youth in meaningful prevention efforts. 

Upon completing the webinar, participants will be able to: 

  • Describe the importance of authentic youth engagement 
  • Recognize opportunities to engage youth in prevention work 
  • Highlight ways youth can benefit from being involved in prevention work 
  • Identify how to recruit youth for prevention work 

View Recording

Engaging Youth in Prevention: SAB Edition

This is a recorded webinar. No CEUs are offered for recorded webinars.

Presenters: Makenna Gill, SAB Alumni, moderator; Shrinidhi Sriraman, SAB Member, panelist; Laila Hutchison, SAB Member, Panelist; Rachel Coutinho, SAB Member, Panelist

Join three of our new Student Advisory Board members as they share their thoughts and experiences on authentically engaging youth in prevention work.  

View Recording

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 decision-making, 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
THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE ILLINOIS INTRODUCTION TO SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION (IISUP) SERIES

IISUP I: Welcome to Prevention

Online
Description

IISUP I: Welcome to Prevention is a self-paced, online course introducing participants to youth substance use prevention. Participants of this course will explore why prevention matters, including the rates, effects, and consequences of youth substance use. Participants will also examine milestones and trends of substance use in our society over time, how prevention efforts have evolved throughout history, and the components of effective prevention. This course consists of six modules. Estimated completion time for the entire course is 3 hours. Estimated completion time for each module is 30 minutes.

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, including key changes throughout various stages. Participants will learn how brain development shapes learning, emotions, decision-making, and risk-taking. The training also explores how substance use, screen time, and stress affect the developing brain. Participants will also learn strategies to communicate with teens, build authentic relationships, and help teens manage stress and build resilience.  

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Engaging Youth in Prevention

Online
Description

This webinar will share effective strategies shown to engage youth in meaningful prevention efforts.

No CEUs are offered for recorded webinars.

Presenters: Kellie Henrichs, Randyl Wilkins, Kathy Murphy, Jody Heavilin, and Jacob Levinson

 

Please take a moment to complete our post-webinar evaluation!

Helpful Links:

YPRC Tip Sheet - Engaging Youth in Your Messaging

APRC Resource - Youth Voice: Educating Elected Officials

APRC Resource - Youth Voice: Educating on Policy

APRC Resource - Strategic Prevention Framework Resource Guide

APRC Resource - Law Enforcement Strategies Guide

ChangeLab Solutions Pathways to Policy

 

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YPRC

Prevention First's Prevention Connection

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Recorded Webinar

Engaging Youth in Prevention: SAB Edition - Archived Webinar

Online
Description

Join three of our new Student Advisory Board members as they share their thoughts and experiences on what it means to authentically engage youth in prevention work. 

No CEUs are offered for recorded webinars.

Presenters: Makenna Gill, SAB Alumni, moderator; Shrinidhi Sriraman, SAB Member, panelist; Laila Hutchison, SAB Member, Panelist; Rachel Coutinho, SAB Member, Panelist

 

Read More