National Prevention Week is coming up!

May 2024

National Prevention Week 2024: A Celebration of Possibility

Though prevention efforts continue

year-round, National Prevention Week is set aside to showcase the work of communities and organizations nationwide that are preventing substance use and promoting positive mental health.

This year, National Prevention Week is May 12-18, 2024. Learn more about how you can get involved throughout the week and register for the events taking place.

From Ad Libs and crossword puzzles to bingo and word searches, these activities prove that learning about prevention can be fun!

Amplify the power of prevention during National Prevention Week and beyond by sharing your #MyPreventionStory on social media, downloading this planning toolkit, and spreading the word about National Prevention Week.

National Prevention Week is a public education platform that spotlights prevention coalitions and organizations that are making a positive social impact in their communities. How can your organization strive to be a catalyst for positive change?

You can send questions, events, and requests to SAMHSA's National Prevention Week coordinator David Wilson .

Special Events Policies Help to Keep Communities Safe

Special events such as fairs and festivals will soon be in full swing as we near summer. While special events provide community members an occasion to celebrate, they can also offer underage youth an opportunity to access alcohol. If alcohol is a part of a special event, specific policies and procedures should be in place that make it difficult for youth to purchase alcohol or obtain alcohol from adults at the event. Special events with clear alcohol policies and procedures in place also send a clear message that the consumption of alcohol by youth is not acceptable.

The APRC has developed several resources to assist communities, including a Special Events Toolkit. This toolkit outlines considerations to help event organizers plan safe, family-friendly events and avoid issues like overserved patrons and underage alcohol consumption. You can download the entire toolkit or the appendices. The APRC has also developed a Safe and Successful Events infographic with tips for keeping everyone safe.

The Alcohol Policy Resource Center can assist with analyzing your data, scanning your community, and matching policy/strategy to assessment findings. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Jody Heavilin.

Upcoming Webinar: Using a Trauma Informed Lens and Health Equity When Working With Clients

This webinar will be held Wednesday, May 29th, from 9:30 am – 11:30 am.

Presented by Jay Hughes, this training will explore the principles of a trauma-informed approach in client interactions and the connection between trauma-informed care and health equity. It will also discuss strategies for implementing trauma-informed care and health equity principles in various settings. Jay Hughes is the founder of Committed Consulting LLC, a certified peer specialist for Addictive Disease (CPS-AD), and a certified peer specialist for Mental Health (CPS-MH) who is focused on increasing the impact of recovery from substance use disorder and mental health challenges through education, training, and advocacy. This training is sponsored by Mutual Ground. Click here to register.

Online Training Spotlight: Community stakeholders or other community partners are valuable resources that can help you achieve your prevention goals and enhance program implementation. Increase your knowledge and skills in building these relationships by taking the Collaborating with Key Stakeholders in Substance Use Prevention online course. Participants will learn strategies for identifying and engaging key stakeholders, building relationships, getting stakeholders on board, and convening local coalitions.

Additional Online Training Opportunities

There is always more to learn about prevention! Visit the Online Training tab on the Substance Use Prevention Training page to access additional trainings available including: AOD Effects and Trends, Creating Community Change with Environmental Strategies, The Dynamic Adolescent Brain, Preventing Prescription and Opioid Drug Misuse, Promote Your Prevention Efforts and Build Support, and more!

New Resource!

The YPRC is happy to release our newest resource - "Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Intersection of ACEs & Increased Risk Factors for Youth." This resource explores research showing that the presence of ACEs in a young person’s life could increase the likelihood of that young person developing a substance use disorder later in life. In addition, this resource explores the effect of benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) as protective factors in a young person’s life.

Engaging Youth Leaders in Successful Prevention Programming Webinar

June 3, 2024

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

CEUs Offered!

This upcoming YPRC webinar training session is designed for professionals who support youth programming in schools and communities. Training will include dynamic strategies to engage youth leaders in successful prevention programming. Utilizing the YPRC’s “Year-Round Planning Guide,” participants will have a broader understanding of implementing monthly prevention programs that align with standards and engage youth leaders. Click here for more information and to register.

May is Mental Health and Trauma Awareness Month in Illinois. Adopted in June 2021, SR0301 states that Illinois is committed to “[moving] from a siloed, individual approach to a collaborative, person-centered healing approach to identify, strengthen, and empower individuals and communities to craft a future positive history of Illinois.” Join Prevention First and other organizations at workshops, trainings, and webinars all month long, where you can build your organization’s capacity to support healing-centered communities where young Illinoisians can thrive.

Upcoming Webinar: Supporting Students of Color: An In-person Workshop with Author Jennifer DeLeon

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, from 9:30 AM-12:00 PM

Facilitated by celebrated author, speaker, and professor Jennifer DeLeon, this workshop at Prevention First's Chicago office will help youth development and violence prevention professionals, educators, administrators, and more to develop an identity-conscious practice when working with young people and understand strategies to build engagement and learning. Click here to register.

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

Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 from 10:00 AM- 11:30 AM

Facilitated by Mark Sanders, this webinar covers 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. Click here to register.

Upcoming webinars offered at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work:

Embracing Resilience and Recovery in the Wake of Collective Trauma

May 7, 2024, from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Presented by Tara Powell, Associate Professor, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign School of Social Work, this presentation will examine the broad and lasting effects on the health and well-being of children, families, and communities as they recover from community-wide disasters. Register here.

Intergenerational Adversity among Youth and their Parents/Caregivers in Illinois: Recommendations for Screenings & Family-based Prevention Efforts

May 14, 2024, from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Presented by Rachel Garthe, Associate Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work, this webinar will examine the transmission (i.e., sending down to younger generations) of adversity. A wealth of research demonstrates the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult outcomes. More recently, researchers have begun examining the link between parent/caregiver ACEs and their children’s ACEs, experiences with violence, and mental health outcomes. This presentation will examine the link between parent/caregiver and youth adversity using data from the FAMILIES study, which collected data from 679 caregiver-youth dyads in Illinois. Register here.

Mental Health Awareness Month and National Women's Health Awareness Week

May recognizes two important health topics: National Mental Health Awareness Month and National Women’s Health Week after Mother’s Day, both health areas impacted by cannabis use.

While more research is always needed, there are many studies that associate cannabis use with undesired mental health outcomes. The CDC also recommends that mothers avoid cannabis use during breastfeeding.

Strong local cannabis policies can help prevent these impacts. Check out our resources and sign-up for our newsletter today!

Save the Date for the Leadership Center Harm Reduction ECHO

The Prevention First Leadership Center Harm Reduction ECHO Series Two is officially underway! Session Two: Cultural Humility and Harm Reduction is May 20th from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM! We hope to see you there!

Prevention First Leadership Center (PFLC) Harm Reduction ECHO focuses on harm reduction issues and community-based strategies to prevent substance use-related overdoses, deaths, or other harmful impacts, including decreasing the stigma surrounding harm reduction. These ECHOs are open to anyone, so please join us!

Each ECHO session includes a 20-minute presentation facilitated by a guest speaker. The remainder of the session involves case presentation(s) and peer discussion on strategies to overcome the issues presented. Register Now!

Submit a Case Presentation

Case presentations are at the core of the ECHO program. This is an opportunity to engage the community and peers in discussing real-life situations, challenges, or practices. The case presentation form captures information about the “case” you want to address. We’d love to hear from you! If you want to present a case, please contact Megan Edmondson to discuss. This is a friendly environment to discuss with a community of your peers. We’d love to talk you through the process and support you in any way.

Click here to Click here to submit a case a case.

The Youth Prevention Resource Center and Prevention First Leadership Center are hosting a free webinar on May 14th!

Don’t miss it!

"LGBT Connections” will be facilitated by Jonna Cooley, PhD, the Executive Director of the Phoenix Center, Central Illinois’ LGTB Center.

This workshop covers basic LGBT concepts and terminology, transgender-specific information, including medical and social transitioning, how to be more LGBT-friendly and welcoming, how being more open and welcoming can reduce service disparities and chronic disease, and your role in making a difference. Register Now!

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to differentiate between the four main concepts of biological sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Participants will understand what it means to be transgender and the basics of social and medical transitioning.
Participants will learn how being open and welcoming increases trust and reduces medical disparities.
Participants will learn ten (10) ways to be more LGBT-open and welcoming.

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Upcoming QPR Suicide Prevention Training Opportunities

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR 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.

QPR Youth Suicide Prevention Training – May 6th, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death among 15–24-year-olds (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Join Prevention First’s Mental Health and Youth Prevention Resource Centers during Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week for a virtual QPR training with a focus on preventing suicide among young people. Click here for more information and to register.

QPR LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Training – June 13th, 2:00 PM-3:30 PM

The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People found that 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth. LGBTQ+ young people are not inherently prone to suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity but rather placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society. Join Prevention First's Mental Health and Youth Prevention Resource Centers during Pride Month for a virtual QPR training with a special focus on preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ folks. Click here for more information and to register.

Connections in Prevention Conference Registration is OPEN!

Date: September 25-27, 2024

Location: Chicago Marriott Naperville

You’re invited to learn from experts and each other about issues, current trends, and innovative practices that promote healthy environments, resiliency, and equity among youth, adults, and communities. We will have programming for all professionals who work across the continuum of care, including prevention, treatment, recovery, mental health, school-based personnel, and community-based organizations. Stay tuned for exciting agenda and speaker updates!

For more information or to register, visit the Connections in Prevention Conference 2024 website.