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Elevate Your Impact: Join Us at the Connections in Prevention Conference 2024!
Date: September 25-27, 2024
Location: Chicago Marriott Naperville
Are you passionate about driving positive change in your community? Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the premiere event in prevention, behavioral health, and equity!
At the Connections in Prevention Conference 2024, we're bringing together experts and advocates to explore innovative practices and strategies that promote behavioral health, resilience, and equity. Anchored within a racial equity lens, our conference aims to better situate prevention within diverse perspectives and foster inclusive solutions.
At our conference, we're focused on:
- Better Situating Prevention Within Engagement of Diverse Perspectives in Racial Equity and DEI.
- Delivering Outcome-Focused Professional Development with CEU Opportunities.
- Highlighting Practical Solutions and Best Practices.
- Cultivating Networking for Collaborative Outcomes.
- Increasing Brand Awareness and Recognition Through Thought Leadership.
- Integrating Self-Care for Holistic Well-Being.
- Encouraging Actionable Steps for Change and Advocacy.
Join us for:
- An engaging pre-conference program on September 25, 2024.
- Inspiring keynote presentations and panel discussions by industry leaders.
- Networking sessions to connect with like-minded professionals.
- Workshops offering actionable strategies and best practices.
- Professional development opportunities with CEU credits available.
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Engaging discussions on racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in prevention efforts.
Register now to secure your spot and join us in creating a future where prevention, equity, and resilience thrive together! You can also submit your proposal for workshops and sign up to exhibit in our exhibit hall.
Let's come together to make a meaningful impact and drive positive change in our communities. See you at the Connections in Prevention Conference 2024!
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National Alcohol Awareness Month 2024 | |
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National Alcohol Awareness Month is observed each April to raise awareness of the far-reaching effects of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, over 140,000 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year. In the state of Illinois alone, 20.5% of Illinois adults over 18 binge drink at least once per month. An average of 5,151 annual deaths in Illinois are attributed to excessive alcohol use.
The CDC estimates that 134,820 years of potential life is lost to excessive alcohol use each year. Many Americans have been touched, in some way, by alcohol misuse.
Prevention First’s Alcohol Policy Resource Center (APRC) provides training, education, resources, and tools on evidence-based alcohol policy strategies to municipalities, local officials, law enforcement, and community coalitions focused on underage drinking in communities throughout Illinois.
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For more information about National Alcohol Awareness Month, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the Prevention First Alcohol Policy Resource Center, and the Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) toolkit.
Community coalitions and stakeholders can use special events, social media posts, newspaper ads, and radio public service announcements to spread the word about Alcohol Awareness Month. Local health departments and medical facilities are good resources to partner alongside. The more organizations can work together, the greater the overall effect will be.
It's not too late to organize a meaningful health awareness campaign for Alcohol Awareness Month.
You can make a difference in your community!
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APRC Hosts Webinar for Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the APRC is excited to share that we are hosting the Deaths From Excessive Alcohol Use on the Rise in the US: What We Know and What We Can Do webinar on April 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Dr. Marissa Esser, Lead of the Alcohol Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, will facilitate the webinar. She will share how alcohol-related deaths have been increasing during the past two decades, particularly in recent years. This presentation will describe the most recent data available on deaths from excessive alcohol use in the United States using a comprehensive measure that accounts for 58 causes of alcohol-related deaths, as well as trends in these deaths. It will also discuss resources on effective strategies for reducing excessive drinking and alcohol-related harms, including deaths, to promote improved health and well-being. Register here.
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.
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Start Planning Now for National Prevention
Week!
SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week is coming up May 12th – 18th. National Prevention Week is a public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country that are preventing substance use and misuse and promoting positive mental health.
National Prevention Week is shifting to celebrate and promote year-round prevention initiatives. SAMHSA created a new, ongoing virtual series to showcase, elevate, and celebrate the important prevention ideas, events, news, and activities that impact communities nationwide.
Many working in substance use prevention still take advantage of this week to conduct and promote activities in their communities that increase awareness of and action around mental and/or substance use disorders.
Online training Spotlight
Need some ideas or want to learn more about NPW? Take Prevention First’s online self-paced Planning for National Prevention Week course. During this course, participants will obtain information, tips, and tools for planning and implementing activities for NPW.
National Prevention Networking Conference
Registration for the 2024 National Prevention Network Conference "Connecting Research, Practice, Innovation, and Equity" opens on April 1! The NPN Conference highlights the latest research in the substance use prevention field. It provides a forum for prevention professionals, coalition leaders, researchers, and federal partners to share research, best practices, and promising evaluation results to integrate research into prevention practice.
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Youth Advisory Board Deadline Extended!
The Youth Prevention Resource Center at Prevention First is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Youth Advisory Board (YAB). The board comprises 9th – 12th graders who serve on this state-wide board for one year. These youth serve as the authentic youth voice of the YPRC and guide, direct, and influence the resources, programming, and training we provide throughout the year. They undergo training and have opportunities to speak with various stakeholders that impact our shared work. This is an excellent opportunity for youth in local youth prevention or leadership groups to get involved at the state level!
We are looking for students in your area to apply for the YAB. We want diverse representation among the youth who serve on the board. We want youth from urban, suburban, and rural areas. We are looking for youth with different racial identities, socioeconomic status, gender identity and sexuality, and schooling status. Most of all, we want youth who desire to be involved, create change, and advocate for healthy environments among their peers.
If you know of youth in your area who would benefit from being on the YAB, please share this application link with them. It is linked below. We have just extended the deadline to apply to April 12, 2024. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are always here to help.
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National Youth Violence Prevention Week is April 22 – 26, 2024.
The National Youth Violence Prevention Week (NYVPW) was founded to raise awareness and empower young people. During NYVPW, youth lead in their communities by promoting effective strategies to prevent youth violence. Each day of the week corresponds to a specific challenge activity.
Prevention First is pleased to join others from around the country in advocating for safe spaces. Our efforts are amplified by the Reimagine Public Safety Act, a transformative initiative working to change communities across Illinois. Let’s unite in raising awareness, fostering dialogue, and advocating for comprehensive approaches to youth safety that prioritize prevention, equity, and justice. Together, we can empower our youth and build a future where every young person can thrive.
This month, the Prevention First RYD-TTAS Team will host the Foundations of Positive Youth Development Series: Everyone’s an Asset Builder and Sharing the Asset Message. This series is based on The Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets Framework and focuses on the powerful role of individual asset builders in the lives of youth. Click here for more information about the Search Institute and free downloadable materials.
The Prevention First Reimagine Youth Development TTAS Team provides training and technical assistance for youth development and violence prevention professionals funded by the IDHS Office of Firearm Violence Prevention. For more information, contact us.
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Communities Urged to Consider Delta-8 Regulation
Delta-8 products, or psychoactive cannabis products produced from hemp, are now found throughout Illinois in various retail locations. A new study from researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that these products are often severely mislabeled and often contain either additional psychoactive ingredients like Delta-9 THC, or have a completely different potency than what is listed on the label.
The CPRC suggests towns examine their own local regulations on Delta-8 and other cannabis-derived products. Consult the municipal ordinance directory on our resources page for some examples of Delta-8 bans and age-restricted sales, and reach out for assistance!
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Leadership Center Harm Reduction ECHO Series Two Resumes
The Prevention First Leadership Center Harm Reduction ECHO Series Two starts again on April 29th from 10:00 – 11:00 am (CST). The topic is “Veterans and Harm Reduction.”
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, and 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. 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 submit a case.
Leadership Center Newsletter!
Don’t miss Leadership Center updates. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
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Save the Date: Virtual QPR 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.
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.
Or join us during Pride Month in June for a virtual QPR training with a special focus on preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ folks. 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.
Save the date!
QPR - Youth Suicide Prevention
May 6th, 2024
QPR – LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention
June 13th, 2024
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NAMI Illinois In-Person Facilitator Training Weekend
Join your NAMI Illinois trainers for an in-person training weekend at Heartland Community College (Normal, Illinois) Saturday-Sunday, April 20-21.
Available trainings during the weekend-long event include:
• In Our Own Voice
• Connection Support Group
• Family Support Group
• Family-to-Family
• Peer-to-Peer
• Ending the Silence – Students, Families, and Staff
To request a training application and/or for more information, contact State Training Director Lachell J. Aaroneaux. Please contact your NAMI affiliate director/leader to begin the application process.
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