Training at Prevention First

During this interactive virtual classroom 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 focus groups to bolster programming. Introduction to Focus Groups must be completed prior to registering for this course.

All SUPS and CSUPS staff reporting hours for communication campaigns who have not previously completed Conducting Focus Groups are required to complete this course.

This training is recommended to have a copy of the ASAM 4th Edition Criteria textbook available. If one is not available, an excerpt link will be provided for use in the training. The excerpt cannot be printed or saved. 

This two-day, application-focused training will provide participants with an in-depth look at some of the significant changes and improvements in the Fourth Edition. Participants will have opportunities to apply and practice key components of the Criteria, including but not limited to; the six dimensions, level of care assessment, application of Risk Ratings to each of the Five Dimensions, Dimensional Admission Criteria Decision Rules, shared decision-making and an overview of Service Characteristic Standards, Discharge and Transition Criteria.

All participants receive an in-depth electronic training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application, as part of the training.

Books are not required, but highly recommended.

The Illinois Department of Human Services funds this training and is only open to license-funded treatment professionals in the state of Illinois.

This training is recommended to have a copy of the ASAM 4th Edition Criteria textbook available. If one is not available, an excerpt link will be provided for use in the training. The excerpt cannot be printed or saved. 

This two-day, application-focused training will provide participants with an in-depth look at some of the significant changes and improvements in the Fourth Edition. Participants will have opportunities to apply and practice key components of the Criteria, including but not limited to; the six dimensions, level of care assessment, application of Risk Ratings to each of the Five Dimensions, Dimensional Admission Criteria Decision Rules, shared decision-making and an overview of Service Characteristic Standards, Discharge and Transition Criteria.

All participants receive an in-depth electronic training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application, as part of the training.

Books are not required, but highly recommended.

The Illinois Department of Human Services funds this training and is only open to license-funded treatment professionals in the state of Illinois.

Learn the Foundations model to implement high-quality sex education. Foundations aims to ensure that sex educators have the skills to effectively facilitate student learning, create safe and inclusive environments, and provide opportunities for skill-building and values exploration.

Participants will understand the relationship between the treatment plan and the use of
admission, continued stay, and transition criteria. In addition, participants will learn how to
write measurable, individualized treatment plans based on the Dimensional Drivers and
individualized needs and preferences of the person served. Participants will also have the
opportunity to explore ways in which the patient’s stage of change impacts and drives a
person-centered treatment plan and a cursory review of core motivational interviewing skills
for treatment planning conversations, shared-decision making and to support readiness for
and engagement in treatment.

Effective supervision is the foundation of strong youth development programs. When supervisors lead with clarity, care, and consistency, staff feel supported, motivated, and equipped to succeed. This, in turn, improves retention, boosts performance, and strengthens program outcomes that benefit youth and communities. This webinar will help participants understand the qualities of effective supervisors, recognize the core practices that build strong teams, and apply strategies to communicate expectations, support staff development, and guide program administration.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training series, participants will be able to:

• Identify the benefits of effective supervision
• Identify qualities of effective supervisors
• Identify core supervisory practices, including strategies for building strong relationships, adapting a flexible management style, fostering connection and self-care, evaluating performance and providing feedback, and balancing workload.
• Identify key functions of supervision

This training is recommended to have a copy of the ASAM 4th Edition Criteria textbook available. If one is not available, an excerpt link will be provided for use in the training. The excerpt cannot be printed or saved. 

This two-day, application-focused training will provide participants with an in-depth look at some of the significant changes and improvements in the Fourth Edition. Participants will have opportunities to apply and practice key components of the Criteria, including but not limited to; the six dimensions, level of care assessment, application of Risk Ratings to each of the Five Dimensions, Dimensional Admission Criteria Decision Rules, shared decision-making and an overview of Service Characteristic Standards, Discharge and Transition Criteria.

All participants receive an in-depth electronic training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application, as part of the training.

Books are not required, but highly recommended.

The Illinois Department of Human Services funds this training and is only open to license-funded treatment professionals in the state of Illinois.

Group therapy and group work is a common way to deliver SUD treatment interventions in various types of treatment settings. Participants enrolled in this training will develop professional knowledge and skill for group work services to and for diverse persons affected by mental health issues, substance use disorders, and other behavioral addictions. The phases of group development and intervention during the various group work stages provide a conceptual framework for the training experience. Participants will compare and contrast the group dynamics of a mutual aid framework and the eleven therapeutic factors that lead to positive outcomes in group therapy. This training is highly experiential, and participants will engage in a parallel process of being group members and examining the roles of group leadership during this training. Training participants will demonstrate how to navigate discord, member testing, mandated patients and conflict in group settings using a mutual aid framework of group work.

Objectives:

1. Recognize the benefits of developing group norms using a mutual aid framework to establish group safety and increase trust in the early stages of group.
2. Compare and contrast the group dynamics using a mutual aid framework and the eleven therapeutic factors that lead to positive outcomes in substance use disorder groups.
3. Identify the different stages of group development, and short term, long term, open and closed groups and specific interventions to foster safety, universality, and group cohesion.
4. Practice responding to conflict, discord, and responding and working with mandated patients in a group setting.
5. Discuss strategies for clinically appropriate group endings, and transitions.

This virtual classroom training 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 strategies for program planning, capacity-building, implementation, and evaluation. Participants will also learn about their role in prevention, including an exploration of ethical issues related to their personal and professional conduct.

This training is recommended to have a copy of the ASAM 4th Edition Criteria textbook available. If one is not available, an excerpt link will be provided for use in the training. The excerpt cannot be printed or saved. 

This two-day, application-focused training will provide participants with an in-depth look at some of the significant changes and improvements in the Fourth Edition. Participants will have opportunities to apply and practice key components of the Criteria, including but not limited to; the six dimensions, level of care assessment, application of Risk Ratings to each of the Five Dimensions, Dimensional Admission Criteria Decision Rules, shared decision-making and an overview of Service Characteristic Standards, Discharge and Transition Criteria.

All participants receive an in-depth electronic training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application, as part of the training.

Books are not required, but highly recommended.

The Illinois Department of Human Services funds this training and is only open to license-funded treatment professionals in the state of Illinois.

Self-care for Providers is a dynamic, interactive workshop that addresses the healing and self-care needs of providers, supervisors, and others who are of vital assistance to individuals, children, and families navigating substance use and mental health challenges. Topics include secondary traumatic stress, burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and building resilience on the individual and organizational level.

Objectives:

1. Understand and define the elements of compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and stress
2. Understand and define burnout and how it relates to organizational characteristics
3. Describe and prepare strategies to build emotional resilience at an individual and organizational level
4. Define the process by which individuals and organizations can move from reactivity to resilience through the use of assessment, prevention, and intervention

This training is recommended to have a copy of the ASAM 4th Edition Criteria textbook available. If one is not available, an excerpt link will be provided for use in the training. The excerpt cannot be printed or saved. 

This two-day, application-focused training will provide participants with an in-depth look at some of the significant changes and improvements in the Fourth Edition. Participants will have opportunities to apply and practice key components of the Criteria, including but not limited to; the six dimensions, level of care assessment, application of Risk Ratings to each of the Five Dimensions, Dimensional Admission Criteria Decision Rules, shared decision-making and an overview of Service Characteristic Standards, Discharge and Transition Criteria.

All participants receive an in-depth electronic training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application, as part of the training.

Books are not required, but highly recommended.

The Illinois Department of Human Services funds this training and is only open to license-funded treatment professionals in the state of Illinois.

This interactive learning community explores how communities and law enforcement agencies can collaboratively redefine public safety through trust-building, shared accountability, and community-informed strategies. Participants will examine how trust is built (and rebuilt), how historical experiences shape present-day perceptions, and how collaboration can move beyond crisis response toward prevention, equity, and long-term community well-being. Grounded in community engagement principles, this session highlights practical tools for building sustainable, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive partnerships. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen collaboration, improve communication, and co-create safety solutions that reflect community priorities.

After this learning community event, participants will be able to:

• Explain what community-centered public safety means and why shared leadership matters.
• Recognize how history, lived experience, and systemic inequities influence trust and engagement.
• Identify strategies that promote transparency, accountability, and mutual respect.
• Identify approaches that support constructive dialogue across differences.
• Consider at least two actionable steps to strengthen partnerships with law enforcement in their own community.