Substance Use Prevention Training

Conducting Focus Groups is a series of two courses that introduce the Substance Use Prevention Program (SUPP) providers to the steps necessary to conduct a successful focus group. The two courses in the series include:

Introduction to Focus Groups Register

Preparing for Successful Focus Groups Search below for upcoming dates.

The Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations virtual classroom training series introduces participants to foundational strategies for convening and facilitating collaborative prevention groups, including community coalitions and advisory boards/groups (primarily comprised of adults or adults and youth, but not youth-only groups). The three courses in the series include:

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 1: Collaborative Purpose and Participation Search below for upcoming dates.

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 2: Structuring for Success Search below for upcoming dates.

Convening Coalitions and Community Collaborations 3: Productive Group Processes and Facilitation Search below for upcoming dates.

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 (Pre-requisite for IISUP III)  

IISUP II  

IISUP III Search below for upcoming dates.

Planning and Implementing Communication Campaigns is a series of three courses introducing Substance Use Prevention Program (SUPP) providers to the basic skills, information, and concepts needed to plan and implement effective communication campaigns. The three courses in the series include:

Introduction to Communication Campaigns (Pre-requisite for Ten Steps for Planning & Implementing Communication Campaigns) Register

Ten Steps for Planning and Implementing Communication Campaigns (Pre-requisite for Developing Materials for Locally-Designed Campaigns) Search below for upcoming dates.

Developing Materials for Locally-Designed Campaigns Search below for upcoming dates.

The SUP Supervisor Training is a series of three online courses designed for managers supervising prevention staff and providing programmatic oversight of the IDHS SUPR grant. By taking the courses in this series, participants will identify critical skills of prevention specialists to consider in hiring decisions and apply a hiring process, identify strategies for providing initial and ongoing program support to prevention staff, and identify strategies for providing effective staff supervision.

STS Course 1: Making the Right Hiring Decision  Register

STS Course 2: Providing Program Support to Your Prevention Staff  Register

STS Course 3: Developing Effective Supervisory Skills  Register

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. 

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During this course, participants will discuss how to establish the function and purpose of community coalitions and collaborations, and identify strategies for recruiting a diverse group of stakeholders. Participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities to maximize learning opportunities.

*This course is 3 hours; an additional 30 minutes of prework is required.*

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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. Participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities to maximize learning opportunities.

*This course is 3 hours; an additional 30 minutes of prework is required.*

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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. Participants should have a specific collaboration in mind when completing training activities to maximize learning opportunities.

*This course is 3 hours, and an additional 30 minutes of prework is required.*

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This in-person networking event will give IDHS Substance Use Prevention Program Services (SUPS) and Chicago Substance Use Prevention Program Services (CSUPS) professionals the opportunity to discuss prevention-related topics with each other and share resources and experiences. Participants should come prepared to discuss their prevention program successes and challenges. SUPS and CSUPS professionals are encouraged to attend whichever event is most convenient.

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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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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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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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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 (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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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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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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This innovative four-day, in-person training 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.

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 SAPTS training does not meet the IDHS SUPP New Worker training requirements of IISUP I, IISUP II, and IISUP III.

The SAPST includes a self-paced online component and face-to-face training, totaling 31 training hours. Before registration for the in-person training can be approved, SAPST participants MUST complete the online course Introduction to Substance Abuse Prevention: Understanding the Basics.

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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 4^th and 5th grades,  Middle School, and High School.

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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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Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact a child’s immediate and lifelong health as well as the well-being of their families, communities, and even society. Thankfully, ACEs are preventable, and with the right support, children can develop the resilience necessary to heal from the ACEs they’ve endured. This online training will help you understand and recognize ACEs and provide useful strategies for trauma-informed care. Get the insights you need to create positive childhood experiences for kids today, leading to bright futures for adults tomorrow.

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This online training provides general information about substance use disorder and the impact of substance use on the brain and adolescent development and introduces drug classifications and types. Participants will further explore the effects and trends of the most widely used substances by teens - alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Participants will learn about the effects of each drug on the brain and body, signs and symptoms of use, and state and national rates and trends of use. Participants will obtain additional resources to learn more about ATOD effects and trends.

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Youth are critical partners in developing and implementing programs and strategies that impact them. This course gives learners 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 equitable power-sharing, recognize misconceptions, and understand how to engage youth effectively while navigating complexities in engagement practices.

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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.

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This webinar originally aired live on June 13, 2024. The recording is approximately 45 minutes

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This online training provides an overview of environmental strategies and immerses participants in a scenario where they learn about the process of selecting environmental strategies that fit the community environment. Participants will learn what environmental strategies are and their benefits, which stakeholders to engage in the selection and implementation of environmental strategies, a process for identifying environmental strategies that match identified contributing factors and key components of building capacity for environmental strategies. 

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This online training will increase participants’ knowledge of how the teen brain develops, how adolescent brain development differs throughout various stages, and how adolescent brain development influences adolescent thinking and behavior. The impact of early life trauma and racism will also be explored. Participants will examine their beliefs and attitudes about adolescence and how they affect their work with youth. This training will also highlight the value of authentically partnering with young people.

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This online training will assist prevention education facilitators in strengthening their facilitation and classroom management skills. The training is designed for facilitators who implement prevention programs in schools but who are not school staff. Participants will learn to identify and address facilitation-related challenges via three key strategies: building strong partnerships with classroom teachers, making minor curriculum adjustments to increase engagement and relevance to the audience, and applying effective facilitation techniques. Participants will hear real-life examples and experiences from classroom facilitators during the training.

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IISUP I: Welcome to Prevention is a self-paced, online course that introduces participants to the prevention field. It provides an overview of the need for prevention services, prevention history, the evolution of prevention science, and evidence-based prevention. The estimated completion time for the course is 2 hours. 

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IISUP II: SUP System Orientation is a self-paced, online course that introduces Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Substance Use Prevention Program (SUPP) providers to the Illinois substance use prevention system (SUP). The course includes an overview of IDHS and SUPP, the roles and responsibilities of SUPP providers, and grant, reporting, and training requirements. Additionally, IISUP II now contains a Prevention Hub Orientation. The Prevention Hub is the online reporting system for SUPP grantees. The Prevention Hub Orientation is optional, although you are strongly encouraged to complete it if you will be responsible for entering Hub data. If you choose to bypass the HUB Orientation at this time, you must still launch the course and complete the first four slides before completing the IISUP II evaluation and post-test. You may return to the course anytime and complete the modules at your own pace.  

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This online self-study course introduces participants to the term ‘communication campaign,’ the goals and objectives of communication campaigns within the SUPP system, and the SUPP standards.  

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This online self-study course, the first of the Conducting Focus Groups series, identifies the characteristics of focus groups and when to use them, illustrates how to create a focused purpose statement, and guides participants through the steps of planning a focus group study. The second course of the series is Preparing for Successful Focus Groups (virtual classroom).

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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.

Overview of Strategic Planning is a self-paced, online course that provides participants with an overview of the purpose and process of developing a comprehensive strategic substance abuse prevention plan. Participants will better understand the community coalition's role and the steps involved in developing a strategic plan.

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During this online course, participants will obtain information, tips, and tools for planning and implementing activities for National Prevention Week. National Prevention Week is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of and action around mental and/or substance use disorders.

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Preventing Prescription and Opioid Drug Misuse is an online course designed for substance use prevention professionals who would like a better understanding of prescription drug and opioid misuse. During the course, participants will learn about the most commonly abused prescription drugs, including opioids, use rates and trends among U.S. and Illinois teens, factors that contribute to prescription drug and opioid misuse, and effective prevention strategies and applicable resources.

The Prevention Hub is an online data collection system for IDHS Substance Use Prevention Program (SUPP) grantees. During this orientation, participants become familiar with Prevention Hub reporting screens and requirements, including weekly and cycle reporting, workplan projections, required documents, and event reporting. The Prevention Hub Orientation is optional, although SUPP grantees are strongly encouraged to complete it if they will be responsible for entering Hub data. Learners may access the modules at any time and in any order and can complete them at their own pace. 

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This online course will provide tips for promoting your prevention efforts to increase awareness and support for prevention and the prevention services you provide your community.

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This training will build participants’ knowledge and skills to promote the administration of the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) to schools in their service area. Participants will learn strategies to promote the IYS to schools and obtain schools’ commitment to administer the survey, as well as strategies for building relationships and overcoming barriers to participation. SUPP Providers will also become familiar with a recruitment plan template. This course consists of four modules plus a brief closing module. Estimated completion time for the entire course is 2 hours. 

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The SUP Supervisor Training is a series of three online courses designed for managers supervising prevention staff and providing programmatic oversight of the IDHS SUPR grant. By taking the courses in this series, participants will identify critical skills of prevention specialists to consider in hiring decisions and apply a hiring process, identify strategies for providing initial and ongoing program support to prevention staff, and identify strategies for providing effective staff supervision.

During this course, participants will identify critical skills to consider when hiring prevention specialists and apply a hiring process, including creating a job description, recruiting applicants, interviewing candidates, and making a candidate selection.  

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The SUP Supervisor Training is a series of three online courses designed for managers supervising prevention staff and providing programmatic oversight of the IDHS SUPR grant. By taking the courses in this series, participants will identify critical skills of prevention specialists to consider in hiring decisions and apply a hiring process, identify strategies for providing initial and ongoing program support to prevention staff, and identify strategies for providing effective staff supervision.

During this course, participants will identify strategies for supporting prevention staff, including communicating expectations, supporting professional development, supporting program planning and implementation, and identifying available resources.

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The SUP Supervisor Training is a series of three online courses designed for managers who supervise prevention staff and provide programmatic oversight of the IDHS SUPR grant. By taking the courses in this series, participants will identify critical skills of prevention specialists to consider in hiring decisions and apply a hiring process, identify strategies for providing initial and ongoing program support to prevention staff, and identify strategies for providing effective staff supervision.

During this course, participants will identify qualities of effective supervisors and strategies for providing effective supervision to staff, including developing a flexible management style, building relationships, challenging staff to grow, providing ongoing engagement, and conducting formal performance evaluations. Supervisors will also learn strategies for balancing their workload.

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Introduces CSUP/SUPS grantees to the Prevention Hub Drug Take Back Event feature that requires providers to enter specific information about Drug Take Back events occurring in their service area.

Recorded on March 7, 2024.

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The mission of Generation Rx is to educate people of all ages about the potential dangers of misusing prescription medications. We strive to enhance medication safety among our youth, college students, other adults in our communities, and older adults. Adolescence is a key developmental stage for developing good habits and positive decision-making. The “My Generation Rx” theme of the teen toolkit encourages teens to incorporate the Generation Rx messages into their individual, everyday lives. “My Generation Rx” emphasizes the positive choices the majority of teens are making and invites them to share their own stories of how they safely use medication and prevent misuse. The Teen Education activities talk with teens about safe medication practices, key skills to turn down invitations to misuse, and positive alternatives to cope with the demands of life. This learning session addresses the need for prevention education and how to use “My Generation Rx.”

Recorded in April 2019.

More info and recording

Introduces CSUPS/SUPS grantees to the Prevention Hub National Prevention Week feature that requires providers to enter specific information about National Prevention Week activities implemented by grantees to promote SAMHSA's National Prevention Week.

Recorded on March 13, 2024.

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Introduces RSUPICS grantees to the grant prevention activities and reporting requirements in the Prevention Hub.

Recorded on April 4, 2024.

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Introduces all SUPP grantees to the Prevention Hub SUPP Reports feature that empowers Hub users to explore and pull data on various screens within the Prevention Hub. Provides detailed information on the types of reports that can be generated along with how to view and export the data.

Recorded on March 9, 2023.

More info and recording

This webinar, hosted by the Center for Prevention Research and Development (CPRD), is provided to inform all Illinois SUPS and CSUPS providers about the 2024 Illinois Youth Survey. It includes recruitment efforts by CPRD, Chicago Public Schools, and tips for providers. Changes to the 2024 IYS were also described. 

Recorded on August 9, 2023.

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Marijuana is fully legal for adults in Illinois as of January 1, 2020. You might wonder what’s in the law and what it means for your prevention efforts. During this webinar, participants will learn about the Illinois marijuana law, including benefits and concerns related to legalization. We’ll also discuss relevant prevention education messages and strategies.

This is a recorded webinar from December 2019. 

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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. Mutual Ground sponsors this training. 

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Dr. Brian Williams of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health presents an overview of vaping, including basic facts about how it works, the harm it causes, and current national youth vaping stats and trends. Jake Levinson shares Illinois-specific data regarding vaping use among youth, which was taken from the 2018 Illinois Youth Survey.

This is a recorded webinar. 

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Introduces CSUPS/SUPS grantees to the Prevention Hub Work Plan Projections feature, including how to accurately report YAC/YPE/CC work plan projections and how to utilize the Communication Log to communicate with DHS/Prevention First/CPRD about YAC/YPE/CC projections. The Communication Log is the central permanent location for all work plan projections communications.

Recorded on August 8, 2022.

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This webinar recording introduces CSUPS/SUPS grantees to the Prevention Hub YAC Meetings feature, which requires providers to enter specific information about YAC youth members and further details on implemented YAC meetings.

Recorded on May 23, 2023.

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