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

Engaging Youth Leaders in Successful Prevention Programming

This YPRC 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.

Objectives:

  • Identify strategies for engaging students in leadership roles with a growth mindset perspective.
  • Participants can effectively utilize the YPRC's planning guides to measure their effectiveness in implementing year-round prevention initiatives with youth leaders as partners.
  • Identify and apply techniques for cultivating a growth mindset to enhance the development of young leaders.
  • Participants will proficiently employ the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal framework to develop comprehensive prevention programs in collaboration with youth leaders.

Search below for upcoming dates.

QPR-LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention

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, in a short timeframe, how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.

The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People found that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including nearly 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.

Search below for upcoming dates.

Online Training

Authentic Youth Engagement

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.

Register

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

The Dynamic Adolescent Brain

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.

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

Recorded Webinars

Authentic Youth Engagement

These 60-minute recorded webinars on Authentic Youth Engagement target adults who work with youth, adults who seek to learn about authentic youth engagement, educators, and prevention professionals. Certificates of Completion/CEU's are not provided for recorded webinars. Authentic Youth Engagement - Part One was recorded on February 15, 2022 and Part Two was recorded on March 29, 2022. 

View Part One Recording

View Part Two Recording    

Being Visible: A Look at What It Takes To Be An LGBTQ+ Ally

This webinar was hosted on June 15, 2022. There are no CEUs offered for viewing this recording. 

Presenters: Bryant Laiche, Randyl Wilkins, and Makenna Gill

This special Pride Month webinar examines what it takes to be an LGBTQ+ ally. This webinar explores how you can support members of the LGBTQ+ community and fight against the risk factors that contribute to increased substance misuse and mental health challenges. 

View Recording

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

LGBT Connections - Recording

This webinar was recorded on May 14, 2024. No CEUs are offered for recorded webinars.

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

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.

View Recording

Live Webinar

Performance Based Substance Use Prevention

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
02:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Online
Description

Performing is performing! Performing optimally and living our best life pertains to all areas including academics, athletics, extra-curriculars, arts, and any other type of performance. Understanding the ways sleep, nutrition, mental health, and substance use impact our bodies, brains, and performance is vital for adolescence and beyond. The Illinois Human Performance (IL HPP) project aims to address the critical issue of substance use among adolescents by focusing on the foundational elements of overall wellness. IL HPP has developed comprehensive educational materials and programming that emphasize the importance of sleep, nutrition, mood & mindset, and chemical health. These four science modules are tailored for middle school, high school, and emerging adult populations, and highlight how these factors influence their performance in academics, sports, and other extracurricular activities. By fostering a holistic approach to health, they seek to prevent the use and misuse of substances through a performance based approach. Additionally, adolescent athletes face a tremendous amount of pressure to perform both academically and athletically. These stressors, frequent injury and subsequent recovery, puts adolescent athletes at an indicated risk of potential opioid exposure and misuse. The IL HPP Prescription Playbook empowers adolescent athletes on healthy ways to cope with stress and how to set themselves up for success in all aspects of life. Join two of OMNI's prevention programs, The Illinois Human Performance Project and The IL HPP Prescription Playbook to learn about how these programs have successfully provided prevention education efforts through the lens of performance in counties all across the state of Illinois!

Read More
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 equitable power-sharing, 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, 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.

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Authentic Youth Engagement - Part One (Recorded)

Online
Description

These 60-minute recorded webinars on Authentic Youth Engagement targets adults who work with youth; adults who seek to learn about authentic youth engagement; educators; and prevention professionals. Certificates of Completion/CEU's are not provided for recorded webinars.

Authentic Youth Engagement - Part One (February 15, 2022)

 

 

 

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Authentic Youth Engagement - Part Two (Recorded)

Online
Description

These 60-minute recorded webinars on Authentic Youth Engagement targets adults who work with youth; adults who seek to learn about authentic youth engagement; educators; and prevention professionals. Certificates of Completion/CEU's are not provided for recorded webinars.

Authentic Youth Engagement - Part Two (March 29, 2022)

 

 

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Being Visible: A Look at What It Takes To Be An LGBTQ+ Ally (Recorded)

Online
Description

This webinar was hosted on June 15, 2022. There are no CEUs offered for viewing this recording. 

This special Pride Month webinar looks at what it takes to be an LGBTQ+ ally. This webinar will explore how you can support members of the LGBTQ+ community and fight against the risk factors that contribute to increased substance misuse and mental health challenges.

Presenters: Bryant Laiche, Randyl Wilkins, and Makenna Gill

View webinar 

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Engaging Youth in Prevention

Online
Description

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

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

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

 

Please take a moment to complete our post webinar evaluation!

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 

Helpful Links:

YPRC Tip Sheet - Engaging Youth in Your Messaging

TSRC Peer to Peer Traffic Safety Program

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

CADCA

 

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APRC

CPRC

YPRC

Prevention First's Prevention Connection

Read More
Recorded Webinar

Engaging Youth in Prevention: SAB Edition - Archived Webinar

Online
Description

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

Summary: Join 3 of our new Student Advisory Board members as they share their thoughts and experiences on what it means to engage youth in prevention work authentically.

 

Read More
Recorded Webinar

LGBT Connections - Recording

Online
Description

This webinar was recorded on May 14, 2024. No CEUs are provided for recorded events. 

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

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.
Read More