This training is for preventionists who would like to know more about the biological effects of substances. Participants should be familiar with the classes of drugs. Participants will first review the basics of the way the human central nervous system (brain and spinal column) work along with the brain structures responsible for pain, motor control, reward, craving, and decision-making. They’ll then explore what happens when we introduce a variety of “artificial” rewards into these brain structures and systems. The workshop will cover how each class of drug causes its effects, how they become “rewarding,” and what leads to craving and addiction. Some of these drugs can cause brain damage and impact certain functions, so those agents and the problems they can cause will be reviewed. Other areas covered will be the growing research and use of “pharmacotherapies” in treatment, and how certain drugs can cause problems with the developing brain in adolescents and young adults.

LEVEL: Intermediate
TRAINERS: John Steiner, MPH, CPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6 Drug Specific 
FEE: $130

This course is designed to acquaint the substance abuse prevention professional with the ethical standards established by the New Mexico Credentialing Board for Behavioral Health Professionals. Participants will be provided with the Prevention Code of Ethics and use this code to demonstrate knowledge of the standards in case studies. Participants will become familiar with a decision making model that can be helpful when facing ethical dilemmas. This session provides the required six hours of ethics training for certification or re-certification. This course is also required before Advanced Ethics training is taken.

LEVEL: Beginning
TRAINER: Ginny Adame, CPS
ETHICS CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6
FEE: $130

Becoming a Certified Prevention Specialist demonstrates your commitment to substance abuse prevention. This credential is not easy to earn, it requires knowledge of evidence-based prevention practices, skill of turning this knowledge into relevant action in your community, and the ability to use your skills and knowledge to provide effective prevention services in multiple domains. This training will review the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium's (IC&RC) prevention domains through the exploration of subject areas you need to master to pass the test. These areas include, but are not limited to: a comprehensive overview of prevention theory, frameworks, (think SPF), evidence-based practices/strategies, strategic planning, cultural competence, coalition development, communication strategies,  Institute of Medicine's Continuum of Care, public health approaches to prevention, ATOD-effects of drugs on the brain, and ethical issues in prevention. You will also examine practice test questions so you can get a feel for the test. After completing this course you will be able to determine if you are ready to test or need to spend more time mastering the test material.
 
LEVEL: Intermediate
TRAINER: Concha Montano
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 13.2
FEE: $250

This course is repeatedly offered because it has been reported as one of the most impactful trainings many Preventionists have taken. The skills gained in this training will help participants facilitate discussions, meetings, planning sessions, education sessions, community mobilization activities that require group collaboration, and even in everyday relationships. Prevention at its essence is about facilitating change.  Facilitation is not about using force or fear, rather it gets people to think critically and be engaged in processes that create change. Good facilitation requires the mastery of many skills.  An effective facilitator must be knowledgeable of processes that engage people, have emotional intelligence, and manage groups when conflict arises. This is a very intense skill-building training that will improve confidence in a safe environment and will provide participants with a set of tools for activities, planning, and interventions. Participants will receive two incredible resource books in addition to a manual that serves as useful reference when appropriate.
Special Note: Due to the individual practice this training offers, it is open to only 10 participants. Training schedule: 9:00-5:00.
 
LEVEL: Intermediate
TRAINER: Paula Feathers, MA
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 15.6
FEE: $260

This training is one of the most important a Preventionist can take.  This “boot camp” uses an interactive format to introduce the history of prevention and examines theories put into practice in our profession. Participants will also take an in depth look at the Strategic Prevention Framework and the activities that fall under each component (assessment, capacity, planning, implementation, evaluation, cultural competence and sustainability) of the framework. You will be provided with a manual that will serve as an excellent reference resource for years to come. This training has been updated with a lot of new information and will be useful to both the novice and experienced preventionist. NOTE: This course will go until 5:00 each day.

LEVEL: Beginning
TRAINER: Natalie Skogerboe, MPA, CPS and Tracey Corder, MBA
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 31.2
FEE: $450

#YouNeedThisTraining  There are many social media tools available to you that could help educate and mobilize your community to make your prevention efforts more successful in a broad range of demographics. This practical, hands on, training will provide an opportunity for participants to comprehensively explore social media. Topics covered include: organizational rules and regulations about social media; developing effective messages for targeted demographics, how to stay engaged and present in social media, challenges with various social medial platforms, converting files for use in messages, and a review of network safety considerations. Additionally, time will be spent reviewing and practicing developing messages for Facebook, Instragram, and Twitter. This training will be led by Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women staff who use social media every day and have a proven record of effectively using it to mobilize communities.

LEVEL: Advanced
TRAINERS: Cheyenne Antonio, Keioshiah Peter, and Curtison Badonie
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
FEE: $130

For decades, the data has shown that alcohol has the greatest impact on New Mexico families and communities when compared with other drugs. It is crucial that preventionists in our state are experts on the many facets of alcohol misuse and abuse. This training will provide participants with a comprehensive overview including how alcohol works in and impacts the body; both immediately and with long term abuse. Different types of alcoholic beverages will be examined and discussed as well. Participants will also review data specific to New Mexico to see what the numbers tell us about alcohol both use and consequences. Participants will leave the training with a solid understanding of why it is so important to prevent the misuse and abuse of this drug.

LEVEL: Beginning
TRAINERS: Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6 Drug Specific 
FEE: $130

Over and over again former participants of this training have said they never knew Excel could do so many cool things and could be so accessible by "non-data people". Excel is an essential software tool for organizing and presenting data, and is used extensively in the field of prevention. This training is specifically for people who do not use Excel on a regular basis.  In this online training you will learn and practice basic Excel skills. You will become familiar with the menus and interface for working with spreadsheets, and you will learn how to enter and format data, use simple formulas to calculate totals and averages, and create tables & charts. Guidance will be provided for selecting and creating the appropriate type of chart for your data. The training will also provide opportunities to download and work with Excel spreadsheets from important online data sources for prevention, such as NM-IBIS and County Health Rankings. (Note that tutorials will be presented in video format, so be sure that you have a relatively fast connection to the Internet and the ability to access online video.) Expand your skill set with this amazing training.(Participants go at their own pace to complete 9+ hours of online work. Please plan ahead and set aside sufficient time to complete the class.)

LEVEL: Intermediate
DEVELOPED AND FACILITATED BY: Natalie Salvatore PhD
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 9
FEE: $150

NOTE: If you are registering for this online training and you already have an account, LOG IN FIRST from the link at the top right of the Home page, then continue with registration. If you do not have an account already, you will create a login username/password when you register for your first online training.

Public policy initiatives are environmental prevention approaches (strategies) that can play an important role in substance misuse prevention. This training will describe a range of evidence-based and promising state and local prevention policies that could reduce ATOD misuse in our communities. We will increase our understanding of the legislative process, at the state and local level. As prevention specialists, there are many ways we can participate in promoting system level change. We will learn ways to educate our communities and elected officials about these powerful strategies and develop skills for providing expert testimony.  A framework for developing a strategy for policy change will be presented, with an emphasis on inviting and strengthening collaboration. The training will also include case studies of coalitions that have been involved in successful local and state policy efforts and provide a list of upcoming state legislative efforts that could impact ATOD misuse.

LEVEL: Advanced
TRAINERS: Shelley Mann-Lev, MPH, SCPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
FEE: $130