Advanced Level

This training is for people who have met criteria to apply for their Certified Prevention Specialist Credential and will be testing within the next 6 months. Becoming a Certified Prevention Specialist requires you know the entire breadth of prevention, even things that are not in your scope of work. This training will provide a brief overview of the history/building blocks of prevention and then will move into a review the six domains you will be tested on: Planning/Evaluation; Prevention Education/Service Delivery; Communication; Community Organization; Public Policy and Environmental Change; and Professional Growth/Responsibility. Because this is test preparation, you must come to this training with a working knowledge of each of these areas. Participants will also explore sample test questions and discuss test taking strategies. Prerequisite: Participants must have taken the Substance Abuse/Use Prevention Specialist Training (within the past 5 years) and Prevention Ethics. This training will meet for 4 mornings (9:00-12:00). Participants must be able to attend each session in its entirety. 

FACILITATOR: Ginny Adame, SCPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 13.2
SESSIONS: Live web-based, Oct 25, 26, 27, 28 (9:00am - 12:00 noon each day) 

In March 2021, the New Mexico state legislature passed HB 255. This landmark alcohol legislation is reshaping liquor sales in our state, and preventionists need to be ready to address the impacts of major changes in the alcohol environment. This training will take a look at how alcohol consumption has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic so that our prevention efforts can focus on emerging patterns of risky behavior.  During the training, you will learn the details of the new law and regulations and analyze potential impacts on problem drinking and youth access. Finally, we will discuss how to adapt responsible beverage service (RBS) strategies to reduce the risk of harms caused by increased access to liquor and home delivery of alcohol. 

FACILITATOR: Shelley Mann-Lev, MPH
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
SESSIONS: Live web-based, Nov 16-17 (9:00am - 12:00 noon each day) 

The World Health Organization estimates that 15% (over a billion) of the world population has a disability. In the United States, 61 million adults and 17% of children ages 3 – 17 have a disability. In New Mexico, the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) identified 26.5% of the adult population identifies with having a disability. Disabilities go beyond affecting people physically, whether it is short-term or long-term. Learning disabilities creates a difference in the way an individual processes and comprehends information. Because learning disabilities are “invisible,” it is easy to exclude this population in our work. There are several methods to being dismissive and inclusive in the way we deliver trainings, instructions, presentations, visual aids, and programs. This training will help preventionist understand the various aspects of disability and how to be inclusive in their prevention practice and workplace approaches. Participants will learn about disability policy, understanding the various learning disabilities (e.g. ADHD, dyslexia, mental health, memory retrieval, etc.), theories, models, universal design, and respectful language. Preventionist will gain hands-on experience and knowledge to be supportive of diverse learners. 

FACILITATOR: Leonel A. Diaz Jr., Ph.D.
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
SESSIONS: Live web-based, December 2 (9:00am - 4:00pm) 

As a human develops there are physical, mental, and emotional milestones they work to achieve and are nurtured by family, school, community and society in general.  Development plays an important role in substance use and misuse. The most effective substance use prevention strategies incorporate an understanding that substance use behaviors can fulfill a variety of developmental needs (Griffin, K. and Botvin, G., 2011). Understanding human development can help preventionist identify what strategies should be employed to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors at various stages of life. This training will explore the journey of human development including several psychological theories (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Stages, Piaget’s Cognitive Development Stages, and Cognitive-Behavioral). Foundational explanations as to how development can affect regulation and decision making will also be examined. Participants will review examples of prevention strategies that use these theories to help gain a concrete understanding of how human development shapes effective prevention. 

FACILITATOR: Donna Lucero, MA, LPCC
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 7.5
SESSIONS: Live web-based, Dec. 20-21 (9:00am - 12:15pm each day) 

When a student is caught violating school substance use policy, there is a critical opportunity for positive change. When a school seizes this moment for “problem identification and referral,” students and families can receive the support they need to reduce their risks and enhance protective factors to enable them to succeed in school and life. The goal of this workshop is to provide preventionists with the tools to help schools develop and implement supportive Alcohol, Tobacco and Vaping and other Drug policies. The workshop will present best practices and innovative approaches to responding to students who violate policies. Special attention will be given to approaches to equity given ongoing concerns about disparities in school discipline. The workshop will also address latest trends in youth substance use, e.g., vaping devices, providing guidance for enforcement and supportive responses. In addition to learning about the school policy adoption process, participants will learn how to advocate for, monitor and support policy implementation. 

Note: Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of related policies of a local school district that they are working with. 

FACILITATOR: Shelly Mann-Lev, MPH
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
SESSIONS: Live web-based, Jan. 11-12 (9:00am - 12:00pm each day) 

Writing a grant is an intense activity that can bring much needed prevention services to your community. This training is designed to provide people with limited grant writing experience an overview of the process of writing an application. Using a sample Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), crucial information and tasks to write a successful application will be reviewed. You will learn what grant funders look for including writing narrative to meet the evaluation criteria, flagging narrative formatting requirements, incorporating tables to emphasize demographics, and putting a competitive edge on your project narrative, and adhering to proposing allowable activities that can be funded under the legislative act. Project management tips to complete the grant will also be reviewed including assembling a grant project work team, making task assignments, and creating a checklist for the required information, forms, and attachments. 

FACILITATOR: Cheryl A.Townsel, S.M.
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
SESSIONS: Live web-based, Feb. 10-11, 2022 (9:00-12:00 each day)

Social media can be one of prevention’s most impactful tools if it is done the right way. Like all evidence-based prevention strategies, there are crucial components necessary to deliver an effective social media campaign. This training will guide participants through a framework for a researched and well-planned social media campaign. Time will be spent on the importance of identifying your target audience as well as finding ways to reach them and speak effectively to connect with the audiences and promote engagement. 

FACILITATOR: Kim Baca
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
SESSIONS: Live web-based, Mar 15-16, 2022 (9:00am - 12:00pm each day) 

Incorporating a code of ethics into the way an organization operates requires commitment and intentional work. As preventionists, we have a specific code of ethics that outlines our responsibilities to the public, to service recipients, and to colleagues within and outside of the prevention field. Further, if we are a Certified Prevention Specialist, or are pursuing certification, we are required to behave in alignment with this code of ethics. This training will provide participants the opportunity to explore how the prevention code of ethics is, or is not, supported within their organization. Then, practical ways to strengthen and/or support the prevention code of ethics will be identified. This training is ideal for leaders, managers, coordinators, and experienced preventionists who actively work to improve the effectiveness of prevention services within their organization. Note: This is an advanced training. Participants are required to have taken Ethics for Prevention Professional (or similar introductory prevention ethics training). Prerequisite training will be verified for each participant. 

FACILITATOR: Ginny Adame, SCPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6 Ethics Specific 
LOCATION: Self-paced Online Training, open from March 21-29.

Qualitative data is essential to support any effective prevention and improves work in every step of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process. Qualitative data helps identify emergent trends and challenges, community needs and values, and possible solutions to overcome obstacles. It adds the voice of community members to your work. While many preventionists have experience and training with live qualitative data collection such as interviews and focus groups, interpreting and using the data you collect can be quite challenging, especially when multiple parties are involved. In this training, we will briefly review qualitative data collection techniques and use this to focus our attention to the practice of data collection and interpretation. Pre-requisite Knowledge: Have a working understanding of qualitative data collection and the SPF process.

FACILITATOR: Liz Lilliott-González, PhD
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6
SESSIONS: Live web-based, April 6-7, 2022 (9:00am - 12:00pm each day) 

This training is for people who have met criteria to apply for their Certified Prevention Specialist Credential and will be testing within the next 6 months. Becoming a Certified Prevention Specialist requires you know the entire breadth of prevention, even things that are not in your scope of work. This training will provide a brief overview of the history/building blocks of prevention and then will move into a review the six domains you will be tested on: Planning/Evaluation; Prevention Education/ Service Delivery; Communication; Community Organization; Public Policy and Environmental Change; and Professional Growth/Responsibility. Because this is test preparation, you must come to this training with a working knowledge of each of these areas. Participants will also explore sample test questions and discuss test taking strategies. Prerequisite: Participants must have taken the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (within the past 5 years) and Prevention Ethics. This training will meet for 4 mornings (9:00-12:00). Participants must be able to attend each session in its entirety.

FACILITATOR: Ginny Adame, SCPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 13.2
SESSIONS: Live web-based, April 25-28, 2022 (9:00am - 12:00pm each day) 

Establishments that sell and serve alcohol play a complex role in prevention. While these outlets are a crucial part of local economies, they can also contribute to problems related to excessive drinking and underage drinking in our communities. This training will help you support local businesses who hold liquor licenses to comply with the laws and partner with prevention to improve community well-being. Participants will learn about best practices in preventing sales and service to intoxicated persons and minors in both on and off premise establishments. We will also explore the impacts of recent statewide policy changes and learn about key alcohol control policies that might have a positive impact at the local or state level.

FACILITATOR: Shelley Mann-Lev, MPH
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6.6 
SESSIONS: Live-web-based (Zoom), November 15 &16, 2022 (9:00 - 12:00 each day) 

This training is for people who have met criteria to apply for their Certified Prevention Specialist Credential and will be testing within the next 6 months. Becoming a Certified Prevention Specialist requires you know the entire breadth of prevention, even things that are not in your scope of work. This training will provide a brief overview of the history/building blocks of prevention and then will move into a review the six domains you will be tested on: Planning/Evaluation; Prevention Education/Service Delivery; Communication; Community Organization; Public Policy and Environmental Change; and Professional Growth/Responsibility. Because this is test preparation, you must come to this training with a working knowledge of each of these areas. Participants will also explore sample test questions and discuss test taking strategies. Prerequisite: Participants must have taken the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (within the past 5 years) and Prevention Ethics. This training will meet for 4 mornings (9:00-12:00). Participants must be able to attend each session in its entirety. 

FACILITATOR: Ginny Adame, SCPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 13.2
SESSIONS: Live web-based, December 12-15, 2022 (9:00 - 12:00 each day) 

Writing a grant is an intense activity that can bring much needed funding for prevention services to your community. This training is designed to provide people with limited grant writing experience an overview of the process of researching prospective funding opportunities, assessing opportunities to pursue, and writing an application. Using a sample Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), crucial information and tasks to write a successfully application will be reviewed. You will learn what grantfunders look for including: writing narrative that responds to the funding evaluation criteria, flagging how to adhere to application requirements (e.g., narrative formatting), how to incorporate tables to emphasize demographics (and adhere to page limitations), and put a competitive edge on your project narrative. We will also review how to develop budgets that adhere to allowable activities. Project management tips and tools will be explored that assist with assembling a grant project work team, making task assignments, organizing the narrative and attachments, and creating a checklist for the required documentation.

FACILITATOR: Cheryl Townsel, S.M., GPC.
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 9.6 
SESSIONS: Live-web-based (Zoom), February 6 & 7, 2023 (9:00am - 1:00pm each day) 

Incorporating a code of ethics into the way an organization operates requires commitment and intentional work. As preventionist, we have a specific code of ethics that outlines our responsibilities to the public, to service recipients, and to colleagues within and outside of the prevention field. Further, if we are Certified Prevention Specialist, or are pursuing certification, we are required to behave in alignment with this code of ethics. This training will provide participants the opportunity to explore the how the prevention code of ethics is, or is not, supported within their organization. Then, practical ways to strengthen and/or support the prevention code of ethics will be identified. This training is ideal for leaders, managers, coordinators, and experienced preventionist who actively work to improve the effectiveness of prevention services within their organization. Note: This is an advanced training. Participants are required to have taken Ethics for Prevention Professional (or similar introductory prevention ethics training). Prerequisite training will be verified for each participant. 

FACILITATOR: Ginny Adame, SCPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 6 (Ethics) 
LOCATION: Self-paced Online Training, open from March 6-14, 2023

This training is for people who have met criteria to apply for their Certified Prevention Specialist Credential and will be testing within the next 6 months. Becoming a Certified Prevention Specialist requires you know the entire breadth of prevention, even things that are not in your scope of work. This training will provide a brief overview of the history/building blocks of prevention and then will move into a review the six domains you will be tested on: Planning/Evaluation; Prevention Education/ Service Delivery; Communication; Community Organization; Public Policy and Environmental Change; and Professional Growth/Responsibility. Because this is test preparation, you must come to this training with a working knowledge of each of these areas. Participants will also explore sample test questions and discuss test taking strategies. This training has been updated to meet the new test that was updated in March of 2023. Prerequisite: Participants must have taken the Substance Use Prevention Specialist Training (within the past 5 years) and Prevention Ethics. This training will meet for 4 mornings (9:00-12:00). Participants must be able to attend each session in its entirety.

FACILITATOR: Ginny Adame, SCPS
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: 13.2
SESSIONS: Live web-based (Zoom), June 5-8, 2023 (9:00 - 12:00 each day)