September 2025

The 2025 Connections in Prevention Conference is

Only Six Weeks Away!


The Connections in Prevention Conference returns to the Marriott Chicago Naperville on October 16-17, 2025. This year's event promises to be our most comprehensive yet, offering valuable learning opportunities for prevention professionals, social workers, counselors, educators, and YOU!.


Pre-Conference Workshops - Don't Miss Out!

On Tuesday, October 15, we're hosting two essential pre-conference workshops: Ethical Practice in Behavioral Health and Motivational Interviewing: Beyond the Basics Training. With limited space available, please register soon to save your seat. These focused sessions provide an excellent foundation for the main conference programming.


Three Inspiring Keynote Presentations

This year's conference features three exceptional keynote speakers who will inspire and educate throughout the event:

Meena Srinivasan - An internationally recognized educational leader whose TEDx talk on "Tenderness" has garnered over 2 million views. As Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership, her work in social and emotional learning has impacted over 1.5 million students and 116,000 educators nationwide.


Dr. Jason Kilmer - Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington, Dr. Kilmer is a leading researcher in substance use prevention among college students. He has worked with over 150 campuses nationwide and is the 2025 recipient of NASPA's George D. Kuh Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature and Research.


Radiance Basden - A Wellness Expert and Hall of Fame Runner who specializes in breathwork, mindfulness, and holistic healing. Following her transformative global sabbatical, Radiance now advocates for stress reduction and mental resilience, helping individuals and organizations build healthier, more resilient cultures.


Remarkable Workshops

The conference features over 20 specialized workshops covering critical topics across the prevention spectrum. Sessions include "Building Youth Leaders from the Ground Up," "Addressing Intoxicating Derived Cannabis in Communities," "Breaking the Silence: Unveiling the Suicide Crisis in Chicago's Black Community," and "From Voice to Vision: Partnering with Youth as Community Changemakers." Other workshops explore trauma-informed care, policy advocacy, digital marketing for prevention, and evidence-based strategies for addressing substance use and mental health challenges.


Flexible Attendance Options

Whether you prefer in-person networking or virtual convenience, we've got you covered. The conference offers both attendance formats at the same registration fee of $400 - no price difference between virtual and in-person participation! Virtual attendance is limited to 100 participants, so secure your spot early.


CEU Credits Available

In-person attendees can earn CEU credits for the conference sessions they attend. We anticipate credits for the following certifications: CADC, CRADC, CSADC, CAADC, CPS, CPSP, PCGC, CCJP, CAAP, CRSS, CPRS, CFPP, CVSS, CODP I/II, MAATP, and RDDP.


Registration closes October 3, 2025. Groups of five or more receive a $25 per registration discount. Don't wait - register today!

Did you miss the Illinois Prevention Summit?

We've got you covered!

The Illinois Prevention Summit, hosted by Prevention First and the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, was held virtually on August 7th. It allowed those working in Substance Use Prevention in Illinois to learn about valuable tools and resources to amplify their prevention programs. 

 

If you missed it, you can now view each presentation! 

Session 1: The Struggle is Real: Applying an Equitable and Trauma-Informed Lens to Prevention

Session 2: Substance Use Data: Leveraging the Illinois Youth Survey and Other Sources

Session 3: Exploring Illinois Prevention Resources

Session 4: What Doesn’t Work in Prevention 


It’s not too late!

Register to attend the YCRC’s webinar Sankofa as Sacred Care: Community Care as Medicine for System-Impacted Youth and Families TOMORROW, September 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM!


In this webinar, participants will explore the topics of community building, radical listening, youth as partners, dream building, and finding joy. Each theme will provide caregivers, youth, and community members with specific strategies to engage each other while building a community that sustains life. These practices are a return to the old and challenge current mindsets that can diminish and isolate system-impacted youth. Participants will learn how to dismantle obstacles to self-advocacy, self-care, and healing community. We are excited to see you there.  


We want to send copies of our resource library to your organization or family. If you are interested in receiving printed versions of our YCRC-developed resources at no cost to you or your organization, please share your information.


September is Suicide Prevention Month

The Mental Health Training and Technical Team works year-round to provide training, educational, and community engagement opportunities on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention topics (these opportunities are always available on our webpage).


During Suicide Prevention Month, we wanted to highlight the SAMHSA 2025 Suicide Prevention Toolkit. The toolkit provides graphics and resources ready to share on social media, 988 promotional materials, resources for finding help, and much more.


Also, check out our Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Resources page. Accessible 24/7 and offers educational resources on suicide prevention best practices, mental health awareness, and crisis tools.


Feedback Wanted!

Tell us what you want—what you really, really want! Complete the five-minute survey to let us know what mental health resources and training topics you are most interested in. This information will help us build offerings for the fiscal year. Thank you!

Alcohol Policies and Suicide Prevention

A review of the literature published in the Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research journal shows that the protective effect of restrictive alcohol policies also has an impact on reducing suicide. "This review suggests alcohol policies may contribute to suicide prevention on a general population level and to a reduction of alcohol involvement among suicide deaths." Specific policies include Alcohol Price & Taxation, Alcohol Outlet Density, and Zero Tolerance Laws. The APRC has an infographic highlighting policies that can impact suicide.

The Alcohol Policy Resource Center can help you analyze your data, scan your community, and match policy/strategy to assessment findings. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Jody Heavilin

September is Self-Care Awareness Month

This month focuses on promoting mental and physical health through self-reflection, stress management, and healthy habits. Helpful resources include mindfulness practices, journaling, therapy, and engaging support systems. Positive Youth Development (PYD) and self-care are intrinsically linked, with self-care practices as a crucial component of healthy development and well-being in young people. When youth develop positive self-care habits, they are better equipped to navigate challenges, build resilience, and thrive, aligning with the core principles of PYD.


Youth can enhance their mental and physical well-being by actively engaging in self-care practices and utilizing available resources throughout September and beyond. For more information on training and resources related to positive youth development, contact rydteam@prevention.org. We are happy to help!

Hemp-Derived Products in your Community?

Wondering about how to address the sale of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products in your communities? These products are often found for sale and are largely unregulated, leading to potential issues with youth and adults.


The CPRC hosts tools to address these products. Our resource guide illustrates the policy landscape and addresses the concerns with derived products. This infographic can be a handy tool for educating community and coalition members.


Check out our recorded webinars addressing derived cannabis:

Derived Intoxicating Cannabinoids: Public Health Issues and Policy Solutions

The Alcohol Retail Environment: Emerging Hazards to Public Safety (Recording)

Finally, check out how other communities are responding with policy in our ordinance directory.

Our Voice, Our Future: The Importance of Youth Voices in Prevention

Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 10:00 AM

Registration Link


In this webinar, we will explore the benefits of youth and adult partnerships that enable communities to foster proactive prevention strategies led by youth. Youth and adult partnerships create a system of both mentorship and positive peer support that leads to healthy and long-lasting cycles of effective and evaluated prevention efforts at the local level.


We will explore SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and how it can be used to develop a strong infrastructure for school—or community-based health approaches. We’ll hear success stories from prevention programs that utilize prevention strategies and acknowledge youth as part of the solution. This hands-on presentation will leave you with tangible resources for bringing these tools to your own programs and communities.


Harm Reduction ECHO

LGBTQ+ Populations and Harm Reduction

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM


We’d love to see you at the next Harm Reduction ECHO! LGBTQ+ populations often face unique health challenges compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. These challenges include higher rates of substance use, mental health issues, and sexually transmitted infections, among others. Harm reduction strategies are interventions designed to reduce the adverse health effects associated with these issues. Harm reduction can be particularly beneficial for LGBTQ+ populations. The stigma and discrimination they often face can lead to increased substance use or risky sexual behaviors, so harm reduction strategies can help minimize these risks.

If you aren't already part of the iECHO platform and would like an invite, please sign up for the ECHO Invite List. We will send you an iECHO invite and instructions on creating an account to log into the ECHO series.


2025 Recovery Month Toolkit


With the right treatment, support, and resources, recovery is REAL (Restoring Every Aspect of Life) for everyone. September is National Recovery Month, and you can use this toolkit to learn more about what SAMHSA is doing to support people in recovery and how to share this information with your audiences. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of people in or seeking recovery from mental and substance use disorders


Recovery Month Toolkit

Learning on Demand


Don't miss out on Prevention First's collection of online courses and archived webinars for professional development at your own convenience.


Alcohol Policy Resource Center Webinars


Substance Use Prevention Courses and Webinars


Cannabis Policy Resource Center webinars



Substance Use Treatment Training Webinars


Youth Prevention Resource Center


Reimagine Youth Development Training and Technical Assistance

Looking for other resources to share with your community?

Visit our Virtual Clearinghouse of Resources or contact us.

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