Multimedia, Toolkit
New research-based substance misuse prevention tools supporting Workforce Development: Recruiting, Training, Retaining Diverse Professionals across the Career Lattice. Prevention Product Development for the New England Region. Link to view the recorded webinar (recorded on August 6, 2024).
CENTERING CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC EQUITY IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: A GUIDE TO INCREASING HISPANIC AND LATINO REPRESENTATION IN COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION
This is a guide for behavioral health leaders and organizations looking to diversify their staff and/or programs by increasing Hispanic and Latino representation in community-based prevention. For some communities, this may mean increasing Hispanic and Latino hiring, while for others this may mean increasing the reach of current programming to include Hispanic and Latino populations.
Christina Mancebo-Torres, MPH, Senior Fellow, Massachusetts
Christina Mancebo-Torres, MPH is the Assistant Director and Co-Founder of the Centro de Ayuda y Esperanza Latina, Inc. (Latin Center for Help and Hope), located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Christina is a bilingual prevention professional with experience in program delivery in the United States and the Dominican Republic. She is located in Southeastern Massachusetts where she previously worked on a number of prevention initiatives, including one of the only Hispanic and Latino-led opioid prevention programs in the state of Massachusetts. Christina is a current doctoral student in Health Sciences with a concentration in Trauma Informed Care, and also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and Graduate Certificates in Epidemiology and Global Health.
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MY FIRST YEAR IN PREVENTION: A GUIDE TO LEARNING THE FIELD
A guide for new professionals working in the field of prevention to support learning of key concepts proven to help preventionists improve policies, practices, programs, and environments that make it easier for people to thrive. The guide includes a timeline for the first year of training, common acronyms, and links to resources and newsletters for additional learning. The appendix includes supporting materials as well as a section for supervisors to engage the new employee in thoughtful reflection related to their learning. In addition to a printable version of the guide, Mariah has also included links to editable templates in both Canva and Google documents to allow supervisors to create their own versions that add in additional learning and resources to fit the needs of their organization or the individual employee.
Mariah Flynn, Senior Fellow, Vermont
Mariah Flynn is a Certified Prevention Specialist who has worked in the substance misuse field in Vermont for 20+ years as a counselor, a case manager, and for the last 16 years as the Director of the Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community, a substance misuse prevention coalition serving Burlington, Vermont. She is a founding member of Prevention Works! VT, the Chittenden Prevention Network, and the Northwest Regional Prevention Network; statewide and regional efforts to coordinate substance use prevention resources and strategies for the areas, and she serves on the Steering Committee of Prevention Works! VT. Mariah previously served as the Coordinator of the Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative for the state of Vermont, and has completed two Fellowships with the New England PTTC. In her personal time she supports local initiatives that help youth thrive, including her own two teenagers, in her hometown of Essex Junction. Mariah is passionate about building communities that provide youth and families with the skills and environment that supports healthy choices.
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My First Year in Prevention: A Learning Guide
My First Year in Prevention: A Learning Guide for the Vermont Prevention Professional
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Google Drive documents from this guide are available to edit
PUTTING THE HUMAN BACK INTO HUMAN SERVICES: EMBRACING A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF PREVENTION
A dialogue guide for organizations – particularly in the field of health and human services (with a focus on substance use prevention) – that offers a more holistic and dignified approach to workforce development. Through a dynamic and relational process that emphasizes self-examination, reflection, curiosity, and creativity, this guide centers the humanity of personnel. The ideas and practices suggested in this guide offer a potential pathway to a healthier workplace – and more effective workforce – by emphasizing relationships, practice, and personal growth.
FJ Perfas, B.S.B.A., CPS, Senior Fellow, Massachusetts
FJ Perfas is a dedicated prevention professional with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he leads community-based youth substance misuse prevention initiatives for the Department of Public Health. With a deep conviction that prevention is a vital component in fostering health and enhancing quality of life, FJ integrates restorative and strength-based approaches into his work. He believes that cultivating meaningful relationships is essential for building resilient individuals and thriving communities. Outside of his professional life, FJ is an enthusiastic outdoorsman who finds joy in exploring the mountains and oceans of New England, reflecting his passion for the region’s natural beauty.
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TOOLS: FOR A WORKING MEETING
This resource is a cooperative card game designed to teach the mechanics of working meetings where everyone participates and everyone’s participation is valued. Through this experiential learning experience, players understand for themselves what it is like to participate in an equitable and inclusive meeting. It is intended for use in workshops, team-building exercises, and other small group settings.
Em Delaney, CPS, Fellow, Vermont
Em Delaney serves as the Communications Coordinator for Healthy Lamoille Valley, a coalition and program of the Lamoille Family Center in Vermont. She has worked in Vermont nonprofits as a technical communicator, information designer, and project coordinator for over a decade as well as spending several years in collective management. She believes the presence of equity in the workplace leads to a sense of belonging and provides an environment where expression and thought are encouraged. Em is a certified prevention specialist and currently serves on the Vermont CPS Board. She holds an MA in education and an MFA in interdisciplinary art and is working on a certificate in technical communication.
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Tools for a Working Meeting - A Cooperative Card Game for Two or More Players (PRINT VERSION)
Tools for a Working Meeting - A Cooperative Card Game for Two or More Players (WEB FRIENDLY)
LGBTQIA+ HIRING PRACTICES FOR THE PREVENTION WORKFORCE
This guide is intended to provide employers with the hiring experiences and challenges of, and guidelines for important considerations when recruiting and hiring, LGBTQIA+ folx. Resources for training and deeper conversations are also included.
Alissa Cannon, CPS, Senior Fellow, New Hampshire
Alissa Cannon is a Certified Prevention Specialist working in the field of Juvenile Justice and Prevention for the New Hampshire Juvenile Court Diversion Network, a statewide Nonprofit Organization coordinating screening for substance use and mental health in juvenile court diversion programs. She has worked in the areas of prevention and community/school-based health education for nearly 15 years and has enjoyed every moment of it. She also proudly serves on the Prevention Taskforce of the NH Governor’s Commission on Prevention, Treatment & Recovery, the Alcohol & Other Drug Policy Advisory Committee for New Futures and is actively working with the NH Service to Science Expert Panel to designate the NH Juvenile Court Diversion Model as Evidence-Based. Alissa is originally from south Louisiana, but now resides in New Hampshire with her wife and their two rescue dogs, Conrad and Gronk.
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DISARMING MICROAGGRESSIONS & MACROAGGRESSIONS TO PROMOTE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE PREVENTION WORKFORCE
This guide is meant to assist preventionists with identifying the presence of micro- and macroaggressions in everyday life, their manifestation in the field of prevention, and evidence-informed strategies for addressing them. Guidance is also provided to prevention leaders on promoting equity and inclusion across the prevention career lattice to support a more diverse prevention workforce that can address prevention disparities in communities.
Michael Awad, PhD, Senior Fellow, Connecticut
Michael Awad, PhD is a licensed psychologist that has worked in the field of mental health for over 10 years focusing on improving access, utilization, and outcomes of prevention and treatment services for youth and families. Michael led the New Haven Prevention Council, a community coalition of youth and parents, healthcare providers, school, civic and government leaders, law enforcement professionals dedicated to preventing and reducing the incidence and impact of substance use on youth in New Haven, Connecticut. He also developed the OneStep Program, a comprehensive school-based prevention and health promotion program that uses social media and positive youth development to address multiple social ecological influences implicated in adolescent substance use. Michael earned his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University and completed a National Institute of Drug Abuse postdoctoral fellowship in substance abuse prevention at the Yale School of Medicine.
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