A Six-Week Enhanced Prevention Learning Series

Event Dates: September 16, 23, 30, October 7,14, and 21, 2021

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Pacific Time

Overview

Prevention leaders are dedicated to improving the health of their communities through effective interventions that will reduce substance misuse and its related consequences. Perhaps the most critical decisions prevention staff weigh are what interventions to implement, typically with limited resources. This six-week enhanced prevention learning series (EPLS) offers participants a hands-on, case study-based approach to work through the process of selecting evidence-based interventions that are a strong “fit” for their community. Through a combination of individual, self-study activities (e.g., readings, application activities) and live, synchronous discussion sessions over Zoom, participants will build the skills they need to go through the process of identifying and critically examining interventions that are not just effective but that closely align with their unique community conditions and organizational strengths.  

By the end of this EPLS, participants will have:
•    Defined Evidence-based Interventions (EBIs)
•    Practiced locating EBIs
•    Applied three criteria of a “best fit” intervention to a case study community
•    Considered evaluation and adaptations of EBIs
 

Audience

This intermediate-level training is designed for substance misuse prevention practitioners who have a role in identifying and selecting various programs, practices, and policies to reduce substance misuse outcomes in their communities. Experience with the Strategic Prevention Framework, Communities That Care, or another data-driven strategic planning/community mobilization process will be helpful. 

Participation is limited to those prevention practitioners who work in the Pacific Southwest region, including American Samoa, Arizona, California, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.  
 
 

EPLS Facilitator

Alyssa O’Hair, MPH, MA, CPS. Alyssa O’Hair is a Senior Manager, Workforce Development at the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). With over 12 years of experience providing training and technical assistance, she currently serves as the Principal Investigator and Project Director for the Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center, which aims to build the skills of the substance abuse prevention workforce. Alyssa has extensive subject matter knowledge in training design and facilitation; technical assistance and consultation; the Strategic Prevention Framework; public health approach to prevention; conducting needs assessments; data-driven decision-making; risk and protective factors; selecting evidence-based interventions; and evaluation design and methodology. Prior to joining CASAT, she worked at UNR’s Center for Program Evaluation for almost 10 years, conducting evaluations for school districts, non-profit organizations, community coalitions (including SPF and DFC coalitions), statewide education and public health initiatives, and regional public health initiatives. Alyssa has a Master of Arts degree in social psychology and a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from UNR. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and is a Certified Prevention Specialist.

Dates and Times

States & American Samoa:

Thursdays, September 16, 23, 30 & October 7, 14, and 21, 2021

03:00 pm - 04:30 pm Pacific (including Arizona)
12:00 pm - 01:30 pm Hawaii
11:00 am - 12:30 pm American Samoa

Pacific Jurisdictions:

Fridays, September 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2021

10:00 am - 11:30 am Republic of the Marshall Islands
09:00 am - 10:30 am Pohnpei and Kosrae
08:00 am - 09:30 am Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Chuuk, and Yap
07:00 am - 08:30 am Republic of Palau

Cost 

Free

Certificates 

Participants who complete all six sessions will receive a certificate of attendance for 15 hours. No partial credit is given for this course. Participants will need to confirm with their certification board to determine if these certification hours are accepted towards their specific certification requirements. 

To Register

Register Here
Please register early, these courses are limited to 30 people maximum and fill up very quickly! 

Questions?

Please contact Karen Totten ([email protected]) for any questions related to registration. For any other questions, please contact Alyssa O’Hair at ([email protected]).