Title: Fall Prevention Professional Conference Call for 2025-26 Presentations
Format: Virtual via Zoom
Date: October 14-16, 2025
Time: 9 am- 4:30 pm CST
Continuing Education Hours: 18 in Multiple IC&RC Domains
Price: $450
Registration Link: Click here to register
To use this time zone converter click the link and then enter your location on the left and Austin Texas on the right.
Schedule:
October 14th
9:00-10:30 Where do I start?! Brainstorming ways to engage potential interest groups
10:30-12:00 Collective Efficacy: Creating a Community Collaboration
1:30-3:00 Sustainability: When the Rubber Meets the Road
3:00-4:30 Levels of Involvement: Keys to a Dynamic Planning Group
October 15th
9:00-12:00 Taking It To The Streets
1:30-3:00 A.I. for Coalitions: Exploring Tools, Ethics, and Practical Applications
3:00-4:30 Substance Misuse, Suicide Prevention and LGBTQ+ Youth
October 16th
9:00-10:30 Tokens are for Arcades: Engaging Youth in a Meaningful and Purposeful Way
10:30-12:00 Preventing Burnout: Unlocking a More Engaged and Resilient Team
1:30-3:00 Using the Socioecological Model to Drive Prevention Programming
3:00-4:30 Using the SPF for Anything
All virtual workshops are subject to change. They are scheduled in Central Time, CST, Use the time zone converter , then enter Texas, Houston
Course Descriptions:
1) Where do I start? In this workshop, we will discuss how to approach people that you want involved in your Coalitions or Prevention Programs. We will use practical tools and walk through those tools to help you understand which will work best for you. From using a web diagram, drafting dotation letters, when to ask for donations, and info sharing, we will explore each of these in depth to best utilize how they can help different programs.
Presenter: Trevon Norman ACPS/ICPS 1.5 hrs. in Domain 3- Communication
Objectives- Participants will be able to create their own web diagram to potentially contact interest groups and successfully draft donation letters tailored to their programs.
2) Collective Efficacy: Creating a Community Collaboration An understanding of community collaboration is something that every prevention specialist should possess. Effective prevention requires the support of the focus community, knowledge of the demographics and norms of the community, and formation of strategic alliances. This workshop will discuss the tasks associated with community organizing and collective efficacy.
Presenter: Julie Stevens MPS, ACPS 1.5 hrs. in Domain 4 – Community Organization
Objectives- Participants will be able to list with tasks associated with community organizing and how to build community ownership of activities by collaborating in planning, implementing and evaluating prevention strategies.
3) Sustainability: When the Rubber Meets the Road You hear it. You see it. You should be working on it. Sustainability. Whether new to prevention or a seasoned professional, learn concrete steps to keep sustainability in mind as you drive your prevention efforts. Participants will come away from this course with actionable steps they can implement immediately, through micro-steps in their daily operations that lead to macro-level sustainability.
Presenter: Nicole Hackley, CPS 1.5 hrs. in Domain 1 – Planning and Evaluation
Objectives- Participants will be able to prioritize activities through an organizational process to determine long-term feasibility.
4) Levels of Involvement: Keys to a Dynamic Planning Group It can be challenging to maintain and even build a dynamic and engaged planning group or coalition. Often planners will identify people who are interested in the issue but not able to help move the prevention agenda or not involved at a level that is helpful to the group’s mission. How do facilitators keep the momentum of the group and ensure that all relevant sectors are represented and active at the best level of engagement? This session will explore strategies that do just that.
Presenter: Sandra Del Sesto, M.Ed., ACPS 1.5 hrs. in Domain 4 – Community Organization
Objectives- Participant will able to describe and apply strategies to engage community members needed for their prevention interventions to be successful.
5) Taking It To The Streets will explore the role of creativity in our lives, our coalition work, and our community. Creativity is the foundation of our lives; from it all things flourish; yet many people don’t think of themselves as creative, let alone artists. Through exploration of creative outlets like music, art, storytelling, photo voice, podcasting, and other sources, participants will have an opportunity to develop a project of interest and leave with a product they can take back to their coalition and community. Creativity is not something we do; it’s who we are, and if you’re striving to make a difference in life, this workshop is for you.
Presenter: Steve Miller CRPS 3 hrs. in Domain 6 – Professional Growth and Responsibility
Objectives- Understand the importance of exploring and cultivating creativity in our lives, coalition work, and community.
6) AI for Coalitions: Exploring Tools, Ethics, and Practical Applications Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way we work—but what does that mean for coalitions? In this interactive session, we’ll demystify AI by exploring different AI tools, their benefits and risks, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. Participants will have the opportunity to test AI tools in real-time and discover practical ways to integrate AI into coalition work, from streamlining administrative tasks to enhancing community outreach. Attendees will leave with a ready-to-use spreadsheet organized by prompt type to help their coalition maximize AI’s potential effectively and responsibly.
Presenter: Louise Montag CPC-R 1.5 hrs. in Domain 6 – Professional Growth and Responsibility
Objectives- Participants will be able to define Artificial Intelligence (AI) and list the advantages and challenges of AI, including ethical considerations, bias, and responsible implementation in coalition efforts.
7) Substance misuse, Suicide Prevention and LGBTQ+ Youth LGBTQ+ Youth are at 4xs greater risk of suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ peers but why? This workshop will discuss the risk factors that will bring into view what our LGBTQ+ youth are experiencing and the impact it is having on their mental health and substance misuse as well as the protective factors that increase their supports and connections.
Presenter: Maura McGowan CPS 1.5 hrs. in Domain 6 – Professional Growth and Responsibility
Objectives- Participants will identify and strengthen protective factors for suicide in LGBTQ+ youth and be connected to resources to continue learning and supporting LGBTQ+ youth.
8) Tokens are for Arcades: Engaging Youth in a Meaningful and Purposeful Way Effective community prevention work involves youth engagement at all stages of the Strategic Prevention Framework – that is, Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Unintentional tokenism is a barrier to youth reaching their full potential with prevention work; instead, youth can and should be engaged in leadership opportunities, strategic discussions, and solutions to the identified problems. This session will help you understand the essential nature of youth involvement in prevention coalitions, how to make prevention work attractive to youth, how to handle challenges with youth engagement and sustain involvement for the long-term.
Presenter: Rikki Barton 1.5 hrs. in Domain 4 – Community Organization
Objectives- Participants will learn how to navigate challenges to youth engagement, including adultism, and build skills around recruiting, retaining, and appropriately engaging youth in prevention work.
9) Preventing Burnout: Unlocking a More Engaged and Resilient Team. Turnover in the substance use prevention field is high—and the cost is even higher. This online course is designed to help leaders understand the root causes of burnout and take actionable steps to create a mission-driven, results-oriented culture where teams feel valued and supported. Learn strategies to boost retention, foster resilience, and ensure long-term impact in your organization.
Presenter: Nathan Wray 1.5 hrs. in Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility
Objectives- Participants will discover actionable techniques to understand employees, set clearer expectations, and foster a more supportive work environment– the first steps towards preventing burnout and building a more engaged team.
10) Using the Socioecological Model to Drive Prevention Programming When we begin our jobs, we usually start by getting involved in activities. These activities can build upon one another, and we may find ourselves pulled in different directions if we don’t have a solid, well-thought-out plan. Learn how to dive deep into your programming to build effective activities that create impactful, comprehensive programs based on the socioecological model. Participants will use the Strategic Prevention Framework to evaluate their current activities and will be left with next steps to take back to their coalitions and partners.
Presenter: Nicole Hackley, CPS 1.5 hrs. in Domain 2 – Prevention Education and Service Delivery
Objectives- Participants will be able to use the Socioecological Model to identify gaps and create comprehensive programming and the Strategic Prevention Framework to evaluate work plan activities.
11) Using the SPF for Anything The Strategic Prevention Framework offers prevention planners a comprehensive approach to
understanding and addressing the substance misuse and related behavioral health problems facing their communities but this planning model can be utilized for many more things. During this workshop participants will discover how to use the SPF in their daily lives as well as professional applications.
Presenter: Mitchell Moore, BAT, ACPS, LCDC 1.5 hrs. in Domain 1- Planning & Evaluation
Objectives- Participants will be able to utilize the Strategic Prevention Framework for a variety of planning activities.
Presenters:
Trevon Norman ACPS/ICPS, is an energized Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist and Ordained Minister He’s been in Prevention since 2016 and has gradually elevated through different training’s and workshops. He currently works with the indicated population with the PTNP program. His area of expertise is facilitation in the high school environment and is passionate about conversations with students. “My motivation is my God, family, and friends.”
Julie Stevens MPS, ACPS is an Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist and was a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor for 20 years. She has served as Director of Prevention for the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and Training Specialist for the University of Oklahoma’s Southwest Prevention Center. Ms. Stevens serves on the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals and is chair of the Prevention Subcommittee. She has served as Member At Large of the Board of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium and Advisor to the Prevention Committee. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and a Masters of Prevention Science from the University of Oklahoma.
Nicole Hackley CPS, resides in western Montana, where she enjoys cooking, hiking, gardening, reading and spending time in the mountains. Nicole’s greatest accomplishments in her prevention career have been implementing nearly two dozen alcohol policies at retail establishments and county governments, and helping bring Prevention Specialist Certification to Montana, where she serves as the Secretary for the Montana Prevention Certification Board.
Sandra Puerini Del Sesto, M.Ed., ACPS, is a consultant and master trainer in behavioral health and strategic planning for non-profits. She was the founder and for 30 years the executive director of Initiatives for Human Development, a statewide, multi-service prevention program, and a founder of CODAC, RI’s largest non-profit treatment program. She was also the founding director of the Institute for Addiction Recovery at Rhode Island College. She is a member of the advisory boards of the Prevention Technology Transfer Center; National Coordinating Office (PTTC-NCO), the New England PTTC, and was a member of the former Latino PTTC and the RI Governor’s Council on Behavioral Healthcare. She is a consultant to the Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC). For many years, Sandra served as the RI delegate to and the Prevention Committee Co-Chair of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), which certifies professionals working in behavioral health. Sandra is a co-author of SAMHA’s SPF Application for Prevention Success Training (SAPST) and primary author of its basic and Advanced Prevention Ethics courses as well as many other face-to-face and online courses in prevention and prevention ethics.
Steve Miller CRPS is a passionate advocate for substance use prevention and mental health promotion. As the Creator of Voices and Vision of Prevention, he draws upon his education in marketing and from a diverse career in radio, television, and professional fundraising, However, it was his lived experience as a person in long-term recovery that inspired his dedication to prevention. Steve’s mission is to integrate his professional experiences with his passion for music, art and storytelling. He believes in the transformative power of creativity to foster meaningful conversations, reduce stigma, and strengthen the knowledge and skills of the prevention workforce. This mission reflects his unwavering commitment to elevating discussions around prevention and mental health, collectively inspiring positive change.
Louise Montag BS, CPC, is a public health professional with a decade of experience, specializing in substance misuse prevention. As a Senior Consultant with Montag Forward Solutions LLC, she provides strategic guidance and training to prevention professionals nationwide. Formerly the Executive Director at Prevention Network, she has led community-based prevention initiatives and developed numerous resources for the field. Recognized with awards such as the Prevention Specialist of the Year Award and the Top 10 in 10 Years Award, Louise is committed to fostering effective leaders and sustainable organizations dedicated to social good. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, staying active, and spending time with her two dogs.
Maura McGowan CPS, is the Program Director of the NH Teen Institute, a non-profit agency whose mission is to empower youth through personal leadership development and community engagement. Maura has worked in the field of prevention since 2002 and became involved with the NH Teen Institute in 2008 when she began volunteering for programs and working on a curriculum updating and development board. In 2017, Maura became Program Director in charge of youth programming and volunteer engagement in addition to being a facilitator for professional development trainings offered by the NH Teen Institute. She is a graduate of the New England ATTC Leadership Development Program and has served as a mentor in the New England PTTC Prevention Mentorship Program during its first two cohorts. In 2021, Maura was appointed as an advisor to the NH Governor’s Youth Advisory Council and is on the advisory committee for the NH Prevention Community of Practice.
Rikki Barton CPS, has a passion for moving individuals and communities onward in their goals. She is the CEO/Lead Consultant of Onward Consulting and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Rikki has over 16 years of prevention field experience and currently serves as a consultant to assist organizations, coalitions, and state/federal agencies in the areas of substance use prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health promotion. She has extensive experience working with community coalitions, providing training, grant writing, managing funding sources, and leading a team of preventionists. Rikki trains for CADCA in their youth and adult training programs, for the National Coalition Institute, as well as for National Council for Mental Wellbeing as an Adult, Youth, and Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Rikki holds a Bachelors degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters degree from Liberty University. In her free time, Rikki loves exploring the outdoors on hikes with her rescue dog, Oreo.
Nathan Wray is a dynamic leader in the prevention field with over seven years of experience driving impactful change in youth substance use prevention. An award-winning prevention coordinator, Nathan is known for his innovative approach to collaboration, empowering communities, and fostering sustainable solutions. As the creator of the 5 P’s Coaching Program, he equips educators, coalitions, and youth leaders with actionable strategies to engage and inspire young people. A recognized youth engagement expert, Nathan has successfully built programs that resonate with students, helping them develop resilience and make positive life choices. Nathan’s expertise in cross-sector collaboration has made him a sought-after speaker, consultant, and trainer. His ability to connect with diverse stakeholders—from schools to community organizations—has led to measurable successes, including a 60% reduction in middle school vaping citations in multiple school districts.
Mitchell Moore BAT, ACPS, LCDC is a dynamic educator who has a passion for training people and serves those who serve by designing and delivering training and across America. He is an advanced certified prevention specialist and licensed chemical dependency counselor who has extensive experience working with youth and families in both prevention and recovery settings. He has served as a counselor, prevention specialist, a grant writer and executive director of a charitable organization. In 2019, he was awarded the Texas Prevention Specialist of the Year. He is currently an independent contractor, a beekeeper and volunteers his time for Prevention Training Services and the Texas Certification Board.