Summer 2019 - Prevention Training Services

Another chapter has been written for Prevention Training. We have enjoyed four days of great networking, excellent training & wonderful fellowship among prevention specialist across Texas. Thanks to everyone who helped came or contributed. A special thanks to the San Antonio College Human Services Department and the San Antonio Chapter of TAAP for their support.

Prevention Training Services, Inc is proud to have facilitated this Summer Prevention Institute, held July 22-25, 2019 in beautiful San Antonio Texas. See you there, next year?

The assessment is complete- We did our homework in order to offer the topics you requested.

The training topics for the Summer Prevention Institute were selected based upon the excellent response from prevention specialist across Texas.

Topics include community engagement, marijuana & vaping, cultural and linguistic appropriate standards, prevention 101, Strategic Prevention Framework, prevention of opioids and prescription drug misuse among the Latino community, supervision of prevention specialist, prevention ethics, a CPS exam prep course, presentation skills, sustaining partnership with the faith community, community coalitions, cultural competency, facilitation skills, behavioral health and wellness, suicide prevention, positive alternatives, the gap between prevention and treatment for adolescents, powdered alcohol, working with students in the classroom, levels of youth engagement, youth & adult partnerships, Positive Youth Development, partnering with the African American community, levels of youth engagement, tips, tricks & techniques for facilitation, facilitating youth engagement in the classroom, working with special populations, managing volunteers, and more.

This year trainers include Julie Stevens, Boyd Baxter, Marcia Baker, Dolka Zelaya, Richard Aleman, Ruby Moseley, Alicia Rosas, Rudy Garcia, Amy Alston, Mitchell Moore, Pierluigi Mancini, Brent Blackburn, Virginia Hoft, David McClung, Brytani Cavil, Nicole Holt, Alycia Welch, Judy Mezey, Betsy Jones, Andrés Guariguata, Tracy Johnson, and Michaela Flores.

Location: San Antonio College- Oppenheimer Academic Center 1819 North Main San Antonio, TX 78212 Map

Agenda each day:
8:30- 9:00           Registration
9:00- 12:00               Training
12:00- 1:30 Lunch (On Your Own)
1:30- 4:30 Training
4:30- 5:00                    Networking- Refreshments provided by San Antonio TAAP

Workshops at a Glance

Descriptions Below

July 22

9:00-12:00 Workshops:

A: Marijuana: Drug Facts and Policy Updates

B: Prevention of Opioids and Prescription Drug Misuse Among the Latino Community

C: Sustaining Partnership with the Faith Community

D: Prevention Basics

E: Prevention Ethics- 6hrs. (part 1)

1:30-4:30 Workshops:

A: Community Coalitions: The Next Level

B: Marijuana, CBD, Vaping and Latino Youth

C: Partnering w/ African American Community

D: Classroom Management

E: Prevention Ethics (part 2)

July 23

9:00-12:00 Workshops:

A: The Gap Between Substance Use Prevention and Treatment for Adolescents

B: Delivering Cultural Competence throughout the Strategic Prevention Framework

C: CPS Prep Course-6hrs. (pt 1)

D: Prevention Framework: Assessment, Capacity, Cultural Competency, Sustainability

1:30-4:30 Workshops:

A: Texans Standing Tall: Youth in Prevention

B: Levels of Youth Engagement

C: CPS Prep Course (pt 2)

D: Strategic Prevention Framework: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation

July 24

9:00-12:00 Workshops:

A: Positive Alternatives

B: Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Standards

C: Supervision of Prevention Specialist

D: Suicide Prevention- At the Intersection of Suicide, Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

1:30-4:30 Workshops:

A: Join the Party: Rethink Youth Engagement

B: Keep Powdered Alcohol off the Shelves

C: Marijuana Myths

D: Sharpening Presentation Skills

July 25

9:00-12:00 Workshops:

A: Facilitating Youth Engagement in the Classroom

B: Managing Volunteers to Maximize Success

C: Prevention, Behavioral Health & Wellness

D: Facilitation Skills for Professionals

1:30-4:30 Workshops:

A: Positive Youth Development

B: Pulling Teeth or Working with Youth

C: Prevention: Motivation for Change

D: Tips, Tricks, Techniques for Facilitation

Workshop Descriptions

July 22, 9:00-12:00

Marijuana: Drug Facts and Policy Updates Trainer: Betsy Jones

Marijuana affects every part of a community, from public health and safety to racial and economic disparity. This workshop will cover marijuana facts, myths, and trends, effects on the body and brain, cannabis use disorder, medical issues, legalization updates, and the historical treatment of cannabis and people who use it. We will look at data from legal and decriminalized states and discuss common misconceptions about the drug and its effects.

Prevention Specialist Domain 5: Public Policy and Environmental Change

Prevention of Opioids and Prescription Drug Misuse Among the Latino Community Trainer: Dolka Zelaya

This workshop will address what we know about the effects of the opioid epidemic within the Latino community. In particular, Latino youth.

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention Education and Service Delivery

Sustaining Partnerships with the Faith Community Trainer: Raylette Pickett

Participants will learn how communities can engage and sustain effective ways in addressing the substance abuse, identifying information, awareness and what prevention strategies they can use are. Provide participants strategies aimed to identify faith based resources in their community to support a congregation who may be attempting to impact a substance misuse disorder with appropriate interventions and connecting with the full behavioral health continuum. This is an informative and interactive training with strategies and best practice solutions for engaging and sustaining the faith community who can be an integral partner in their community.

Prevention Specialist Domain 4: Community Organization

Prevention Basics Trainer: Mitchell Moore

This workshop will help participants understand the basics of prevention including the six prevention domains, Behavioral Health, the continuum of care, the public health approach and risk & protective factors.

Prevention Specialist Domain 1: Planning and Evaluation

Ethics for the Prevention Professional (Part 1)

*This is a two part course; participants must attend both the morning and afternoon sessions

Trainer: Julie Stevens

“Ethics for the Prevention Professional” is designed specifically for the behavioral health promotion and substance abuse prevention professional and fulfills the Prevention Specialist credential ethics requirement. This workshop will improve the understanding of and ability to apply a set of accepted standards/principles that guide the behaviors and actions of both individuals and organizations working in the prevention profession.

Prevention Specialist Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility

July 22, 1:30-4:30

Community Coalitions: Members Taking it to the Next Level- Creating Long Term Change Trainers: Boyd Baxter, Amy Alston

Community coalitions of today are highly advanced collaborations of community organizations that play an important role in reducing youth substance use, and changing the cultural norms of the community. The coalition that uses effective training and community member engagement will have strong community advocates. These advocates can be the most effective tool for advancing public policy. This training will examine two very different initiatives Social Host

Accountability and Tobacco 21 that lead to the same result of reducing youth access. We will show how using a flexible framework of action steps will keep the coalition energized, alert, and on track as we explore the many ways coalition members can be involved.

Prevention Specialist Domain 4: Community Organization

Marijuana, CBD and Vaping 101 and Latino Youth Trainer: Judy Mezey

This workshop will provide an overview of

Marijuana, CBD and youth vaping from what the devices look like, to why vaping is a concern with a specific focus on Latino youth. The workshop begins with a show and tell of commonly used vape products, including the Juul. Youth are vaping e-juice with flavorings. We will cover the risks of each of these products. Using data from the Monitoring the Future survey, the webinar will discuss prevalence and trends among Latino Youth.

Prevention Specialist Domain 2 – Prevention Education and Service Delivery

Partnering with the African American Community to Conduct Needs Assessments Trainer: Tracy Johnson

Prevention Specialist Domain 1: Planning and Evaluation

Classroom Management: How to Facilitate Successfully Trainer: Michaela Flores

Class disruptions? A participant hijacking your lesson? Youth off task? Wanting to get their attention just a little longer? I invite you to join me in discovering facilitating styles and getting comfy with some management strategies for a more successful facilitation!

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention Education and Service Delivery

Ethics for the Prevention Professional (Part 2)

*This is a two part course; participants must attend both the morning and afternoon sessions

Trainer: Julie Stevens

Prevention Specialist Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility

July 23, 9:00 – 12:00

The Gap Between Substance Use Prevention and Treatment for Adolescents Trainer: Virginia Hoft

Strategies to addresses adolescent substance use are often limited to two opposite poles – prevention and drug treatment. However, young people’s substance use differs greatly along a continuum between these two points and approaches should too. Consideration that includes level of individual’s use, from risky to chaotic; their motivation to change their behavior; appropriateness for treatment; as well as other factors are key in deciding on best approaches. In this workshop, participants will explore a strategies aligned with NIDA’s “Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Interventions” for youth who fall within this “gap.”

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention Education and Service Delivery

Delivering Cultural Competence throughout the Strategic Prevention Framework Trainer: Pierluigi Mancini

Changing demographics have profound implications for all aspects and activities in a community. To create equitable prevention focused environments for diverse youth and their families, we must engage the entire community in a cultural and linguistically appropriate manner. A community faced with rapidly changing demographics will benefit by engaging in a vigorous, ongoing, and systemic process of professional development to prepare to function effectively in a highly diverse environment. We must understand the dynamics and impact of culture in order to be able to deliver effective programs. This course will help prevention providers understand how to incorporate cultural competence as they work through each of the elements of the SPF.

Prevention Specialist Domain 1: Planning and Evaluation

Certified Prevention Specialist Exam Prep Course (Part 1)

*This is a two part course; participants must attend both the morning and afternoon sessions

Trainer: Julie Stevens

The Prevention Specialist Exam Preparation Course will assist in preparing participants to study for and subsequently take the prevention specialist exam. This course covers the requirements and application process to become a Certified Prevention Specialist. The workshop presenters will identify the domains and tasks covered in the new exam, study resources, the types of questions that are on the exam and tips for studying and taking the exam.

Prevention Specialist Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility

SPF: Strategic Prevention Framework (Part 1) Trainer: Mitchell Moore

This workshop will help participants understand SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework. The SPF is a planning process for preventing substance use and misuse. The five steps and two guiding principles of the SPF offer prevention professionals a comprehensive process for addressing the substance misuse and related behavioral health problems facing their communities. The effectiveness of the SPF begins with a clear understanding of community needs and involves community members in all stages of the planning process. This workshop covers Assessment, Capacity, Cultural Competency & Sustainability

Prevention Specialist Domain 1: Planning and Evaluation

July 23, 1:30-4:30

Texans Standing Tall: Youth in Prevention Trainer: Alicia Rosas

When youth and adults work together, people take notice! Texans Standing Tall, a statewide coalition, has developed the Guide to Effective Engagement, a tool used to engage young people in prevention efforts. This training session will guide participants on how to effectively engage a community through adult and youth partnerships. Examples will be provided of Texans Standing Tall’s collaboration with Youth Leadership Council Members. This session will review the best practices and strategic steps for implementing environmental prevention of underage alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. It will focus on evidence-based strategies intended for all communities to utilize.

Prevention Specialist Domain 4: Community Organization

Levels of Youth Engagement Trainer: Ruby Moseley

This workshop will walk participants through nine levels of youth engagement in community or organization prevention efforts. Attendees will have an opportunity to share their experiences, discuss the benefits of youth engagement in various aspects of their prevention programs and complete a self-assessment to evaluate their current attitudes and beliefs concerning youth engagement. Participants will leave with a tangible action plan to move towards full youth engagement at the program or organizational level.

Prevention Specialist Domain 4: Community Organization

Certified Prevention Specialist Exam Prep Course (Part 2)

*This is a two part course; participants must attend both the morning and afternoon sessions

Trainer: Julie Stevens

Prevention Specialist Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility

SPF: Strategic Prevention Framework: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Trainer: Mitchell Moore

This workshop covers Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation steps of the Strategic Prevention Framework. The effectiveness of the SPF begins with a clear understanding of community needs and involves community members in all stages of the planning process.

Prevention Specialist Domain 1: Planning and Evaluation

July 24, 9:00 – 12:00

Positive Alternatives Trainer: Ricardo Aleman

Experiential learning through Positive Alternatives will help attendees engage their participants in a fun interactive experience that not only builds a connection with participants and the prevention specialist, but also helps the participants build relationships and trust with each other. The activities will consist of ice breakers, team building exercises, and trust initiatives that require little to no props which all help the participant(s) gain leadership skills and team building/peer bonding. During this breakout session, the prevention specialist will learn how to prepare, facilitate, and debrief (process) the activity.

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention Education and Service Delivery

CLAS – Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Standards Trainers: Alycia Welch, Andres Guariguata

The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help to eliminate health care disparities for individuals, organizations, and communities. The presentation offers concise, practical information on how to implement the 15 Standards throughout an agency/organization or program, including ways to advance and sustain CLAS-related principles through policies and practices. Key areas of focus include the workforce, language assistance, and community engagement. Interactive exercises are incorporated in the presentation to enhance participants’ knowledge, awareness, and sensitivity to improve cross-cultural interactions in health, healthcare, and other service organizations.

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention Education and Service Delivery

Supervision of the Prevention Specialist Trainer: Julie Stevens

As an advancing field of professional service, substance abuse prevention is expanding through levels of certification and through concurrent initiatives with behavioral health. As the certification process advances in states, jurisdictions and tribes, there is little to no training specifically for supervising prevention staff. The basic goals of supervision of the prevention specialist are to assure the delivery of high-quality interventions, create a positive work environment, and develop staff professional and administrative skills. This session will discuss characteristics of effective supervisors, the prevention supervisor job description, and supervision tools.

Prevention Specialist Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility

Suicide Prevention – At the Intersection of Suicide, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Trainer: Mitchell Moore

Co-occurring issues have common risk and protective factors. By knowing these shared risk and protective factors we begin to better serve our community, and prevent multiple behavioral health issues. SAMHSA and SPRC have identified risk and protective factors for suicide. SPRC has also identified steps to take immediately after a community or school suicide takes place to prevent contagion. Almost anyone can take action to help prevent suicide. By understanding warning signs and your role as a professional you may be able to intervene before self-harming behavior is enacted.

Prevention Specialist Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility

July 24, 1:30 – 4:30

Join the Party: Rethinking Youth Engagement Trainer: David McClung

Research indicates that youth who are engaged in their communities and have relationships with supportive adults are more likely to have successful outcomes. In practice, providers may often find that there a number of barriers to authentically engaging youth in decision making within their agency. In this interactive workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn strategies for eliminating barriers to youth engagement and engage in conversation to explore how to expand youth voice in their local communities.

Prevention Specialist Domain 4: Community Organization

Mobilizing to Keep Powdered Alcohol off the Shelves Trainer: Nicole Holt

Powdered alcohol poses many potential harms related to misuse and over consumption (especially among young people). Texans Standing Tall (TST) and our community partners created a coalition that advocates against making the product available in Texas. We will discuss the specific grassroots strategies used to educate and empower coalition members and lawmakers, such as 1) holding an Advocacy Day event and coordinating constituent visits to targeted legislators; 2) organizing and providing testimony at State House and Senate hearings; 3) employing a media strategy and social media campaign; and 4) next steps to ensure the product is banned during the next Legislative Session.

Prevention Specialist Domain 5: Public Policy and Environmental Change

Marijuana Myths Trainer: Rudy Garcia

With the decriminalization of marijuana youth perception of harm has decreased and use has increased. Participants will be able to distinguish from facts and myths of Marijuana use.

Prevention Specialist Domain 6: Professional Growth and Responsibility

Sharpening Your Presentation Skills Trainer: Mitchell Moore

The ability to demonstrate interpersonal communication competency and communicate effectively with various audiences are two skills that every prevention specialist should have. This workshop will help participants sharpen their public presentation skills by applying the principles of public speaking.

Prevention Specialist Domain 3: Communications

July 25, 9:00-12:00

Facilitating Youth Engagement in the Classroom Trainer: Rudy Garcia

Participants will gain information on specific skills of facilitation and strategies to keep youth engaged throughout the implementation of Substance Abuse Prevention Programs. Participants will gain tools and tips for meaningful Youth Engagement. In addition participants will learn how to apply and practice skills for youth engagement.

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention

Education and Service Delivery

Managing Volunteers to Maximize Success Trainer: Brent Blackburn

What strategies do you use to get the most out of your volunteers? During this workshop we will look at different aspects of recruiting, training, and utilizing volunteers. Brent will share his experience in managing volunteers for over twenty years. Bring your ideas, your questions and be ready to share in the experience.

Prevention Specialist Domain 4: Community Organization

Prevention, Behavioral Health and Wellness Trainer: Marcia Baker

This training will provide an overview of how prevention, behavioral health and wellness work together. Participants will be able to look at evidenced based practices to assist them in evaluating and changing their own life and the life of people in their communities.

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention

Education and Service Delivery

Facilitation Skills for Professionals Trainer: Mitchell Moore

According to Domain 3, Task 6- Prevention specialist should be able to employ effective facilitation skills. This workshop will help participants to facilitate effective meetings, understand landmarks in the group process, and learn a simple consensus building technique.

Prevention Specialist Domain 3: Communication

July 25, 1:30-4:30

Positive Youth Development Trainer: Brytani Cavil

This training was designed in order to provide a concrete and consistent message about positive youth development across the state of Texas for agencies that create or implement policy or practices impacting youth. Its goal is to provide local community stakeholders with the tools necessary to understand the foundation and benefits of PYD, in hopes that they are able to spark dialogue among their colleagues to incorporate PYD in their work.

Prevention Specialist Domain 2: Prevention Education and Service Delivery

Pulling Teeth or Working With Young People? Trainer: Brent Blackburn

Perceptions these days about working with young people make it seem like a visit to the dentist is more desirable than working with young people. In this workshop participants will explore their attitudes and perceptions of working with young people. We will also explore best practices for building successful youth/adult partnerships. By the end of the workshop you will be ready to cancel your dental appointment. (*Not recommended by the American Dental Association)

Prevention Specialist Domain 4: Community Organization

Prevention: Motivation for Change Trainer: Marcia Baker

This presentation will provide participants information on theory and practice of motivation for change in the field of prevention. Prevention can provide important information to individuals, families and communities. Participants will be introduced to evidenced based principles to enhance the delivery of information and enhance motivation in the delivery of prevention information.

Prevention Specialist Domain 3: Communication

Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Facilitation Trainer: Mitchell Moore

During this interactive workshop participants will discover how to use activities for learning, process anything using a simple 3 step process and discover pure facilitation. Participants will also leave with at least two activities that they can incorporate into their public presentations.

Prevention Specialist Domain 3: Communication

Presenter Bios:

Julie Stevens MPS, ACPS, ICPS

Julie Stevens 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, and most recently as Executive Director of LifeSteps Council on Alcohol and Drugs. She is currently chair of the Prevention Specialist Committee of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium. Ms. Stevens serves on the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals and is chair of the Prevention Subcommittee. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and a Masters of Prevention Science from the University of Oklahoma. In addition, Ms. Stevens is an adjunct professor for the University Of Oklahoma College Of Liberal Studies.

Virginia Hoft LCDC

Virginia Hoft has been the National Director of Substance Use Services and Regional Vice President for Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. since September 2015 when Santa Fe Youth Services became a division of YAP. Prior to that time, she was the founding Executive Director of Santa Fe Youth Services, a non-profit agency providing substance abuse prevention, intervention, and counseling services to Ft. Worth and Tarrant County youth and families since 1996. Virginia earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Administration and Education from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and has worked in the mental health and substance abuse field for over 30 years in the role of counselor, trainer, program developer, and executive. In response to the growing use of peer support in substance use services, Virginia has completed the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) training and is completing the new requirements to become a Certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS). With her extensive experience, training and longevity in field of substance use, Virginia is leading the integration of innovative substance use strategies into current YAP models throughout the United States and in Sweden.

Marcia Baker PhD, LPC, LCDC, MAC, ACPS

Marcia has a PhD in Psychology with a specialty in Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Master Addiction Counselor and Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist. She is currently a Psychology Fellow and practicing therapist. She has developed programs and worked as a therapist in the substance abuse treatment, prevention and behavioral health field for over 30 years. She utilizes her education and experience to provide a holistic approach when treating emotional/physical health issues for all ages. Her research expertise is in psycho social oncology with families of children that had cancer and substance use prevention. She is a trainer for Strengthening Families Training Certification, Towards No Drug Abuse Certification, Positive Action, Youth Mental health First Aid and Prevention Skill training program for substance abuse prevention professionals and teaches/ trains adjunct in the field of substance abuse, prevention and mental health for numerous colleges and educational institutions. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher and has been a Yoga practitioner for over 25 years

Ricardo Aleman BS, CPS

Ricardo Aleman is a Prevention Program Director with Connections Individual & Family Services. Ricardo has worked with at-risk youth since 2008. Ricardo currently holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice as well as the following certifications; Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Ropes Course Facilitator. Ricardo has created and led various presentations and trainings which include facilitation of team building and experiential learning exercises. Ricardo’s experiential learning style helps attendees/participants learn by doing and creating a learning environment that’s fun and inclusive. Ricardo has worked with both youth and adults in a variety of settings such as schools, businesses, detention centers and other community settings.

Rudy Garcia CPS, LCDC

Rudy Garcia has been working in the Field of Substance Abuse Prevention for the past 18 years. Dedicated to the prevention of substance abuse with youth providing prevention services as well as working as a Director of Prevention Youth Services. Rudy is also a Trainer of Evidenced Based Curriculums and several required trainings for prevention specialist working with youth.

Ruby Moseley ACPS

Ruby has been in the field of prevention for more than 22 years. She began her work as a student participant, graduated into the position of volunteer and transitioned into full time work in 2007. While most of her time is spent behind the scenes at trainings and conferences, she enjoys occasionally stepping to the front of the room to share her experiences.

Alicia Rosas BS

Alicia Rosas is the Youth Engagement Specialist at Texans Standing Tall. She has served on various statewide substance use prevention teams over the past 6 years as a young adult volunteer. Additionally, she received her undergraduate education in Youth Development and Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences from Texas Tech University and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Youth Program Management and Evaluation.

Pierluigi Mancini PhD, MAC

Pierluigi Mancini PhD is the Project Director for the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction and Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Both centers are housed at the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA.org) located in New Mexico. NLBHA was established to fill a need for a unified national voice for Latino populations in the behavioral health arena and to bring attention to the great disparities that exist in areas of access, utilization, practice-based research and adequately trained personnel. Both of our centers are part of the National TTC Network which, is an international, multidisciplinary resource for professionals in the addictions treatment, prevention and recovery services field that was established in 1993 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

With over 30 years of experience in culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health treatment and prevention, Dr. Mancini is one of the most sought after national and international consultants and speakers on the subject of mental health and addiction, his area of expertise is immigrant behavioral health. His book ¡Mental! In The Trump Era – Ten Inspirational Stories About Immigrants Overcoming Addiction, Depression and Anxiety in America has recently been published to great reviews and it is available on Amazon.com.

Dr. Mancini founded Georgia’s only Latino behavioral health program in 1999 to serve the immigrant population by providing cultural and linguistically appropriate mental health and addiction treatment and prevention services in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Dr. Mancini’s public service announcement and documentaries addressing underage drinking, suicide and prescription drugs have won a combined six (6) EMMY ® awards. Dr. Mancini has been honored with the National Latina/o Psychological Association Star Vega Distinguished Service Award; the National Council of La Raza – Helen Rodríguez- Trías Award for Health; and the Mental Health America “Heroes in the Fight” Award among others.

Dolka Michelle Zelaya CPS

Dolka Michelle Zelaya is a Certified Prevention Specialist through the Prevention Credentialing Consortium of Georgia (PCCG), and she is the Project Coordinator for the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC). Zelaya firmly believes in the power of prevention through the extensive use of Evidence-Based Practices, comprehensive policies, we can help our youth, their families and our communities to become healthy and productive.
Her seventeen years of experience working in the prevention field with minorities and at high-risk populations is a vivid proof that prevention works! Zelaya has provided leadership for prevention programs at local, state and now national levels. From 2016- 2018 she worked at Georgia State University- School of Social Work and the ¡VIDA-LIFE! program. A health Initiative for Latino Young Adults to prevent and reduce HIV, substance abuse and Hepatitis C.
From 2013 – 2015 Zelaya also, worked as a Director of the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Programs, with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, where successfully provided leadership, direction, and administration of a SAMHSA-funded Statewide Youth Suicide Prevention Project. From 2002 to 2012 she works as a Director of the Prevention Department at CETPA gaining expertise on creating, tailoring and implementing prevention programs among the Latino Community. As a youth educator/ advocate had done extensive work with alcohol, tobacco, substance abuse, and partnered with non-profit organizations, providing training, guidance and managing federal grants at the local/state level, creating community coalitions and task force both locally and statewide. Also, had worked in a variety of settings including Elementary, Middle, High schools and universities, prevention clubhouses, summer camps, as well with those affected by suicide, the LGBTQ community, Latino communities, youth community, and military families. Zelaya serves on the Prevention Credentialing Consortium of Georgia and The Latino LINQ, Board of Directors.

Nicole Holt BA

Nicole Holt serves as CEO of Texans Standing Tall, a statewide non-profit dedicated to creating healthier and safer communities where alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs have no place in the lives of youth. During Nicole’s 13 years in this role, TST has expanded its ability to train and support Texas coalitions and advocate state and local policy change. She also serves as a founding member of the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance. With decades of nonprofit experience, Nicole began her career working for National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program. At 24, she built a national program for faith-based college students to address environmental issues.

The first college graduate in her family and a 6th generation Texan, Nicole was a Presidential Scholar at Grayson County Community College, graduating Cum Laude with an Associate’s degree. She then received a B.A. with an emphasis on poverty and environmental policy from Luther College in Iowa. She is a member of the 2019 class of Leadership Women Texas.

Brent Blackburn CPS

Brent Blackburn is a Certified Prevention Specialist that has many years of experience in alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention. Brent has traveled the nation in pursuit of his passion to build youth and adult partnerships, to solve community problems. Brent currently serves as the Executive Director of Extreme Youth Leadership, working to create connections in the community that will reduce substance abuse, engage young people to serve their schools and communities, and developing them into leaders.

Mitchell Moore BAT, LCDC, ICPS, ACPS, ADC III

Mitchell Moore is a dynamic certified prevention specialist who has a passion for reducing substance use disorders. He has extensive training in substance abuse prevention with a specialty in tobacco prevention and underage drinking prevention. He utilizes experiential learning techniques and provides common analogies that people can relate to.

Brytani Cavil MS

Brytani Cavil received her bachelors from Drake University where she studied Marketing in the College of Business and Public Administration. Her professional experience in youth development extends from work with 21st Century Learning Centers, the YMCA, and community level work in her time serving as an AmeriCorps member. Her professional interest are centered around crafting prevention and intervention strategies for youth that include youth voice as a central and critical component. She leads a project with the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health and the Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen youth voice throughout the Texas systems that impact youth.

David McClung MSW/MDiv

David McClung is a youth engagement specialist at Texas System of Care where he helps to lead ACCEPT, a movement of youth and young adults ages 13-25 from across Texas who work together for system transformation by supporting partnerships between, youth, young adults, and organizations. David graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Baylor University with a Masters in Social Work and Master of Divinity. He is now pursuing a PhD in Social Work at Baylor University. His research interests include natural support systems, the role of congregations in mental health, and youth participatory action research. In his free time, David enjoys spending time with his wife, keeping up with current events, reading, and watching movies.

Judy Mezey

Judy Mezey graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Psychology and joined the Peace Corps as a health educator in West Africa. Since then, she has worked in the substance abuse field, first counseling teenagers and later directing community-based prevention programs. She completed her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management at Mercy College. Currently, as Director of Community Based Programs for Student Assistance Services Corp., Judy develops and supervises community-based substance abuse and problem gambling prevention programs in diverse communities.

Boyd Baxter ICPS, CPS

Boyd Baxter is a lifetime resident of San Antonio, Texas. Boyd is currently employed as a Coalition Coordinator with the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness – Circles of San Antonio Community Coalition and has been an active member of Circles of San Antonio since 2006. Prior to this Boyd has been employed with Texans Standing Tall serving as the Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition Coordinator for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, also San Antonio Fighting Back serving in numerous capacities. In addition, Boyd is an AmeriCorps Alumni having completed two years of AmeriCorps National Service. Boyd has twenty-three years of experience working in the non-profit arena with community crime prevention and alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) prevention. Most recently he was part of the Circles of San Antonio team successfully advocating for the Social Host Accountability in San Antonio and a collaborative partner with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District advocating for the Tobacco 21 Ordinance. In 2014, Boyd received his certifications through the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals as an International Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Prevention Specialists.

Betsy Jones MPA, ACPS

Betsy Jones is a Prevention Specialist and marijuana policy expert. She serves as a Coalition Coordinator for the Circles of San Antonio Community Coalition at the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness. In her spare time, Betsy attends St. Mary’s University School of Law.

Amy Alston BA, APS

Amy Alston is a graduate from Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science. For 30+ years, she worked in the Administrative Field for State Government and Non-Profits. Amy currently works as a Youth Prevention Specialist, HYPE Coordinator, and Team Lead for Youth Prevention Universal- Elementary with the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness. Amy has a strong passion for working with youth, which is her driving force to help educate youth about health and wellness through substance use prevention. Amy is an advocate for bringing awareness about prevention in her community and county by doing presentations to adults and youth about substance use prevention and volunteering with Circles of San Antonio Coalition and other community organizations.

Tracy Johnson BA

In 2013, Tracy Johnson became Managing Partner with SheRay’s & Associates, LLC. Mr. Johnson also works with various federal, state and local agencies and corporations in developing comprehensive integrated prevention services to economically disadvantaged and African American children and families. He assists urban and inner cities communities with learning the strategic prevention framework and customizing it for their communities (e.g. Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Columbus, and Los Angeles). He has received numerous certificates in training in prevention, as well recognized nationally for crime prevention efforts. He serves on statewide youth advocacy board developing policy on protecting our children.

Michaela Flores M.S., CHW, CPS

Michaela Flores is a Certified Prevention Specialist and has served the prevention field since 2013. She is the Youth Programs Director for the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation in Corpus Christi. Michaela holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Along overseeing two YPU programs, Michaela is also versed in coalition work managing one CCP program. Michaela has trained for the State on Ethics, SAPST, Substantiality, and individually created Facilitation, Classroom Management, Involving Rural Counties in Prevention Initiatives, Alternative Activities, Communication, and various ATOD focused presentations.

Andrés Guariguata LCSW

Andrés is the clinical services lead for Texas Systems of Care at the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health at the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work. In this role, he oversees the quality of clinical services provided through the Systems of Care efforts. He collaborates with all local administrative and clinical staff engaged in the Systems of Care initiatives with a focus on implementation of best practices in screening, assessment, mental health and substance abuse/misuse services. Key to this partnership are family and youth voice to ensure that services are meeting family, youth and community needs. Andrés has worked in the field of mental health care and integrated behavioral health services for over 35 years. He has worked in direct services, community mental health services, integrated behavioral health services and at state administrative/policy levels. Andrés served as the Director for Children’s Mental Health Services for the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and was a Senior Policy Advisor for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Alycia Welch MPAff, MSSW

Alycia is the program administrator of the SAMHSA-funded South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center at the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, housed at Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. In this role, she oversees the implementation of training and technical assistance and the dissemination of best practices to the diverse behavioral health workforce across U.S. Health and Human Services Region VI (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX, and tribal communities). She has over 15 years of experience managing complex, multi-partner projects and facilitating cross-system collaboration with criminal and juvenile justice, health care, and behavioral health systems. She is trained on the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards to support the implementation of diverse approaches to service delivery among the public mental health workforce.

Raylette Pickett

Raylette is skilled at developing and implementing culturally sensitive community based programs and Training/TA services. She is active in the community, with particular interest in working with organizations serving inner city youth and young adults. In 2015, Raylette joined The TTJ Group, LLC as the Chief Operating Officer with the purpose of servicing organizations in the areas of specialized trainings, organization and economic development and technical assistance. TTJ Group, LLC is committed to taking organizations from a level of “Great-2-Glory”!