Great Lakes PTTC

No more applications accepted. This course has been filled.   This two-week, asynchronous, online moderated course explores the six principles of the Substance Misuse Prevention Code of Ethics, brought to life with realistic examples designed to enhance participant understanding. The course also introduces a decision-making process to help practitioners apply this code to a variety of ethical dilemmas, and an online discussion area to facilitate discussion with other course participants. This is a self-paced, moderated course meaning there are no real time events. You will be asked to complete content modules on HealtheKnowledge and participate in learning forums that will be moderated by a trainer. This course will take approximately six hours to complete over the course of two weeks. Modules will be released on August 3, 5, 7, 12 and 14. On completing all assignments and passing the assessment at the end of the course (80% correct), participants will receive a certificate of completion for six hours. As a participant in this course, you will be expected to: Read the course content for each day, according to the course schedule. Participate in five online learning forums. This includes posting a response to 3 to 5 discussion questions per forum, reviewing a case example, and completing a corresponding worksheet per forum, as well as reviewing the posts from fellow course participants and posting at least one response. Review the online summaries provided by the course moderator. Complete the online assessment at the end of the course. PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY: The course is limited to 35 substance misuse prevention professionals working in Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) on a first-come, first-serve basis for applicants who meet the required criteria. Applications received from those outside Region 5 will be put on a wait list and accepted if space is available. Click on the “Register” button to access the application. AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE LEVEL Click for info LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define ethics and related terms Describe the six principles in the Prevention Code of Ethics Use an ethical decision-making process to apply the Prevention Code of Ethics IC&RC PREVENTION DOMAIN(S): 6 PRESENTER: Sheila Nesbitt Sheila Nesbitt has worked in the field of substance misuse prevention for more than 20 years. She is currently the trauma outreach and prevention coordinator at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Minneapolis. In this role she plans and conducts programs to help people and communities reduce the number and severity of traumatic injuries, including those from alcohol and other drug use. She formerly worked at the Education Development Center, Minnesota Institute of Public Health, and the National Crime Prevention Council. CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training. The Great Lakes PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.

This one-hour virtual training of trainers (TOT) will prepare substance misuse prevention professionals trainers to deliver the 1.5-hour What Does NOT Work in Substance Misuse Prevention training. Participants who actively participate in the entire session will receive the trainers packet to assist them in facilitating the What Does NOT Work training. To be prepared to participate in this TOT, participants will need to have done the following: Attended or watched the recording of the Uncovering What Does NOT Work in Substance Misuse Prevention webinar AND downloaded and read the literature review, What Research Shows Does NOT Work in Substance Misuse Prevention AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE LEVEL Click for info or AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE LEVEL Click for info</span  LEARNING OBJECTIVES: A clear understanding of the content of the training Understands how to facilitate the training with fidelity Applies tips and tools to address issues that can arise in the training IC&RC PREVENTION DOMAIN(S): 1 CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training. PRESENTER:  Kris Reed, MPH CPS Kris is the co-director of the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. She has worked in the substance misuse prevention field for over 35 years. Kris co-authored the national Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training curriculum, and co-authored the textbook, Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science and Practice. Kri.s has worked with states and communities across the nation to bridge the gap between research and practice, assisting prevention professionals in maximizing their effectiveness The Great Lakes PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders. Others outside this region are welcome to attend.

Prevention in Practice: Strategy, Data, and Impact is a one-day, in-person regional summit designed to help substances misuse prevention professional strengthen prevention strategy, implementation, data use, and long-term impact. The day will emphasize peer learning, facilitated problem solving, and practical action planning around three priority areas: sustainability and funding, data collection and evaluation, and policy and environmental strategies. Participants will exchange examples from the field, identify common implementation challenges, and leave with tools and next steps they can apply to their current grant work. Participants may choose from two locations: Detroit, Michigan August 20, 2026 - 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. DoubleTree by Hilton Detroit/Dearborn, 5801 Southfield Freeway, Detroit, MI 48228 Columbus, Ohio August 27, 2026 - 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S. Grant Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215 TRAVEL STIPENDS are available! APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 31. 2026. Click on the “Register” button to access the application. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Identify practical strategies for sustaining prevention initiatives, including exploring creative partnerships, infrastructure, and funding diversification approaches. Describe ways to use data collection and evaluation findings to strengthen implementation, communicate impact, and support continuous quality improvement. Examine opportunities and challenges related to policy and environmental prevention strategies in local communities. Apply peer feedback to develop a tangible next-step plan for advancing one priority area within their work. Strengthen connections with other substance misuse prevention professionals to support ongoing peer learning and problem solving. IC&RC PREVENTION DOMAIN(S): I, II, III, IV V, VI CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event. FACILITATOR:  Nicole M Augustine, MPH, MCHES, PS Nicole M Augustine is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC), housed within the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She works alongside prevention professionals to strengthen workforce capacity, support implementation efforts, and advance effective substance use disorder (SUD) prevention practice. Nicole brings experience in strategic planning, facilitation, curriculum development, and leadership support, and is passionate about creating practical tools that help people apply prevention science in real-world settings. Albert Gay, MS, Co-Facilitator, Detroit  Albert Gay is president of Albert Gay Incorporated and a managing partner and master trainer for SheRay’s and Associates, LLC, and TTJ Group, LLC. In these roles, Albert provides services to non-profit, faith-based, and community organizations and governmental entities in developing and implementing technical assistance and training services in innovative and practical ways. Locally, Albert has leadership roles in coalitions that serve the city of Gary and the Northwest Indiana region. Albert Gay obtained his BA in English Arts from Hampton University in Virginia, and he obtained his Master of Science in Management from Oakland City University in Indiana. He received ministry training from Christian International’s Ministry Training College in Florida. Christi Valentini-Lackner, OCPC - Co-Facilitator, Columbus Christi Valentini-Lackner is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant (OCPC) with over 23 years of experience in the field of prevention. She is a Chief Program Officer at PreventionFIRST!; an organization that aims to change or influence multiple community conditions and circumstances to reduce community level risk factors and increase protective factors. Christi graduated from Ohio University with a B.A. in Psychology. Currently, Christi is the Vice President of Ohio Prevention Professionals Association (OPPA) formerly ADAPO. The Great Lakes PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.

Every community is unique, and so are its substance misuse prevention needs. But how do you identify which substance misuse prevention programs, practices, and policies will work for your community? And which strategies should you avoid because research has shown they do not work? This 2-hour webinar will equip participants with practical skills to identify, evaluate, and select evidence-based substance misuse prevention interventions that align with their specific community context, while avoiding strategies that have been shown to be ineffective. Learning Objectives List the steps to selecting a prevention intervention that meets the needs of their community Access at least 5 online registries for effective, evidence-based substance misuse prevention strategies Identify at least 5 interventions that have been shown through research to not be effective in preventing substance misuse About the Presenters Kris Reed, MPH, CPS Kris Reed is the co-director of the Great Lakes PTTC. She has worked in the substance misuse prevention field for over 30 years. Kris co-authored the national Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training curriculum and the textbook Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science and Practice. Kris has worked with states and communities across the nation to bridge the gap between research and practice, assisting prevention professionals in maximizing their effectiveness. Nicole M. Augustine, MPH, MCHES, CPS Nicole M. Augustine is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with the Great Lakes PTTC, housed within the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She works alongside prevention professionals to strengthen workforce capacity, support implementation efforts, and advance effective substance use disorder prevention practice. Nicole brings experience in strategic planning, facilitation, curriculum development, and leadership support, and is passionate about creating practical tools that help people apply prevention science in real-world settings.

The world has changed. So has the way communities engage. People care and want to be involved, but between family commitments, packed schedules, and competing priorities, getting them to attend even the most well-planned event can feel like mission impossible. This 1.5-hour webinar will focus on how to shift from expecting people to come to you, to reaching them where they already are. Drawing from real-world prevention efforts across multiple communities, we’ll explore strategies that meet people in their daily lives, at events, in shared spaces, and through culturally relevant touchpoints. Participants will gain practical, actionable approaches to increase engagement, strengthen partnerships, and drive meaningful impact without relying solely on traditional outreach methods.  AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE LEVEL Click for info LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Rethink why even well-planned prevention events struggle to create engagement in today’s environment. Leave with practical, ready-to-use strategies to expand your reach, connect with harder-to-engage populations, and make your efforts count. Learn how to shift your approach to meet people where they already are, in everyday spaces, routines, and community touchpoints. IC&RC PREVENTION DOMAIN(S): 2 and 4 PRESENTERS: Karen Sylvester, CPS Karen Sylvester is a Certified Prevention Specialist who is currently leading prevention efforts in Yellowstone County, Montana as well as supervising prevention in central and northeastern Montana. She has over thirty years of experience not only facilitating community prevention but promoting and advocating for prevention initiatives across states. Navigating community prevention can be a challenge and having the guidance of someone who has done the work in very small frontier settings, to larger communities, regionally and statewide, can help others as they look as to how they can be inventive and deal with the challenges they face. Karen has presented at numerous conferences, including SAMHSA’s Prevention Day and National Prevention Network (NPN) Conferences, sharing innovative ways to deliver prevention and ways to connect with communities. Supporting coalitions as they look to deliver programs grounded in evidence-based practices while being innovative to meet their community’s needs. Travis Sylvester  Travis Sylvester is the co-founder and Director of Operations for Sylvestri Customization, a substance abuse prevention and mental health support solutions company. For more than a decade, he has worked with coalitions across the United States to build and implement evidence-based prevention efforts that produce real, lasting results. Travis holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Arizona State University and brings a strong background in Information Technology, which informs the development of Sylvestri Customization’s digital assessment, data collection, and evaluation tools designed for real-world prevention work. In addition, his 13+ years of prevention experience and IC&RC prevention certification bring subject matter expertise to all aspects of the organization’s work. He has presented at numerous prevention conferences, including the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference, CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, and SAMHSA’s Prevention Day, sharing practical strategies and real-world applications with prevention professionals across the country. Tavis's ability to support coalitions nationwide is also shaped by his lived experience. Raised in a one-stoplight town in Wyoming, he understands the culture and challenges of frontier and rural communities. Having also attended one of the largest universities in the country in Phoenix, Arizona, he brings perspective that translates across suburban and urban settings. The Great Lakes PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders. Others outside this region are welcome to attend.

In this 90-minute interactive webinar, substance misuse prevention professionals will learn how the principles, tools, and approaches to continuous quality improvement (CQI) can optimize their prevention work. Additionally, we will discuss how to incorporate the key tools of CQI – including the Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle– into all phases of your prevention work to ensure your programs are efficient, effective, and stay on track. We will explore the application of CQI throughout the Strategic Prevention Framework process with a focus on the implementation phase.  AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE LEVEL Click for info LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Describe how CQI applies to the Strategic Prevention Framework Apply CQI tools to evidence-based programs IC&RC PREVENTION DOMAIN(S):  1  PRESENTER:  Erin Ficker, MPAff  For over 20 years, Erin Ficker has built the capacity of clients to perform prevention work effectively using the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). She has in-depth knowledge and training experience in the SPF process, including specific work in evaluation, sustainability, assessment, and working with diverse populations. She provides services to a wide range of prevention and behavioral health specialists as an expert in substance misuse prevention, an accomplished training and technical assistance (T/TA) provider, and a certified senior prevention specialist. She brings extensive expertise in supporting, designing, and delivering engaging professional learning, and providing comprehensive T/TA for states and community-level prevention professionals. The Great Lakes PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders. Others outside this region are welcome to attend.