Events
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program and its related public health and non-profit partners frequently offer training, events, and conferences focused on the many different areas of tobacco and substance use prevention and control.
If you have an conference in Maine that is relevant to the prevention and control of tobacco, substance use, suicide or injury; submit information to tsup.dhhs@maine.gov. We will review and post if appropriate.
Advanced Youth Facilitation Skills: Two Day Intensive Workshop
Participate in a two day intensive dive into youth facilitation best practices.
In this two-day facilitation workshop, you will fill your toolbox with activities, skills and facilitation strategies intended to grow your practice working with youth groups. Learn the skills to help groups solve complex problems, leverage diverse points of view, practice social-emotional skills and build engaging sessions for your team. In this workshop you will walk through activities in real time that are designed to encourage student curiosity and inquiry. Learn how to enhance your debrief and reflection skills to create a deeper understanding of real world experiences and meaningful learning outcomes. Leave with exciting ideas, a new network of like-minded professionals and a few new viewpoints on your role as a youth facilitator!
Breaking Out the Boxes: Exploring Gender Variance and the Trans Umbrella
One of the simplest ways to honor others is to affirm who they are. None of us can have healthy relationships with people who invalidate, minimize, or dismiss us. In this workshop, we'll dismantle and examine what we think of as gender and then reassemble those pieces with a greater understanding of how gender works in our culture. We will also explore language, pronouns, and allyship.
Participants who successfully complete this 3 hour workshop will:
• Become more familiar with language relating to gender identity.
• Understand the components of gender (identity, expression, sex assigned at birth, and chromosomes).
• Learn about the impact of culture and society on gender presentation and expression.
• Discuss the importance of being an ally to those who are gender variant.
• Explore how relationships are strengthened by honoring and affirming others experiences of gender.
Registration Fee includes a continental breakfast.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: Two-Day Intensive Workshops
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Emerging Best Practices of Youth Prevention: Using Neuroscience to Reach Developing Brains
A three-part series focused on leveraging prevention best practices to effectively engage youth within our communities.
Come join the Maine Youth Action Network's team, in this free training series to learn the neuroscience behind why scare tactics miss the mark in adolescent brains; strategies for directly involving youth in prevention-focused research; and how to grow and sustain lasting, supportive relationships with any young person.
Part 1- Using Neuroscience to Reach Developing Brains February 27th @ Bangor Public Library - Bangor, ME 9:30-4:00
Part 2 - Community Driven Research with Youth April 8th @ TBA 9:30-4:00
Part 3 - Relationships as Protective Factors June 27th @ TBA 9:30-4:00
Over the course of these trainings, attendees will be working in peer cohorts to build and strengthen their networks and professional communities. Due to this structure, if you are interested in only attending one of these training please email allyson.gardner@opportunityalliance.org to be placed on our wait list.
Transforming Knowledge Into Action: Youth Mentoring Strategies
A three-part training series focused on building youth engagement skills and expanding your professional learning networks.
Join the Maine Youth Action Network's team for this free training opportunity! Participate in a learning cohort with other emerging leaders in the youth engagement field. This series provides participants with train-the-trainer content on youth mentoring best practices, engagement & retention strategies, and youth facilitation strategies. You'll leave with training materials, strengthened skills and deeper connections to other youth workers in your community.
Part 1- Youth Mentoring Strategies -Feb 28th @ Bangor Public Library - Bangor, ME 9:30-4:00
Part 2 -Youth Engagement and Retention April 9th @ TBA - 9:30-4:00
Part 3 - Facilitating for Youth Voice June 3rd @ TBA - 9:30-4:00
Over the course of these trainings, attendees will be working in peer cohorts to build and strengthen their networks and professional communities. Due to this structure, if you are interested in only attending one of these training please email allyson.gardner@opportunityalliance.org to be placed on our wait list.
Emerging Best Practices of Youth Prevention: Relationships as Protective Factors
Develop skills to grow and sustain lasting and supportive relationships with young people.
In this workshop, dive into how protective factors like positive adult relationships can build resiliency in young people and improve outcomes.
How to Use Humor, Science and Effective Communication Strategies to Engage Youth Audiences in Positive Prevention
This funny, informative and engaging half-day training focuses on communicating with teenagers about sensitive topics such as substance abuse and mental health.
The first training session is a keynote style presentation titled, Using Endorphins Wisely: The Science Behind Laughing, Meditating, Reducing Stress and Managing Your Emotions. This engaging program will involve stand-up comedy, audience participation and inspiring stories. It is meant to kick off the day with some energy, in addition to demonstrating Matt’s style when presenting to youth.
In the second session, Dr. Bellace relies more on his training as a clinical neuropsychologist to present the science behind the concepts he mentioned in the keynote. The topics covered include the developing brain, social support, communication and screen time, the neuroscience of meditation and other coping skills, substance abuse (e.g. vaping, THC, alcohol) and mental health. This session is intended to be interactive, so feel free to ask questions.
The final session has the potential to be the most fun, since it involves you! In the remaining time, Dr. Bellace will lead a discussion of effective speaking techniques when working with youth. In addition, he will encourage select members of the audience to put together a brief (2-3 minute) presentation about a prevention topic they feel teenagers need to hear. Dr. Bellace will create a supportive environment to debrief what worked and what could be improved the next time.
Emerging Best Practices of Youth Prevention: Relationships as Protective Factors
Develop skills to grow and sustain lasting and supportive relationships with young people.
In this workshop, dive into how protective factors like positive adult relationships can build resiliency in young people and improve outcomes.
Youth Mental Health First Aid: Two-Day Intensive Workshop
The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in crisis.
Thank you for making time for this two day training. We are excited to work with you all. This opportunity is available for TWO people from your organization who work with young people in any capacity.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Prevention Professionals Conference
Prevention Professionals Conference is designed to offer Maine's Prevention Community a broad range of learning opportunities. The conference will focus on providing information and resources for the field of tobacco and substance use prevention including building resilience and protective factors as a prevention strategy; innovative approaches to addressing health disparities; framing and messaging; comorbidity tobacco and marijuana use; and engagement of youth in prevention. The program includes both panel presentations and plenary sessions that will provide the opportunity for interaction among participants. SAVE THE DATE