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Prevention Professionals Day is designed to offer Maine’s Prevention Community a broad range of learning opportunities. The day will focus on providing tools and resources for the field of prevention including the basics of primary prevention, the state, regional, and local landscape of prevention, workforce development opportunities, etc. The program includes both panel presentations and plenary sessions that will provide the opportunity for interaction among the participants.
Target Audience:
The target audience of this conference includes community prevention coalition professionals and members; substance use and mental health prevention and health promotion practitioners; program managers and administrators; state agency prevention staff; volunteers and task force members; and others who deliver substance abuse and mental health prevention services or who are interested in prevention issues and practice.
This three-hour, inter-active session will provide participants with an introduction to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study including what ACEs can look like, sound like, and feel like for those impacted, as well as the potential impact of toxic stress upon healthy brain development. We will explore the prevalence of ACEs in Maine as well as examine Adverse Community Environments and their impact on children, families and communities. Additionally, through large and small group activities, we will learn strategies that help to build or promote resilience for healthy and thriving children, families and communities. Free training, must pre-register. Light snacks will be provided.
Family connectedness and support is an important protective factor in the well-being of LGBT youth. However, many families and young people face challenges navigating their way to strong, affirming relationships. This training is geared towards a broad range of providers representing primary care, mental health, behavioral health, educators, community, clergy, etc. who work with LGBT youth and their families. Must pre-register. A light lunch will be provided.
This two-day training will provide an introduction to the evidence and practice-based communication method of motivational interviewing (MI). Motivational Interviewing is a person-centered, evidence-based directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. After orientation to the underlying spirit and principles of MI, we will focus on practical exercises to help Prevention Specialists strengthen empathic reflection skills, and introduce complex reflection skills. We will begin to recognize and elicit change talk and learn how to roll with resistance/discord. Research evidence will be reviewed for the efficacy of MI and for the importance of it in substance use prevention with emphasis on the Prevention Specialist’s relationship with the community served toward positive outcomes. (Fee covers registration for both days, breakfast and lunch)