MyPrevention Online Training Course Catalog

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MyPrevention Online Training

A. Substance Abuse Prevention Foundation Series

1. Introduction to the Field of Substance Abuse Prevention
This is the first of two introductory courses on substance abuse prevention, providing an overview of the field of prevention and some of its basic principles and concepts. This course describes the nature and scope of substance abuse as a public health problem in this country. The history of prevention is summarized by describing various approaches that have been utilized over time. Key concepts in prevention are introduced, including risk factors, protective factors, resiliency, the IOM Model, and environmental prevention.
2. Introduction to the Practice of Substance Abuse Prevention
This is the second of two introductory courses on substance abuse prevention, building on the first course which provided an overview of the field of prevention. As we turn our attention to how substance abuse prevention is put into practice, this course utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF).
3. Understanding Adolescents and Their Developmental Challenges
Adolescence is generally viewed as a difficult time in a young person's life. This course will provide information on the challenges and issues that surround adolescents as well as the developmental challenges that are taking place. You'll get facts and figures about adolescent development and lots of information about the five major developmental challenges adolescents face. You'll also learn how this information relates to the design and implementation of youth programs.
4. Changing Behavior: The Transtheoretical Model
Why is it so hard to change our behavior? This course examines the subject of behavioral change by presenting the Transtheoretical Model of change. The Transtheoretical Model is based on extensive research and combines several theories and approaches to the change process. After looking at the challenges of change and common myths about change, the learner is introduced to nine major processes related to changing behavior. These processes are applied and related to the six major stages of change. While the material in this course is relevant to behavior change in any context, connections to substance abuse are identified and discussed.
5. Drugs - An Introduction
Are you aware of the many types of substances used and abused by young people today? Do you know where these substances come from and how they are used? This course will answer these questions and more, covering alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The course starts by reviewing the major categories of drugs in relation to federal classification schedules and criminal penalties. Then, individual profiles are presented for a broad range of substances. After you finish taking this course, you can come back to it as a reference source to look up information on specific drugs. Prevention workers, parents, teachers, or anyone else working with young people will benefit from the information in this course.
6. Drugs and the Adolescent Brain
Recent research on human brain development is generating findings of great interest to the field of substance abuse prevention. For example, did you know that the human brain continues to develop physiologically until at least the early twenties? This course provides information on how the brain functions, how the brain develops in young people, and what the effects on the brain are for various substances. The course concludes by outlining the implications of adolescent brain information for substance abuse prevention work.
7. Interactive Delivery in Prevention—Experiential and Reflective Learning
Welcome to this course on using experiential and reflective learning in prevention! This course is part of our course series on interactivity delivery in prevention services. The use of experiential and reflective learning is one way to build interactivity into prevention programs. In this course, we'll dig into the subject of experiential and reflective learning in depth to see how this can be done. We'll explore how to work with young people in a way that that brings about experiential and reflective learning and enhances their ability to engage in reflective thinking. We'll start with learning theories and learning models supporting the concepts of experiential and reflective learning. From there, we'll see how experiential and reflective learning connects with the practice of substance abuse prevention. After that, we'll present specific exercises and techniques that apply experiential and reflective learning when working with youth.
8. Interactive Delivery in Prevention—Communication and Facilitation Skills
Welcome to this course on communication and facilitation skills for substance abuse prevention practitioners! This course is part of our course series on interactive delivery in prevention services. Our premise in these courses is that interactivity is a critical element in the effectiveness of prevention programs and services. Prevention practitioners must find ways to engage and connect with adolescents to be successful in achieving prevention objectives.

B. Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Series

1. Needs Assessment in Substance Abuse Prevention
Needs assessment is a critical step in the practice of substance abuse prevention in a community. This course is a practical guide to conducting needs assessment studies specifically for substance abuse prevention. Assessment is the first of five components in the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) promoted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In this course, the student will learn what is involved in conducting a needs assessment, the purposes fulfilled by assessments, and how to collect and analyze data for a needs assessment study. The course presents a four-step method for conducting an assessment.
2. Building Capacity for Substance Abuse Prevention
The second step in SAMHSA's five-step Strategic Prevention Framework is Capacity Building. Building capacity for prevention work in a community is critical. In this course, you will learn about the five aspects of Capacity Building: Resources, Collaboration, Information, Skills, and Institutionalization. An approach to assessing the current capacity of a community is provided, along with a "readiness continuum" to help interpret the results of your assessment. The course then suggests how to use the results of a readiness assessment to establish a strategy for Capacity Building activities.
3. Planning Effectively for Substance Abuse Prevention
The third step in SAMHSA's five-step Strategic Prevention Framework is Planning. The Planning step builds on what was accomplished in the Assessment and Capacity Building steps by developing a sound plan for the implementation of a community-based prevention initiative. This course focuses on the planning process, starting with the formation of an inclusive planning workgroup. After taking the necessary preparatory steps, the planning workgroup engages in a three-phase planning process: 1) Agreeing on purpose and priorities, 2) Selecting strategy, programs, and activities, and 3) Developing an action plan. This course emphasizes the importance of utilizing Assessment data in making planning decisions so that the prevention plan reflects an evidence-based approach.
4. Asset Mapping in Substance Abuse Prevention
When conducting an assessment in a community related to substance abuse, it is important to assess both needs and assets in the community. A useful technique on the assets side of the equation is Asset Mapping. This course explains what is involved in Asset Mapping and provides specific instructions on how to conduct an Asset Mapping project. Examples are provided of prevention initiatives that made use of Asset Mapping as a tool for identifying and mobilizing resources in a community.

C. Environmental Prevention Series

1. Media Advocacy and Substance Abuse Prevention
The news media has profound impact on community norms and in setting a community's political agenda. With prevention efforts, the news media is a powerful means to inform and gain public and policymaker support for policy goals. This online course provides the learner with information on how to utilize the news media to convey messages to the public, ensure that the media covers prevention stories properly, and develop strategies for media advocacy campaigns.
2. Responsible Beverage Service Overview
Did you know... studies have shown that in communities where no organized efforts were taken to reduce sales to underage persons, individuals who looked younger than age 21 were able to buy alcohol without showing ID in 45-50% of their attempts? Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) has been shown to lower the number of underage youth who are served alcohol as well as decrease the number of intoxicated patrons at bars and liquor stores. This course will provide participants with background information on RBS, the elements of effective RBS training, and the importance of RBS as part of a community's efforts to prevent alcohol-related problems.

D. Prevention Programs and Techniques Series

1. Brief Intervention: An Approach for Substance Abusing Adolescents
Brief Intervention (BI) is a new and effective technique used with young people who have begun to use alcohol or drugs but are not yet candidates for treatment. This course is a comprehensive training on Brief Intervention offering 23 video clip demonstrations that cover all stages of the process. The goal of BI is to intervene early in the history of substance use by adolescents in hopes of stopping a progression toward frequent or heavy use. Brief Intervention entails having a pre-session and two clinical sessions with the youth, all conducted over the course of a few weeks. The BI facilitator utilizes a series of structured worksheets in the process. There are optional sessions with the parents or guardians of the adolescent, as well as optional follow-up sessions to be held several weeks later.

E. Mentoring Program Development Series

F. Volunteer Mentor Series