Partners in Prevention Conference

Prevention has become a hot topic in national conversations around mental health, substance use, and general healthy lifestyles; yet, many people do not realize that prevention has been an evolving science for centuries. This workshop will aim to be a primer for individuals now tasked with prevention work who have previously received no formal training in the discipline. Led by a presenter with an advanced degree and credentialing in prevention, as well as nearly two decades of work experience in the field, the workshop will open with an overview of the history of prevention and the progress it has made over time. This section will include information on theories and models such as the Health Belief Model, Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Ecological Model, and others that document what is known about the behavior change process. Next, there will be a guided discussion around the prevention activities attendees remember from their own adolescence and young adulthood as segue into current best practices like social norms, motivational interviewing, and bystander intervention. Lastly, the workshop will address the research tools currently available which help document the effectiveness of the many prevention strategies currently in use on college campuses. These include the EverFi Compass, College AIM, and Evidenced-Based Practice Resource Center.