How to Develop and Deliver Effective Prevention Messaging to Youth

02:00 PM This webinar is the rescheduled date for the previous session that was cancelled. The Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition is hosting this webinar to explore the effects drugs and alcohol have on the brain. This webinar will be facilitated by Breonna Wilkes with the Center for child and Family Services.

02:00 PM This webinar is aimed to inform school and public safety professionals that work with youth.   TOPICS COVERED: Roles of each agency in
regulation Cannabis and hemp laws in
Virginia Types of cannabis/hemp
products in schools Risks of underage cannabis use
and more!

11:30 AM This session examines the role of trauma in the development, persistence, and treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). Participants will explore how traumatic experiences shape neurobiological stress systems, emotional regulation, and behavioral responses that influence substance use patterns and recovery trajectories. The presentation will also highlight how trauma histories affect treatment engagement, retention, and therapeutic alliance in addiction care settings. The goal is to equip clinicians and program leaders with a deeper conceptual framework for recognizing trauma-related dynamics and integrating trauma-informed approaches into SUD treatment environments.

12:00 PM The American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health invites teens (ages 14-19) to participate in Beyond the Likes - Social Media, Mental Health & You, a free virtual youth forum on Saturday, April 18, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET.   This interactive event will empower young people to navigate the digital world with confidence, engage in meaningful conversations with peers and experts, and gain practical tools for managing their digital lives. Earn a Certificate of Completion and get a chance to win prizes! Clubs and organizations whose members participate in the forum may be eligible for a small stipend; interested groups can contact Marija Hegel at mhegel@aap.org for more information.

02:00 PM The webinar will feature a panel discussion and Q&A session with national leaders in community-initiated care and behavioral health, offering perspectives on implementing community-initiated care and sustainable financing strategies to expand these services.

11:00 AM This conference is for educators, community-based organizations, school administrators, healthcare providers, school resource officers, counselors, parents, and anyone else working with youth to learn about the latest research on cannabis, e-cigarette, and other drug use. This is a two-day fully virtual conference!  Early bird registration is $100. Price will increase to $125 after March 1st, 2026. (Fees include access to all conference recordings, materials, and resources for up to one year.) For more information click here

02:00 PM The U.S. retail market for intoxicants has been rapidly transforming, with regulators and communities struggling to keep up. Many intoxicating products – including hemp-derived cannabinoids, kratom, hallucinogens, and inhalants – are widely accessible in gas stations and smoke shops across the country. This session explains how gaps in laws and enforcement have allowed these markets to grow and highlights ongoing research and advocacy supporting effective prevention and control.

12:00 PM Featuring: Marsha Wood The Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health (VPGH) and the Virginia Office of Recovery Services (ORS) are partnering to provide essential education on problem gambling through a monthly Lunch and Learn series for peer recovery specialists, clinicians, administrators, and more.

01:00 AM Emotional awareness and management are critical social-emotional competencies that support student growth and can help prevent emotional, behavioral, and mental health crises. Through scenario-based examples and activities, these concepts will be defined, and participants will learn how schools can support their students’ growth in these areas in a multi-tiered system of support that focuses on social-emotional learning.
Objectives: 
•    Explore how the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework supports and promotes emotional awareness and management for students.
•    Identify and apply SEL and MTSS interventions to support a positive school climate.  
•    Identify specific strategies to support the school community's emotional awareness and management skills.  Partial In-Service Credit (PIC) for law enforcement is not available for virtual programs.   Registration Pre-registration is required.
Please note that the DCJS registration system does not have the capacity to sort eligible from ineligible registrants. Registrants not accepted will be notified via the email address provided during registration.

01:00 PM Join us for Preventing Older Adult Substance Use Through Environmental Scans | A 4-Part Virtual Interactive Series: PART 1: MAY 5: The Scope and Consequences of Use Among Older Adults PART 2: May 7: Developing a Strategic Plan PART 3: MAY 19: Building Capacity for Prevention PART 4: MAY 21: Opportunities for Collaboration and Better Understanding the Needs of Older Adults Registration Deadline May 21, 2026

10:00 AM Effective prevention messaging goes beyond simply sharing information. It is about shaping the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that protect youth from substance use. This training reviews the best available evidence on what works when developing and delivering substance use prevention messaging. We will share guidance on how to align your approach to your prevention goal and discuss how to tailor messaging across the developmental continuum. Whether you’re communicating personally, digitally, or through other outreach strategies, you will leave with clear, evidence-based strategies to maximize the impact of your prevention messaging

10:00 AM Teaches participants about adverse childhood experiences, toxic stress, and how adversity in childhood can impact adult health. Learn the steps to address trauma, how to create safe environments and improve relationships so that healing can begin and allow all children to reach their full potential.

This two-hour training will provide a more in-depth look at the brain and the effects of trauma on the brain.

* Training session is limited to 30 participants.

Presenters: Nana Amaniampong, Natrina Brooks and Joi Tramuel

08:30 AM Talks will cover the spectrum from Basic Research & Wellness to Prevention, Early Intervention, Treatment and Recovery. CEU credits are available (Register as a professional) through CRCC. We will be offering up to 10 CEU credits for the Conference.  Cost: $33.85 This event includes a boxed lunch and parking for each day.          

11:00 AM This conference brings public health professionals, prevention specialists, equity advocates, public safety professionals, tobacco prevention professionals, partners, and other advocates together virtually to discuss the new and changing legalized cannabis landscape in our communities. Other topics include… Aligning Cannabis Policy With Prevention Goals Evaluating Prevention Programs Realistically Facilitating Youth Conversations About Cannabis Centering Community Voice in Prevention Design Registration cost vary

08:00 AM The National Council on Problem Gambling is the only national nonprofit organization that seeks to minimize the economic and social costs associated with gambling addiction. NCPG is neutral on legalized gambling.  

09:00 AM Keith Cartwright, DBHDS ACE Coordinator, and Master ACE Interface Trainer is returning to Fredericksburg to facilitate a train-the-presenter for the Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Building Self-Healing Communities. RACSB Master Trainers Michelle Wagaman and Amy Jindra will co-facilitate. The train-the-presenter will be held in-person at the RACSB at River Club office (10825 Tidewater Trail, Fredericksburg, VA 22408). Participants must commit to full attendance each of the three days. (Day 1 and Day 2 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Day 3 9:00 a.m. to noonish) Space will be limited to 25 participants. Registration will close 10 days prior to the train-the-presenter or when 25 participants are confirmed. Advance reading will be emailed a week prior to the in-person training.