Future Prevention Leaders
Change Begins With YOUth
Youth Conference
Friday, June 23, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley St, New Britain, CT 06050
$30 per person. (Early Bird Rates Available Through May 15!)
Join the Next Generation of Prevention Champions at the 2023 Future Prevention Leaders Youth Conference!
Unlock the full potential of prevention and well-being by joining us at the 2023 Future Prevention Leaders Youth Conference. This one-day event is tailored specifically for high school-aged future leaders from Connecticut, providing a unique platform for empowerment and growth.
Engage in an inspiring journey of networking, learning, and camaraderie as you connect with like-minded peers from across the state, forging lasting bonds and cultivating meaningful relationships. Our dynamic conference promises a stimulating and interactive atmosphere, perfect for fostering an unshakable passion for prevention and wellness.
Dive deep into a treasure trove of knowledge, as you unlock access to a diverse range of learning and discussion opportunities, carefully curated to address the most pressing topics of interest. Unleash your potential as you explore:
- Cutting-edge strategies in Substance Use Prevention
- Exciting pathways to rewarding Prevention Careers
- Essential Coping Skills for resilience and balance
- Crucial Mental Health Awareness initiatives
- Powerful Youth Leadership Skills for maximum impact
See highlights from last year's conference here!
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
All Sessions
The following sessions run the same content during each breakout session block. You can attend these at 10:00am - 10:45am, 11:00am - 11:45am, or 1:30am - 2:15am. .
| Gambling: Can you Rank the Risk? | |
|---|---|
| Presenter: | CT Problem Gambling Team |
| Session Description: | This interactive workshop will provide students with a hands-on opportunity to assess the risks associated with gambling. Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion where youth put their gambling prevention knowledge to the test. |
| Be a De-Activist | |
| Presenter: | Hannah Granfield-Horton |
| Session Description: | Unused prescription drugs pose a risk of misuse and accidental poisoning, but improper disposal can harm the environment and contaminate our water supply. Are you ready to be a De-Activist in your community? By attending this workshop, you will learn more about a new program The Governor’s Prevention Partnership is implementing that will combine prevention education with Deterra Pouches. Deterra Pouches are a convenient, safe, environmentally sound option for proper drug disposal right at home. Linking Deterra pouches and prevention education will potentially remove more than two million unwanted prescription medications, opioids, and other pills from homes and communities throughout Connecticut. We need you to be a De-Activist (and learn how to get paid for doing it)! |
Session 1
11:00am - 11:45am
| Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health | |
|---|---|
| Presenter: | Kelley Edwards - DMHAS & Courtney Vause - Clinton Youth Leader |
| Session Description: | The session will be conversational, with a short interactive activity that is designed to help participants realize that we are all affected by mental health challenges. Come discuss how your community, school and friends handle mental health and brainstorm ways to “break the stigma”. |
| Above the Influence | |
| Presenter: | New Britain Youth Leaders |
| Session Description: | Learn how New Britain youth find the motivation to say no and “bee responsible”. Attendees will learn how using substances can negatively affect youth extracurricular activities including a variety of athletics, the arts, and youth employment. |
| Infusing Indigenous Culture In Your Prevention Program | |
| Presenter: | Scott Barton - Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation |
| Session Description: | This presentation focuses on ways to help address substance abuse and suicide prevention in Native Youth ages 7 to 24. It discusses how community efforts that are culturally appropriate, evidence-based best practices and how reverting back to traditional practices and teachings can have a positive impact on prevention efforts for this specific population. |
| Youth Initiated Mentoring | |
| Presenter: | Jo Hawke - The Governor's Prevention Partnership |
| Session Description: | You have dreams. You have potential. You have people who can help you reach your dreams and maximize your potential. We all need mentors. They are all around you. This workshop will discuss techniques and skills to become a "mentor magnet" and identify people in your life who will support you to make your aspirations a reality. We will talk about social capital mapping, social support, and mentoring for success. |
| Cannabis Focus Group | |
| Presenter: | Check back soon for more information! |
| Be a De-Activist | |
| Presenter: | Hannah Granfield-Horton - The Governor's Prevention Partnership |
| Session Description: | Unused prescription drugs pose a risk of misuse and accidental poisoning, but improper disposal can harm the environment and contaminate our water supply. Are you ready to be a De-Activist in your community? By attending this workshop, you will learn more about a new program The Governor’s Prevention Partnership is implementing that will combine prevention education with Deterra Pouches. Deterra Pouches are a convenient, safe, environmentally sound option for proper drug disposal right at home. Linking Deterra pouches and prevention education will potentially remove more than two million unwanted prescription medications, opioids, and other pills from homes and communities throughout Connecticut. We need you to be a De-Activist (and learn how to get paid for doing it)! |
Session 2
11:00am - 11:45am
| Financial Literacy | |
|---|---|
| Presenter: | Keri Lupachino-Maynard - Central Connecticut State University |
| Session Description: | This financial literacy session helps high school students plan for college costs. We'll break down budgeting steps and offer practical tips. It's all about feeling ready for the financial changes ahead and making smart decisions for your future. |
| Drumming for Leadership | |
| Presenter: | Jona Shook - Infinity Music |
| Session Description: | The act of drumming, especially within a community model, can offer many profound and positive effects on the body including stress management, anxiety reduction, self-awareness, and positive physiological responses. Additionally, music-making provides opportunities for leadership and group cohesion. Within this workshop, we will be actively making music together within a community drum circle. Participants in this program will have opportunities to lead, follow, and discuss music as a positive coping strategy. |
| Presentation Skills for Youth Advocates | |
| Presenter: | Dover Y2Y |
| Session Description: | This interactive youth-taught session is designed to introduce youth leaders and advocates to techniques for presenting effectively. Participants will learn various techniques to improve volume control and projecting their voice, controlling their speed, and vocal animation. A great session for anyone who needs to speak effectively but really helpful if you are someone who is uncomfortable when you have to speak in front of others. Participants who are interested will be provided with the lesson plan, PowerPoint, and supporting materials to bring back to their own groups. |
| Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and Coalition Building Overview | |
| Presenter: | Victoria O'Neill, -The HUB |
| Session Description: | Strategic Prevention Framework is a dynamic, data-driven planning process that prevention practitioners can use to understand and more effectively address the substance abuse and related mental health problems facing their communities. Through this process, preventionists will be able to identify sectors, stakeholders, and other various partners in creating a strategic plan and identify shared goals. |
| Advisor Round Table: Peer to Peer Prevention | |
| Presenter: | Jessica White - The Governor's Prevention Partnership |
| Session Description: | Learn about our revamped E3 program and discuss best practices to implement peer-to-peer programs. |
Session 3
1:30pm - 2:15pm
| LGBTQIA+ & Allyship | |
|---|---|
| Presenter: | Kaitlin Comet - The HUB |
| Session Description: | An introduction to LGBTQIA+ education and how to become an ally to the community. This training covers gender identity, sexual orientation, behavioral health statistics, challenges and triumphs within the community, characteristics of an ally, and how to be more inclusive in your work. |
| Leadership Skills & Styles | |
| Presenter: | Kelley Edwards - DMHAS |
| Session Description: | Come to this interactive workshop that will help identify your personal leadership style, the positives and possible negatives of each style, how to work with styles different than yours, and how to use this new information to interview for jobs and college! |
| Empowerment & Self Love | |
| Presenter: | Emily Cintorino - Interval House |
| Session Description: | If you can't love yourself, how can you love somebody else? Self-care for the mind, body, and heart all play a vital role when understanding what works best for you when putting your needs first. This breakout session will highlight the importance of self-care and self-love and the different tools and techniques one can use to achieve this. While exploring ways to put our needs first for the mind, body, and heart, we will also discuss how to carry over these healthy tools into personal relationships, how to set boundaries, and how to feel empowered. |
| Implementing Youth Empowerment | |
| Presenter: | Dover Y2Y |
| Session Description: | This session will provide attendees with core principles and extensive insight on the process of implementing or enhancing a youth empowerment program. The core principles of youth empowerment and resources available to the adult adviser will be described. Content will include best practices revolving around recruiting youth participants, retaining members, planning for meetings, holding the initial kick-off meeting of a group, setting agendas, and ideas for selecting action projects. |
| Breaking Barriers: A Teen Workshop on Social Justice | |
| Presenter: | Randi McCray - Consultant |
| Session Description: | The social justice workshop for teens aims to empower the next generation of leaders by equipping them with the necessary tools to challenge the status quo and create a more just and equitable society. During this interactive and engaging workshop, participants can engage in meaningful discussions about various social justice issues. Through group activities, role-playing exercises, and thought-provoking presentations, participants will learn how to become effective advocates for positive change. |
Future Prevention Leaders Sponsored by:
