Building Protection Using the Social Development Strategy (SDS) – R10 April 2025

Facilitators:

Meghann Wolvert, is a certified Prevention Specialist with a Master’s in Environmental Education. She has over 10 years of experience in prevention work, with a strong commitment to fostering health and wellness in her community. She served as the Mackinac County Communities That Care (CTC) coordinator and is a certified Guiding Good Choices (GGC) trainer, empowering families with effective prevention strategies. Ms. Wolvert’s journey into prevention began during her time with AmeriCorps, where she began to develop a deep connection to theories and practices which led to building healthy, supportive environments for youth. Inspired by the potential of SDS to strengthen both her community and her own family, Ms. Wolvert has dedicated herself to supporting others in implementing this framework in their communities. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Ms. Wolvert now resides in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with her family, where she continues to support CTC efforts, promoting positive youth development and long-term well-being across the region.

Jaclynn Sagers, is a Community Prevention Strategist and Communities That Care Coach Manager, working directly for the Center for Communities That Care. Jaclynn has been involved in the work of CTC for over 17 years and started her CTC journey, working and supporting the CTC Coalition in her community. Jaclynn went on to gain experience and investment in state systems using CTC as their prevention framework and continues to support multiple systems and communities. Jaclynn also coaches Native and Indigenous populations on reservations and in small villages. Jaclynn also works to support coaches-in-training to reach certification as a CTC Coach. Jaclynn is passionate about changing systems to better unite resources and foster a system of community mobilization. Jaclynn works to be creative in her efforts to support boots on the ground work to make changes in communities to create environments where youth and families can thrive.

Objectives:

By the end of this enhanced prevention learning series we hope you will be able to:

• Describe what ‘shared protective factors’ are
• Describe how the Social Development Strategy (SDS) organizes protection into a strategy for action
• Explain the Social Development Strategy to different audiences using story and theory
• Understand the evidence of the impact of the SDS on positive youth development
• Practice using the SDS and its components to design activities that will build protection in families, schools, coalitions and communities.

 Audience:

• Community-level substance misuse prevention practitioners and community coalition coordinators located in the Northwest (HHS Region 10) states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
• Prevention practitioners who would like to become a Certified Prevention Specialist or need continuing education hours to meet re-certification requirements.
• Please note: This training is reserved for prevention professionals working in HHS Region 10.
• Prevention professionals interested in this course but who work outside of HHS Region 10 are encouraged to contact their region’s PTTC to learn about similar courses available to them.

Participant Commitment and Expectations:

• If your experience with Zoom is limited or you want to review key features of Zoom, please view the 20-minute Introduction to Zoom video prior to the first session on Thursday, April 17, 2025 on how to use and maximize the platform
• Participate in 5 sessions of training, for 1.5 hours on scheduled series days/times
• Complete up to ONE hour of independent learning activities between each session
• Use a web-camera and have access to appropriate technology to join the online videoconferencing platform (i.e., internet connection, built-in or USB webcam, desktop/laptop computer, built-in/USB/Bluetooth speakers & microphone)
• Actively engage and be on camera 90% of the time during each session, since this is not a webinar series and active participation is essential to gain/improve skills

Please Note:

This EPLS is not a webinar series. Active participation in ALL sessions is essential to gain and improve skills. If you cannot attend these sessions, you will forfeit your attendance.

The Northwest PTTC is committed to the safety of all participants. Driving while participating in these sessions is strongly discouraged, as it is seen as a danger to the participant. If driving cannot be avoided during your scheduled session for any reason, please contact the PTTC staff at hsimak@casat.org.

In addition, it is expected that participants will have access to the appropriate technology by Thursday, April 17, 2025 in order to fully participate and be on camera at least 90% of the time.

If you have questions regarding technology requirements or registration details contact hsimak@casat.org.

Certificates:

Participants who complete the entire course will receive a certificate of attendance for 12.5 hours. Partial credit will be considered if a participant completes over 80% of the course and submits completed prep packets to the course facilitator for review for any missed session. Participants will need to confirm with their certification board to determine if these certification hours are accepted towards their specific certification requirements.

To help make engagement more comfortable, we limit the number of people who can enroll in EPLS. If you cannot commit to joining the sessions or completing the prep-work packets, please defer this opportunity to others on our waiting list.

The Northwest PTTC is a collaboration led by Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington in partnership with Washington State University, and CASAT at the University of Nevada, Reno.