Statewide News and Events

Check out our recent newsletters and view our upcoming events.

prevention works!VT quarterly Newsletters

December 2025

prevention day Save the date, vermont substance misuse prevention conference save the date, AnnouNcement, contracting of Policy and education specialist, Recovery Coach Certification Board Update, Certified Prevention Specialist Update, Updates from Traci Sawyers of the Vermont Department of Health, Prevention Spotlight: Victoria Silsby of The Collaborative, A Word From Matt Wolf of Vermont Afterschool, PW!VT’s Calendar of Events, Coalition News From Across The State.

September 2025

Workforce Development Opportunities, Recovery Coach Certification Board Update, Certified Prevention Specialist Update, Updates from Traci Sawyers of the Vermont Department of Health, Prevention Spotlight: Jacob Dombroski of The Collaborative, A Word From Matt Wolf of Vermont Afterschool, PW!VT’s Calendar of Events, Coalition News From Across The State.

Workforce Development Opportunities for Vermont Professionals

You are invited!

We invite you to attend Prevention Day 2026 on Thursday, April 9th! Prevention Works!VT encourages prevention colleagues, youth, and community partners to join us at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center and the Vermont Statehouse for this important day of connection and advocacy.

Prevention Day has a long history in Montpelier, bringing together prevention staff, youth, and community partners to advocate and raise awareness about the impact of substance misuse prevention on the health and well-being of Vermont youth and communities.

What’s New This Year? As this is the second year of the biennium and legislators have introduced more than 1,000 pieces of legislation, April will be an especially busy time at the Statehouse. It is critical that you communicate with your legislators in advance of April 9th to arrange meetings, schedule lunch conversations, or plan to attend committee hearings.

We will begin the day with breakfast from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in the Montpelier Room at the Capitol Plaza.

Youth Prevention Showcase: To more fully engage youth, we are planning a Youth Prevention Showcase at 9:30 am. This special celebration will highlight youth-led prevention efforts happening across the state. Each participating school or community organization will have approximately 5 minutes to share their work through a slideshow, skit, song, short presentation, or other creative format. The focus is on celebrating student leadership and local prevention successes rather than formal advocacy.

Be sure to indicate on the registration form if your students would like to participate.

Preparing Youth for Advocacy: In the days leading up to Prevention Day, students will be invited to participate in a one-hour virtual training designed to build skills and confidence for interacting with legislators. At least one student from each school is encouraged to attend and share what they learn with others.

Meaningful youth engagement takes preparation. Students can take a leadership role by:

Creating and sending letters to legislators to schedule meetings or attend committee hearings
Designing and sharing letters about issues important to them on Prevention Day
Preparing and delivering their 5-minute Youth Prevention Showcase presentation
Reaching out in advance to arrange meetings or attend committee sessions

Advocacy Your Way: The remainder of the day is flexible to allow you to:

Attend committee meetings
Tour the Statehouse
Meet with legislators
Connect informally over lunch (on your own)

At 1:00 pm, the House and Senate will meet in full session, and participants are invited to observe from the balcony. We hope to receive a welcome and resolution from the House. Prevention Works!VT will share committee schedules and updates as the date approaches.

Legislators love hearing directly from youth—be sure to include them in planning your day and reaching out in advance.

Want to Learn More About Advocacy?

Check out PW’s Advocacy page on our website
Learn How A Bill Becomes a Law
View the 2024 webinar and the 2025 webinar on Prevention Advocacy

Once again, we invite youth engaged in substance misuse prevention at the school and community level to join us for a meaningful and empowering day of advocacy.

If you have questions, please reach out to Beth at [email protected]

Draft Schedule

Prevention Day 2026

April 9, 2026

Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Montpelier Room

Time	Activity
8:30 am to 9:30 am	Arrival and Light Breakfast	Capitol Plaza Hotel-Montpelier Room
9:15 am to 10:00 am	Welcome and presentation by youth and others	Capitol Plaza Hotel-Montpelier Room
10 am to 12 noon	Advocacy/Statehouse visits Meet with legislators Attend Committee meetings Tour the Statehouse	Schedule and Rooms to be shared closer to the date
12 to 1 pm	Lunch on your own or with legislators In town or in the Statehouse Cafeteria
1 pm	Visit the Full House and Senate Meeting	Statehouse

The Montpelier Room at the Capitol Plaza Hotel will be our home base for the day. You are welcome to bring your legislators to the room for coffee and cookies until 3pm. Leave your bags, coats and other materials in the room while you go over to the Statehouse.

Vermont’s Substance Misuse Prevention Conference: Bridging the Gaps: Prevention Through Connection

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Location: Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT

Please join us for our second biannual statewide conference dedicated to supporting and strengthening substance misuse prevention efforts across Vermont. This gathering will bring together prevention professionals, community partners, and advocates for a full day of workshops, discussion, networking, and shared learning. The charming and unique setting of Lake Morey Resort, situated right on the water, offers a memorable backdrop for the day. Its historic character may even remind some of The Shining, adding a touch of fun and familiarity while still providing a warm, welcoming, and comfortable atmosphere for meaningful connection and the exchange of ideas that contribute to a healthier Vermont. Considering arriving the night before the conference? Here is some helpful information

For individual room reservations, you can choose to book on-line using the provided group code PREVW or call Lake Morey Resort directly at (800) 423-1211.

Guest Room Rates: (Per Room, Per Night)

Classic: Single or Double: $224.00

Deluxe: Single or Double: $232.00

All individual reservations should be made no later than April 5, 2026. Reservations received after that date will be accepted on a space-available basis. A credit card deposit of $100.00 per room is required to confirm all room reservations. Check-In/Check-Out: Please be advised that check-in time is 3:00 p.m. and checkout time is 11:00 a.m. Early arrivals and late departure requests will be at the agreed-upon rate, based on availability. Rooms not vacated by 11:00 a.m. are subject to an additional charge.

Payment Of Individual Accounts: A credit card is required upon check-in that guarantees payment of pending charges. All individual accounts must be paid upon checkout.

Guest Room Cancellation Policy: Reservations canceled at least seven (7) days prior to the arrival date will have the deposit refunded. If not canceled within seven (7) days of the arrival date, the deposit will be forfeited.
If you would like to have dinner at Lake Morey the night before, please make their individual dinner reservations. If smaller groups intend to form, please make one reservation for their small group count, rather than several individual reservations. Dinner reservations begin at 5 pm and go until 8 pm

For updated information, please visit our conference website!

Conference Agenda

in case you missed it.......

“A Lifespan Approach to Prevention”

OK Boomer! Risk and Protective Factors for Older Adults: The first wave of Baby Boomers is now entering retirement age, and for the next twenty years, the United States will have a major shift in population demographics. This webinar defines ageism and discusses the stereotyping and history of the treatment of older adults and related risk and protective factors. It also discusses the growing demographic of older adults in America, elder abuse issues, protective legislation, and the future financial situation of retirees. Webinar Recap: Thank you to everyone who joined Prevention Works!VT for last week’s webinar. We appreciate your engagement and thoughtful participation throughout the session. Below you’ll find the supporting documents that were shared during the webinar, along with a recording of the session and a copy of Julie’s presentation slides. We’re also excited to share that an Older Adult Resource Page is currently in development on the Prevention Works!VT website. Once live, this page will house the resources shared during the webinar, along with additional tools and information to support work with older adults. Stay tuned for updates.
W ebinar recording
Julie’s presentation slides
Age-friendly care for older adults with substance use disorder
OK Baby Boomer!Risk and Protective Factors for Older Adults
Resources for Substance Misuse Trends and Prevention Strategies for Older Adults

Prevention Across the Lifespan: Unlike many public health issues, the prevention of substance use and misuse has been done in silos. This webinar examines the issues related to altering the “silo” approach so that “conception-to-grave” substance misuse prevention can be implemented. This webinar offers information that is foundational to a proper understanding of lifespan issues, including such important topics as human growth and development, brain development, the impact of substances on the brain at various stages of development, and strategies to address service provision issues. There is a discussion of the rise of baby boomers in our population, the effect of drugs on the aging body, and risk and protective factors for older adults.

W ebinar recording

About the facilitator: Julie Stevens is an Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist and was a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor for 20 years. She has served as Director of Prevention for the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and Training Specialist for the University of Oklahoma’s Southwest Prevention Center, and most recently as Executive Director of LifeSteps Council on Alcohol and Drugs. Ms. Stevens serves on the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals and is chair of the Prevention Subcommittee. She has served as “Member At Large” of the Board of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium and Advisor to the Prevention Committee. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and a Master’s of Prevention Science from the University of Oklahoma.

If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to complete the webinar evaluation. Your feedback helps guide future trainings and resources. Webinar Evaluation.Thank you again for your continued commitment to prevention and community well-being.

Cutting Through the Noise: Connecting Prevention to VT Policy in 2025

Are you concerned that your “voice” has been lost in the current “noise”? Vermont is facing numerous crises, distractions, and competing priorities right now; it can be difficult to get policymakers and the public to focus on effective solutions. Clear, pragmatic approaches are needed to communicate the value of preventive measures to local communities and all Vermonters.

Learn simple strategies you can use to successfully advocate for policy-based approaches to long-lasting systemic barriers to public health. This workshop will help you:

Make the case for prevention: Use relevant data and storytelling to highlight the value prevention plays in keeping our communities healthy:
Engage with the supportive policymakers: Identify and meet policy leaders who are willing to develop and champion prevention policy initiatives;
Frame a call-to-action that resonates: Create compelling content that is both educational and emotionally resonant to grab attention and drive action;
Build coalitions: Collaborate and build coalitions with allies and unusual suspects to build prevention campaigns that will have an impact.

About the Facilitator:

Jill Sudhoff-Guerin has 14 years of experience working in the Vermont Statehouse, focused on advocating for public health and mission-driven campaigns. She has previously served as the Vermont Medical Society Policy and Communications manager, policy lead for the Vermont chapter of the American Cancer Society, and legislative and regulatory analyst at Leonine Public Affairs (previously KSE Partners). Jill currently provides communications and policy support through her independent firm, Maidstone Public Relations.

Recording here

Prevention Works!VT PL4 Workshop: “The Intersection Between Substance Misuse Prevention, Harm Reduction And Recovery” facilitated by Will Roberts, Director of Training, VAMHAR

Session One: Core Principles:

Through lecture, discussion, and activities, learners will:

Review the definitions of:
- Prevention
- Harm Reduction
- Recovery
Define and analyze how the three philosophies overlap
- Define the similarities and differences.
- Create a list of overlaps.

Session Two: Opportunities for Collaboration: Through lecture, discussion, and activities, learners will:

Review techniques for creating shared goals and objectives
Review effective communication skills
Define clear roles and responsibilities
Analyze problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
Review the components of creating a memorandum of understanding (MOU)

Prevention Works!VT WFD Professional Development Opportunity: Essentials of Evidence-Based Programs

The process of selecting prevention strategies that best fit the needs and assets, readiness, and capacity of a community begins with identifying evidence-based interventions. These are catalogued in registries or databases of evidence-based programs (EBP), policies, and interventions.

This 2 part series, with an optional in-person component, will provide the essential information and tools for prevention organizations and staff to choose evidence-based programs that fit their community needs.

Prevention Works!VT PL4 Workshop: The Intersect Between Substance Misuse Prevention and Suicide Prevention In Youth with Debby Haskins – February 13, 2025

The goal of the workshop was to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between substance misuse and youth suicide and to support them in their work with youth.

NEW ASSOCIATE PREVENTION SPECIALIST CREDENTIAL!

If the thought of applying for the Certified Prevention Specialist credential has felt too overwhelming or you need more time to prepare, we have great news for you. The Vermont Prevention Certification Board is launching the Associate Prevention Specialist (APS) Credential starting January 10th, 2025.

This new credential provides a manageable entry point for those working in the substance use prevention field who want to begin the certification process. The APS credential allows you to gain valuable hands-on experience in prevention, building both your confidence and competence. This prepares you for more complex responsibilities as you progress toward the full CPS certification.

Take the next step in your professional development—apply for the APS or CPS credential today!

Prevention Works!VT PL4 Workshop: Integrating AI into Youth Substance Use Prevention – Leveraging AI in Youth Substance Use Prevention: Tools, Strategies, and Best Practices facilitated by Tony Moulton

The goal of the workshop is to equip professionals in youth substance misuse and use prevention with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in using AI, specifically ChatGPT, to enhance their work in prevention.

Prevention Works!VT WFD Professional Development Opportunity: Internship Panel Winter 2025 –Effectively Utilizing Internships in Your Prevention Organization