When

September 21, 2024 (Saturday)
9 AM - 1:30 AM

Where

House of Joy Christian Church
3220 Central Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45225

About this Center

The Center for Prevention Science aims to increase data-driven decisions for effective prevention programs through assessment, survey analysis, evaluation, and research.

Research Publications

PreventionFIRST!  works to identify and support research publication opportunities related to the longitudinal SDUS data.  

• Attitudinal and Social Correlates to Recent Alcohol Use Among Youth.  Dr. Keith King, Dr. Rebecca Vidourek (University of Cincinnati); American Journal of Health Studies: 25(1) 2010.
  
  
• Recent Alcohol Use and Episodic Heavy Drinking among Hispanic Youth.  Dr. Keith King, Dr. Rebecca Vidourek (University of Cincinnati); American Journal of Health Education – July/August 2010, Volume 41, No. 4.
  
  
• The Friends You Keep:  Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs

• King, K.A., Vidourek. R.A., & Merianos, A.L.  (2013).  Psychosocial factors associated with over-the-counter drug use among youth.  American Journal of Health Studies, 28.

• King, K.A., Vidourek. R.A., & Merianos, A.  (2013). Sex and grade level differences in lifetime nonmedical prescription drug use among youth.  Journal of Primary Prevention, 34(4), 237-249.

• Vidourek, R.A., & King, K.A. (2013).  Parent, teacher, and school factors associated with over-the-counter drug use among Multiracial youth.  American Journal of Health Education, 44(6), 306-315.

• Vidourek, R.A., King, K.A., & Brubaker, M.  (2013).  Social determinants of nonmedical prescription drug use among Multiracial youth.  Journal of Behavioral Health, 2(1) 35-43. 

• King, K.A., Vidourek, R.A., & Hoffman, A.  (2012).  Sex and grade level differences in marijuana use among youth.  Journal of Drug Education, 42(3), 361-377.

• King, K. A., Vidourek, R.A., Haag, M., & Merianos, A.L.  (2012).  Psychosocial factors associated with recent alcohol use among youth.  Journal of Behavioral Health, 1(4), 231-242

• Vidourek, R.A., & King, K.A.  (2010).  Risk and protective factors for recent alcohol use among African American youth.  Journal of Drug Education, 40(4), 411-425

• King, K.A., & Vidourek, R.A.  (2010).  Psychosocial factors associated with recent alcohol use among Hispanic youth.  Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 32(3), 470-485.

• King, K.A., & Vidourek, R.A.  (2010).  Recent alcohol use and episodic heavy drinking among Hispanic youth.  American Journal of Health Education, 41(4), 231-243.

• King, K.A., & Vidourek, R.A.  (2010).  Attitudinal and social correlates to recent alcohol use among youth.  American Journal of Health Studies, 25(1), 19-30.

Written Thesis:

• Parental Factors associated with Recent Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking Among Adolescents

Written Capstone:

• Youth Tobacco Use in Hamilton County:Exploring Its Relationship with Socioeconomic Status, and Risk and Protective Factors

About this Center

The Center for Community Engagement helps build, strengthen and support substance use/misuse prevention programs, partnerships, and coalitions through training, technical assistance and seed funding.

PreventionFIRST! establishes and supports local, grassroots community substance use/misuse prevention coalitions in neighborhoods across the Tristate.

Member Coalitions

Local coalitions can join PreventionFIRST! during our annual membership drive in June. Membership is free. The benefits of membership include: membership discounts on state and national behavioral health prevention organizations, technical support on capacity development, discounts on training opportunities, and more. 

Cannabis as Medicine

School Empowerment

About this Center

The Center for Prevention Action strives to influence community conditions and circumstances to reduce community level alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use/misuse.

Environmental Strategies
PreventionFIRST! utilizes environmental strategies based on the belief that substance abuse is a product of multiple environmental conditions and circumstances. Examples of environmental strategies include:

• Accessibility of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
• Media messages
• Rules and policies of the social institutions 

Seven Strategies for Community Change

1. Providing Information
2. Enhancing Skills
3. Providing Support
4. Enhancing Access/Reducing Barriers
5. Changing Consequences (Incentives/Disincentives)
6. Changing Physical Design
7. Modifying Policies

*Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

Parent Empowerment

Did you know that parents are a key part of preventing their children from substance use? Having healthy communication in your home will guide your children in heading down the healthy path related to resiliency, problem gambling, & other behavioral health issues. 

Youth Empowerment

Coalition Evaluation Center

Prevention Action Teams

Register here for an upcoming 2025 PF! Capacity Building Webinar 

Rx Abuse Prevention

Resources

Youth Leadership 

Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention

The purpose of this area of focus is to identify and examine the conditions and variables that are indicators of the prescription/OTC drug abuse epidemic highlight prevention efforts to help communities understand and address the issue. 

PreventionFIRST!'s Shop 

Peer-to-Peer Prevention 

In the field of youth substance use/misuse prevention, peer to peer prevention and communication has proven to be very effective. Since most youth are, by definition, not eligible to hold positions of power in their society, they find themselves subject to authority. It is this power differential that makes communication between adults and youth difficult and likewise, it is the equality in power status between youth that makes peer-based communication successful. When one is trying to engage young people in drug abuse prevention initiatives, this power differential may manifest itself also as a knowledge gap. The adults' command over jargon and the "science" of drug addiction often acts as a deterrent for youth who may otherwise willingly engage in debate.

For more information: 
Using Peer to Peer Strategies for Drug Abuse Prevention

Resources

Problem Gambling Prevention

Tobacco, Electronic Vapor Products, and Nicotine 

Alcohol

Every April the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month to increase awareness and understanding of the causes of the nation’s #1 public health problem: alcoholism. The theme this year is Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage. The target audience: youth and their parents.

Resources from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Click the links below to view/download the latest alcohol abuse prevention resources:

After High School: Talking with Your Young Adult About Alcohol - This fact sheet informs parents how to effectively talk to their young adult about the risks of underage drinking.

Be Prepared to Have the Difficult Conversation - This data visualization illustrates the correlation between alcohol use and other substance use to inform parents/guardians and communities.

Take Action to Prevent Underage Alcohol Use - This data visualization illustrates the steady decline of alcohol use amongst adolescents, informing parents/guardians and communities that taking action against underage drinking is effective.

Getting Ahead of a Problem - This data visualization illustrates the drinking habits of adolescents to inform parents/guardians and communities.

Prevent Unsafe Drinking Behaviors on Campus - This data visualization illustrates heavy alcohol use and binge drinking statistics amongst college age youth to inform colleges and communities. 

CADCA's 
The Non-Opioid Choices Initiative

PreventionFIRST! is working with Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) to educate communities on available non-opioid options for pain management. 

October 29th - 8:00am - 4:00pm  
Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center 

Funding Opportunity

Funding for this opportunity will support campus-community partnerships in implementing awareness and accessibility measures to promote mental and behavioral health among students and staff on campus 

Funding Details:

• Applicants may apply for and receive up to $15,000
• One-time funding opportunity
• Beginning November 2024 and ending May 2025

Who can apply?

• All Ohio higher education institutions - including public, independent, community colleges, and regional campuses - are eligible to apply. 
• Priority will be given to institutions that have not previously received funding from the Rise and Thrive or Ohio Wellness Campus Collaborative initiatives. 

Letters of Intent

Must be received by November 6 by 5 pm EST

More Information & Details

Notice of Funding Announcement 

Key Contact:

Julie Cameron, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)
PreventionFIRST! Project Consultant
julie@prevention-first.org 

Partnerships

• The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• PreventionFIRST!

PF! Student Survey

The PreventionFIRST! (PF!) Student Survey is a youth survey administered by PreventionFIRST! every other year, asking questions in regards to demographics, substance use, gambling, and other lifestyle habits and behaviors. Every school in the tri-state area is invited to take the survey. For 20 years, school districts and communities have been using PF! Student Survey data to better the lives of youth.

The PF! Student Survey is a valuable tool to help understand the scope of substance use, attitudes about substance use, and determine the strengths and gaps of existing policies/programs in schools and communities.

2024 PF! Student Survey Findings

Regional PF! Student Survey Findings - 2024

Summary PF! Student Survey Regional Findings - 2024

Press Release

For More Information:

Sarah Sawmiller, MPH, OCPC, CHES
Senior Director, Data Integration
ssawmiller@prevention-first.org

Parenting for Prevention 

Parenting for prevention is designed for any caring adult whether they’re a teacher, law enforcement, parent, or grandparent that interacts with the youth on a daily basis.

Help adults learn tips and conversations to have with kids through all stages of life to prevent them from using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Help adults understand what they can do to help prevent kids from using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs by building protective factors, developmental assets and developmental relationships.  

PreventionFIRST! works with school districts to create and implement a comprehensive, evidence-based substance use/misuse prevention plan focused on:

• School Policy
• Staff Development
• Student Education
• Peer-to-Peer Leadership
• Parent Education
• Early Identification and Referral
• Community Partnerships

Additionally, PreventionFIRST! can:

• Assist with assessment, analysis of the problem (facilitate student surveys; focus groups)
• Provide prevention education for administration, faculty/staff, parents, students
• Assist with development of logic model/strategic action plan 
• Assist with development/review of school policy
• Connect to resources (Evidence-based programs; prevention across the curriculum, etc.)
• Facilitate of evidence-based strategies 
• Assist with evaluation (Set benchmarks, trend student survey data, monitor progress)

Established in 2010, the Coalition Evaluation Center provides local evaluation services to community coalitions and collaboratives.  Participating coalitions have their prevention accomplishments tracked in the Online Documentation Support System (ODSS), operated by the University of Kansas, Center for Research, Inc.. The data from this system proves valuable for the participating coalitions as they track their community level change as it relates to the identified youth substance abuse problems.  

The participating coalitions include: PreventionFIRST!, Stayin' Alive, and ASAP Norwood.

Who Should Attend?

Middle School & High School Youth (Grades 6-12)

Learn how to:

• Maintain Good Mental Health
• Explore Social Media Awareness
• Celebrate the Value of Self-Expression

Parents, Grandparents, Caregivers

Learn how to:

• Prioritize Good Mental Health
• Strengthen the Parent-Adolescent Relationship
• Navigate Community Challenges
• Connect with Resources

Register Here

Recording of Previous Capacity Building Webinars

It's Not Just for Kids: Engaging Older Adults in Behavioral Health Prevention & Promotion

Prevention activities have traditionally focused on schools and youth ignoring the fact that older adults also benefit from behavioral health promotion and prevention programs. This webinar will engage participants in better understanding what issues are impacting our older adult population in behavioral health. Providing outreach and programs is easier than you think. Programs and evidence-based curricula exist and should be used to engage older adults in prevention and behavioral health promotion. Exploring potential partners and locations where outreach is most needed will also be discussed.

This webinar was recorded January 25, 2025. Recording available here.

PreventionFIRST! aims to prevent youth marijuana use and address the challenges of cannabis as medicine. While medical cannabis can be beneficial in treating the symptoms of the 21 qualifying conditions in Ohio, research shows that the adolescent brain is going through many important changes up until the age of 25. Using cannabis during this period can lead to permanent effects on one’s memory, learning, and decision-making. Further, Ohio’s laws surrounding medical cannabis are often confusing and can have a significant impact on youth and adults alike. Through community conversation sessions and evidence-based education and prevention strategies, PF! strives to promote reputable information resources, encourage informed decision-making, and support the development of healthy coping mechanisms.

Click here for: 2024 Coalition Academy Workshop Evaluation Codes

Click here for: 2024 CA Workshop Presentations and Handouts

Click here for: Workshop Descriptions

Click here for: Presenter's Bios

Strong Voices, Smart Choices Parents’ Guide

This 25 page booklet provides information and support for opening up vital lines of communication between parents and their children. The guide offers tips and conversation starters for mental wellness, drugs, and gambling to talk with children at every stage of development – from preschool through young adulthood.  

Cost:              

English $1/guide + shipping                                 

Spanish $2/guide + shipping

Parenting for Prevention Training

+ 100 Parents’ Guides                                            

$125/hour                                                                               

Youth Leadership Institute

Youth Leadership Institute provides select students the opportunity to learn leadership skills (public speaking, advocacy, and teambuilding) and share perceptions on youth alcohol and substance misuse.  Participating students also help plan and facilitate PreventionFIRST!’s Annual Red Ribbon Week Youth Summit.

This free one-day event is held during the summer. Participants can obtain community service hours. 

Event Details

• FREE to Attend
• Sessions in English & Spanish
• Breakfast & Lunch Provided
• Prizes & Give-a-ways (Great Wolf Lodge, Gorilla Glue, Target, and More!)
• Childcare Available

Vaping Q&A 

Check out our 3 minute video!

You'll learn the basics of vapes, concerns about youth use, and ways communities can reduce/prevent use.

The purpose of this area of focus is to identify and examine the conditions and variables that are indicators of the prescription/OTC drug abuse epidemic highlight prevention efforts to help communities understand and address the issue. 

Community Forum Mini Grants

The abuse of opioids, methamphetamines, and other prescription drugs has had a devastating impact on many Hamilton County neighborhoods and communities. Families, children, businesses, schools, and faith communities have all been affected. The purpose of this grant to build community engagement around preventing substance use/misuse and raise awareness about the abuse of prescription drugs.

A Call to Action - Community Forum provides a venue to bring all members of a community together to gain a better understanding of the impact of substance use disorders and how communities can work together to combat this epidemic.  

A Call to Action - Community Forum provides information on the following:

• Getting individuals the treatment they need
• Reducing harm caused by the opioid epidemic
• Prevention opioid misuse
• Cutting the supply of opioids

Youth Leadership Institute

Youth Leadership Institute provides select students the opportunity to learn leadership skills (public speaking, advocacy, and teambuilding) and share perceptions on youth alcohol and substance misuse.  Participating students also help plan and facilitate PreventionFIRST!’s Annual Red Ribbon Week Youth Summit.

This free one-day event is held during the summer. Participants can obtain community service hours. 

Change The Game Ohio 

Help Stop Problem Gambling Before It Starts

Children who gamble before the age of 12 are at 4 times greater risk to develop a gambling problem later in life. Change the Game was created to raise awareness of the sheer amount of gambling behaviors that our youth are being exposed to every single day. Exposure to gambling can happen innocently enough, from things like family poker nights or buying lottery tickets as gifts. Some kids start to participate in Fantasy Sports betting after seeing their parents or elders participate in work or neighborhood leagues.

For more information: 
Change the Game Ohio

Safe Medication Disposal

PF! Safe Disposal Q & A Video
Do you have questions about how to safely dispose of your unused or unwanted medications? Check out our quick Q&A video!

Deterra bags are an easy and safe way to dispose of medications you no longer need. 

Request a Deterra Bag

Ohio residents can request a Deterra Bag at no cost to them

Learn How a Deterra Bag Works

Substance use prevention requires the collaboration of all sectors of the community. PreventionFIRST! connects with schools, families, and professionals to provide resources and support to build capacity and implement evidence-based strategies to prevent substance use and misuse. 

Substance use prevention requires the collaboration of all sectors of the community. PreventionFIRST! connects with schools, families, and professionals to provide resources and support to build capacity and implement evidence-based strategies to prevent substance use and misuse. 

Sober Truth on Prevention Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) Grant 

Funder: SAMHSA, $50,000 per year for 4 years 

Participating Communities: Hamilton County, University of Cincinnati 

Goals: 

• Strengthen collaboration among communities, the federal government, state, local, and tribal government to reduce the use of alcohol among youth ages
• Prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth in young adults ages 12-20 in Hamilton County, Ohio

For more information: 
Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use

2022 PF! Student Survey Findings

Regional Student Survey Findings - 2022

Summary - PF! Student Survey Regional Findings - 2022

FY 2025 Request for Applications

The application process is closed. FY 2025 Mini Grants have been awarded.

FY25 Grant Application - pdf
FY25 Grant Application - Word Document

Center for Prevention Science
Leadership Team

The CPS Leadership Team provides expertise and knowledge in the area of research and evaluation.

• Review comprehensive community assessments of youth substance abuse in the region.
• Monitor the biennial Student Drug Use Survey process, analysis, findings, and dissemination.
• Review evaluation on the effectiveness of the coalition to bring about community level change related to the identified youth substance abuse problems.
• Identify and support research and publication opportunities related to longitudinal Student Drug Use Survey data.

What is a Coalition?
A coalition is a group of individuals and groups representing a variety of sectors in any given community. This group works collaboratively to design and implement comprehensive, community wide substance use/misuse prevention strategies. These strategies are intended to change community norms and standards of conduct related to substance use within the community. A coalition is not known so much as an individual entity, but the sum of its total membership.

Hamilton County Mini-Grants

Hamilton County Family Services & Treatment
Prevention Program Grant Application

PreventionFIRST! receives funding from the Hamilton County Family Services and Treatment Levy to support local coalition development in Hamilton County. This grant is intended to improve the capacity of a current coalition or group looking to implement prevention. Hamilton County, Ohio organizations committed to developing or enhancing a substance use prevention coalition or mental health and/or suicide prevention programming are eligible to apply. See the application for details.

For More Information:

Christi Valentini-Lackner, BS, OCPC
Chief Program Officer
cvalentini-lackner@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 16

Questions?

Jade Jacobs
(513) 751-8000 Ext 19

jjacobs@prevention-first.org

Cannabis Dab and Wax Pen Q&A 

Do you have questions about what a dabs or cannabis concentrates are and the health effects they could have? Check out of Cannabis Dab and Wax Pen Q&A video! 

pHARMING Effects Peer-to-Peer Initiative

The pHARMING Effects presentation addresses the misuse/abuse of prescription drugs and how it is affecting youth today. This peer-to-peer presentation was developed by Youth to Youth teens and is designed to be delivered by trained drug-free high school teens along with an adult facilitator.

Red Ribbon Week Youth Summit

This free, one day event brings together high school students from across the region to share their perceptions on issues related to youth alcohol and other substance use. Teens build leadership skills, learn school/community- focused prevention strategies, and interact with peers through dynamic activities and engaging speakers. 

Parents Who Host Lose The Most

A public health media campaign designed by Prevention Action Alliance, Parents Who Host Lose The Most helps you prevent underage drinking in your community. It reinforces everyone’s responsibility to promote healthy choices in your community. Its key message reminds parents that it is unsafe, unhealthy, and unacceptable—and, in many communities, illegal—to provide alcohol for underage youth. It decreases young people’s access to alcohol by reducing the number of parents willing to provide alcohol for young people. Over time, it reduces the likelihood teens will drink alcohol and suffer the health effects that come from underage drinking.

For more information: 
PAA- Parents Who Host Lose The Most

Red Ribbon Week Youth Summit

This free, one day event brings together high school students from across the region to share their perceptions on issues related to youth alcohol and other substance use. Teens build leadership skills, learn school/community- focused prevention strategies, and interact with peers through dynamic activities and engaging speakers. 

Safe Medication Disposal Q&A

Do you have questions about how to safely dispose of your unused or unwanted medications? Check out our quick Q&A video!

For Schools

Coaches Kids and Chemicals

The Coaches, Kids and Chemicals one day event engages and supports coaches and athletes in their role of being healthy and well, along with addressing substance use/abuse issues that student athletes face. This event is for high school 9th, 10th, and 11th graders as well as their coaches, athletic trainers, athletic directors, parents and booster members. 

Highlights of the day include: 

• Workshops to provide coaches with tips/resources in looking at athletic policy and helping with preventing substance use among young athletes.
• Workshops to provide athletes with tips/resources in taking care of themselves as well as educating them on the risks of substance use.

Get Set Before You Bet 

Launched with funding and support from Ohio for Responsible Gambling and the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Get Set Before You Bet is an award-winning campaign to raise awareness about the signs of problem gambling and provide resources on how to gamble responsibly.

The campaign’s tagline encourages taking care of one’s health and financial responsibilities before gambling, and the name refers to the percentage of gamblers who do so without experiencing problem gambling.

For more information: 
Get Set Before You Bet

All About that Vape
Peer-to-Peer Curriculum

Adapted from the Stanford Medicine Tobacco Prevention Toolkit and the Catch My Breath Prevention Program, All About that Vape is a 45-60 minute peer-to-peer education presentation focused electronic vapor products and e-cigarette use among youth.

PreventionFIRST!’s youth empowerment team works with student leaders to implement this curriculum in grades 7-12. All About that Vape is fun opportunity for high school students to gain experience in public speaking and learn about substance use prevention.

All About that Vape is an effective, activity-based training addressing:

1. Impact of nicotine tolerance/addiction on physical, emotional, and social health

2. Misinformation and marketing tactics used by vape companies

3. Refusal skills related to peer pressure

4. Resources for quitting and supporting others in quitting nicotine 

For More Information:
Amanda Conn Starner, MS, CHES, OCPC
Chief Program Officer
aconnstarner@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 13

Community Sectors

Coalitions are comprised of members from 12 community sectors. 

• youth
• parents
• businesses
• media
• schools
• youth serving organizations
• law enforcement
• substance abuse treatment
• religious organizations
• civic organizations
• health care professionals
• governmental agencies

Funding Goals

Goal 1: To increase community collaboration

Establish and strengthen collaboration among community sectors and county entities to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance use/misuse among youth.*

*youth is defined as individuals 25 and younger because of our partnerships with local colleges/universities

Goal 2: To reduce youth substance use/misuse and suicide

Reduce substance use/misuse among youth and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in the community that increase the risk of substance use/misuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance use/misuse.*

*substances include, but are not limited to, narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabis/marijuana, inhalants, alcohol, and tobacco including e-cigarettes/vaping, where their use is prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

For More Information:

Sarah Sawmiller, MPH, CHES, OCPC
Senior Director, Data Integration
ssawmiller@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 17

For More Information:
Christi Valentini-Lackner, BS, OCPS
Senior Director 
cvalentini-lackner@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 16 

WCPO Cincy Lifestyle Segment on Cannabis as Medicine

In June 2016, cannabis was legalized in Ohio for medical use. AmeriCorps Public Ally working as PF!'s program assistant, Lauren Houshel, and Butler County Prevention Coalition's Coordinator, Charla Henderson appeared on a Cincy Lifestyle segment to discuss the facts surrounding the Medical Marijuana Control Program in Ohio. 

Resources

• Prescription Drug White Paper
• Safe Medication Disposal Flyer
• Common Names of Opioids List
• Deterra Drug Disposal Bags
• Take Charge Ohio

All About That Vape Peer-to-Peer Initiative

Adapted from the Stanford Medicine Tobacco Prevention Toolkit and the Catch My Breath Prevention Program, All About That Vape is a 45-60 minute peer-to-peer education presentation surrounding electronic vapor product and e-cigarette use among youth. PreventionFIRST!’s youth empowerment team engages student leaders to implement this curriculum in grades 7-12. In addition to providing a fun opportunity to gain experience in public speaking and substance use prevention, All About That Vape is an effective, activity-based training that covers a range of topics:

1. Impact of nicotine addiction and tolerance on physical, emotional, and social health

2. Misinformation and marketing tactics used by vape companies

3. Refusal and exit strategies related to peer pressure to use substances

4. Resources for quitting and supporting others in quitting nicotine 

For More Information:
Jennifer Bierer, BA, RA
Director, Communications
jbierer@prevention-first.org

513-751-8000, ext. 18

For More Information:
Jade Jacobs
Program Coordinator
jjacobs@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 19

Coaches Kids and Chemicals

Ohio Department of Health Anti-Vaping Video Contest for High School Seniors

Deadline: November 6, 2020

For more information or to enter, visit: 
Anti Vaping Video Contest

Center for Community Engagement
Leadership Team

The CCE Leadership Team provides expertise and leadership to build behavioral health prevention capacity in communities across the Tristate region.

• Assess and monitor the level of development among member coalitions across the region
• Build the awareness and capacity of community constituents to participate in a local neighborhood coalition
• Identify and pursue opportunities to address the identified gaps in development among member coalitions and sectors
• Leverage state and national resources for use on the regional level and through the local member coalitions 

For More Information:
Jessie Richardson, BS, CHES
Program Coordinator
jrichardson@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 15

Youth Mini Grants

The youth grant administered by PreventionFIRST! with funding from the Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services provides an opportunity for youth-led programs to plan and implement a project around alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention in their schools and communities.  These projects are intended to not only benefit the youth involved by providing leadership development opportunities but also to enrich the communities and schools that are impacted by them. 

For More Information:
Bianca Wolmarans, BS, CHES, OCPS
Program Coordinator
bwolmarans@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 23

For More Information:
Jessie Richardson, BS, CHES
Program Coordinator
jrichardson@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 15

For More Information:

Amanda Conn Starner, MS, CHES, OCPC
Chief Program Officer
aconnstarner@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 13

For Parents

For More Information:
Christi Valentini-Lackner, BA, OCPC
Chief Program Officer
cvalentini-lackner@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 16

Youth Mini Grants

The youth grant administered by PreventionFIRST! with funding from the Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services provides an opportunity for youth-led programs to plan and implement a project around alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention in their schools and communities.  These projects are intended to not only benefit the youth involved by providing leadership development opportunities but also to enrich the communities and schools that are impacted by them. 

PreventionFIRST! mainly focuses on alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and prescription drug use/misuse prevention. For resources on specific substances, see below. 

pHARMING Effects Peer-to-Peer Curriculum 

The pHARMING Effects presentation addresses the misuse/abuse of prescription drugs and how it is affecting youth today. This peer-to-peer presentation was developed by Youth to Youth teens and is designed to be delivered by trained drug-free high school teens along with an adult facilitator.

All About That Vape Peer-to-Peer Curriculum

Adapted from the Stanford Medicine Tobacco Prevention Toolkit and the Catch My Breath Prevention Program, All About That Vape is a 45-60 minute peer-to-peer education presentation surrounding electronic vapor product and e-cigarette use among youth. PreventionFIRST!’s youth empowerment team engages student leaders to implement this curriculum in grades 7-12. In addition to providing a fun opportunity to gain experience in public speaking and substance use prevention, All About That Vape is an effective, activity-based training that covers a range of topics:

1. Impact of nicotine addiction and tolerance on physical, emotional, and social health

2. Misinformation and marketing tactics used by vape companies

3. Refusal and exit strategies related to peer pressure to use substances

4. Resources for quitting and supporting others in quitting nicotine 

For Youth

For More Information:
Christi Valentini-Lackner, BS, OCPS
Senior Director 
cvalentini-lackner@prevention-first.org
513-751-8000 ext. 16

For Professionals

PreventionFIRST! mainly focuses on alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and prescription drug use/misuse prevention. For resources on specific substances, see below. 

Prescription Drugs and Safe Medication Disposal  

Cannabis

Alcohol

Nicotine

Problem Gambling