Welcome

In the spring of 2022, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) approved the Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC) National Coordinating Office (NCO) to develop a training curriculum for preventionists based on SAMHSA’s Prevention Core Competencies.

The curriculum, Introduction to the Prevention Core Competencies for Prevention Professionals, covers foundational substance use prevention knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for early and mid-career prevention professionals.

The curriculum is designed to be multi-model with online and face-to-face versions; utilizes evidence-based strategies for adult learning; and builds upon and complements existing workforce training curricula and resources (e.g., Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training, Foundations of Prevention Science and Practice Curriculum, Universal Prevention Curriculum, and the IC&RC Candidate Guide).

The PTTC NCO worked with prevention interest groups across the nation for this curriculum development, implementation, and training of trainers.

We hope this course is one of many you will take throughout your career.

Course Learning Objectives

1. Describe the key elements of prevention planning and evaluation.

2. Understand the core prevention professional knowledge, skills, and competencies.

3. Acknowledge the importance of research-based theories and processes that help explain and build effective prevention interventions, and

4. Describe how evidence-based (EB) prevention strategies can be delivered across settings including the family, school, media, community or workplace.