2025 Recorded Sessions

Discover how 900 SECONDS in just 15 minutes can create big change. This program is an innovative, time-conscious social-emotional learning (SEL) program designed to equip youth with the tools they need to thrive emotionally, mentally, and socially. Grounded in the framework of Strengthen and Empower Youth, Teach Healthy Coping Skills, Provide Opportunities to Build kNowledge, and Discover Support Resources, 900 SECONDS breaks down critical life topics into short, focused lessons that are easy to implement—and impactful. This session will explore how 900 SECONDS delivers age-appropriate instruction on key topics such as managing stress, building resilience, understanding substance misuse risks, improving screentime habits, addressing bullying, and accessing support systems. Attendees will gain insights into the program’s structure and learn how the micro-session format builds skills through conversation and practical strategies to bring this powerful SEL tool into their own schools and communities. Come discover how just 900 SECONDS can make a lasting difference.

The tobacco industry's marketing strategies have been constantly evolving. Previously, in-store coupons and direct mail coupons lead the promotions sent out by the industry. Now, with so much of our world being online, the tobacco industry has shifted to this space as well. Instead of those direct mail coupons, the industry has shifted to email subscriptions, online sales and rewards programs. Along with the shift in coupons, so much of the marketing and promotions are happening online. Social media marketing of commercial tobacco products have exploded in recent years due to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. On TikTok alone, the hashtag "vape", has over 1 billion views. Influencer and celebrity depictions with products influences youth and young adults. In this session, we will be providing an overview of the latest marketing and promotional trends, social media influencers and marketing. We will also be sharing current marketing trends of the tobacco industry such as rebranding initiatives to skirt regulation, latest products and their outreach strategies.

Learn how to use the Community Walk Tool, an experiential community mapping and assessment process, to help to better understand your local community from a new perspective. Understand how this Community Walk process can contribute to meaningful relationships with community partners. Learn how this can create awareness of hopes, concerns, gaps and what other information might need to be gathered in order to better understand the community. Increase understanding on how this process can help you to see whose perspectives, voices, lived experiences might be missing or invisible from your current data and be inspired to create new strategies to improve health and safety in your community.

What if transforming youth outcomes wasn’t about reinventing the wheel—but igniting what already exists in your community? In this high-energy, hands-on session, participants will explore Creating Community Consulting’s youth centric model of community engagement and mapping—a dynamic, accessible approach to systems change that bridges community development theory with practical tools anyone can use. Designed for educators, youth advocates, nonprofit leaders, and systems thinkers, this session distills powerful concepts from change management and community engagement into clear, actionable steps. Through real-world examples, guided activity, and collaborative reflection, you'll learn how to activate the full potential of your community—whether you're just starting out or seeking to deepen your impact.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Exposure to secondhand smoke is estimated to have killed approximately 2.5 million non-smokers in this country since 1964. State and local smoke-free laws continue to limit the extraordinary harm that commercial tobacco and cannabis smoke inflict on individuals and communities and have been a huge public health success by reducing the health harms associated with smoking and exposure to smoke. As long as smoke-free laws have been around, however, there have always been opponents of such laws who argue that they infringe upon “my right to smoke.” And, indeed, there have been “smoker protection” laws passed and “cannabis café” bills introduced in some states that undermine otherwise strong, comprehensive smoke-free laws. This session will first provide an overview of common Constitutional claims made by smokers’ rights groups- from Free Speech to Equal Protection- and why such arguments do not create the right to smoke tobacco, cannabis, or any other substance. The presentation will next cover issues specific to Minnesota, including the product sampling exception provision in the Clean Indoor Air Act and recent litigation on this subject, as well as the challenges posed to smoke-free spaces under the cannabis law. The session will conclude with tips on how advocates can seek to strengthen smoke-free laws in their communities that will advance public health by restricting smoking and vaping.

Minnesota’s recent legalization of commercial cannabis use has created an urgent need for effective, inclusive public health messaging. As cannabis products become more accessible, prevention efforts must evolve. Tailored communication strategies are essential to ensuring that accurate, relevant information reaches communities effectively. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is leading two initiatives to strengthen statewide cannabis prevention messaging. The first is a short-term media campaign focused on educating youth and influential adults—including parents, teachers, and community leaders—who shape youth perspectives on substance use. This campaign prioritizes culturally responsive messaging for American Indian/Alaskan Native populations, Black/African Americans, and Spanish-speaking communities. The second initiative is an RFP-driven project developing prevention messaging for individuals who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, breast/chestfeeding, and youth under 25. MDH’s short-term campaign is in progress, with findings to be shared at the conference, including strategies for addressing biases, adapting messaging to social norms, and navigating cannabis commercialization and evolving product types. The role of influential adults in youth substance prevention will also be explored, alongside barriers they face when discussing cannabis use with youth. Presenters will discuss how insights from the short-term campaign will shape MDH’s broader RFP-driven prevention efforts, guiding future messaging strategies. Attendees will gain actionable insights into fostering trust with diverse audiences and implementing culturally competent communication strategies. This session will offer practical guidance on adapting outreach, strengthening engagement, and enhancing prevention in local communities. Materials from the short-term campaign will also be readily available for organizations to integrate into their prevention efforts.

The smoke-free housing landscape in Minnesota has changed dramatically in recent years. This presentation will provide updates on Minnesota’s smoke-free multi-unit housing laws and explore how recent changes intersect with existing commercial tobacco-focused protections. We will discuss effective communication strategies for educating property managers, owners, and residents of multi-unit housing on best practices for implementation, including proactive outreach through mailing, calling, and emailing. Additionally, we will provide an overview of updated resources and materials available for implementation of comprehensive smoke-free housing policies. Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or new to the smoke-free housing world, this session will have something for everyone. By the end of the presentation, attendees will leave feeling empowered and ready to address challenges and opportunities in the ever-changing landscape of smoke-free housing.

Youth have a powerful influence on their peers—especially when equipped with the tools and support to lead. This session will highlight a peer-to-peer prevention model where high school students deliver engaging, age-appropriate presentations to younger students on a variety of topics related to substance misuse prevention, mental health, and overall wellness. During the 2024–2025 school year, 48 Empower students led 34 presentations across nine schools, reaching over 600 students. These presentations aren’t just informative—they’re relational. Peer-led education boosts protective factors like leadership development, positive peer modeling, and school connectedness, while addressing key risk factors such as low perception of harm, peer pressure, and poor coping strategies. Participants will learn how students are trained, how content is developed and delivered, and how peer-to-peer education promotes connection, credibility, and early intervention. Survey data and student reflections reveal positive outcomes, including stronger refusal skills, improved understanding of substance-related risks, and greater confidence in making healthy choices. Three student presenters will lead this session, sharing what makes youth-led prevention powerful, what they’ve learned, and how others can replicate or scale similar efforts. Attendees will leave with practical tools, strategies for youth preparation, and a plan for what to start, stop, or continue doing regarding youth-led peer education in their own communities.

In the world of substance misuse prevention, we often hear about what does work—research-backed strategies that make a real impact. But what about the methods that don't work? Many communities continue to use outdated, ineffective, or even harmful prevention practices despite decades of research showing they fail to deliver. This session will explore the common approaches still in use, shedding light on why they don’t work and the unintended consequences they can create.

How can we prevent substance misuse unless we understand what places kids at greater risk of misusing drugs? During this session, we will explore the risk factors that place youth at greater risk of substance misuse, as identified by the Social Development Research Group through systematic reviews of the research literature. Time will be spent exploring each risk factor to ensure that preventionists understand the meaning of each factor in order to address them effectively.

The widespread presence of vapes in schools places an unfair burden on teachers and students while creating environmental waste and public health risks. Disposing of e-cigarette cartridges and “disposable” vapes is not simply littering—it's a visible symptom of a larger issue: industry practices prioritizing profit over community health, education, and environmental stewardship. These products contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and non-biodegradable plastics that pollute schools and divert time from academic learning. Blaming youth for use and addiction to these products and improper disposal misses the point—the real responsibility lies upstream, with manufacturers and industry. This session will explore safe vape collection in schools, and how data from school-based vape collection can drive meaningful policy change, such as flavor bans and extended producer responsibility requirements. These efforts aim to reduce nicotine product prevalence and waste in school communities and beyond. Collaboration is essential. Public health advocates, schools, waste facilities, environmental groups, and policymakers need to work together to enact sustainable solutions that truly protect children, schools, and the environment. Join this session to learn practical strategies, legal technical assistance, and see real-world examples of communities shifting accountability to manufacturers, so students and educators are no longer left “holding the bag.”

Fear appeals are often used in prevention work because of the strong and overt emotional effects they withdraw in their audience. While the effect may be powerful, these strategies can also cause harm, and don't necessarily lead to the consistent and positive behavior changes that are assumed. Furthermore, they can increase risky behavior by modeling it. While fear appeals sometimes lead to changes in perceptions or behavior, they are far less effective than strategies that model skills and solutions to limit risk behaviors. This presentation will explore the research on fear appeals in prevention work, why they should be avoided, what can be used instead, and how to begin having conversations in your community around different approaches. This session will be interactive, and will draw on conversations attendees are already having in their community around the use of fear appeals. We will explore different perspectives, compare insights, and search for common ground together.

Join Substance Use Prevention Specialists and Program Coordinators, Angela Graham and Laura Daak as they share information about the Minnesota Prevention Alliance (MPA) Coalition and the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant Program. MPA is working at the statewide level to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug use rates among youth and adults. MPA provides and/or shares advocacy information, capacity/skill building events and materials, valuable networking opportunities, relevant speakers, expertise in substance abuse prevention resources as well as partnering with many state and national organizations. The presenters will go into detail about MPA’s strategic action plan and share how they can help with your local level goals in relation to substance use prevention. They will also outline how a coalition can prepare for and apply for a DFC grant application with the CDC. This session is for anyone who is interested in learning about MPA’s work, becoming a member of MPA, starting a coalition or building the capacity of a funded/unfunded coalition in their community. Finally, they will briefly discuss other grant funding opportunities.

This session will be an interactive workshop reviewing your current tobacco retail licensing ordinance so please bring your computer to access your local ordinance via the internet. If you are unable to bring a computer, we will have hard copies of county ordinances. 

Did you know that Minnesota communities are required by the state to license tobacco retailers? The state requirement puts the ball in your local government’s court to protect youth from the predatory commercial tobacco industry. This hands-on workshop will give you the opportunity to learn what point of sale policies your local communities have in place and where the policies could be strengthened to protect youth and reduce commercial tobacco use. Presenters will help you find your local tobacco retail licensing ordinances and will walk you through the key elements of a good policy, a strong policy, and a “grand slam” policy. Good policies meet all the state and federal requirements for tobacco sales; a strong policy will have some additional public health protections such as stronger retailer penalties or prohibiting smoking at all tobacco retailers; while a “grand slam” policy will have public health policies that go the extra mile such as prohibiting the sale of flavored products or limiting the number of retailers. Not every community is ready for “grand slam” policies, but starting with a good policy is a key first step to protecting your youth. We can help you get there! “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)

In summer 2025, the Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis Community Health Board (CHB) will launch Speaking of Cannabis, a regional communications campaign developed to address emerging knowledge gaps following cannabis legalization in Minnesota. This campaign aims to educate and empower parents, mentors, and other adults with kids in their lives across a four-county region (and beyond) to: 1. Know how cannabis can affect the developing brain. 2. Initiate supportive and effective conversations with youth about not using cannabis. 3. Practice safe storage, for those adults who use cannabis. This session will share key strategies behind the campaign, built through MDH Infrastructure Grant funding and rooted in the foundational public health capabilities of communication, partnership, and assessment. Cross-county collaboration was central. Public health staff from six jurisdictions contributed local context and insight, ensuring the messages reflected real community needs and complemented existing efforts like school programs, coalitions, events, and peer education. To bring the campaign to life, we partnered with Sek Design Studio. Their creative process supported the team in finding the right tone—informative, non-judgmental, and rooted in public health values—and developed a visual identity, templates, and a website to support broad distribution. Evaluation efforts included collecting pre-launch feedback from regional partners and will include tracking digital engagement post-launch. Options for using surveys to assess message recall and behavior change among parents may also be explored. The campaign is designed for adaptation and scale. All materials are available as editable templates, and the website www.speakingofcannabis.org offers more information, sources, and resources for taking action.

Join Substance Misuse Prevention Specialist Laura Daak and Dr. Ken Winters as they share information about the Minnesota Prevention Alliance Foundation (MPAF)’s project, funded by the MN Department of Education (MDE), to assist MN School Districts to fulfill the MN State Statute (120B.215) cannabis prevention education requirements for the 2026-2027 school year. There are 14 requirements in the bill, all of which will be reviewed. These requirements include implementing a model program that educates students on the health risks of cannabis use and signs of addiction to cannabis; risks of using other substances; dangers of fentanyl use; how to identify and respond to a drug overdose; coping skills; and information on local services.

Background: In rural Minnesota, youth mental health struggles, social disconnection, and limited access to inclusive extracurricular opportunities are increasing risk factors for substance misuse. Recognizing that prevention must start long before use begins, The Youths program was launched to address these upstream root causes by strengthening protective factors like belonging, connection, civic leadership, and cultural inclusion. This community-based initiative centers youth as partners in prevention and invites intergenerational collaboration across school, family, and community systems. Description of the Work: Launched in Pelican Rapids, The Youths is a youth-led, adult-supported leadership initiative designed to bridge school and community, develop civic agency, and co-create opportunities for belonging. Supported by Otter Tail County’s opioid settlement funds, the program integrates the Beyond Civics curriculum, youth-designed community action projects, and mentoring models with trusted adults. A youth advisory team meets regularly to plan prevention-based initiatives and advise on space, programming, and policy that influence local systems. Lessons Learned: This model highlights the importance of honoring youth voices in designing protective spaces and policies. Early indicators show increased civic confidence, community connection, and self-reported improvements in mental wellness and school engagement. Youth feel seen and valued, creating a foundation of trust that reduces risk factors for substance use. Adult allies report deeper understanding of youth needs and increased commitment to youth-led change. Practical Applications: Conference attendees will leave with an adaptable model for upstream youth engagement that can be scaled across rural or urban communities. Strategies include co-creating youth advisory boards, applying prevention funds to belonging-centered programming, integrating youth voice into decision-making, and training adult mentors to shift from directive to collaborative leadership. Attendees will explore how belonging, cultural identity, and civic participation function as protective factors in substance use prevention.

The Substance Use in Minnesota website (sumn.org), was built in 2008 to serve as a one-stop-shop for the data needs of prevention partners in the state. And the site just got a makeover! Join us in exploring the new website features, including the ability to search resources by topic, and an automated county substance use dashboard. We'll also use the data search function to find your new 2025 Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) data, including data on substance use, mental health, protective factors, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This session is also a chance to provide feedback about your community's data needs.

This session explores how local policy can be leveraged as a primary prevention strategy to reduce commercial tobacco and nicotine use in outdoor public spaces. Beginning with a landscape overview, Katie Engman (Program Director- Policy & Compliance, ANSR) will describe the health risks and community concerns related to smoking and vaping in outdoor public areas, emphasizing the importance of intervening upstream before health impacts occur. Willow Anderson (Senior Staff Attorney, Public Health Law Center) will guide participants through the language and scope of the Minnesota Model Policy, clarifying how legal frameworks can directly address these risks by restricting access in defined outdoor settings that go beyond the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. Selena Salfen, MPH, RD (Ramsey County Public Health Specialist) will share a firsthand account of leading successful adoption policy adoption in her county. By highlighting the legal and advocacy processes, this presentation directly supports the conference theme of “Moving Upstream: Strengthening Connections and Cultivating Hope in Prevention.” It demonstrates how shared efforts between, advocates, legal experts, and local public health departments can create environments that proactively prevent commercial tobacco use—laying the foundation for long-term health and community resilience. Attendees will learn (1) concrete strategies, (2) policy language, and (3) partnership models to move upstream in their own communities.

The recent legalization of adult-use cannabis in Minnesota marks a major shift in the state’s approach to substance use prevention and treatment efforts. Cannabis presents unique challenges due to its medicinal properties, regulation nuances, and industry practices. Organizations involved in substance regulation, prevention, education, and treatment need up-to-date information. With potential state budget deficits and federal funding cuts, addressing cannabis-related challenges will require innovation, program integration, and strong community partnerships. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is one agency within the state enterprise who are tasked with leading cannabis prevention efforts, especially for youth under 25. Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) oversees the development and regulation of the state’s cannabis market. Presenters from MDH and OCM will provide insights into Minnesota’s current cannabis landscape, prevention programming, and share their experiences working in cannabis and substance use prevention outside of Minnesota. This session will explore: (1) the current status of the adult-use cannabis market in Minnesota, (2) new and emerging cannabis products, (3) current status and future of prevention and education related cannabis programming, and (4) the move upstream – integration of cannabis into general substance use prevention and other directly or indirectly related programming (housing, transportation, and more). While the topic will focus primarily on prevention efforts, legal adult-use of cannabis and harm reduction will be included in the presentation and discussions.

Transforming communities impacted by issues related to mental health and substance use requires more than just programs - it demands visionary, values-driven leadership. This interactive breakout session will explore how transformational leadership principles can empower prevention professionals to inspire change, build trust, and mobilize collective action. Participants will examine the character strengths and core values that guide meaningful engagement and sustainable impact in communities. Through real-world examples, reflective exercises, and peer dialogue, attendees will gain tools to lead with purpose, align their work with their values, and ignite a shared vision for healthier communities.

For decades, mock crash reenactments have been a staple in youth safety programming, designed to shock students into making better decisions behind the wheel. But are these dramatic events truly effective—or are they doing more harm than good? In this session, we will critically examine the mock crash tradition, exploring its emotional impact on students, its questionable long-term effectiveness, and the potential for unintended trauma. this presentation will challenge participants to consider alternative approaches to prevention education that engage, rather than distress, young people. It’s time to rethink what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to saving lives.

This session explores the alignment and integration of two powerful, evidence-based prevention approaches: Communities That Care (CTC) and the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). While each framework is grounded in public health best practices, their combined application creates a robust infrastructure for sustainable, data-driven prevention efforts. Participants will learn how CTC provides an operational model that naturally implements the five steps of the SPF—Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation—while infusing community ownership, tested and effective programs, and youth engagement. Using real-world examples and lessons learned from communities across the U.S., this session will highlight how CTC strengthens each stage of the SPF process, reinforces cultural competence and sustainability, and improves long-term prevention outcomes.

Preventing substance misuse starts with connection. In this session, participants will explore the PAUSE Process—a five-step, relationship-based framework that helps adults build protective factors in families and communities. Grounded in mindfulness and early prevention principles, the PAUSE Process (Present, Attentive, Understand, Support, Explore) equips parents, caregivers, educators, and prevention professionals with practical tools to foster emotional regulation, connection, and resilience in young people and themselves. Attendees will learn how emotionally supportive adult relationships act as a buffer against risk factors and how the PAUSE Process can be applied in schools, homes, and communities to reduce stress and promote well-being. Through story sharing, reflection, and real-world examples, this session offers a compassionate and actionable approach to upstream prevention—rooted in the belief that strong relationships and emotional awareness are essential for substance misuse prevention.

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought “Should I say something? Should I do something?” Together we will dive into what Upstander Behavior is and how this concept was shared with youth and adults in Minnesota communities. Upstanders are someone who recognizes when something is wrong and does something to make it right. We can all do something to make a situation better. Learn key action steps of Direct, Delegate, and Distract and when to use them. This approach can help prevent substance misuse, violence, bullying and other high risk situations.