The Alliance for Prevention & Wellness (APW) provides customizable workshops for parents, businesses, schools, educators and community organizations on a variety of substance abuse and risky behavior topics. Many of our trainings and/or workshops offer CEU opportunities including CCB (CT Certification Board), CHES (Certified Health Educator Specialist), NASW (National Association of Social Workers). APW is a CEU provider for the CT State Dept. of Education. In addition, APW staff have been trained to implement various curriculums such as, but not limited to, Second Step, Project Alert, and LifeSkills.

To customize a workshop call (203) 736-8566.

Tips is an alcohol intervention program that teaches liquor permittees and servers how to recognize signs of intoxication, prevent alcohol sales to minors, and intervene with patrons who are already intoxicated. APW’s TIPS certified trainers work with local liquor permittees to ensure compliance with the law, encourage knowledge of the penalties and fines associated with underage drinking, and to train staff in ways to prevent disaster. At the same time, APW works with local law enforcement to help enforce regulations regarding underage sales, ensure that vendors are complying with the law, and much more.

Mental health problems – such as depression, anxiety, impulse control and misuse of alcohol and other drugs – are shockingly common in the United States. In fact, more than one in four American adults will have a mental health problem in a year. The National Council on Community Behavioral Healthcare has begun working with communities throughout the nation, including BHcare to implement Mental Health First Aid to arm the public with skills to help individuals who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The clinical and qualitative evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps the public better identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness, thus improving outcomes for individuals experiencing these illnesses.

Visit our Mental Health First Aid page to learn more.

Participants will learn about the most commonly abused substances as well as newer synthetic drugs such as bath salts, spice, and K2. Presenters will discuss common substances with new methods of use and ingestion, as well as the new emerging drugs, how they are manufactured, sold and readily available. Workshop topics covered include but not limited to synthetic drugs, prescription & over the counter drugs, alcohol, marijuana, and more. Finally, presenters will discuss the growing public health and safety threat of these substances and the challenges they pose to law enforcement, educators, health care providers, parents, and communities.

Contact APW at 203-736-8566 for more information.

SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. It is a well-established, evidence-based, comprehensive public health model used to address selected health behaviors, such alcohol/other drug (AOD) use within a population.

SBIRT is a screening too (brief questionnaire)l used in both medical settings (emergency departments, primary care physicians) and educational environments (middle and high schools) is used to help prevent students from starting to use substances, identify problem use, and reduce risk. Brief advice on the health effects of substances is provided within the context of an informal conversation.

APW staff are trained facilitators in SBIRT and can train staff to implement in their own setting, or, assist with student screenings at their site.