Webinar | Rethinking School-Based Substance Use Prevention: Non-Punitive, Community-Driven Strategies

About This Webinar

Many young people in the United States face a range of substance use, behavioral health and well-being challenges, sometimes all at once, without equitable access to and outcomes from effective support. This mismatch is not new, but the magnitude of these challenges has increased in recent years, particularly since the pandemic.

Schools are uniquely positioned to promote healthy behaviors and drive better outcomes for young people and their communities. They offer opportunities to connect with youth and to understand the context in which substance use decisions are made and whether a student’s substance use may be connected to their mental health.

Healthy Schools Campaign launched a project to help states and school districts leverage Medicaid as a sustainable and scalable funding source to support school-based substance use prevention and early intervention health services, and convened a community advisory board and focus groups to identify how school-based substance use programming could better meet the needs of young people, their families and communities.

The community advisory board member, including education, healthcare and community leaders and youth advocates, developed a new framing for addressing youth substance use that focuses on achieving positive and equitable outcomes through non-punitive supports and policies and culturally and linguistically responsive services.

Alongside the advisory board's work, HSC held a series of focus groups with students, parents, caregivers and educators to discuss in more detail how schools can build trust and increase student engagement. Findings from the community advisory board and focus groups are included in a published report.

In addition, a companion action tool offers guiding questions to help schools align their policies and programs with the vision outlined in the report. It’s intended for anyone to use, including students, parents, educators, school administrators, healthcare and community leaders, and others who work to support student wellness. HSC also published examples of programs that align with recommendations developed throughout the project and federal funding opportunities.

Join this session on advancing equitable access to and outcomes from school-based substance use prevention. Panelists will discuss a new framing to address substance use in schools, and share findings from focus group and key interviews with youth, families and communities across the country. The session will also discuss new policy changes and recent funding opportunities to support school-based substance use prevention. The session will also review the new report, school policy and services action tool and other companion resources developed by HSC that focuses on achieving positive and equitable outcomes through non-punitive supports and policies and culturally and linguistically responsive services. Panelists will discuss the new resources and answer questions about community-informed strategies to ensure substance use services promote the well-being of all students.

This webinar is part of Share My Lesson's 2025 Virtual Conference!

Date: March 27, 2025 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Credit: 1 Hour
Subject: Health and Wellness — Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs, Healthy Living, Mental, Emotional and Social Health, Personal and Community Health • Professional Learning — Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Working with Parents and Caregivers
Grade Level: Grades K-12, Professional Development, Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel, Specialized Instructional Support Personnel

Professional Credit

Share My Lesson webinars are available for one-hour of PD credit. A certificate of completion will be available for download at the end of your session that you can submit for your school's or district's approval. Please verify eligibility with Share My Lesson.