Description:

Engaging the Faith Community in Prevention is a 1.5 hour interactive training designed to strengthen participants’ understanding of how faith based and spiritual communities can play a powerful role in substance use prevention, community wellness, and addressing current social issues. Participants explore the historical and present-day impact of faith communities, learn how to build meaningful partnerships, and develop strategies for integrating faith based organizations into prevention planning using SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). The session blends discussion, reflection, and practical planning to help participants create community responsive collaborations that support primary prevention, and community resilience.

The prevention education domain for this session is P4 Community Organization

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the historical and current role of faith communities in addressing social issues such as poverty, injustice, substance use, and community violence. 

2. Explain why faith based organizations are essential partners in prevention and community wellness. 

3. Identify opportunities and challenges in building partnerships with diverse faith traditions. 

4. Develop a working plan for engaging faith based organizations using the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). 

5. Identify strategies for information sharing, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration with faith partners.

Presenter:

Tracy Johnson, Founder, TTJ Group LLC

Mr. Tracy Johnson has 36 years of experience working closely with nonprofits, small businesses, local agencies and communities, helping them with community organizing, environmental strategies, strategic planning, substance misuse prevention, coalition building, person-centered training, humanities, and effective primary prevention programming. He has led major projects for federal, county, and state agencies, boards, and communities on effective behavioral health strategies and substance misuse prevention, with extensive knowledge of the SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework comprehensive approach and CSAP's Six Key Prevention Strategies. In 2023, Mr. Johnson was awarded the distinguished NASADAD service award for his work in behavioral health and leading communities across the nation in population-level change. As Managing Partner for SheRay's & Associates, LLC, he leads and directs the training and technical assistance needs of clients. He identifies experts needed to fulfill client needs. Mr. Johnson is a graduate of Northern Illinois University