Description:

This presentation explores the cultural, historical, and systemic barriers that impact mental health prevention in the Black community and highlights strategies to rebuild trust, increase access, and promote early intervention. Through education, community engagement, and culturally responsive practices, we outline how to create pathways to healing, resilience, and long-term wellbeing.

The prevention education domain for this session is CC Cultural Competency

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key historical, cultural, and systemic barriers that influence mental health prevention and help-seeking behaviors in the Black community. 

2. Examine the impact of stigma, mistrust, and generational trauma on engagement with mental health services. Explore culturally responsive strategies to improve prevention, early intervention, and community-centered support. 

3. Highlight the role of trusted messengers and community partnerships in increasing awareness, access, and utilization of mental health resources. 

4. Equip participants with actionable tools to build trust, foster psychological safety, and promote mental wellness within Black families and neighborhoods

Presenter:

Ashley Glass, MPH, BSN, RN, Founder, Black Women Cultivating Change

Ashley Glass is a devoted mother of three daughters and proudly identifies as a Health Equity Catalyst and Creative. With a strong passion for advocacy, Ashley is deeply committed to improving access to mental and maternal health services within the Black community. She possesses a natural talent for critical thinking, building meaningful connections, and elevating voices that empower individuals to navigate our complex healthcare systems. Ashley is the founder of Black Women Cultivating Change, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing stigma around mental health and promoting holistic wellness among Black women and families. Her work is rooted in a belief that healing and equity require authenticity and depth—reflected in her signature quote:
"Life is not surface level."

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