Counselors entering behavioral health often report feeling unprepared for their day-to-day work. Community treatment programs and behavioral health centers have come to accept that the technical skills of “how to be a counselor” in today’s environment are the training responsibility of the hiring organization. 

As the Affordable Care Act expansion continues, more underserved communities with higher acuity and less resources are filling caseloads and their needs continue to go unmet because the counseling workforce has not been trained on how to advocate properly for patients who qualify for more services than they are receiving. 

There’s a need for advanced training on advocacy skills for underserved communities to help curb the gap in care delivery matched with identified needs. In this presentation, participants will learn the importance of advocacy skills and how to adjust caseload management strategies and expectations to support the unmet needs of underserved communities.

Learn more and register here

Contact & Accommodations: Vermont Addiction Professionals Association

Parents are often the top source of alcohol for their teens. This webinar will share how prevention specialists and coalitions can reduce parental access to alcohol by highlighting the research around:

• Parent attitudes and behaviors

• Parental disapproval of substance use

• Modeling healthy behaviors and healthy ways of managing moods

• The importance of not providing alcohol and hosting parties

Dr. Kilmer and Dr. Arria will discuss important alternatives for parents, including how to set clear boundaries and have healthy and constructive ongoing conversations. They will also share why it’s important for parents to be vigilant regarding peer relationships, how to watch for and act on early signs of disengagement, and how to facilitate help-seeking.

Read more here

Free & open to all - residents, students, families, and community members are encouraged to participate

• Interpretation provided for: Arabic, French, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Somali, Swahili

Activities and Free Food

• Catering provided by restaurants on Main Street

• Community art project 

• Try the City of Winooski Budget Activity

• Connect with the Winooski Partnership for Prevention

Community Engagement Open House

• Understand the City and School budgets

• Learn about the Winooski School District Antiracism Steering Committee 

• Discover the Flexible Pathways Program

• Meet & greet your City Council and School Board representatives

• Register to vote for upcoming elections 

• Sign up for summer programs and pool passes

• Meet a Winooski Firefighter, check out a fire truck (weather dependent)

• Provide feedback for the City's Comprehensive Plan

• Apply for City of Winooski job opportunities

• Learn about the local Homeshare Program

• Learn about the Winooski Foodshelf

Boston Medical Center's (BMC) 12-part Massachusetts Office Based Addiction Treatment ECHO® (MA OBAT ECHO®) offers training and support in addiction treatment, with a focus on comprehensive care for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). The free, case-based tele-mentoring program is designed to increase the capacity of primary care teams to integrate addiction treatment using a multidisciplinary care model.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will have the knowledge to:

• Describe the health and social risks associated with alcohol use and their impacts on individuals and families.

• Review evidence-based strategies to reduce alcohol-related risks across clinical, community and system levels.

• Apply practical approaches to support safer alcohol use and recovery goals within addiction care practice.

Contact & Accommodations

Grayken Center for Addiction TTA: info@addictiontraining.org 

Learn more and register here

Boston Medical Center's (BMC) 12-part Massachusetts Office Based Addiction Treatment ECHO® (MA OBAT ECHO®) offers training and support in addiction treatment, with a focus on comprehensive care for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). The free, case-based tele-mentoring program is designed to increase the capacity of primary care teams to integrate addiction treatment using a multidisciplinary care model.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will have the knowledge to:

• Identify issues where preventative health screening and education may benefit patients in addiction treatment.

• Describe communication strategies for educating patients about and engaging patients in preventative treatments.

Contact & Accommodations

Grayken Center for Addiction TTA: info@addictiontraining.org 

Learn more and register here

Based on findings from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 29.5 million people ages 12 and older (10.5%) met criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD). There are also more than 140,000 deaths annually attributed to excessive alcohol use.

To equip the healthcare workforce to better address this public health concern, this training is designed to provide an introductory overview of alcohol use disorders. We will explore the latest epidemiological data, with a focus on the prevalence and trends of alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in the United States. Diagnostic criteria and screening tools to assess for alcohol use disorders will be discussed. Additionally, we will examine evidence-based interventions to treat alcohol use disorders and support individuals in their recovery.

Learn more and register here

Event Location: Virtual

Contact & Accommodations

Grayken Center for Addiction TTA: info@addictiontraining.org 

the WPP will be hosting an event to provide concrete and practical information about the laws and consequences related to impaired driving in Vermont. 

Join the WPP on December 21 at 2:30 at the Winooski School District to learn more.

Contact Mukhtar Abdullahi at mabdullahi@winooskiprevention.org for more information. 

The holiday season can be challenging and stressful when trying to navigate the pressures associated with this time of the year. For many, alcohol consumption significantly increases between Thanksgiving and New Year's for a variety of reasons, including family dynamics, increased social gatherings, holiday traditions, and increased feelings of loneliness, sadness, or isolation. This training will review strategies on how to avoid or reduce alcohol consumption, as well as discuss techniques for how to talk about one’s alcohol use during a particularly stressful time of year.

Learn more and register here

Event Location: Virtual

Contact & Accommodations

Grayken Center for Addiction TTA: info@addictiontraining.org 

This 90-minute webinar will offer an introductory overview of screening tools for use with adolescents suspected of a substance use problem and at risk for suicide. Two general types of substance use tools will be discussed: brief screeners (e.g., S2BI, CRAFFT, AUDIT) and larger-sized screeners that include screens for co-occurring disorders (e.g., GAIN, YSBIRT). Tools that assist in screening for suicide risk to be discussed include the C-SSRS, ASQ and the PHQ-9. Administration formats, maximizing accuracy of self-report, and implementation issues will also be covered.

Learn more and register here

Event Location: Virtual

Contact & Accommodations

Adept Educational Institute Inc: escherer@neias.org 

Every effective prevention effort includes a critical question: How do we build our capacity? Join us for the second webinar in our Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) series, where we’ll focus on capacity building. Participants will learn strategies to assess organizational and community readiness, build collaborative coalitions, and develop workforce competencies. Through practical tools, case examples, and discussion, attendees will leave equipped to enhance their prevention infrastructure, mobilize support, and position their communities for successful planning and implementation efforts across the SPF.

Learn more and register here

Event Location: Virtual

Contact & Accommodations

South Southwest PTTC: dlnewby@ou.edu 

This training is designed for healthcare providers who care for patients who consume alcohol, with a focus on identifying individuals at increased risk for adverse health outcomes associated with alcohol and nicotine co-use. Participants will explore practical, evidence-informed strategies to mitigate risks and promote safer patterns of use. The session will also review policy and system-level approaches that support risk reduction and prevention efforts. In addition, participants will examine FDA-approved treatment options and clinical interventions that address the complexities of concurrent alcohol and nicotine use.

Learn more and register here

Event Location: Virtual

Contact & Accommodations

Grayken Center for Addiction TTA: info@addictiontraining.org 

This webinar is part of NAHEWD's national series Bridging HIV and SUD: Innovations in the Field. The series is highlighting various innovative models and approaches to treating substance use disorder (SUD) in people at risk for and living with HIV. This webinar will explore promising clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapies, the potential of approved psilocybin and MDMA-assisted treatments for anxiety, mood, and SUDs. Clinicians interested in new mental healthcare treatment options for SUDs can learn about current treatment designs and published study outcomes to consider how psychedelic-assisted therapies might serve people at risk for and living with HIV.

Learn more and register here

Event Location: Virtual

Contact & Accommodations

Opioid Response Network: orn@aaap.org 

Statistics show that when peer services are delivered with adherence to the peer model and within recovery-oriented systems, they are highly effective for the participants and the systems employing them (SAMHSA). 

While the knowledge and experience brought into organizations and their systems by peers are extremely important, there are also great challenges as most of these systems operate in paradigms that differ greatly from the recovery-oriented environments peers are most effective in, leading to poor outcomes when appropriate support is lacking. 

We must ask: What are the ethical considerations in hiring, training, supervising, and retaining people with lived-living experience in existing organizations? This workshop provides ethically informed, policy-driven, equitable, and inclusive approaches that can be intentionally implemented within organizations of all kinds.

Learn more and register here

Event Location: Virtual

Contact & Accommodations

NAADAC: naadac@naadac.org 

School Absenteeism and Your Student: A Panel Discussion

Join Timber Lane Pediatrics for an informal discussion with parents, school administrators, therapists, and local student advocates.  We're planning a virtual panel discussion with parent questions and input.  Our goal is to have you leave this discussion with some ideas and optimism for increased school attendance!  Hosted by Timber Lane Pediatrics Care Coordinator Danni Pratt, CCM and Dr. Elizabeth Hunt

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 6:30-7:30pm
Meeting ID 288 044 059 189 0
Passcode: XE389SB7
Click here to join!

Join Winooski staff and volunteers for a park clean up! These volunteer opportunities are perfect for anyone (individuals, outdoor enthusiasts, small groups, families, etc.) and no prior experience is necessary. Activities include plant trimming, litter pick up, debris removal, and other basic trail maintenance. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to help. Staff will provide small tools (clippers, snips, gloves, resources, etc.), but feel free to bring your own. Dress comfortably in weather-appropriate clothing and wear sturdy footwear suitable for outdoor activities. Stay hydrated, bring a water bottle! Consider sunscreen and bug repellent as needed.

Sign Up here!

On Thursday, November 6th, from 6:00–7:30 PM, the City of Burlington and Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform (VCJR) are hosting a free educational webinar:

Overdose Prevention Centers: Evidence, Impact & Community Dialogue

This event kicks off a series of community conversations that will continue over the coming months and marks the launch of our Community Survey.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this invitation with your professional and personal networks.

https://community.sevendaysvt.com/event/policy-solutions-for-vermonts-alcohol-challenges-44511327

UVM Health Sciences Capstone students, Jordan and Kalman, are hosting a panel discussion about alcohol use disorder and policies that can help Vermonters! Come join to support the next generation of public health leaders. In-person attendees will receive free glassware that can help estimate standard drink sizes from Winooski Partnership for Prevention!

PLEASE NOTE:

In-Person begins at 7:00 PM

Location: Carpenter Auditorium, Given Medical Building, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Ave. Burlington, VT 05405

Webinar begins around 7:15 PM

Location: We will email a zoom link to you the day of the event!

Join Winooski staff and volunteers for a park clean up! These volunteer opportunities are perfect for anyone (individuals, outdoor enthusiasts, small groups, families, etc.) and no prior experience is necessary. Activities include plant trimming, litter pick up, debris removal, and other basic trail maintenance. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to help. Staff will provide small tools (clippers, snips, gloves, resources, etc.), but feel free to bring your own. Dress comfortably in weather-appropriate clothing and wear sturdy footwear suitable for outdoor activities. Stay hydrated, bring a water bottle! Consider sunscreen and bug repellent as needed.

Sign Up here!

Join Winooski staff and volunteers for a park clean up! These volunteer opportunities are perfect for anyone (individuals, outdoor enthusiasts, small groups, families, etc.) and no prior experience is necessary. Activities include plant trimming, litter pick up, debris removal, and other basic trail maintenance. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to help. Staff will provide small tools (clippers, snips, gloves, resources, etc.), but feel free to bring your own. Dress comfortably in weather-appropriate clothing and wear sturdy footwear suitable for outdoor activities. Stay hydrated, bring a water bottle! Consider sunscreen and bug repellent as needed.

Sign Up here!

We’re guest tabling at the market! Come say hi! More info about the market here:

https://downtownwinooski.org/winooski-farmers-market/wfm-visit/

Over the last few years we have seen progress on substance use addiction awareness and identifying valuable resources for help and change. We also know that there is a lot of work to do.

This event is open to the public. We urge anyone who is interested in knowing where resources are for themselves or someone they love, who is battling addiction, to attend. It is about hope for anyone struggling with substance use, making more resources available statewide and saving lives. 

Event Location

Champlain Valley Expo
105 Pearl Street
Essex, VT 05452

Brad Ferland 802-999-2633 | bferland14@gmail.com 

Melinda White 802-393-9196 | melinda@tpfcvt.org 

https://www.healthvermont.gov/events/4th-annual-coming-together-substance-use-addiction-summit

We’re guest tabling at the market! Come say hi! More info about the market here:

https://downtownwinooski.org/winooski-farmers-market/wfm-visit/

Join Winooski staff and volunteers for a park clean up! These volunteer opportunities are perfect for anyone (individuals, outdoor enthusiasts, small groups, families, etc.) and no prior experience is necessary. Activities include plant trimming, litter pick up, debris removal, and other basic trail maintenance. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to help. Staff will provide small tools (clippers, snips, gloves, resources, etc.), but feel free to bring your own. Dress comfortably in weather-appropriate clothing and wear sturdy footwear suitable for outdoor activities. Stay hydrated, bring a water bottle! Consider sunscreen and bug repellent as needed.

Sign Up here!

Come help clean up Landry Park in Winooski! Stay for the whole time or just for a bit.

• We'll provide snacks, drinks, gloves, trash bags, sharps containers, and training.

• You bring the enthusiasm for a clean park with less substance-related litter.

• Meet near the bleachers for the baseball diamond at Landry Park

Cleaning up together helps us to feel connected, proud of where we live and play, and raises awareness of substance-related litter, all of which can protect from substance use disorders and support recovery. 

Email Marielle to let her know that you’re coming: mmatthews@winooskiprevention.org

Saturday May 3rd - Green Up Day! Vermont's favorite holiday is around the corner and we're excited to get out there with y'all to clean up. Drop by the Winooski Senior Center (123 Barlow St.) from 8:30 – 2:00 to pick up bags, gloves, and safety info. City staff will help you find an area of need if you don’t already have one picked out. Please leave your filled bags near a bag drop off sign or on the side of the road where they are easily visible. Call 802-655-1392 or email recreation@winooskivt.gov with questions. More info at https://greenupvermont.org/resources/

Tuesday April 8th, 5:30-7, Winooski School District library: A first of its kind - a Coalition Meeting in combination with Safe, Healthy, Connected People Commission Meeting! Come hear about local level substance use data and policy recommendations to protect the health of Winooskians during a presentation to the Safe Healthy Connected People Commission.