Waynesburg University will host “Creating Change in Communities: Navigating Resources,” a networking event sponsored by The Southwestern PA Prevention Network, Friday, March 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center on Waynesburg’s main campus.
Registration is free and can be completed online by visiting waynesburg.edu/creatingchange.
“The networking event is an opportunity for community leaders and service providers in the drug and alcohol field to learn more about the variety of community resources available in our region,” said Dr. James Hepburn, professor of psychology and program director of the Master in Arts in Counseling Program and Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education Program.
I had the opportunity to attend last year’s networking event, and it was impressive to see so many individuals and learn about the variety of programs in our area that are dedicated to the prevention and treatment of addictions in our communities."
The event attracts a large number of professionals from local school districts, student service providers and community organizations from Greene, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Attendees will gain increased knowledge about available resources related to substance abuse in southwestern Pennsylvania, learn about the Pennsylvania Youth survey and how to utilize the results, and more.
“I had the opportunity to attend last year’s networking event, and it was impressive to see so many individuals and learn about the variety of programs in our area that are dedicated to the prevention and treatment of addictions in our communities,” said Hepburn. “The event also provides opportunities to share ideas and learn about the innovations that are occurring through the creative approaches to prevention and treatment.”
This year’s event will feature Kevin Sabet, assistant professor and director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida and president or Policy Solutions Group, Inc. He served as a drug policy practitioner for the Clinton and Bush (43) administrations and, most recently, as senior drug policy advisor for President Obama’s drug czar.
Sabet is a frequent contributor to editorial pages and television news outlets, such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, and Al Jazeera, among others.
Currently, Sabet is serving as one of five Americans on the hemispheric expert panel charged to draft the “Report on Drug Policy for the Summit of the Americas,” ordered by the Organization of American States.
Other presenters will include Meghan Blevins of the Pennsylvania State University’s EPISCenter, Jeff Hanley of the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance and Gina Riordan of the Drug Free Workplace PA.
Attendees may earn social work continuing education credits through NASW-PA at the cost of $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. To purchase these credits online and in advance, visit waynesburg.edu/panetworking.
Additionally, PCB and NBCC credits for counselors will be available through the University’s Graduate and Professional Studies Counseling Program: PCB Provider #477, NBCC Provider #4560.
Educators may also earn PDE (Act 48) credits for attending.
“We are excited to host this event at Waynesburg University,” added Hepburn. “It provides us an opportunity to showcase our campus, but also to highlight our Addictions Programs, including the Advanced Specialization in Addictions (12 credit program) and our Master of Arts in Counseling with an Addictions Specialization (60 credit program).”
Waynesburg University has the only CACREP accredited Addictions Counseling Program in the state of Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact Sarah Bell, coordinator of academic communications and study abroad, at 724-852-7790 or sbell@waynesburg.edu.
