Episode #100 - We have to Support Families of LGBTQ+ People
Prevention Perk
Vida Khavar is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist who has 25+ years’ experience in child welfare. She has assisted many organizations in developing programs that serve children and families. Vida was a consultant for the federal project: RISE, which aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care in Los Angeles County. She is currently the Clinical Director at Family Builders. As such, she collaborates with the California Department of Social Services in developing and implementing affirming policies and practices for LGBTQ+ children in foster care. Vida also leads...
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Episode #99 - Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults and Understanding Historical Trauma
Prevention Perk
Dr. Bryant brings a plethora of experiences and knowledge dealing with substance use disorders (SUD), HIV/AIDS prevention and education, diversity, equity and inclusion training, anti-racism training, and sexual orientation education. He has been successful in developing and implementing a statewide strategic plan for Georgia in response to the opioid and prescription drug overdose epidemic. As a result of this formative work, Dr Bryant received a grant to do a multi-cultural needs assessment among vulnerable populations in support of the Statewide Strategic Plan from the Georgia Department...
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Episode #98 - Why Focus on LGBTQ+ People
Prevention Perk
Angela Weeks brings extensive national experience creating, implementing, and evaluating programs and initiatives that improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and communities. She has led the development of LGBTQ+ trainings and tools, policy revisions, webinars series, supported the design and implementation of interventions to support LGBTQ+ youth, and maintained resource databases and websites. In addition to directing this Center, Angela is the Project Director for The National Quality Improvement Center on Tailored Services, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in...
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Episode 97: Leadership Comes from Within
Prevention Perk
Karie, is a Certified ToP® Facilitator and Mentor Trainer with extensive experience in strategic planning and community engagement. Her passion for fostering collaboration and driving positive change has led her to dedicate her career to helping organizations and communities achieve their goals through effective facilitation and inclusive decision-making processes. She excels at creating safe and inclusive spaces for dialogue, managing diverse perspectives, and ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. · · · ...
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Episode #96: Laughter is the Best Prevention Medicine
Prevention Perk
Nathan Wray a Prevention Coordinator for the Roane County Anti-drug Coalition in Tennessee. He’s also a highly sought after motivational speaker whose life story is nothing short of inspirational. Nathan speaks from the perspective of lived experience, in hopes of empowering youth, and his story is a powerful testament to the human spirit's resilience. Nathan’s message combines his passion for change with a sense of humor that connects with the audience to make a lasting impact. In his spare time, he hangs out with his four kids and his beautiful life. ...
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Episode #95: Why Prevention Works
Prevention Perk
I am not a photographer by education or formal training. I often describe myself as an “accidental photographer” since most of what I know is self-taught - born out of a pure love of the outdoors and the beauty of creation. My journey into photography began near the end of my career as a federal drug prosecutor where I supervised the Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force – a group of agents, analysts and prosecutors who investigated and prosecuted high-level drug trafficking organizations. During that time, I was an eyewitness to some of the darkest aspects of society. Although...
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Episode #94: A Community Needs to Assess the Impact of Alcohol
Prevention Perk
Rodney Wambeam, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Scientist at the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) of the University of Wyoming (UW). He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at UW. Dr. Wambeam completed his Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska in 1999 and served as policy advisor to Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson. He was Director of the Evaluation Research Department at the Nebraska Council to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse before moving home to Wyoming in 2002. At WYSAC, Dr. Wambeam and his team conduct numerous substance abuse prevention and treatment...
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Episode 92 - Social Media's Impact on Mental Health
Prevention Perk
My guest on this episode is Rikki Barton who has a passion for communicating essential messages to move individuals and communities onward in their goals. She is the Founder/Lead Consultant of Onward Consulting and holds the Missouri Advanced Prevention Specialist certification as well as international IC&RC certification. Rikki has over 14 years of prevention field experience and currently serves as a consultant to assist organizations, coalitions, and state/federal agencies in the areas of substance use prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health promotion. She has extensive...
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Episode 93 - Risk Factors for Youth Substance Misuse
Prevention Perk
Kris Gabrielsen is the co-director of the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center. She has worked in the substance misuse prevention field for over 30 years. Kris was the Associate Director of the Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT), co-authored the first Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training curriculum, and co-authored the textbook, Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science and Practice. As a consultant, she has worked with states and communities across the nation to bridge the gap between research and practice, assisting...
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Episode #91: Building Blocks - Faith, Prevention, Recovery
Prevention Perk
Dr. Monty Burks Deputy, Director of the Governor's Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, where his role is engaging and connecting Tennessee’s faith communities to government and other non-profits with the goal of creating partnerships. In this episode we explore Building Blocks – Faith, Prevention, Recovery and the different intersection points between traditional and non-traditional behavioral health communities. Connect with our guest. · Email: · Web site: (search faith based) The funder of this...
info_outlineShanelle was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She relocated to Columbia, MO in 2012 to begin her undergraduate career at the University of Missouri – Columbia. During that time, she developed a love for helping people and found that to be her area of passion. Shanelle graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with emphasis in Family and Lifespan Development and a minor in Social Justice. After graduating, she began working in the community to help meet the needs of the people. She has over 10 years of trauma-informed social service experience that includes work as a Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, Youth Specialist, Parent Child Educator, Foster Care Case Manager, and Foster Parent. During that time, she discovered her purpose in life, which is being the voice for the underserved populations in the face of adversity.
Shanelle strives to bring equity, cohesiveness, and stability in communities to enhance the quality of them. This will be accomplished by rebuilding the families within them. However, she recognizes that in order to rebuild families you must focus on the individuals that make up the families first. For this to be achieved, parents will be guided in the process of personal development to help them gain confidence within themselves, learn to effectively advocate for the things they want in their lives, and form konnections within the community. She believes that every person deserves to obtain and maintain a high quality of life no matter what their past or current struggles are.
Shanelle is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health from the University of Missouri in hopes of obtaining her LCSW license. Her end goal is to be a licensed clinical therapist and traveling keynote/motivational speaker. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and traveling with her young daughter creating memories.
View Shanelle's Storyboard here: Implementation of Prevention Programming on Two Campuses
Learn about all the BOLD Fellows: https://pttcnetwork.org/centers/global-pttc/pttc-prevention-fellows-2022-23-v2
The funder of this project, along with all other products of the Mid-America PTTC is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although funded by SAMHSA, the content of this recording does not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA. The Mission of the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence is to address the need for greater equity and effectiveness in behavioral health services for African Americans. The center is determined to help transform behavioral health services for African Americans. For more information visit https://africanamericanbehavioralhealth.org