Prevention practitioners from across Minnesota and several nearby states gathered in St. Cloud, Minnesota for the 24th Annual Program Sharing Conference on November 4th and 5th. The energizing conference provided information on programs, opportunities for networking and a big serving of fun to those who attended.
The Crayons, a musical group of students from Catholic Schools in Minnesota, welcomed registrants with a selection of uplifting songs that helped combat the somewhat dreary early November weather.
Tom Griffin, vice president of the Minnesota Institute of Public Health, set the stage for the conference with his keynote presentation, Blending Art and Science in Prevention. Griffin was well in touch with the concerns of many who now face the federal requirement that prevention programs be "scientifically defensible" in order to receive funding. He noted the continuing importance of creativity and imagination, and stressed that science does not detract from the art of prevention, but that it does shift the focus to programs that are likely to be successful. For more information on this topic, click here.
The breakout sessions were well attended. And no wonder--the sessions covered a tremendous range of topics, from tobacco control in Minnesota to the street gang subculture. Experts in the field discussed inhalants, drug abuse trends, asset building and student assistance programs, as well as many other topics of interest. This conference also featured a special Restorative Justice Track, which may pave the way for other special tracks at future conferences.
The luncheon address was provided by Mike Moen, Director of Tobacco Reduction and Health Improvement, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of Minnesota. Moen outlined the BCBS plan to invest proceeds from the tobacco settlement. The plan proposes a "broad range of health initiatives to make Minnesota a healthier place to live and work."
Day two of the conference began with Susan Dalterio, Ph.D., University of Texas-San Antonio, presenting her keynote speech, Marijuana: Myth vs. Reality. That marijuana use continues to be a key concern among prevention professionals was evidenced in the interest conferees displayed during the keynote presentation, as well as in the heavy attendance of Dalterio's breakout session that followed her keynote address. Dalterio interspersed humor, social commentary and the results of years of scientific research to deliver an informative and entertaining presentation on the major physiological effects of marijuana smoking on the body and behavior.
The conference was not all work and no play. This year's conference boasted several artisans who offered a variety of wares. Elegant shawls and hand-crafted rugs were available alongside playful earrings, pins and bracelets. Some conferees were even able to mark a few names off their Christmas shopping list!
The conference concluded with a relaxing sit-down lunch and a heaping dose of enthusiasm from the Plenary Session Speaker, Maura Beatty. Beatty flew up from Texas to share her wisdom on arresting stress. In a quirky display of humorous despair, Beatty demonstrated how stress accumulates like weights on chains around our necks. Through four simple techniques that are to be implemented one week at a time, Beatty showed conferees how to combat stress. The techniques? Sleeping, eating breakfast, exercising and breathing--something even the most exhausted person can manage!
The Minnesota Prevention Resource Center is the primary sponsor of this annual event with funding from the Department of Human Services and support from the Department of Children, Families and Learning, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.