During the workshop, we will analyze essential elements of value-centered storytelling, focusing on universal shared values through the lens of our individual lived experiences. Utilizing the evidenced-based R1 Learning Discovery Cards, attendees will partake in purposeful dialogues to discern others’ values, enabling a tailored and influential strategy in drug prevention. We can challenge detrimental narratives by intentionally crafting stories, ultimately empowering youth to make informed choices and advocate for themselves.

As a result of this session, participants will be able to:

• create value-centered stories that resonate with your target audience, enabling individuals and organizations to communicate the importance of prevention to many audiences.
• understand evidence-based models of storytelling, such as the Schwartz Values Model, and learn to use tools like the R1 Learning Discovery Cards to identify the values of individuals, facilitating personalized and impactful organizing strategies.
• navigate difficult conversations with grace and empathy, fostering healing and transformation within individuals and communities affected by substance misuse.

Joseph Green
CEO, LMSvoice LLC

Joseph Green is a storyteller, educator, published author, and narrative disruptor with over 20 years of experience creating dialogue that’s led to success in classrooms, boardrooms, and living rooms. He has worked extensively in youth development, prevention, and recovery. He is the CEO of the educational consulting company LMSvoice. At LMSvoice, Joseph uses his training in youth development, curriculum design, mindfulness, and video production to create and record authentic experiences for organizations seeking to tell honest stories.

Joseph has been featured in media outlets such as Youth Today, UpWorthy, PBS NewsHour, NPR, and more. He has delivered keynote performances and partnered with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Talks @ Google, The White House ONDCP, CADCA, SAMSHA, Mobilize Recovery, Community Catalyst and more.

Joseph was featured in the 2021 documentary Tipping the Pain Scale. His debut graphic novel, “Talk Ugly and Other Poems,” will be published by Takoma Books in April of 2024.

Planning and Facilitating Group-Based Services addresses developing and implementing prevention programming, focusing on behavior management strategies to set groups up for success. Attendees will learn strategies that promote engagement by addressing what happens before and after participant behavior. Through this session, group facilitators will learn skills they can apply before student behavior occurs to increase the likelihood that students will (a) be engaged, (b) display prosocial behavior, and (c) achieve their goals. Strategies that support what happens after student behavior will be shared to increase the likelihood that positive behaviors will happen again while decreasing the likelihood of problem behaviors occurring again. This session will help facilitators understand effective ways to share prevention programming with all audiences.

As a result of this session, participants will be able to:

• promote engagement by addressing what happens before participant behavior.
• use strategies to support what happens after student behavior.
• share prevention programming effectively with all audiences.

Janna Sanders
Consulting and Research Psychologist, Center for Effective Schools
Dr. Janna Sanders earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She is a Pennsylvania licensed psychologist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She is a Consulting and Research Psychologist at the Center for Effective Schools. Her current clinical and research interests involve preventing student skill deficits by effectively implementing evidence-based programs in underserved schools.

Lisa Thomas
Center for Effective Schools

Dr. Lisa Thomas earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Lehigh University. She is a Pennsylvania-licensed psychologist, a nationally certified school psychologist, a board-certified behavior analyst, and a Pennsylvania-certified school psychologist and elementary teacher. She currently serves as the Director of Devereux’s Center for Effective Schools and as one of the State Coordinators for Pennsylvania’s Positive Behavior Support Network. Dr. Thomas’s primary clinical and research interests include systems-level interventions to support youth with and at risk for developing emotional and behavioral disorders.