Welcome to Prevention! An Introduction to the Primary Prevention Field
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Overview
This introduction to substance use disorder (SUD) prevention is where to come to get answers to (at least some of!) the questions you’ve had about the primary prevention field, including:
What is primary prevention?
What is it that we’re actually doing when we “do” prevention?
Are there things called “prevention” that don’t work?
Where does the money come from that supports prevention services and pays our salaries?
What makes SUD prevention a “science”? What do we mean by “evidence”?
Are there theories that guide prevention science?
If you’re new to the prevention field, or still trying to gain a fundamental understanding of primary prevention best practices at the local, state, and national levels, this training is for you! Participants will gain a foundational knowledge of prevention, including the Strategic Prevention Framework, common acronyms and day-to-day challenges, and key strategies from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention for the successful implementation of primary prevention strategies.
About the Presenters
Chelsea Keller-Elliott (she/her) is a dedicated prevention strategist with a master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her professional journey spans education, clinical mental health services, and behavioral health research, with a specialized focus on Network-Informed Prevention and supporting youth and families. Currently serving as the Director of Training and Curriculum on the University of Rochester’s Network Health and Prevention team, Chelsea develops adaptive curriculum for diverse populations—from schools and faith communities to professional and military settings. Her expertise centers on critical areas including suicide and substance abuse prevention, bystander intervention, and mental health strategies for career success.
What distinguishes Chelsea’s approach is her genuine commitment to human connection. She finds profound meaning in learning from each group she works with, believing that enhancing social supports can create transformative change. Her work is driven by a belief in the power of compassionate, evidence-based prevention strategies that support individual and community well-being.
Olivia Shrago, M.S.W. provides management oversight for the ABHPC program with a focus on Prevention Pathways, which aims to develop and retain the prevention workforce. Olivia received her Master’s in Social Work from the University at Buffalo in New York, where she began her prevention work on the university’s sexual violence prevention team. Since then, Olivia has worked with government-funded suicide and mental health prevention programs across a variety of settings, including middle and high schools, the United States Air Force, and Black churches. Olivia has experience with project management, training design and implementation, and supporting prevention research.