Prevention Professional Learning

2026-2027 Prevention Professional Learning

2026-2027 Prevention and Student Services Summit

The Utah State Board of Education’s (USBE) Behavior Support and Prevention teams are excited to host a two-day Behavior Solutions Customized Workshop. This training, based on the work of Dr. John Hannigan and colleagues, will provide a framework for establishing and implementing proactive, tiered behavior supports. This approach is designed to bridge the gap between academic and social behavior instruction through a systematic structure. This workshop will move learning beyond theoretical concepts to build effective interventions that reduce classroom disruption. Participants will leave with a customized framework for their school. There is no cost for participants to attend this workshop, however any and all travel costs will be the responsibility of the traveler, if applicable.

This training is designed for educators at all levels. School teams (teachers, administrators, related service providers, etc.) are encouraged to attend together in order to facilitate framework development.

September 24-25, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Utah Valley Convention Center
220 W Center Street,  Provo, UT 84601

Please register via the 2026-2027 Behavior Support and Prevention Summit Registration Qualtrics survey.

2026-2027 Prevention Protective Factor In-Person Series

Protective Factors Trainings throughout the state and in-person. Locations/Dates/Times TBD.

2026-2027 Prevention Webinar Series

Join the Prevention and Student Services teams at the Utah State Board of Education for a monthly webinar series focused on helping educators create the conditions that support student success. Topics include protective factors, prevention science, behavior support, and other evidence-informed practices that foster safe, supportive, and engaging learning environments.

Sessions are held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, except in August and October, when webinars occur on the last Thursday of the month.  You only need to register once for the entire webinar series.

2026-2027 Prevention Webinar Series Registration (this will register you for ALL webinars)

• August 27, 2026 - Beyond Prevention: Creating the Conditions for Student Success Through Protective Factors and Positive Childhood ExperiencesFor many years, prevention efforts have focused on preventing problems. Today, prevention science is increasingly focused instead on understanding what helps children, youth, and families succeed. This webinar will explore the latest research on protective factors, positive childhood experiences, resilience, and connectedness, and demonstrate how the Protective Factor Framework (PFF) provides a practical roadmap for fostering student success. Participants will learn how the Protective Factor Framework can be used to strengthen student well-being, improve academic outcomes, and guide prevention efforts at the individual, school, and system levels. Participants will leave with practical strategies for building protective factors into their daily work and creating environments where all students can thrive.
  
  
• September 17, 2026 - Connection Saves Lives: A School-Based Approach to Suicide Prevention
  

  Participants will explore the warning signs and risk factors for suicide, learn strategies to foster protective factors and connectedness, and review resources and best practices for supporting students in need. The session will also highlight the critical role schools play in creating safe, supportive environments that promote student connection, well-being, and help-seeking behaviors.
  

• October 29, 2026 - The Verbal Escalation Cycle: Another Key to Prevention
  How do you prevent behaviors from escalating beyond verbal demonstration? The goal of prevention and behavior support is to help students recognize their actions and learn skills for future success. Adults can support students, even in the most stressful of situations before behaviors become physical. Join us in exploring how to guide students to de-escalation when they enter the verbal escalation cycle.
• November 19, 2026 - The January Plan: Re-Setting Behavior Expectations
  Once the school year nears the halfway point, educators begin to think about the return from winter break and how to best guide students with Tier 1 classroom support. Whether it is re-establishing expectations, adjusting the environment, or exploring higher-level supports, November is the perfect time to draft out your January return to school plan.
  
  
• December 17, 2026 - Is it Sensory or is it Behavior?
  As a school-based occupational therapist, this is one of the most common questions I am asked. In this session, participants will become familiar with sensory systems and how to determine the function behind many common behaviors in order to design effective interventions.
   
  
• January 21, 2027 - Incorporating the Protective Factors Framework into the Student Intervention Early Warning System
  Utah Code Section 53F-4-207 requires LEAs to implement an Early Warning System (EWS) that identifies students at risk for academic failure early and provides timely, effective, evidence-based intervention strategies that promote student success. This webinar will provide an overview of foundational EWS requirements and explore how school administrators, teachers, and behavior specialists can apply the Protective Factors Framework to strengthen prevention and intervention strategies.
  
  
• February 18, 2027 - MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) Processes and Supports
  This session will cover the core components of MTSS, including universal screening, data-based decision-making, and the three-tier continuum of support. Participants will learn how to clearly differentiate between Tier 1, 2, and 3 interventions, use progress-monitoring data effectively to match students with the right resources, and establish collaborative school-based problem-solving teams to support students who are struggling academically or behaviorally. 
  
  
• March 18, 2027 - Knowledge of Development - Cognitive Distortions
  This webinar will equip school professionals with developmental frameworks to assist students in identifying and addressing cognitive distortions (i.e. catastrophizing, mind-reading, all or nothing thinking) in students across different age groups. Rather than treating these thought patterns as isolated behavioral issues, participants will explore how a student's evolving development shapes their interpretation. By understanding the intersections of developmental milestones and thinking errors, educators will gain age-appropriate strategies to help students build cognitive flexibility and foster emotional resilience within the school environment. 
  
  
• April 15, 2027 - Beyond Compliance: Using Positive Behaviors Plans to Build Protective Factors and Prevent Risky Behaviors
  This webinar will explore the required elements of a Positive Behaviors Plan (Substance Use Prevention Plan) under Utah Code Section 53G-10-407 and provide strategies for schools to address these requirements. Participants will learn how Positive Behaviors Plans can strengthen protective factors such as social connections, resilience, and cognitive, emotional, and social competencies that are linked to reductions in substance use and other risky behaviors. Attendees will leave with ideas for creating or refining a Positive Behaviors Plan that supports student well-being and school connectedness.
  
  
• May 20, 2027 - Strategies to Prevent Behavioral/Emotional Crises
  Behavioral/emotional crises can occur in any school setting, even when strong supports are in place. This webinar, based on Chapter 7 of the 2025 LRBI Technical Assistance Manual, explores practical, proactive strategies that help reduce the likelihood of behavioral/emotional crisis situations and support safe, positive outcomes for students and staff.

Student Services Training Request Portal (TRP)

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Student Services Training Request Portal (TRP) is an online tool for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to request specific Professional Learning (PL) and Technical Assistance (TA) support from the USBE. The information submitted is used to help coordinate PL and TA across the state to ensure that LEA needs are addressed and met in an efficient manner.