Webinar Schedule 

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August 27, 2025 @ 10:00 AM-11:30 AM

“Parental Substance Use and Children Impacted By Addiction: A Deep Dive into a Complex Challenge”

As children head back to school, it’s the perfect time to focus on the environments and relationships that influence their well-being and success. Parents navigating substance use disorders often face complex barriers that impact their ability to provide stability, especially during transitional periods like the start of a new school year.

This timely and compassionate webinar explores the intersection of parenting and substance use, school staff, counselors, healthcare providers, and community members to better understand and support families in need.

You’ll leave with family-centered, strengths-based approaches that promote protective factors and strengthen the parent-child relationship—just in time to help families begin the school year with renewed connection and support.

Presented by: Megan Ragan, LCSW

Megan Ragan, LCSW, is the Executive Director of the Southern Illinois Resource and Advocacy Center. With over a decade of experience in child and family-serving systems, she brings a unique clinical and special education background. Megan has delivered trainings at local, state, and national levels, focusing on familial substance use, trauma-informed care, ACEs, and neurodiversity. Known for her energetic style, she fosters engaging discussions that encourage critical thinking and real-world application. 

To receive full Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for this webinar, participants must attend the entire session. Partial attendance will not qualify for credit. Attendance will be monitored, and certificates will only be issued to those who are present for the full duration of the webinar.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

September 10, 2025 @ 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM

Feed Your Mind:

“Using the Circle of Care Tools”

The Circle of Care spent a solid year creating resources that communities, organizations, and individuals can use to help kids who are dealing with loss and grief in families affected by substances. From in-depth training to an online resource toolkit and an Illinois landscape analysis, the Circle resources are easily accessible and appropriate for both professional helpers and natural supporters within communities. In this lunch and learn session, we’ll talk about how to find and make the most of these resources, and people who have already accessed them will have a chance to talk about how they’ve used this information to help their communities.

Presented by: Pamela Woll

Pamela Woll, MA, CPS, is a Chicago-based author, curriculum developer, and consultant dedicated to increasing the resilience and capacity of individuals, families, communities, organizations, and systems of care. Among her primary areas of focus are resilience, trauma, and strength-based approaches to behavioral health conditions. 

To receive full Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for this webinar, participants must attend the entire session. Partial attendance will not qualify for credit. Attendance will be monitored, and certificates will only be issued to those who are present for the full duration of the webinar.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

October 14, 2025 @ 1:00 PM-2:00 PM

Protect Our Youth: What Families and Communities Need to Know 

In today’s fast-moving marketplace, co-branded and alcohol-infused products are showing up on store shelves faster than ever—often packaged in ways that can easily be mistaken for everyday snacks or drinks. This can pose significant risks to youth and families.

Join us this October for an eye-opening discussion on how to spot these products, understand the dangers of product confusion, and take action to keep our communities and children safe. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies parents, educators, and community leaders can use to safeguard young people from easy access and prevent harm.

Presented by: Nicole Sanders

Nicole Sanders, Industry Education Manager at the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, educates businesses and the public on liquor laws, compliance, and preventing underage alcohol sales. She brings marketing expertise and real-time trend insights to support safer communities.

To receive full Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for this webinar, participants must attend the entire session. Partial attendance will not qualify for credit. Attendance will be monitored, and certificates will only be issued to those who are present for the full duration of the webinar.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

November 18, 2025 @ 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

"Caring for the Caregiver: Practical Self-Care for Helping Professionals"

Join us for a powerful training that equips helping professionals to recognize burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma before they take a toll. Discover strategies to honor ethical responsibilities around self-care, assess your own stress responses, and develop a personalized plan for well-being. Learn how protecting your health strengthens client outcomes, improves team dynamics, and sustains your passion for work in the SUD and mental health fields.

Presented by: Cristina Banda, BA

Cristina Banda has over 10 years’ experience supporting families and children in and out of the classroom. A graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Education, she is passionate about serving underserved communities and believes education is key to preventing substance use disorders. She is dedicated to spreading awareness and practical prevention strategies to families impacted by addiction.

To receive full Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for this webinar, participants must attend the entire session. Partial attendance will not qualify for credit. Attendance will be monitored, and certificates will only be issued to those who are present for the full duration of the webinar.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

December 9, 2025 @ 10:00 AM- 11:30 AM

"Strengthening the Father-son Relationship as Substance Use Disorders Prevention"

Join us for a skill-building webinar on the vital role fathers play in the lives of young men. This skill-building webinar explores the impact of fatherlessness on young males, including its link to substance use disorders and delinquency. Learn strategies to address “father hunger,” heal emotional wounds, and understand seven key contributions that present, responsible fathers make to the well-being of young men.

Presented by: Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is an international speaker in behavioral health whose presentations have reached thousands throughout the United States, England, Canada, Africa, Spain, West Indies, Lithuania and Guam. He is the author of 5 books, and he has had two stories published in the New York Times Best selling book series, Chicken Soup For The Soul. Mark has lectured at the University of Chicago, Loyola University of Chicago and Illinois State University Schools of Social Work. He is the recipient of 4 behavioral health lifetime achievement awards including the prestigious NAADAC Enlightenment Award and the Jessica Hayes Lifetime Award granted by the Illinois Certification Board.

To receive full Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for this webinar, participants must attend the entire session. Partial attendance will not qualify for credit. Attendance will be monitored, and certificates will only be issued to those who are present for the full duration of the webinar.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.