UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support Center at Penn State, also known as EPISCenter, is co-sponsoring the 25th annual Commonwealth Prevention Alliance “Leading the Challenge” conference, which will be held June 10 through 12, in the Nittany Lion Inn on the University Park campus of Penn State.

The conference offers up-to-date information on issues and findings in prevention research and ongoing community efforts, informational sessions, as well as a state-level discussion with panelists representing several state agencies. Example topics include how exposure to interpersonal conflict and violence affects young children, adolescent brain development, and the impact of legalizing marijuana, among other talks related to healthy development of youth and families.

The 2015 conference will feature presentations by Linda Caldwell, professor of recreation, park and tourism management at Penn State; Gary Tennis, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs; David Mineta, deputy director of demand reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy at the White House in Washington, D.C.; Craig Bowman, Common Ground Consulting; Charles F. Geier, assistant professor of human development and family studies at Penn State; and Pennsylvania State Rep. Brandon Neuman, District 48 in Washington County.

Additionally, Mary Ann Demi and Kris Glunt, prevention coordinators with at the EPISCenter, will present “A Statewide Gap Analysis” from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m. on June 10. The presentation will focus on a recent statewide analysis that was completed to identify state needs for youth delinquency prevention. The discussion will include the process of vetting programs, data used to identify gaps in prevention, and determining programs for piloting in Pennsylvania.

The EPISCenter represents a collaborative partnership between the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), and the Prevention Research Center, College of Health and Human Development, Penn State University. The EPISCenter is funded by PCCD and the Office of Children, Youth, and Families in the Department of Human Services.

The mission of EPISCenter is to advance the science and practice of evidence-based programs, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. The center supports the dissemination, quality implementation, impact assessment, and sustainability of a menu of proven-effective prevention and intervention programs, and conducts original translational research to advance the science and practice of evidence-based prevention.

In addition to the EPISCenter, collaborating partners for the conference include the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Penn State Network on Child Protection and Well-Being and Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania.

The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance is a member-driven organization whose mission is to support prevention professionals in eliminating substance abuse. Since 1976, it has kept the needs and concerns of the prevention professional and the field of substance abuse prevention as its key focus; today, it continues to be the foremost voice for prevention in Pennsylvania, offering regular communications about issues and findings from the field of substance abuse with particular emphasis on prevention; conferences and workshops; legislative initiatives; a speaker’s bureau; work with state organizations and government departments; and accredited professional development opportunities. For more information visit www.commonwealthpreventionalliance.org.