People wanting to support the well-being of youth and families in their communities can now take free online courses through Penn State’s Prevention Learning Portal (PLP). The portal offers instruction and resources on how to choose, implement and sustain programs and practices that promote healthy communities.

The courses are rooted in prevention science, a field dedicated to preventing problems — such as substance use, depression, and juvenile delinquency — before they begin. Prevention professionals also focus on helping people of all ages to engage in behaviors that help them to thrive.

“We encourage anyone who wants to come together and drive positive community change to sign up to take our courses,” said PLP project manager Jordan Joyce, who works for Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support within the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State.

“These courses are geared toward people in any profession,” Joyce explained. “Community coalitions often have representation from diverse sectors. For example, a restaurant owner can partner with their local school superintendent and other businesses and organizations to start a coalition.”

The courses are designed for adult learners, who often have limited time and are juggling many responsibilities, Joyce said. Most take less than an hour to complete, and successful completion can count toward continuing education credits for social workers and Act 48 requirements for Pennsylvania educators.

The reach of the portal has already exceeded expectations. While its primary mission is to serve Pennsylvania residents, it already has learners enrolled from several U.S. states and six continents since its launch last October. New courses are added to the portal regularly.

The PLP team is also partnering with Colorado State University to develop a series of courses about using data across all phases of implementing a prevention program, including identifying problem areas in the community, developing measurable goals, selecting appropriate programs, collecting data and measuring outcomes.

“We want folks to have the data to know whether the resources they are dedicating to community change are making an impact,” Joyce said.

The PLP is supported by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration and the Penn State College of Health and Human Development.