Behind the Curriculum: Exploring Prevention Core Competencies

In this special edition of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave sits down with his good friends Nicole Augustine and Rikki Barton to unpack the Prevention Core Competencies curriculum—why it was created, what gaps it fills in the prevention workforce, and why it’s not just for “prevention professionals,” but for anyone who cares about building safer, healthier communities.

They dig into what’s inside the training (in-person and virtual), how the curriculum supports workforce development and prevention advocacy, and why the Train-the-Trainer (ToT) experience is intentionally different than most ToTs in the field—especially with a big emphasis on facilitation skills and classroom management.

They also explore the “social entrepreneur” angle: how becoming a certified trainer can build local capacity and create sustainable revenue streams for individuals, agencies, and organizations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Prevention Core Competencies exists (and what it adds beyond SAPST + Ethics)
• The origin story: SAMHSA, the PTTCs, and the development/pilot process
• Why this curriculum is for both prevention professionals and community members
• How the training strengthens prevention “why” and helps communities choose more effective strategies
• In-person vs virtual delivery: why they’re not interchangeable (and why that matters)
• What makes this ToT different (hybrid approach + real facilitation skill-building)
• Practical classroom management: navigating over-talkers, over-sharers, disengaged participants, and resistance3
• How the curriculum can support workforce development, advocacy, and communication with decision-makers
• The entrepreneurship and sustainability angle: offering the training, charging appropriately, and building ROI

• Future Proof + intrapreneurship: creating new revenue streams inside prevention organizations

Links & Resources

• Register for the May 2026 Prevention Core Competencies ToT
• Contact Nicole
• Contact Rikki

• Nicole’s book Be Great (Amazon)