Welcome
The Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs, in partnership with the Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation (VCPI) will host people from across the state that have professional or personal interest in substance use in Vermont. Please join us as we gather on May 20th and 21st, 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington to support furthering collaboration, coordination, and connection throughout Vermont's substance use system of care and its many partners. Presenters from Vermont, and beyond, will lead over twenty breakout sessions that will provide valuable information on important topics impacting the substance use services workforce and those who interact with our system. We will also host over thirty vendors to table, allowing for one-on-one opportunities for education and resource sharing. We are also excited to welcome two nationally recognized plenary speakers: Dr. Haner Hernandez, Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI and educator and best selling author, Jesica Lahey.
Scholarships are available, as are accommodations - but space is limited - we encourage you to click here & register today!
Day 1: Tuesday
8-9:00am: Registration and Breakfast
9:00am: Welcome Remarks and Plenary Introduction: Person TBD
9:15-10:00am: Plenary: Dr. Haner Hernández, “Title TBD”
10:15-11:45am: Morning Sessions
12-1:00pm: Lunch
1:15-2:45pm: Afternoon Sessions I
3-4:30pm: Afternoon Sessions II
Day 2: Wednesday
8-9:00am: Registration and Breakfast
9:00am: Welcome Remarks and Plenary Introduction: Person TBD
9:15-10:00am: Plenary: Jessica Lahey, “Having the Substance Use Prevention Talk for People Who Are Reluctant to Attend Substance Use Prevention Talks”
10:15-11:45am: Morning Sessions
12-1:00pm: Lunch (and Jessica Lahey book signing)
1:15-2:45pm: Afternoon Sessions
Daily Agendas
Registration
If you have any questions, contact the Planning Team at vtdsuconference@gmail.com.
Check-in will start each day at 8am, with opening remarks beginning at 9am. Day one sessions end at 4:30pm, and day two sessions end at 2:45pm. A light breakfast and lunch are included. We anticipate offering CEUs (pending) and will announce additional information soon.
Speakers & Sessions
Tuesday Keynote Speaker: Dr. Haner Hernández
“Eliminating Disparities and Building Health Equity: A Social Justice Framework and Approach”
Emerald Ballroom III
Plenary description coming soon!
Wednesday Keynote Speaker: Jessica Lahey
“Having The Substance Use Prevention Talk for People Who Are Reluctant to Attend Substance Use Prevention Talks”
Emerald Ballroom III
It can be challenging to get people to attend talks on substance use prevention. This may be because of shame and stigma around the topic of substance use disorder, because they are dealing with substance use problems themselves or in their family, or because they erroneously believe all kids drink or use drugs and there’s nothing we can do about it. This popular talk emerges from Lahey’s New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure, and explores how to increase motivation, engagement, competence, self-efficacy, and self-advocacy in kids—while giving audiences evidence-based information on how this also reduces kids’ risk for substance use.
Sessions & Agenda Summary
Acutis
Adcare Educational Institute of New England
Invidious
Meetinghouse Solutions
Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation
Prevent Child Abuse VT
Prevention Works! VT
SafeSpot Overdose Hotline
Sana at Stowe
Exhibitors
SMART Recovery
Steps to End Domestic Violence
The Turning Point Center
UVM Medical Center
Valley Vista
Vermont Addiction Professional Association
Vermont Department of Mental Health
Vermont Prevention Certification Board
VTSU Graduate Programs in Counseling
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Please join the Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs, in partnership with the Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation, on May 20th and 21st, 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington for the 2025 Vermont Substance Use Conference.
DoubleTree by Hilton, 870 Williston Rd, South Burlington, VT 05403
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Ample parking is provided by the DoubleTree in on site.
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Wifi for overnight hotel guests:
Connect to hiltonhonors network
pw: Last name registered to room + room number
Wifi for day hotel guests:
In conference center connect to “Hilton Honors meeting network”
pw: meeting1
In lobby and elsewhere connect to “Hilton honors lobby network”
pw: cookie1
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Coming soon to this page!
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Questions: vtdsuconference@gmail.com