Session Description: Prevention, harm reduction, and recovery may seem like opposing approaches, but they share the common goal of reducing harm and building healthier communities. When we break down silos and collaborate rather than drawing lines in the sand, we create meaningful resources, reduce triggers for those in treatment and recovery, and delay the onset of use for youth.

Learning Objectives:

• Increase Knowledge base for all partners and key stakeholders in the Continuum of Care
• Define the difference between Universal, Selected and Indicative prevention and Harm Reduction
• Identify ways prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery can strategically work together to reduce stigma and strengthen overall programming
  

Session Description: Drawing on the profound impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the transformative potential of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), this session celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the warrior ethos that drives us to overcome adversity. Through captivating storytelling, evidence-based insights, and actionable strategies, participants will explore how understanding and addressing ACEs can change lives, empower youth, and inspire leadership at every level—from community advocates to C-Suite executives

Learning Objectives:

1. Empower Resilience as a Protective Factor: Highlight resilience as a critical tool for mitigating the lasting effects of childhood trauma, fostering mental and emotional well-being in individuals, families, and communities.
2. Foster Leadership Through Adversity: Celebrate how individuals who have overcome significant challenges can leverage their experiences to lead in impactful ways and illustrate how coalitions and prevention teams support this journey to leadership roles across various fields.
3. Promote Collaboration and Trauma-Informed Strategies: Strengthen community networks by emphasizing the importance of collective efforts—providers, coalitions, and community members—in creating protective environments and sharing actionable tools for fostering resilience, building trauma-informed programs, and advancing supportive conversations.

Kym Laube
Executive Director, HUGS, Inc

Kym Laube is the Executive Director of Human Understanding Growth Services, Inc. (HUGS, Inc.), bringing over 33 years of expertise in substance prevention and advocacy. Since 2002, she has led the organization in providing comprehensive prevention services and recovery support while championing policy changes at local, state, and national levels. A nationally recognized speaker and trainer, Kym engages over 30,000 individuals annually with her dynamic and interactive presentations. Her dedication extends beyond her role, having served on the NYS Governor’s Opiate Task Force to influence critical statewide reforms. With over 34 years in personal recovery, she remains committed to empowering individuals to create positive change, all while enjoying life in Westhampton Beach with her family and many dogs.