EPIS

08/30/2026

📊 What changed in the Pennsylvania Youth Survey and what stayed the same?

Join Mary Johnstun for an overview of the key changes and consistencies between the 2023 and 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS). Explore what was updated, what remained unchanged, and how these differences may impact data interpretation, reporting, and trend analysis.

Whether you use PAYS data for prevention planning, grant reporting, or community assessment, this session will help you better understand and apply the latest survey results.

✅ Learn about survey updates
✅ Understand impacts on trend analysis
✅ Strengthen your interpretation of PAYS data
✅ Prepare to use 2025 data with confidence



Register today if you are not registered:
https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FzTP-PPIQq2NbQ12xfncqQ #/registration

08/26/2026

Data tells a story. PAYS data helps communities better understand youth behaviors, identify needs, and guide prevention efforts where they can have the greatest impact.

08/26/2026

45 state legislators. 30 states. One question: can they trust AI enough to use it for policy decisions?

Jonathan Wright and the PRC/EIC team built an AI assistant restricted to a single evidence database — the Results First Clearinghouse — and put it in front of real lawmakers to find out.

The answer wasn't a simple yes or no. Legislators told researchers AI helped them find and understand research fast, which matters when you're working under a legislative deadline. But they also pushed back hard on trust: where did this information come from, and how do we know it's right?

"AI is not going anywhere," Wright said. "The important thing is to create AI tools that use research as their evidence base and to restrict their responses to that evidence base."

That finding shaped the AIRE protocol — Wright's framework for building AI tools that stay grounded in credible sources and stay transparent about where their answers come from.

The goal was never to replace legislators' judgment. It's to help them get to good evidence faster, so the judgment they use is better informed.

08/26/2026

Looking for simple ways to help children build responsibility and independence?

Explore Age-Appropriate Chores for Children in the Prevention Learning Portal eLibrary! This free resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics includes age-based chore ideas and practical strategies for building confidence, teamwork, life skills, and positive routines at home.

🔗 Explore the resource: https://plp.psu.edu/resource/age-appropriate-chores-for-children/

08/26/2026

Frederick Douglass Elementary School went from teachers not knowing students’ names to one of the best in the state under Principal Carol Leveilee.

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Join us and take action to help prevent su***de. Every conversation, every connection can make a difference.

Follow along all month for resources and ways to connect, support, and prevent: samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/su***de-prevention-month/toolkit

08/26/2026

https://mailchi.mp/9056f4fc9adc/1ww-thank-you-for-joining-us-looking-forward-to-september

Check out the August recording of the 1st Wednesday Webinar and please share this video with whomever may benefit from it!

08/06/2026

Thank You for Joining Us!

A big thank you to everyone who attended our First Wednesday Webinar,"Bringing PAYS Data to Life: Real-World Strategies for Community Impact," presented by Shelbe Weaver and Lee Winterhalter.

During the session, we explored how communities can move beyond statistics and use Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) data to tell meaningful stories, identify local needs, engage stakeholders, and drive prevention efforts that make a real difference. From analyzing trends over time to sharing data in ways that foster understanding and action, PAYS can be a powerful tool for creating positive community change.

Remember: Data is most impactful when it helps us better understand the experiences of the young people we serve and inspires action to improve their outcomes.

What is one way your organization uses data to inform decisions and strengthen programs? Share in the comments!

08/04/2026

After years of neglect, writing skills are getting more attention in school