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StateWays ■ www.stateways.com ■ November/December 2015 26 BEST PRACTICES AWARDS of high-risk drinking, variations in the amount of alcohol used in different types of drinks and laws pertaining to drinking violations. One law in particular is strongly impressed upon RAs: Pennsylvania's Medical Amnesty Law, which provides legal amnesty to underage in- dividuals who seek emergency medical atten- tion to help someone facing a life-threatening situation related to alcohol consumption. "So many people aren't even aware that this law exists, and that information could impact how a student responds in an alcohol-related crisis," Gardner says. In addition to the information obtained while attending the presentation, student RAs are also given various publications to use as resources. Materials are specifi cally targeted toward college-age populations. One bro- chure, titled "Your Degree Doesn't Matter," details the many alcohol-related convictions that can appear on an employee background checks during a job-search. It also high- lights various occupations that generally require state licenses or certifi cates, and notes that those licensures/certifi ca- tions may be denied or revoked as a result of misdemeanor or felony alcohol statute convictions. The RA Training Program was piloted at six Pennsylvania schools in 2014 before being offered to more than 200 institutions lat- er that year. Since then, 634 attendees have participated in the training program. Pre- and post-training testing shows that par- ticipants are retaining the infor- mation presented to them. When tested on the information they've learned, RAs scored an average of 4.3 on a 5-point scale. At Seton Hill University, a private Catholic institu- tion located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, all RAs re- ceive the PLCB's training in addition to supplemen- tal training provided by the university. Alyssa Ian- namorelli-Eddy, Professional Counselor/Co- ordinator of ATOD Services at Seton Hill, says the PLCB's RA Training Program provides an excellent foundation of information that the university can then continue to build upon. "It's very helpful for the students as the training helps prepare them for how to deal with situations that they defi nitely will expe- rience on campus," Iannamorelli-Eddy says. "They learn everything they need to know in order to prepare them for this job and help them lead their peers." The PLCB continues to offer the program, reaching out to colleges and universities by way of letters under Waters' signature, e-mail communications and regular reminders on its Facebook page. Plans are in place to grow the program and minimize the agency resources needed to maintain it. Currently, three PLCB staff members are responsible for conduct- ing training sessions and the costs associated with the program are drawn from the Bureau of Alcohol Education's operating budget. By 2016, the PLCB hopes to implement a "train the trainer" program, whereby the agency will provide the resources and materials necessary for colleges and universities to lead training sessions on their own. How will the PLCB measure the effective- ness of the program? The agency is constantly in communication with participating colleges to see what effect the training has had on cam- puses. Referrals from participating colleges to other institutions will also illustrate the value of the program. And over time, data on cam- pus alcohol-related incidents provided to the state by all Pennsylvania institutions will help determine whether the RA Training Program is having the ultimate desired effect: reducing (and hopefully eliminat- ing) emergencies on college campuses involving alcohol. "We know a one-hour training session isn't going to be the be-all, end-all for this issue," Gardner says. "How- ever, it's adding another layer to the reinforcements, and we have data that proves when the message is repeated, it sinks in. It's a really good program." Melissa Niksic is a freelance writer and marketing communications strate- gist from Chicago, IL. Her work has appeared in Chicago's Daily Herald newspaper, Time Out Chicago, Suburban Life newspapers, and various magazines. She is also the author of several children's books. Follow her @MelissaNiksic. Facebook page. Plans are in place to grow the program and minimize the agency resources needed to maintain it. Currently, three PLCB staff members are responsible for conduct- staff members are responsible for conduct- ing training sessions and the costs associated ing training sessions and the costs associated with the program are drawn from the Bureau of Alcohol Education's operating budget. By 2016, the PLCB hopes to implement a "train the trainer" program, whereby the agency will the trainer" program, whereby the agency will provide the resources and materials necessary provide the resources and materials necessary for colleges and universities to lead training sessions on their own. ness of the program? The agency is constantly ness of the program? The agency is constantly in communication with participating colleges in communication with participating colleges to see what effect the training has had on cam- puses. Referrals from participating colleges to other institutions will also illustrate the value of the program. And over time, data on cam- pus alcohol-related incidents provided to the pus alcohol-related incidents provided to the state by all Pennsylvania institutions will help state by all Pennsylvania institutions will help namorelli-Eddy, Professional Counselor/Co- namorelli-Eddy, Professional Counselor/Co- ordinator of ATOD Services at Seton Hill, says the PLCB's RA Training Program provides an the PLCB's RA Training Program provides an excellent foundation of information that the excellent foundation of information that the university can then continue to build upon. training helps prepare them for how to deal training helps prepare them for how to deal with situations that they defi nitely will expe- rience on campus," Iannamorelli-Eddy says. rience on campus," Iannamorelli-Eddy says. "They learn everything they need to know in "They learn everything they need to know in order to prepare them for this job and help them lead their peers." reaching out to colleges and universities by reaching out to colleges and universities by way of letters under Waters' signature, e-mail communications and regular reminders on its communications and regular reminders on its Facebook page. Plans are in place to grow the Facebook page. Plans are in place to grow the Facebook page. Plans are in place to grow the