VPC Training Series
At the VPC, we are committed to fostering a culture of learning and growth. Our VPC Training Series offers a variety of specialized trainings for students, staff, faculty, health practitioners, community members, and organizations—both governmental and non-governmental. Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or eager to share it, we have opportunities designed just for you.
UPCOMING TRAININGS
Stay informed about upcoming sessions! Each training is carefully crafted to address timely topics and to equip participants with practical, research-backed strategies for violence prevention. Check back here regularly to register for new sessions.
Moving Beyond the Average Patient: Classifying Severe Patient Subgroups Using Growth Mixture Modeling
When: Wednesday, November 19th, 12pm-1pm EST
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Details below.
Summary:
This training explores how latent class growth modeling (LCGM) can be used to understand patterns of mental health and substance use indicators in individuals receiving treatment for substance use disorders. Using data from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network studies, Dr. Vest presents findings from person-centered models that identify distinct patient trajectories across pain, depression, suicidal ideation, and relapse indicators. The session will emphasize the translational value of these analytic approaches in clinical, correctional, and community-based settings, especially for vulnerable populations with co-occurring mental health and trauma-related challenges. These insights can inform targeted treatment planning, enable early intervention for high-risk groups, and guide resource allocation to maximize patient outcomes.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- List common indicators and data sources used in longitudinal mental health and substance use disorder research.
- Define longitudinal latent class analysis and its application in mental health and substance use disorder research.
- Discuss how these methods can improve treatment targeting and outcomes in clinical and community settings.
- Evaluate the utility of person-centered statistical modeling to inform violence and overdose prevention.
Who might benefit from attending?
This training is ideal for faculty, behavioral health professionals, clinical researchers, graduate students in public health or psychology, correctional health practitioners, and violence prevention and intervention staff. This training is especially relevant for those seeking advanced tools to analyze recovery patterns and strengthen treatment strategies for high-risk populations.
PAST TRAININGS
Our past sessions have covered a variety of essential topics and have engaged participants from diverse fields. Highlights include:
