Category Archives: Prevention News

GLEN COVE – NY As nationwide efforts are being undertaken to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), many families are struggling to cope with the challenges of increased family time at home. Long-established routines have transformed overnight, and parents are strapped for resources, leading to an increase in family conflict and child behavior problems.

These very issues have been raised to Mrs. Laurent Caballero, SAFE Coalition’s Parent Committee Chair and bilingual LifeSkills Training (LST) parent program facilitator. LST is an evidence-based parenting program offered twice yearly for eight weeks to Glen Cove parents. The program provides parents with the tools and knowledge to be effective, and to learn practical approaches that come with the challenges of raising children utilizing positive approaches to understanding and raising children. COVID-19 has brought to the family system a set of new stressors and ensuing behavioral problems. Parents are looking for help during this difficult time.

Mr. Tony Gallo, SAFE Coalition Co-Chair and professional educator, presented a Parent workshop translated by Mrs. Caballero to share preventive strategies for parents to decrease the likelihood of future challenges. These strategies can have a positive impact on children’s behavior by minimizing triggers that lead to tantrums and defiance:

• Moving, eating and sleeping: The basics are more important than ever. Ensure that your child is maintaining good sleeping, eating, and exercise routines.
• Make time for quality time: When time and resources allow, try to join your child in play and leisure activities. This will not only help to maintain a positive relationship, but it will make setting limits easier down the road.
• Catch your child being good. By calling attention to your child when your child is being a good listener or coping appropriately, you increase the chance that your child will repeat those behaviors in the future

“Parents should try their best to provide structure as research demonstrates children do best when routines are in place and expectations are clear,” said Gallo. Given the unpredictability of COVID-19, predictability can help children feel a sense of comfort and safety.

Ways to incorporate predictability can include creating a visual daily schedule that your child can reference throughout the day. Breaking down tasks into more manageable steps can reduce frustration and prevent meltdowns. Using a timer or alarm to cue you and your child to the completion of an activity is also helpful.

Additionally, Mr. Gallo advised parents that offering their child a choice can also help instill a sense of control during this uncertain time. For example, when options are available, let your child choose which sneakers he or she wears or where he or she does their quiet reading are minor decisions that can enhance children’s sense of control. Be clear upfront about which expectations are and are not flexible.

Parents were receptive to Mr. Gallo’s suggestions and engaged in the dialogue. More Parent workshops will be offered as the need continues.

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition is concerned about COVID-19 and its consequences and would like to connect the public to important resources for individuals, families, youth and health care providers. For more information and resources, please visit Keeping Glen Cove SAFE: COVID-19 page on SAFE’s website at www.safeglencove.org.

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GRAYS HARBOR, WA – Whether from illness or injury, surgery or aches and pains, Americans filled more than 4.3 billion prescriptions in 2019 alone. Some—like antibiotics—are taken until they’re gone but others can be designated for fluctuating pain levels. Unused prescriptions cause problems if they fall into the wrong hands but simply throwing them in the garbage is hazardous for the environment.  In partnership with the Aberdeen Police Department, Grays Harbor County Public Health and Social Services is offering to help residents become Harbor Strong through year round medication collection and disposal.

A partnership between the Health Care Authority, Grays Harbor County Public Health, Aberdeen School District, and ESD 113/True North, its priorities focus on reducing opioid use/misuse by middle and high school students. In addition, the Coalition focuses on reducing risk factors that impact underage drinking, marijuana, vaping and tobacco use.

“One of our main goals is to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors within our community,” explains April Heikkila, coalition coordinator. She further explains that risk factors may include ease of access, poor family management, and parental attitudes toward antisocial behavior and drugs while protective factors may include opportunities for prosocial involvement and family attachment.

Founded in May 2018 with funding through the Washington State Health Care Authority and its State Targeted Response grant, its members include dedicated volunteers all sharing a common goal of creating a safe and healthy community. Coalition members represent 12 different sectors in the community including media, parents, law enforcement, health care, tribal, civic groups, youth serving organizations, faith-based organizations, local government, local business community, youth, schools and healthcare professionals.

“The strength of our Coalition is due in part to the diversity of our membership,” says Heikkila. “We have worked diligently to have all sectors represented as well as our Hispanic population. It has been incredibly valuable to have Youth Coalition members as a part of our team and a part of our efforts for community wide change as well.”

Youth Coalition members lend a “real” voice to the challenges that young folks face daily amongst their peers, school and family. Heikkila commends the efforts of Merryn Bruener and Liam Heikkila.  Both Youth Coalition members have presented to our local County Commissioners and the Board of Health as well as advocated for prevention programs at our State Legislature. They care about our community, they care about their school and their friends and they put their hearts into making a difference,” says Heikkila.

“The primary goal is to reduce the use/misuse of substances for youth and families within the Aberdeen area,” explains Heikkila. “Our funding is based on a committed partnership between Grays Harbor County Public Health, the Aberdeen School District and ESD 113/True North.”

In addition, the Harbor Strong Coalition works closely with the MY TOWN Coalition, which has a similar focus in the Hoquiam Community.  “Although our funding is dedicated toward the Aberdeen Community, both coalitions value collective efforts and work together on prevention strategies whenever there is an opportunity to do so,” she shares.

Other strategies that the coalition focuses on are social norm campaigns such as Starts With One; parenting classes (Guiding Good Choices) for parents of 9- to 14-year-olds; LifeSkills Training curriculum within the Junior High; youth prevention teams; and collaboration with medical providers.”

Aberdeen High School Principal Sherri Northington is excited about the program. “The inception of the Harbor Strong Coalition has brought about a new level of awareness for our schools and communities in working with our students to overcome their addictions,” she says. “This takes a team of community resources to bring about essential change in working towards a prevention model for both students and their families. The drug culture grows and changes frequently, the work efforts to remain knowledgeable by the Harbor Strong Coalition has given hope and support at Aberdeen High School to continue creating a safe place for students to be.”

Merryn Bruner, a current sophomore at Aberdeen High School, wants to spread the word. “As a youth coalition member, one of the most important things we can do is to lead by example,” she says. “In high school, a lot of kids can get caught up in the crowd, so it is important to make that crowd a positive one. With that being said, sometimes we have to be the voice that says ‘this is not okay,’ which can be tough when you are in high school, but it also makes a big impact in changing teen mindsets. It is also important to us to help other students to get the help they need if they are struggling with abuse. It’s completely okay to reach out for help, and we are here for you in that process, along with our administrators and True North.”

“True North has enjoyed working with Harbor Strong immensely,” says Clinical Supervisor for Grays Harbor and Pacific County Jessica Verboomen. “Harbor Strong has been a strong partner with us and we appreciate that they are always looking for a youth driven, evidenced based, and innovative way to educate and support our youth and community in regards to substance use and abuse.”

Coalition work is incredibly important to achieve community wide change. It allows us to bring together experts from a variety of sectors, working collectively to reduce substance use/misuse on the Harbor. If you have additional questions or are interested in joining Harbor Strong please email April Heikkila at AHeikkila@co.grays-harbor.wa.us or call 360-500-4057. Their new website will be live very soon with details, information, and community updates.

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GLEN COVE, NY – National Prevention Week (NPW) is a public education platform that promotes prevention year-round through providing ideas, capacity building, tools, and resources to help individuals and communities make substance use prevention happen every day. NPW culminates in May recognizing the important work that has been done in communities throughout the year to inspire action and prevent substance use and mental disorders.

The three primary goals of National Prevention Week are to involve communities in raising awareness of substance use and mental health issues and in implementing prevention strategies, and showcasing effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs, foster partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to improving public health, and promote and disseminate quality substance use prevention and mental health promotion resources and publications.

SAFE encourages Glen Cove Residents to learn more about the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMSHA) tenth annual National Prevention Week (NPW), happening May 10th – May 16th by visiting their educational website. Each year around this observance, communities and organizations across the country come together to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health. This annual event aims at increasing public awareness and prevention of mental and/ or substance use disorders.

NPW sends a positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health and that prevention works. Given the COVID-19 Pandemic, prevention is of the utmost importance. NPW is traditionally held each year during the third week of May—near the start of summer, an important time for school, communities, and prevention professionals to re-focus on prevention. Adolescents and full-time college students most often use substances for the first time during June or July, according to SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The timing of NPW is most fortuitous as this population has been displaced due to COVID-19 and the annual opportunities for the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition and the Glen Cove School District to host prevention-themed events before the school year ends, raising awareness about this important issue among students and their families has been hampered. These are key periods of social transitions, a risk factor for youth substance use, and an opportunity to develop or strengthen the community, school, and family bonds that protect young people from substance use.

NPW covers many issues: Preventing prescription drug and opioid misuse; Preventing underage drinking and alcohol misuse; Preventing illicit drug use and youth marijuana use; Preventing youth tobacco use (E-cigarettes and Vaping) and Preventing suicide. SAFE will address these important topics through the Botvin LifeSkills Training Program (LST) for Elementary and Middle School students and will also highlight New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYSOASAS) #VirtualHighFive campaign-messages written on hands to unite in the plight to stay home, do the right thing, and stop the spread of COVID-19.

LST is an evidence-based drug prevention program that incorporates interactive learning, social skills building, and specific drug use prevention-related information in order to provide adolescents and young teens with the confidence and skills necessary to successfully handle challenging situations. The curriculum dovetails with the NPW message. Given the COVID pandemic constraints, the program is offered via virtual instruction and facilitated by SAFE’s Social Worker and LST Instructor, Francesca Carbone as part of the Glen Cove Youth Bureau’s After-3 program.

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Electronic cigarette use and vaping among youth has increased at an unprecedented rate.  It is imperative that we maintain our focus on implementing evidence-based programs that demonstrate the strongest reductions in youth smoking.

The Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) program has been proven to reduce youth smoking by up to 80% by addressing the risk and protective factors associated with a variety of substances.

In response to this epidemic, we created Botvin Health Connections:  E-cigarettes and Vaping; a resource designed to strategically enhance specific lessons in LST to bring this health crisis to the forefront while amplifying the demonstrated reductions related to youth smoking.   This easy to implement resource is structured to support LST Elementary, LST Middle School, and LST High School programs.

Click here to fill out a short form to download this new resource.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions for Pennsylvanians, including the closing of schools and the interruption of other educational programs. Penn State’s PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) project is continuing to connect and engage Pennsylvania families and keep schools informed.

Through the PROSPER program, Penn State researchers and extension educators partner to build resilient families and provide research-based prevention programs across Pennsylvania. According to Janet Welsh, PROPSER field director and associate research professor of health and human development and senior research associate with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, school closures caused an abrupt interruption of several of PROSPER’s evidence-based prevention programs.

“The Strengthening Families Program: for Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) is a seven-week drug and alcohol prevention program offered to parents and caregivers and their 10 to 14-year old youth. It is conducted outside of school and includes a family meal followed by a two-hour session,” Welsh explained. “LifeSkills Training is a 15-lesson drug, alcohol, tobacco, and violence prevention program taught during school in sixth through eighth grades by trained teachers and instructors.”

Penn State Extension educators along with Welsh and Geneen Burris, Penn State’s Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support program specialist, brainstormed ideas on how they could continue to connect and engage families who were participating in the programs and keep schools informed.

“We developed a plan to create articles about some of the topics covered in SFP 10-14 and post them to the Penn State Extension website. This not only provides families with valuable information about communicating and problem-solving, but may also entice families to register for future programs,” said Christy Tomascik, Penn State Extension educator.

In addition, PROSPER team leaders continue to communicate electronically with families, reminding them of the ideas and strategies they learned while attending the program.

Online options for the PROSPER programs are also being explored. “LifeSkills Training will hopefully be offered to students as part of their remote learning,” said Karen Thomas, Penn State Extension educator. “SFP 10-14 may be more challenging considering the high level of personal interactions. However, specific session messages with summaries, tips, and activities are being sent home to currently participating families.”

“The uncertainty of what lays ahead makes planning for future prevention programs difficult, but PROSPER Extension educators are supporting districts and families with resources and stand ready to assist when needed,” said Thomas.

The PROSPER program is a collaboration between researchers and Penn State Extension educators, representatives from school districts, community agencies and organizations, as well as past parents and youth participants. Since starting research in 2001 with a sample of more than 11,000 children, PROSPER has seen significant improvements in family life and youth development, as well as reductions in teenage delinquency and substance abuse.

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GLEN COVE, NY – For more than ten years, SAFE has administered after school alcohol and substance use prevention education as part of the Glen Cove Youth Bureau’s After 3 Program. Given the COVID pandemic constraints, the program will now be offered to Glen Cove Elementary and Middle School students via virtual instruction.

LifeSkills Training (LST) is an evidence-based drug prevention program that incorporates interactive learning, social skills building, and specific drug use prevention-related information in order to provide adolescents and young teens with the confidence and skills necessary to successfully handle challenging situations.

A virtual learning guide has been created enabling SAFE’s Social Worker and LST Facilitator Francesca Carbone and her students the ability to continue where they left off in the program. Instruction via Zoom has allowed the Youth Bureau and SAFE to combine the use of technology and remote learning to successfully deliver necessary prevention education.

According to Spiro Tsirkas, Youth Bureau’s Executive Director: “This hard time for everyone, it’s very important for our youth to experience some familiarity and some normalcy. SAFE and the Youth Bureau will continue to work together to provide virtual LifeSkills Training weekly. The students will receive important information while having the opportunity to see Ms. Carbone”.

The weekly sessions are free to join for any student within the Glen Cove community, as they will be held through a Zoom meeting every Wednesday beginning April 8th with a flyer that has the meeting’s ID number and password to gain access. For Connolly and Landing students, their meeting will be held at 2pm-2:40pm and for Finley Middle school students, their meeting will be held at 3pm-3:40pm.

SAFE is the only alcohol and substance use prevention, intervention and education agency in the City of Glen Cove. To learn more about SAFE’s services and programs please visit www.safeglencove.org.

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Dear LifeSkills Training community,

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we want to remind you that health and wellness are always our number one priority. We are keeping a close eye on updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All are encouraged to follow the preventive measures recommended by the CDC.

Teachers Delivering LST Lessons

UPDATE (9/14/20 11am ET): NEW! Digital Solutions for Remote Learning – Built on an award winning, evidence-based prevention approach proven to reduce substance use, aggression and violence, our suite of digital products includes e-learning programs, an online educational game, and ancillary tools designed to provide schools, teachers, and parents with high quality content that can be used in school, at home, or in hybrid learning environments. These “cool tools” provide students with essential social and emotional skills for coping with the current pandemic, fostering positive youth development, and promoting mental health. Visit www.lifeskillstraining.com/digital for details.  Click here for more details on remote implementation.

We are all in this together!  Please avoid creating your own solutions using LST materials.  We have solutions that are both responsive to your needs and in the best interest of your students.  

Resources Available

Additionally we offer online training, companion websites with additional activities, and we’re available to answer any questions on your current or future implementation of LST.

• Botvin LST Remote Teacher Support Page
• Online Training Workshops Available
• LST Middle School program activities (companion website)
• LST High School program activities (companion website)

Helping LST students apply their skills

Now more than ever, it is time to apply LifeSkills Training (LST) in our daily lives. Fear and anxiety spread as quickly as the virus, and LST gives us the tools to stay calm through this uncertain time. As we teach our LST students, anxiety is a normal emotion that can also be unpleasant because it stresses the body. Here are a couple of LST techniques to help with managing anxiety:

• Deep Breathing – breathe in deeply into your abdomen for a count of 4, hold it for a count of 4, and breathe out for a count of 4 (repeat 4 – 5 times).

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation – sit quietly in a comfortable position with your back straight, close your eyes, slowly relax all your muscles beginning with your toes all the way up to your head, imagine yourself in a peaceful place and then bring yourself back to the present moment.

Additional resources: 

● EdWeek: Coronavirus and Schools 

● NEA Today: Schools and Coronavirus: What You Should Know 

● Association of California School Administrators: Coronavirus Resources for Schools 

Talking to children at home about coronavirus: 

● National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus) 

● New York Times: How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus 

Supporting staff: 

● SAMHSA: Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak 

As featured on NWI.life – LaPorte, IN-

When the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte initiated Partners in Prevention in 2019 to influence our younger generation to live healthier lives and make better choices for the rest of their lives, they had no idea the impact would be almost immediate. And while it’s still too early to measure any significant results, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that something incredible is happening in schools throughout La Porte County.

“I just got all the bad out.”

“It refreshes me and calms me down.”

“It takes the anger out of me.”

“It helps me move from this activity to the next one and stay focused.”

These statements are out of the mouths of babes – elementary school students whose curriculum has been infused with an evidence-based program to help them manage not just the stresses of daily life, but life itself.

Partners in Prevention is a signature initiative by the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte to strategically address one of the most important health issues identified in the La Porte County Opioid Study: substance abuse prevention. It is the first initiative within the county that aims to influence the root cause of substance abuse behaviors and intervene with proven programs before children become inclined to turn down that fateful path.

In September 2019, HFL awarded grant funding to 11 school or school corporations, totaling more than $2.8 million over the next three years, to implement an evidence-based curriculum to help develop, identify, implement, and sustain substance abuse prevention programs. More than 13,000 La Porte County students will be affected as they learn to help foster positive relationships and social competencies; address addictive behavior, bullying, and violence; and increase school attendance and self-esteem, among other factors.

The grant funding connects participating schools with experts from the Educational Development Center (EDC) to offer technical assistance and RTI International for the evaluation of the three-year initiative.

…

Ray Silvas, a social worker by trade, is now the HFL program coordinator for the Michigan City Area Schools. By the time the schools fully roll out their evidence-based programming, 5,600 students will be involved. (About 1,300 are in it now).

In some elementary schools, they’re using a program called Second Step, and in the middle schools, they’re using Botvin LifeSkills Training.

Silvas said it is necessary to connect with children at the critical age when drugs could be introduced and addictive behaviors can sprout and flourish.

“The best part about Botvin is the discussion portion. During the lessons, kids are able to discuss topics that aren’t normally discussed, and it allows them to realize that other kids are facing the same difficulties in their lives,” Silvas said. “There are a lot of kids who are in quiet desperation for help, and they don’t speak up. This program gives them a voice so they know that they aren’t alone.”

Silvas said it’s too early to report hard numbers, but they are seeing a decline in disciplinary issues and truancy, and he has personally seen an improvement in the way children and teens are disciplining themselves and taking care of each other.

Silvas said the programs are just as effective for the staff as well. Teachers need these wins.

“Across the board, we do need to recognize that we have to provide more opportunities for self-care and more support for programs that work for our teachers. They are literally at the front line every single day. I think all districts need to do a better job of recognizing them and praising them for the efforts they make that have a positive impact. That’s why we are so grateful for this HFL grant. It is giving us the resources to support our teachers and our students to be better citizens more than we’ve ever had before.”

As Arter, Silvas, and all the other program coordinators across La Porte County continue to implement their programs, the HFL will continue to connect them with the professional support they need from the facilitators during periodic check-ins and education sessions when needed. The first year will be a learning year for everyone. The second and third years will allow the schools to solidify their program implementation so they can sustain success beyond the grant cycle. Success will be measured, key indicators will be tracked, and celebrations will take place when the wins happen.

“Of course, at the end of the day, it’s about helping our children become better people and putting them on a better path in life,” Silvas said.

For more information about Partners in Prevention, visit the HFL website here https://hflaporte.org/partnersinprevention/.

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As featured in Carteret County News-Times

CARTERET COUNTY, NC — For decades, public and private schools have played a role in the national effort to combat drug abuse.

In the midst of the ongoing opioid epidemic, however, a few schools are opting for programs that depart from the traditional direction of DARE, Just Say No and other anti-drug campaigns of the previous few decades.

In Carteret County Schools, administrators, led by Dr. Sue Kreuser, are hoping the LifeSkills Training curriculum will have short- and long-term impacts on drug-use trends.

A veteran educator who came to Carteret County by way of Minnesota, Dr. Kreuser works as the school system’s director of healthful living and student support services. It’s a role she and others believe makes her the ideal point-person for introducing the LifeSkills Training curriculum to county schools.

“I taught health and physical education in Minnesota,” Dr. Kreuser said. “From there, I worked on a master’s in health science education and later went into administration. Both teaching and (administrative work) prepared me for this.”

On its surface, the curriculum is an anti-drug program designed to give educators the chance to warn students in grades three through nine and 11 about the dangers of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

Dr. Kreuser and the various educators who participate in the curriculum believe it’s much more than that, however.

“This program was intriguing for two reasons,” Dr. Kreuser said. “It’s very comprehensive. If you were to look at the student workbooks … you would see a common theme on the skills, the life skills that are taught.”

While similar programs focus directly on substance use, the LifeSkills Training curriculum places an emphasis on lifestyle choices and encouraging good habits.

“At the fourth- and fifth-grade level, we’re teaching kids about self-esteem,” Dr. Kreuser said. “We’re teaching students about decision making, advertising, dealing with stress, communication skills, social skills.”

Dr. Kreuser and other administrators believe tackling the root causes of addiction will result in a generational reduction in drug use in the county.

“We didn’t see much attention being given to keeping someone from stepping on the path to start with and heading in that direction,” County Commissioner Robin Comer said last year to convince his fellow board members to move forward with implementing the LifeSkills Training curriculum.

 At the time, Mr. Comer was spearheading Carteret Cares, a think tank of county officials and residents wanting to curb opioid use in the county.

Dr. Kreuser helped convey to the group that a school-based program was needed. When researching different programs, she said she wanted one that wasn’t just grounded in data but took into account students’ grade levels. She wanted to avoid giving students the same lessons year after year, as well.

“It’s not as though the topic is identical from grade to grade,” Dr. Kreuser said of the new curriculum. “It grows as the students grow, throughout our program. Just as an example, this would be for seventh grade, in that it talks about drug abuse, it talks about decision-making, advertising and tobacco. It talks about coping with anxiety, coping with anger, communication skills, (being) assertive, resolving conflicts, resisting peer pressure. The idea behind it is, after students experience this for several years, they are going to see a connection to those skills that will support them in making good choices when it comes to drugs, alcohol or mental illness challenges they may face. They would know how to help themselves.”

Dr. Kreuser said the emphasis on life skills and mental health is why counselors and healthful living teachers administer the curriculum.

“It’s sort of just a natural fit,” said East Carteret Councilor Beverly Jones, “As counselors, we’re sort of at the forefront, the health and P.E. teachers are part of it because it fits very nicely in their curriculum. But we were also chosen because we deal with the social and emotional well-being of our students. That does put you on the forefront of substance awareness and drug abuse.”

Ms. Jones served as the proverbial canary in the coalmine, as the first instructor in the county to teach the curriculum to students.

“We actually were trained in workshops,” Ms. Jones said about preparing to teach the curriculum. “We got our materials and books…and worked out the logistics.”

She is a firm believer in what the curriculum has to offer.

“There were a lot of good lessons because when students start setting up goals, they are focusing on their future and not just caught in a quagmire of ‘Oh, well, let me just go and have fun,’” Ms. Jones said. “You are helping them establish a pattern of healthy choices, having future goals.”

Ms. Jones believes the curriculum’s effectiveness lies in the fact the lessons learned go beyond drug abuse awareness.

“How to be successful, how to know the difference between formal and informal communications, how to speak and write effectively, managing strees and learning how to be resilient,” Ms. Jones said. “What I like about the program is that it’s engaging. It isn’t just me doing all the talking. There was a lot of involvement.”

Dr. Kreuser hopes, as the years pass, more students and teachers will grow to be more comfortable with the curriculum.

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