Elementary, middle and high school students (grades 3-12) in both public and private schools and at local community centers participate in curriculum-based prevention programs, recognized nationally as model programs by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Council’s Prevention Specialists and Counselors also conduct needs assessments and provide crisis intervention, referrals and parent education to youth and their families. Prevention is a pro-active process of helping individuals, families and communities to develop the resources needed to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. Prevention is broad-based in the sense that it is intended to alleviate a wide range of at-risk behaviors including, but not limited to, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse; crime and delinquency; violence; vandalism; school failure; school dropouts; teenage pregnancy; mental health problems; depression and suicide (Adopted by the 1996 Prevention Committee of the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium (of addiction counselors)).
In adolescence, a peer group’s influence is as strong, if not stronger than a parent’s. The Council’s high school programs seek to harness peer-pressure and provide teens with up-to-date information about alcohol and other drugs, coping and communication skills to resist using drugs and a positive peer group in which they receive support and learn how to socialize and have fun drug and alcohol free. High school students have the opportunity to participate in a course for credit, be trained as a peer mentor and/or participate in a support group led by a mentor.
Annually, more than 3,800 students participate in The Council’s school- and community-based prevention programs. The Prevention Resource Center assists nearly 86,000 individuals and Council staff conduct more than 570 presentations each year.
To get more information about these and other services for youth, contact youth@council-houston.org.
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» Botvins LifeSkills ™ – Elementary Schools
» Botvins LifeSkills ™ – Middle Schools
» Project Alert – Middle Schools
» Reconnecting Youth – High Schools
» Peer Mentor – High Schools
» Prevention Resource Center – Region 6 (PRC)
» Presentations & Health Fairs
