Prevention Education
Recognizing the unique needs of each school environment, our Student Assistance Program can customize educational experiences to address a variety of issues present in elementary, middle and high school.
A Path to Fuller Living is the menu of prevention services that Caron provides to students in grades K-12. These programs address decision-making; social skills and problem solving techniques; increased personal control; and healthy risk-taking. They utilize interactive approaches and experiential techniques to help make the information and concepts more easily understood and applied.
*The National Institute on Drug Abuse selected a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Model Program, or Life Skills, as one of the most effective drug abuse prevention programs.
PATHS: Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies®
This program's focus is on elementary school-aged children. It runs for 8 - 10 weeks and meets once a week/cycle for 30-45 minutes depending on the grade level. It teaches social competency skills; addresses feelings and appropriate expressions of feelings; and bolsters self-esteem by identifying and utilizing compliments. Positive outcomes include responsible behavior and improved academic performance.
LifeSkills®
Gilbert Botvin, Ph.D. developed this internationally recognized program for middle/junior high school students. The program assists students in developing drug resistance, personal self-management and general social skills. It runs for 8 - 10 weeks and meets once a week/cycle for 45 minutes.
Project Alert®
ProjectAlert® is geared toward middle/junior high school-aged students. It helps students to develop reasons why not to use chemicals and how to recognize and resist pro-drug messages. The program also promotes self-efficacy, active student involvement, practice, modeling, reinforcement and respect of others and their decisions. It runs for 11 weeks, meeting once a week/cycle for approximately 45 minutes. There are three booster sessions offered in the following year.
Reconnecting Youth®: A Peer Group Approach for Building Life Skills
This program, which runs for one semester, focuses on high school-aged students. It is designed to meet the participants' needs for inclusion and excitement while teaching them how to be "winners," stay in control, make wise decisions and evaluate potential consequences of their choices. Results of this program include an 18% improvement in grades in all classes, a 54% decrease in hard drug use and a 26% decrease in anger and aggression problems.
Assessment/Consultation/Intervention Services
When a student is suspected of drug and alcohol usage, an assessment is a valuable tool for providing recommendations to a concerned family. Using our comprehensive Integrated SAP Assessment, a Caron staff member can meet with the student on school grounds to gather information which is then used to make an appropriate recommendation. Working as a team with school personnel and parents, our specialists help those students who are using alcohol or other drugs get the appropriate help they need.
Bullying Prevention
In an effort to assist schools in fostering an environment of safety and respect among students, Caron has created anti-bullying programs designed for use in upper elementary and middle school classes. Fine tuned to address specific issues that exist during these tumultuous years, these programs aim to compliment and enhance any existing efforts in place at your school. The program can consist of one to four 45-minute classroom presentations.
Customized Drug Education Programs
The Student Assistance Program at Caron has an abundance of interactive activities designed to teach students about the potential consequences of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs as well as the cycle of addiction. Presentations aim to teach the facts while encouraging students to consider what they stand to lose by engaging in alcohol, tobacco and other drug use as well as the benefits they will gain when they resist pressures to use.
Adjusting to College Life
This interactive presentation is designed to guide high school seniors in preparing strategies to deal with common challenges that begin when entering college. Topics addressed include concerns over getting along with a roommate, staying safe, navigating social pressures to drink, and managing the newfound freedoms that college life brings.
School Health Fairs
Educational, interactive programming is available to small and large groups within the community setting of a health fair. Age appropriate activities are utilized.
Leadership Trainings
SAP Specialists can work with your faculty and students to develop, instruct and provide on-going trainings on peer mediation and peer assistance. We have recently developed a series of seminars for student leaders entitled, Enhancement of Leadership Skills.
