Working With Youth to Prevent Substance Use
Two Ways Youth Are Working To Make Changes In Our Communities:
#1: Local Youth Groups Speaking Out On The Issue
#2: Youth Learning New Skills To Make Personal Changes
Strategy #1: Local Youth Groups Taking Action:
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) and the Substance Abuse Work Group (SAWG) support ongoing youth activities in school districts across Local Service Area (LSA). HCCA/SAWG provide assistance to youth groups who engage in addressing community needs around improving physical activity and nutrition, preventing substance abuse and decreasing tobacco use and exposure.
For more information about WHAT youth groups do, and the RESOURCES available to them go to our Teens Making Change page.
To find out WHO is taking action, see below:
Winthrop High School Youth Voices Group:
This group of young people, which has been active since 2006, plans and carries out projects throughout the school year to build student and community awareness of the problem of substance use; the risks of use, especially by youth; and how to make healthy choices.
For more information, contact Danielle Doucette.
Maranacook Community High School Opnion Leader Project Team
This group is working to create a youth-to-youth connecton, where high school students who are committed to making healthy choices can teach Middle School students about the risks of use and how and why to stay chem-free.
For more information, contact Dr. Carol Fritz.
Strategy #2: Skill Building For Youth Who Want To Make Healthy Choices
Student Intervention and Reintegration Program (SIRP)
Registration Form
The SIRP program is being elivered during school year 11-12 through a partnership among: Gardiner Area High School,
Hall-Dale High School, Monmouth Academy, Augusta Boys and Girls Club and Healthy
Communities of the Capital Area.
It is also available to individuals who are under 21 and facing charges related to underage drinking, being processed by the Kennebec County District Attorney's Office
The Student Intervention and Reintegration Program (SIRP): This 12-hour interactive class is available for teens who have begun to make unhealthy choices about substance use: alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. This evidence-based program provides students with accurate information about the risks of use, and helps them weigh-for themselves-the advantages and disadvantages of continuing to use. Most important, it helps students plan for and commit to changes in their behavior. The program is offered to small groups: 4-10 people. Parents of participating students are provided with information about the program, and how they can support the program's goals for their teen, at the beginning of the program on the first afternoon.
The program accepts students who are:
1) caught and sanctioned for violating school
substance abuse policy,
2) identified and referred by school staff, before
they are caught and sanctioned,
3) identified and referred by parents who have
concern about their teen's attitudes and/or current choices about use,
4) identified and referred by health care or
social service providers who are concerned about choices the teen is making
concerning substance use, or
5) concerned, themselves, about the choices they
are making about substance use.
The Program Works: A survey of 211 Maine students who have participated in the program reports that:
- 89% reported the program overall to be moderately to very helpful.
- 93% reported the study guide to be moderately to very helpful.
Class Instructors:
Susan Higgins and Karen Tucker: Gardiner Area High School, Hall-Dale High School, Monmouth Academy, and other
Southern Kennebec County Locations
Click here to access the Registration/Referral Form : Fill out, Download, and e-mail or send via Fax or U.S. Mail to Registrar (below)
For More Information, teh schedule of classes, or to register for the program, Contact the HCCA::
Neill
Miner, Substance Abuse Prevention Manager
Tel: 557-2947 nminer@mcd.org
Karen
Tucker, Project Coordinator Tel: 588-5012
ktucker@mcd.org
Our local service area includes: Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Richmond, Vienna, Wayne, West Gardiner, Windsor, Winthrop.
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