SCIENCE BASED EDUCATION STRATEGIES

I.    Al’s Pals Kids Making Healthy Choices - Pre-K and K

Nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this program uses original music, creative games, puppets, and stories to help young children develop social skills, self-control, problem-solving abilities, and healthy coping. Al’s Pals is shown to create kinder, gentler classrooms where there is less aggression and more cooperation and caring. 

The 46-lesson curriculum is delivered by the classroom teacher who reinforces the positive concepts throughout the school day.  Effective teaching approaches will be offered that help children manage their own behavior and think for themselves.

If you would like to learn more about the Al’s Pals program, please go to the author’s website at www.wingspanworks.com.

II.    Al’s Pals Booster Program - 1^st Grade

The 9-lesson Al's Pals booster curriculum reinforces in older children the pro-social concepts they were taught through the full 46-lesson Pre-K and Kindergarten curriculum. Together the two programs help children learn to think for themselves and manage their own emotions and behavior in positive ways. 

If you would like to learn more about the Al’s Pals Booster Program please go to author’s website at www.wingspanworks.com.

2nd Grade Substance Abuse Prevention Seminar

Every child needs to learn at an early age that using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can hurt their body, their mind -- and their future. Designed specifically for a younger audience, this program comes in two 20-minute lessons that can be presented together or on different days. Cumberland Mountain Community Services Prevention Specialists serve as program facilitators. Through engaging stories and activities, children learn how alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can hurt them in many different ways. They learn age-appropriate facts, and different ways to say no if someone tries to tempt them. They also learn how to set positive goals for the future.

The interactive presentation educates children on:

·         the difference between good and bad drugs

·         the physical and social consequences of using drugs

·         ways to refuse drugs and

·         how to set positive goals and reach them.

To view a sample of the PowerPoint presentation go to:

 http://www.channing-bete.com/presentationkits/atod-prevention.html

IV.     Keep A Clear Mind Program - 3^rd Grade

The KACM program is administered by Cumberland Mountain Community Services Prevention Specialists to Russell County 3rd graders. The program consists  of four lessons pertaining to alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and tools to say no to drugs. Activities also include five parent newsletters and student incentives.  After four weeks of lessons parent newsletters are sent home every other week.

Students and parents participating in the KACM program report increased communication about drugs.  Students report a change in their perception of peer norms and increased belief in their ability to resist peer pressure to use drugs.

V.   4^th and 5^th Grades - All Stars Program

Community Services Prevention Specialists once a week for 15 weeks. Lesson plans are used to conduct activities that use group discussion and interaction as well as take home activities that encourage parent participation.

Program activities/strategies:

• Developing positive ideals that don't fit with high-risk behavior
• Creating a belief in conventional norms
• Building strong personal commitments
• Bonding with school, pro-social institutions, and family
• Increasing positive parental attentiveness

If you would like to learn more about the All Stars Program please go to the author’s website at www.tanglewood.net

VII.   Life Skills Program - 6^th 7^th & 8^th Grades

Life Skills Training (LST) is the highest rated, recommended and researched school-based substance abuse prevention program today. The Russell County program is instructed by health and PE teachers and is uniquely designed, proven effective, and grounded in over 20 years of research. Rather than simply teaching information about drugs, Life Skills combats the underlying causes of substance use. The Life Skills program consists of three major components that cover the critical domains found to promote drug use. Research has shown that students who develop skills in these three domains are far less likely to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors.

The three program components include:

• Drug Resistance Skills enable young people to recognize and challenge common misconceptions about tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. Through coaching and practice, they learn information and practical ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug) use resistance skills for dealing with peers and media pressure to engage in ATOD use.
• Personal Self-Management Skills teach students how to examine their self-image and its effects on behavior; set goals and keep track of personal progress; identify everyday decisions and how they may be influenced by others; analyze problem situations, and consider the consequences of each alternative solution before making decisions; reduce stress and anxiety, and look at personal challenges in a positive light.
• General Social Skills teach students the necessary skills to overcome shyness, communicate effectively and avoid misunderstandings, initiate and carry out conversations, handle social requests, utilize both verbal and nonverbal assertiveness skills to make or refuse requests, and recognize that they have choices other than aggression or passivity when faced with tough situations.

If you would like to learn more about the Life Skills program, please go to the author’s website at www.lifeskillstraining.com

Alternative Strategies

MOUNTAIN YOUTH DRAMA - A theatrical group comprised of teenagers from all three Russell County high schools who perform a substance abuse prevention play to school age youth grades 5-12. This collaborative effort between Cumberland Mountain Community Services and the Russell County School Division is an attempt to promote substance abuse prevention by local youth who illustrate positive peer pressure and serve as role models to their peers.