Town of Babylon Prevention Program
Hope For Youth Primary Prevention works in the town of Babylon to provide substance use prevention and character building in the Town of Babylon. We collaborate with local coalitions and schools to provide Evidence Based Programs to promote healthy behaviors and positive choices. Within the local schools we provide programs such as Too Good For Drugs, Incredible Years, Teen Intervene, and the Positive Parenting Program. The Prevention team also provides Psychoeducation presentations based on Social Emotional learning, Substance use prevention education, and bullying prevention. We pride ourselves in providing prevention resources and education to our local stakeholders.
The Classroom Dinosaur Child Program (Prevention) is used by staff as a prevention program for an entire classroom of students. The curriculum is delivered 2-3 times a week by Prevention staff who drop into preschool and Kindergarten classrooms. It is comprised of 20–30-minute circle time lessons, followed by small group practice activities and promotion of skills throughout the school day. Classroom lesson plans are delivered to strengthen children’s social and emotional competencies, such as understanding and communicating feelings, using effective problem-solving strategies, managing anger, practicing friendship and conversational skills, and behaving appropriately in the classroom.
Group Parenting Sessions offered for parents of children aged 0-12 and Teens. Triple P is a multi-level system of family intervention for parents of children who have or are at risk of developing behavior problems. It is a early intervention program that aims to promote a positive, caring relationship between parents and their children. Triple P aims to help parents develop effective management strategies for dealing with a variety of childhood behavioral and emotional problems and common developmental issues. Prevention staff provide Triple P in a seminar format with three lectures based on, (1) The Power of Positive Parenting, (2) Raising Confident and Competent Children, and (3) Raising Resilient Children. The seminars cover a variety of topics including Fears and Separation anxiety, Hurting others, Rudeness and Disrespect, Coping with Anxiety and depression, Substance Use, Healthy Eating , Relationship and Friendships, and Digital Wellbeing.
Evidence-Based Program (EBP) for teenagers (12 – 19 years old) experiencing mild to moderate problems associated with alcohol or other drug use, including gambling. Teen Intervene integrates Stages of Change Model, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to help teens reduce and ultimately eliminate their chemical use. The objectives are: To engage teens using the Teen Intervene interviewing techniques. Identify three (3) reasons teens have chosen to use alcohol or substances. To learn three (3) effective ways to help teens explore the impact that substance use has in their lives. To learn three (3) basic skills to intervene when substance use/gambling is suspected in the teenage population. This program is a total of 4 individual sessions and 1 week for parental inclusion but not mandatory. This program can be utilized in lieu of or in addition to disciplinary action based off of student substance use in school.
The Council for Boys and Young Men offers training and curricula to guide the facilitation of strengths-based programs which support the healthy development of adolescent and pre-teen boys and young men. In the groups, boys find belonging, build assets, and deconstruct harmful masculinity beliefs on their journey to manhood. The model is a strengths-based approach that is informed by adolescent brain development, trauma responsive and restorative practices, masculinity research, rites of passages, and Relational-Cultural theory. Utilizes validated, evidence based approaches including motivational interviewing, gender norms transformative strategies, resiliency and assets development, and cultural responsive approaches.
The Girls Circle® model, a structured support group for girls and youth who identify with female development from 9-18 years, integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training in a specific format designed to increase positive connection, personal and collective strengths, and competence. It aims to counteract social and interpersonal forces that impede the growth and development of girls and young women by promoting an emotionally safe setting and structure within which they can develop caring relationships and use authentic voices.
An evidence based approach to Prevention & Substance Abuse!
Through the use of highly trained professionals, students learn goal-setting, responsible decision making, emotion management, effective communication and bonding and relationship skills to lay the groundwork for a drug-free life!
Too Good for Drugs further expands on social emotional skill sets by giving students the opportunity to practice peer-pressure refusal strategies through role-plays and other interactive games.
Grade 3 establishes healthy norms for children, including getting enough rest, engaging in exercise, selecting nutritious foods, or being a good friend.
Grade 4 and 5 delve further into healthy choices by teaching the negative effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use on the body and brain, emphasizing the benefits of leading a drug-free life.
Most importantly the program develops happy, health and confident children journeying into the Too Good way of life.
Grade 6 helps students weigh the positive and negative consequences of their choices as they examine how their emotions influence their goals and decisions. They learn effective communication skills that prepare them to share feelings and ideas with others, refuse negative peer pressure assertively, and enhance cooperation to build stronger social bonds.
To learn more about the Prevention Program, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @hfyprevention, or please contact Jennifer Quinn, Prevention Coordinator, at Jquinn@hfyny.org or 631-782-6538.