What we do:
Prevention and Resiliency Coaches work in the public sector to deliver upstream community-based substance-abuse, alcohol and gambling prevention through empowered yet informal partnerships. We employ trauma-informed strategies to all approaches, helping to name and restore resiliency. Innate wellbeing and neuroscience fuel our genuine interest to meet each and every person and child where they are at, helping EQ=IQ. We acknowledge that every child, teacher, family, school, and town are uniquely beautiful in our rural region.
Who we are:
A culturally humble team of creative souls who match education, harm reduction, recovery, and neuroscience data with community experiences and needs. We strive to find the most effective way to translate brain health and wellbeing to youth, families, and schools.
What services we provide:
Services are listed below
Contact Person:
Traci Ploufe
Executive Director
(518)585-7424
traci@preventionteam.org
Dr. Emma Gagnon
Community Mobilization
Resiliency Coordinator
(518) 585-7424
emma@preventionteam.org
Is a referral needed?
No
To inquire about services, please contact Traci Ploufe or Emma Gagnon.
Prevention Resource Catalog Download:
Evidence-based Programs
Protecting You
Protecting Me
Grades K-5
8 Sessions
A series of 40 interactive lessons; eight lessons each for grades K–5. Each grade level has its own materials and includes parental involvement activities. Children learn that the brain is the boss of their body and explore ways to protect their brain to ensure healthy growth and development, follow Rules and Laws, make healthy Choices and Decisions, develop Media Awareness skills, improve Communication and learn about Vehicle Safety
Botvin Lifeskills Training
Grades 3-6
A comprehensive, dynamic, & developmentally appropriate substance misuse and violence prevention program designed for upper elementary school students. This highly effective curriculum has been proven to help increase self-esteem, develop healthy attitudes, & improve students knowledge of essential life skills – all of which promote healthy and positive personal youth development and mental health.
Level 1 (Grades 3/4) – 8 Class Sessions
Level 2 (Grades 4/5) – 8 Class Sessions
Level 3 (Grades 5/6) – 8 Class Sessions
All Stars – Core/Booster
Building Bright Futures for Kids
Grades 5-7
up to 13 sessions
A research-based program and is listed in the National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and as a promising program by the US Department of Education. All Stars Core meets the National Health Education outcome standards and the requirements of research- and outcome-based prevention programming with 21st Century Learning Centers. The primary goal with every All Stars program is to delay the onset of risky behaviors. In other words, we want to keep kids from starting to participate in risky behaviors as long as possible.
PreVenture
Age 12-18
(2) 90 minute sessions
Incorporates motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral tools to help youth better understand and manage the aspects of their personalities associated with risky behaviors and substance use. PreVenture helps youths to: Learn better coping mechanisms. Weigh the consequences of their actions.
Lions Quest Skills to Action
aka “ADK Quest”
Grades 9-12
A comprehensive and universal, evidence-based social and emotional learning program for high schoolers. Key learnings include (1) to develop positive social behaviors in young adolescents, such as self-discipline, responsibility, good judgment, and the ability to get along with others, and (2) youth will develop positive commitments to their families, schools, peers, and communities, including a commitment to lead healthy, drug-free lives.
Toward No Drugs (TND)
Grade 10
A drug use prevention program for high school youth, designed to help students develop self-control and communication skills, acquire resources that help them resist drug use, improve decision-making strategies, and develop the motivation to not use drugs.
Cannabis
Marijuana
Awareness
Prevention Toolkit
A drug use prevention program for high school youth, designed to help students develop self-control and communication skills, acquire resources that help them resist drug use, improve decision-making strategies, and develop the motivation to not use drugs.
S.P.O.R.T.
Substance use Prevention Optimizing Robust Teens (SPORT)
The nation’s only easy to use, single-session substance use prevention program designed to increase fitness, health and performance-enhancing behaviors like physical activity, sports participation, healthy eating, getting adequate sleep, and practicing stress control for youth.
SMART TALK
School wide on Cannabis
Standford is in motion creating as we speak resources for school age youth and is a promising practices on prevention awareness use of cannabis/marijuana for elementary, middle, and high school students.
**Not Evidence-Based**
Girls Circle
Ages 9-18
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.
Boys and Young Men Council
Ages 9-18
A strength-based group approach to promote boys’ and young men’s safe and healthy passage through pre- teen and adolescent years. In this structured environment, boys and young men gain the vital opportunity to address masculine definitions and behaviors and build capacities to find their innate value and create good lives – individually and collectively!
Positive Parenting Program
Family Coaching
Evidence Based Addiction Prevention, Recovery, and Harm Reduction Family Education & Support
- Increased family bonding
- Increased parental
- Involvement Increased positive
- Parenting skills Increase
- Positive communication
- Increased family organization
- Decreased family conflict
- Decreased youth depression
- Decreased youth aggression
- Increased youth cooperation
- Increased number of prosocial friends
- Increased youth social competencies
- Increased youth school grades
We have a vested interest in reaching out to caregivers with rising college freshman assisting with asset building, assertiveness training and parent-teen communication, how to avoid high-risk situations, and decide on behavioral alternatives to drinking alcohol
TeenIntervene
Ages 13-18
Designed as an opportunity for one-to-one engagement using a comprehensive screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) model of care. Teenagers who have experienced mild to moderate problems associated with substance misuse, sports betting/problem gambling, addictive behaviors i.e. tech addiction. Student will work together with Prevention Specialist about Making Healthier Choices. School districts can utilize this program to refer students with disciplinary actions pending.
DinAsour School
The incredible Years
Pryamid Model aligned prek-2 program aims 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. Prevention Team staff trained in curricula and are positioned to coach/support faculty/admin.Includes Parent Program
DinAsour School
The incredible Years
Pryamid Model aligned prek-2 program aims 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. Prevention Team staff trained in curricula and are positioned to coach/support faculty/admin.Includes Parent Program
NON-Evidence-based Practices/Programs
(Name of Program)
Ages 13-18
Although not on the OASAS EBP registry, this is an evidence-based program used in all 50 states and makes use of current scientific findings on youth behavior, brain development, social norming, and substance abuse prevention. The latest scientific research speaks to the power of positive example, of engaging influencers to create change in culture, and of course — the power of the natural high. This research shows that when young people find their true passions — those activities that uplift, motivate, and inspire them — and are supported in these choices by family, friends, school, and community, they are more likely to avoid drugs and alcohol. Prevention Team promotes FYNA during Annual Student prevention & Well-being Summit each Spring
SAFE ZONE Project Ambassadors
School Wide
Facilitating incredibly powerful dialogues for participants of all identities, ages, educational backgrounds, and attitudes around courage! Creating safe spaces to set expectations that we’re all learning while making the most of your school experiences. Connected to our county initiatives to build resilience in every Family (BRIEF) and building into our daily practice of trauma informed care while learning the language students are speaking
Prevention & Wellness on Vaping
A single-session, e-cigarette use prevention program designed to increase wellness-enhancing behaviors including physical activity, sports participation, healthy eating, getting adequate sleep, and practicing stress control.
Digital Health & Safety
Tech Addiction Prevention
Meeting the needs of a school-wide epidemic, we have combined the following resources/curricula:
- NETSMARTZ/Kidsmartz,
- Organization for Social Media safety
- Common Sense Media
- Nicholas Kardaras, PH.D- an expert on mental health, addiction, and the impacts of our digital age to begin a prevention awareness campaign
Aligned with New York’s: Safe Harbour & Erin’s Law
Student Support Prevention Counseling
Grades: PreK – 12
Up to 15 Sessions
- Up to 15 Sessions. Short term, brief assessment under (Tier 1 & 2) assessing risk & protective factors individually and/or with small groups, family, and faculty.
- No Billing. No fees incurred by family; No insurance needed to address trauma, early initiation of substances.
- Crisis Intervention. Trained and ready to offer trauma informed care groups, grief, and loss.
- Meet IEP Milestones. Prevention Counselors can provide support under general counseling on individual education plans.
- Family Engagement. All Aboard! Everyone thrives! Prevention support, education and coaching around tough issues that families go through.
- No Stigma. Prevention works under an empowerment model building youth confidence in SEL., peer support, and resiliency.
- Build Resiliency. Resiliency Youth & school assessments build student well-being with key activities to improve protective factors and thriving communities.
- No Diagnosis. No medical or behavioral health data needed. Upon beginning student assistance prevention services, we will not diagnosis and services are self-directed.
Resiliency in Action
School Wide
We are hard-wired to bounce back from adversity. Prevention Specialists explore ” bounce back” strategies assessing risk factors, empowering students to build a resiliency plan, creating action steps with “protective factors” that move students & their friends away from harmful risk factors.
Nan Henderson, M.S.W., Ph.D.
www.resiliency.com
**Bullying Prevention**
S.O.S
Signs of Suicide
Grades: 6-12
SOS is an evidence-based youth suicide prevention program (IN OTHER STATES) that have demonstrated an improvement in students’ knowledge and adaptive attitudes about suicide risk & depression. SOS teaches students how to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and their peers, while providing materials that train school professionals, parents, and communities to recognize at-risk students and take appropriate action.
MindUP
For Life
Ages 5-100
Skill-based group intervention for children exposed to a wide range of traumatic events. Children learn and practice identifying feelings, relaxation, courage thoughts, problem solving, and conflict resolution, through positive activities and social support.
*** Can be used as a curricula based SEL program and/or a 5 minute Positive Prevention alternative***
SAFE HARBOUR
Safe Space
Of 22,326 trafficking victims and survivors identified through contacts with the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2019, at least 5,359 were under age 18.
Many underage victims of human trafficking are students in the American school system. No community, school, socioeconomic group, or student demographic is immune to the threat of human trafficking. Cases of child trafficking are found in every area of the country—in rural, suburban, & urban settings alike.
The Prevention Team partners with DSS & NYSDE raising awareness & stands ready to support Essex County’s schools in prevention awareness strategies and what child exploitation looks like in our uniquely rural communities.
SAFE HARBOUR
Safe Space
Of 22,326 trafficking victims and survivors identified through contacts with the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2019, at least 5,359 were under age 18.
Many underage victims of human trafficking are students in the American school system. No community, school, socioeconomic group, or student demographic is immune to the threat of human trafficking. Cases of child trafficking are found in every area of the country—in rural, suburban, & urban settings alike.
The Prevention Team partners with DSS & NYSDE raising awareness & stands ready to support Essex County’s schools in prevention awareness strategies and what child exploitation looks like in our uniquely rural communities.