By: Barbara Kauffman, Director of Prevention Services

My name is Barb Kauffman, and I am the Director of Prevention Services at Prevention is Key. Our Prevention Team is convinced of the value of “moving upstream” in our fight against the sometimes-tragic effects of substance use disorder. We’d like now to share a story with you to better explain the importance of prevention:

A man and a woman were fishing on the riverbank when they saw a woman struggling in the current. They rescued her. Soon, they saw a man struggling. They rescued him, too. This continued all afternoon. Finally, the exhausted pair decided to go upstream to find out where and why so many people were falling in. They discovered a beautiful overlook along the river’s edge without any warning signs or protective barriers. The couple went to community leaders to report the number of victims they had rescued and explain the connection to the unprotected overlook. Community leaders agreed to install a protective guard and post warning signs. They realized preventing the problem saves resources, energy, and lives.

The aim of prevention services is simply to work upstream – fix the bridge and stop people from drowning in the first place. Doctors are fishing for people who have started to drown. When put this way, I think preventing illness—such as substance use disorder– before it occurs seems vital.

PIK’s family-based prevention programs teach parents how to improve communication skills in the family, come up with appropriate discipline models, enforce rules firmly and consistently, and manage the family effectively.

PIK’s school-based prevention programs focus on the social skills of children. They strive to enhance coping skills, substance use refusal skills, and peer relationships to ensure that students make positive choices in their young lives. These school-based programs begin in the early elementary years and through high school.

Apart from families and schools, PIK’s community-based prevention programs work with law enforcement, religious, civic, business, and government organizations to positively influence and enhance positive social norms while promoting pro-social behaviors and interactions among community residents. These programs, hosted by PIK’s county-wide coalition (Community Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Morris) and its Jefferson Township Youth Coalition, include social media awareness campaigns (check out our billboards throughout Morris County), educational conferences, legislative advocacy, and community events. 

For more information on how Prevention is Key (PIK) works to try to “stop the drowning” reach out to me at 973-625-1998 or bkauffman@mcpik.org.

Stay well,

Barb Kauffman

Director of Prevention Services