Youth Programs

Audience: 2^nd and 3^rd grade

Footprints for Life™ is a six-week, researched-based, classroom-based primary prevention program. Through the use of puppets, Footprints uses “real life” situations and stories to build developmental assets and teach life skills at an age-appropriate level. Students will get to meet Coach Katrina Kangaroo, Ricardo Raccoon, Sarina Fox, and other woodland creatures, whose stories teach students:

• how to tell someone how you’re feeling 
• how to make good choices 
• how to define & recognize peer pressure 
• the dangers of smoking/vaping 
• and much more! 

The program is researched-based and beloved by students.

Audience: middle – high school girls (12 girls maximum)

The Girl’s Circle is a group for girls (ages 11-18 years) that focuses on increasing the participants’ self-efficacy, perceived social support, and body image, while working towards decreasing substance use, self-harming behaviors, and delinquency. Further, it is designed to foster self-esteem, help girls maintain authentic connection with peers and adult women in the community, counter trends toward self-doubt, and allow for genuine self-expression through verbal sharing and creative activity.

Audience: middle – high school boys (12 boys maximum)

The Boy’s Council is a group for boys (ages 11-18 years) that focuses on strengthening each boy individually and as a group in a safe, healthy, and positive manner. The goals of the group are to examine messages that are sent to males in today’s society, allow different options for self-expression and team experiences, and aide in building their own unique skill set. The boys will be engaged through thoughtful discussion and interactive activities as they touch upon such topics as competition, bullying, diversity, feelings, role models, violence, relationships, and decision making.

Audience: Middle and high school students (150 student maximum)

 Escape the Vape: This interactive workshop provides interactive discussion for youth and young adults that unveils the truth about using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). This workshop will cover ingredients in e–liquids, prevention battery explosions, marketing ads copying big tobacco playbook, JUUL, FDA regulations, and school-based policies & NJ laws regarding ENDS. 

Audience: 3rd – 8th grade

Life Skills is a research-based substance abuse prevention program proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and risky behaviors. This comprehensive and exciting program provides adolescents and young teens with the confidence and skills necessary to successfully handle challenging situations.

Audience: middle and high school youth (50 participants maximum)

The “7 Habits of Effective Teens” is an evidence-based program developed by the Franklin Covey Institute. This concept applies the timeless principles of the “7 Habits” to teens and the tough issues and life-changing decisions they face. By providing all participating youth with this training, the “7 Habits of Effective Teens” will become the foundation upon which other social competencies will be developed. The goal of this training is to improve social competencies among youth through various skill-building opportunities designed to increase their resiliency and ability to make healthy life choices. Outcomes can be a reduction in alcohol and other drug substance use and an increase in leadership skills. 

Audience: 6th – 8th grade

WNBI is six-week youth substance use prevention program that focuses on developing media literacy skills for middle school students. students in 6th to 8th grade. WNBI uses researched and evaluated prevention education strategies to reduce early use of alcohol, marijuana, prescription and over-the-counter medications. In this interactive program, students will be able to experience using both Fatal Vision and marijuana simulation goggles.

Audience: ages 9 – 20

The Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based, 3-step early intervention screening tool to prevent substance use in youth ages 9-20.

Prevention Is Key (PIK) has secured a five-year SAMHSA grant that will establish an SBIRT program in up to ten middle and high schools in Morris County. PIK will train school-based professionals to administer SBIRT to 2,000 students county-wide over the five year period.

The project’s goal is to increase the capacity of student services to effectively and efficiently address alcohol/drug use, and mental health, which promotes school engagement and improves learning outcomes.

Audience: Morris and Passaic County youth

The PEER Youth Mentoring Program offers a trusted and supportive adult to serve as a coach, friend, and advisor for your youth as they navigate the aftermath of an unprecedented and truly difficult year. A PEER Youth Mentor is someone who operates as a listening ear and ensures that your child knows that they are in the driver’s seat of any goal planning and decision making. Our youth mentors come to this field with lived experiences as it relates to the recovery world and will use their insights and experiences to inform their mentoring work.

To learn more about or programs or to discuss bringing our programs to your district, please contact Patrice Reilly by calling (973) 625-1998 or emailing preilly@mcpik.org.