Community School Based Prevention Services

POSSE is a gender specific process group for young people where the participants decide what to talk about, with two trained adults who facilitate the group and the conversation in order to explore the underlying emotional themes. The group, which has been in existence since 1995 through SHARE Family and Community Services, is founded on the perspective that experiences of connection, belonging and social justice are critical to psychological health.

 

POSSE aims to create community in a group context, within which youth are better able to establish, discern and create safe communities of their own.  In such a community, youth are able to increase their repertoire of coping skills, enhance critical thinking skills, see themselves as experts on their own lives and strengthen the natural helping networks within their peer group, family and school.  Human connection in a safe respectful environment is a potent antidote against unsafe risk taking behaviour.

Purpose: These groups were created as a way to respond to school specific issues addressing drug and alcohol education/prevention. For example: suspension of a group of youth due to drug and alcohol related incidences; concerns with a specific group of youth and their use/experimentation with drugs and alcohol; etc. Generally these groups take place over a specific time frame and are a combination of education/prevention exercises and worksheets for reflection and skill building combined with group conversation and discussion for reflection and potential goal setting. 

Purpose: This program was piloted in February 2009 as a means to address to drug and alcohol related school suspensions. The program involves prevention education exercises and worksheets for reflection and skill building combined with group conversation and potential goal setting. 

Purpose:The Grade Eight Alcohol and Drug Choices and Values Presentation is a three part presentation package consisting of two interactive and engaging classroom presentations for students and one evening presentation for parents/caregivers and school personnel. It is aimed at grade eight students as this is a transition year between middle school and high school. The classroom presentation for students looks at alcohol and drug facts as well as myths; risk taking behaviour; choices and values around alcohol and drugs; refusal skills and opportunities for students to ask questions. 

Purpose: The Community and School Based Prevention Program is available to parent groups, both through the schools or through community based organizations, to provide alcohol and drug prevention/education presentations and support. 

The Community and School Based Team sit on a variety of community committees that are working towards reducing the prevalence and incidence of substance misuse and associated harms for youth in the Tri-Cities.

 

SHARE’s Drug Awareness Week Youth Committee

Tri Cities Crystal Meth Task Force

Tri Cities Community Action Team addressing awareness of sexual exploitation

Port Coquitlam Youth Advisory Council

Drug Awareness Week -- November 2009