Delivering comprehensive school and community-based education designed to support healthy communities and prevent underage drinking, drug abuse, and other risky behaviors. Our prevention work engages children, youth, adults, parents, school staff, and community members through evidence-based programming, early-intervention supports, and opportunities to build protective factors across all ages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School-Based Prevention Education

ACCA’s school-based programs use all aspects of literacy–reading, writing, listening, and speaking–coupled with prevention information and interactive activities to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors. Curricula are tailored to audio, visual, and kinesthetic learners through journals, music, videos, hands-on activities, guest speakers, and experiential activities. All aspects of literacy are reinforced through the use of relevant books and literature, role-plays and worksheets.

 

An Apple A Day©

ACCA’s evidence-based An Apple A Day© program begins in Kindergarten and continues annually, through fourth grade, allowing us to reach children regularly long before underage drinking behaviors are established.  The curriculum is grounded in the Risk and Protective Factor Framework (Hawkins & Catalano, University of Washington) and the resiliency research of Dr. Bonnie Bernard. This research indicates that many children raised in the direst of circumstances, surrounded by alcohol and other drug abuse, violence, poverty and/or mental illness were able to overcome their hardships and become more “resilient” children. The authors describe key attributes and several “protective factors” that have the ability to negate risk factors and lessen their impact on a child’s life. Protective factors help a child to become more resilient and focus on the root causes of underage drinking and other risky behaviors. Some of these “protective factors” include the following:

• Open Communication

• Positive Peer Influence

• Literacy

• Goal Setting Skills

• Social & Interpersonal Skills

• Sense of Humor

Bullying Prevention

ACCA uses the No-Bullying curriculum created by Hazelden Publishing, recognized nationwide as an outstanding violence-prevention program. This curriculum helps to:

• Make classrooms safe and secure so that kids can thrive

• Distinguish between bullying and peer-to-peer conflict

• Hold students accountable even when they didn’t witness the act

 

Evidence-Based Programming

ACCA Specialists are trained to teach children using Evidence-Based Model Programming as designed by the Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as well as ACCA’s own signature programming.

 

Curricula includes:

• Too Good for Drugs: Grades K–8

• Project ALERT: Grades 6 & 7

• Second Step: Grades 6–8

• Reconnecting Youth: High School

• Strengthening Familiesⓒ: Family-Focused Prevention Education

In addition to its evidence-based curricula, ACCA provides classroom education and school presentations as part of its prevention programming.

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Community Forums

Recognizing the need for stronger communities, and in response to opioid-related and emerging substance-use trends, ACCA Prevention Educators collaborate with state, county, and city officials, along with educators and community members, to raise awareness around substance misuse and youth substance use. Forums are held in accessible community spaces and typically run approximately two hours. Presenters share information on national and local trends, personal stories of recovery or advocacy, and lived experiences that highlight the impact of substance use.

 

Community forums serve as a springboard for residents to come together to address substance abuse. Each forum has momentum to build or strengthen a community to find local solutions to the substance abuse crisis. As part of this work, ACCA provides strategies to assist communities in improving current risk factors.

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Parenting Education

ACCA provides multiple parenting education courses and resources specifically designed for caretakers of children.Offered both within our residential settings and in the broader community, our ACCA Prevention Educators are trained to provide useful, concrete information and an open environment to discuss high-risk behaviors and solutions.A key program–The Strengthening Families Program (SFP)–is an internationally recognized, evidence-based family skills training program for high-risk and general population families. Parents and youth attend weekly classes together, with separate parent and youth sessions in the first hour followed by a joint family practice session in the second hour.For more information regarding this program, click the link below:ACCA also provides education for parents, school staff, and community members, ensuring that adults are equipped to recognize risks, encourage healthy choices, and support youth effectively.

 

Northeast Community Action Partnership (NECAP)

Serving multiple counties across the region, the Northeast Community Action Partnership (NECAP) is a regional addictions resource collaborative within the Capital District of NY (funded by NYS OASAS). The partnership helps provide resources, support, and expand community awareness of substance abuse issues.

 

NECAP Goals & Objectives:

• Strengthen sustainable resources partnerships with all respective counties and local organizations

• Deliver addiction-related media messaging through social media, television, and radio

• Provide community awareness of substance-abuse issues at local events and meetings

• Offering listings of both mainstream and local resources for prevention, treatment, and recovery