Preventionfocus Inc

PREVENTIONFOCUS, INC. (AGENCY) IS A NONPROFIT AGENCY FORMED TO PROVIDE ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY CHOICES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE IN THE COMMUNITIES OF WESTERN NEW YORK. THE AGENCY ALSO PARTNERS WITH A WESTERN NEW YORK NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO OPERATE A RECOVERY COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH CENTER.

LIFE SKILLS TRAINING (ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL) - LIFE SKILLS TRAINING (LST) IS A RESEARCH-VALIDATED 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 OTHER RISKY BEHAVIORS. PREVENTIONFOCUS, INC. USES THIS CURRICULUM IN CLASSROOMS (ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS) ACROSS THE DISTRICTS OF ERIE COUNTY WHERE THE RISK PROFILES FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY ARE HIGH. OUR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITATIONS OF THIS CURRICULUM HAVE DEVELOPMENTALLY AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES SPECIFIC FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL FROM K-5 (ELEMENTARY) AND FROM 6-8 (MIDDLE).IN ADDITION TO LST, PREVENTIONFOCUS ALSO IMPLEMENTS THE TOO GOOD MODEL PROGRAMS FROM THE MENDEZ FOUNDATION AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELS. TOO GOOD PROGRAMS PUT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING TO WORK THROUGH FUN AND INTERACTIVE LESSONS, BUILDING THE SELF-CONFIDENCE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS. TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS AND TOO GOOD FOR VIOLENCE SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES PROMOTE POSITIVE, PRO-SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR, WHILE FOSTERING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, RESISTANCE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CONFLICT, AND RESISTANCE TO NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE AND INFLUENCE. PREVENTIONFOCUS IMPLEMENTS TOO GOOD FOR VIOLENCE IN GRADES K-3 AND TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS IN GRADES 5 AND 7.

THE BESTSELF RECOVERY COMMUNITY LOCATED AT PREVENTIONFOCUS IS A NON-CLINICAL COLLABORATIVE VENTURE WITH BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. ADULTS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN THEIR RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER VISIT THE CENTER FOR A VARIETY OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES RANGING FROM RECOVERY COACHING TO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE YOGA, COOKING CLASSES, PAINTING CLASSES, DISCUSSION GROUPS, FIELD TRIPS, MOVIE NIGHTS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

PREVENTIONFOCUS PARTNERED WITH THE NY COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING TO SUPPORT THE YOU(TH) DECIDE CAMPAIGN IN ERIE COUNTY. THE CAMPAIGN WORKS HELP PREVENT UNDERAGE GAMBLING BY: (1) INCREASING YOUTH AWARENESS THAT MEDIA MESSAGES ARE CONSTRUCTED USING SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES TO CONVEY MEANING AND AFFECT THE VIEWER/LISTENER'S BELIEFS AND ACTIONS. (2) HELPING YOUTH UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES AND POTENTIAL NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF GAMBLING.(3) DECREASING YOUTH EXPOSURE TO GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADVERTISING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOL, ETC. (4) PROVIDING A NUMBER OF RESOURCES FOR YOUTH, PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES WHO WANT TO HELP IN THE EFFORT TO PREVENT UNDERAGE GAMBLING SUCH AS:(A) INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS LIKE PALM CARDS, BROCHURES AND POSTERS.(B) FACTS ABOUT GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADDICTION.(C) UP TO DATE NEWS AND RESEARCH SURROUNDING UNDERAGE GAMBLING.