GUIDING GOOD CHOICES (FAMILIES)
4-part skills group for parents and caregivers of 9-15 year olds. A key offering of Scituate FACTS! More than 500 families have completed the prevention skills workshop so far! Guiding Good Choices is a four-part workshop designed to educate parents and caregivers of 9-15 year olds about the risks for developing substance use disorder. The Guiding Good Choices program is based on 30 years of prevention research to target ways for parents and caregivers to mitigate risks for substance use and other problem behaviors among children. Workshop facilitators will share the latest SPS substance use data from anonymous student surveys. Then, over the course of four weeks, parents and caregivers will learn effective parenting techniques, family management strategies, and how to communicate peer pressure refusal skills to their children. The development of these specific skills has been linked to delayed onset or reduction of adolescent substance use, and lower rates of depression among families who complete the workshop. Daytime and Evening offerings are planned throughout the school year.

October - November 2023 Daytime, in-person at Gates
Thursday mornings, 8:30-10:00am with School Counselor Amy Mahoney, Room 1023, on 10/19, 10/26, 11/2 (6:30-7:30pm with kids), and 11/9/2023.
Register here.

November 2023 Evenings, in-person at SHS
Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm with FACTS Coordinator Annmarie Galvin, SHS Room Location TBD, on 11/6, /11/13, 11/20 (6:30-7:30pm with kids), and 11/27/2023.
Register here.

January - February 2024 Daytime, via Zoom
Thursday mornings, 9:30-11:00am with Gates Adjustment Counselor Lindsay Newton. 1/18, 1/25, 2/1 (in-person 6:30-7:30pm with kids), and 2/8/2024.
Register here.

An additional group will be added later in 2024.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS CURRICULUM AT SCITUATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (YOUTH)
SPS students in grades Pre-K through grade 12 have health education that covers a wide variety of topics over time, including Substance Misuse Prevention, Mental Health and Emotional Health. An overview of Substance Misuse Prevention topics covered in wellness classes is available in a printable PDF format.

POWER OF PREVENTION (ADULT COMMUNITY MEMBERS)
Now Planning A New Summit For Late 2024

Past Event: Sunday, November 13, 2022 at Gates Middle School
The Power of Prevention Summit is FREE to attend for parents, caregivers, coaches, teachers, clergy, and others committed to raising children. The goal of this prevention summit is to share information and build skills among adults which can impact specific risk and protective factors in children.

Our keynote presenter is Jessica Lahey, the New York Times bestselling author of The Gift of Failure, who will share science and relatable stories from her new book that will help parents, educators, and others understand the roots of addiction, to identify who is most at risk for developing a problem, as well as clear, practical steps for prevention. Yes, please.

Background: Jessica Lahey was born into a family with a long history of substance use disorder. Despite her desire to avoid this genetic legacy, Jessica developed alcoholism and didn’t find her way out until her early forties. She has worked as a teacher in treatment programs for teens, and was determined to inoculate her own teens against their most dangerous inheritance. All children, regardless of their genetics, are at some risk for substance misuse. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, teen drug addiction is the nation’s largest preventable and costly health problem. Despite the existence of proven preventive strategies, nine out of ten adults with substance use disorder report they began drinking and taking drugs before age eighteen.

The book: The Addiction Inoculation is a comprehensive resource that adults can use to prevent substance problems in children. Based on research in child welfare, psychology, substance abuse, and developmental neuroscience, this essential guide provides evidence-based strategies and practical tools adults need to understand, support, and educate resilient, addiction-resistant children. The guidelines are age-appropriate and actionable—from navigating a child’s risk for addiction, to interpreting signs of early abuse, to advice for broaching difficult conversations with children. Books for sale from Buttonwood Books at the event (cash/credit card), with book-signing available at the end of the program! Local data, resources, coffee and refreshments will also be provided. Free, thanks to our generous sponsors, the Friends of Scituate FACTS, Coastal Heritage Bank, Inly School and Herren Wellness.

Free childcare for ages 3+ is offered through Scituate Recreation. Please note all children attending must be able to use the bathroom independently.   Limited space is available. Advance registration is required.   

PRE-PROM EVENT (AGES 12+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS)

View slides from April 1, 2024 Event

VIEW ON CALENDAR

STAKEHOLDER TRAININGS (ADULT COMMUNITY MEMBERS)
Scituate FACTS identifies best practices in substance misuse prevention and early intervention, and provides learning opportunities for our partners. Some examples include: Beverage Alcohol Training for package store employees, Drug Recognition Expert training for police officers, Cannabis Use Disorder training for healthcare providers, Screening Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training for school nurses, and more.

Please contact Coalition Staff to learn more about ongoing learning opportunities for your sector.