South County Prevention Coalition
Charlestown • Hopkinton • Narragansett • New Shoreham • North Kingstown • Richmond • South Kingstown • Westerly
Check out this interactive tool to learn more about what we do
Programs
PAWSitive Playbook
Meet PAWS, the guide to this PAWSitively great activity book! This elementary-aged book promotes healthy lifestyles and substance use prevention strategies while having the young ones complete fun activities such as mazes, word search, and coloring! Check out the playbook with your kids and “pause” to get to know yourself a little better!
Teen World
Congratulations Parents! You successfully made it through your child’s early formative years. But, hold on… welcome to the TEEN YEARS!! These years are a period of intense growth, not only physically, but emotionally and intellectually. So it’s completely understandable that, at times, parents may have feelings of confusion, frustration and sometimes being overwhelmed. We created this booklet with you in mind.
Raising Healthy Teens Newsletter
Raising Healthy Teens is a full-time job and we hope our newsletter helps to make that job a bit easier. In each issue you’ll find expert advice on adolescent development, trends that pose risks to a teen’s health and safety, and helpful how-to information for parents, teachers and everyone in the community who works with teens.
If you have any topics you’d like to see covered in our newsletter, please let us know. Send your ideas — or comments to your local coordinator found on our home page. We’d love to hear from you.
Hidden In Plain Sight
Hidden in Plain Sight allows parents a unique interactive opportunity to look into a teen’s mock bedroom. The room is full of common household items that could be used to hide or disguise drug, alcohol, tobacco use or other “risky” behaviors. Usually we set this up in the school during Open Houses, but during COVID we have created a virtual version that you can do at home!
Simply click on the picture of the bedroom below to explore this educational tool. Move your mouse around the room to “find” the items hidden in the room.
Please take the time to talk to your teen about the items you see – use this as a way to launch a conversation about substance use among peers.
As parents, we are the number one tool against substance use! Download the Hidden in Plain Sight Booklet
Partnerships for Success
Kent County and South County Regional Prevention Coalitions were thrilled to be awarded the Partnerships for Success (PFS) grant during the fall of 2018. This is a 5-year grant.
With this grant we will be able to identify factors within all high need RI PFS communities in our regions that contribute to underage drinking among individuals aged 12-20 and any required capacity building activities necessary to address the contributing factors identified.
We have developed community-level strategic plans addressing the factors that contribute to underage drinking with special attention to populations that may experience health disparities.
The implementation plan details how funds will be used to address underage drinking among the targeted population(s).
We will evaluate the impact of evidence-based interventions as well as capacity building community activities including:
· Alcohol Prevention Educational strategies addressing underage drinking in schools and the community.
· Environmental Strategies addressing social and retail access.
· Public Awareness Campaigns and local events.
· Workplace Interventions aimed at employers of 18-20-year old’s that fit the culture and context of their community.
Simple Questions & Straight Answers on Alcohol Prevention
Project Sticker Shock
Project Sticker Shock is a community awareness campaign designed to increase visibility of and compliance with Rhode Island underage drinking laws and discourage people over the age of 21 to provide alcohol to minors. Also, warning that the liquor stores are responsible and will ID everyone to keep anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing alcohol or using a fake ID. Project Sticker Shock provides an opportunity to work with local liquor stores to enforce these two laws. This campaign is implemented into 13 liquor stores around South County twice a year.
Strengthening Families
The SFP curriculum is an 11-week virtual course with 90-minute sessions designed for families with children 7-17. Parents learn to increase desired behaviors in children by using attention and rewards, clear communication, effective discipline, substance use education, problem solving and limit setting. Children learn effective communication, understanding feelings, social skills, problem solving, resisting peer pressure, consequences of substance use, and compliance with parental rules. Families engage in structured family activities, practice therapeutic child play, conduct family meetings, learn communication skills, practice effective discipline, reinforce positive behaviors in each other, and plan family activities together.
SFP Outcomes
-Decreased use and intention to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
-Enhanced children’s protective and resilience factors by improving children’s social and life skills, peer resistance, and communication skills.
-Improved parent/child attachment and family relations, communication, and organization.
-Improved adults’ parenting skills, reductions in excessive punishment or lax discipline and improvements in parenting self-efficacy.
-Reduced youth behavior problems (i.e., substance use, conduct disorders, aggression, violence, and juvenile delinquency) as well as reduced emotional problems such as depression and psychosomatic disorders.
For more information, please contact Kathy Gardner at [email protected]
Media Ready
Media Ready is an evidence-based, media literacy, and substance abuse prevention program for youth. The goals of the 10-lesson curriculum are to encourage healthy cognitions about abstinence from alcohol and tobacco use within youth, to enhance their ability to apply critical thinking skills to interpreting general media messages as well as alcohol and tobacco media messages, and to delay or prevent the underage use of alcohol and tobacco.
Contact Us
Regional Director
Heidi Driscoll, M.Ed, ACPS
[email protected]
Partnerships for Success
Grant Manager
Lily O’Toole, BS, CPS
[email protected]
Eliminating Tobacco Disparities
Grant Manager
Deirdre O’Donnell, MPH
[email protected]
Incredible Years
Grant Coordinator
Tamar Dalcé Coles
[email protected]
Monthly Meetings
Our Community Coalitions
Chariho Youth Task Force
For over 12 years, the Chariho Youth Task Force has worked to educate, empower, and engage youth and adults in order to create a sense of community, to promote wellness, and to sustain opportunities for Chariho voices to be heard. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we work alongside our community partners to strive toward becoming a society driven toward physical and mental well-being created through collaboration, education, and activism to promote a positive community climate. We work primarily in substance use prevention and mental health promotion through authentic youth engagement and community programming. Click here to watch a quick video about the Chariho Youth Task Force!
Looking to get involved or receive more resources? Contact us today.
Daniel Fitzgerald, MPH, ICPS | He/Him/Him
Executive Director, Chariho Youth Task Force
[email protected]
Strong Arms Support Group
Do you have a loved one struggling with substance use or who is lost in the throes of addiction? Whether your child or loved one is actively using or you have lost someone to addiction, join us as we come together to support one another through this journey of hope. Click here to learn more.
Mental Health Resources
In collaboration with local and county-wide partners the Chariho Youth Task Force has curated a list of preventative and reactionary mental health resources. Click here for more information.
Chariho Youth Ambassadors
Our ambassadors are our “front lines” in activism. They are a youth-led group of advocates of all ages. Giving presentations, hosting events, and interacting with the community are just a few examples of the imperative ‘boots on the ground’ work they do. They represent the Chariho Youth Task Force and promote the CYTF mission in their everyday lives as educated and empowered members of the community.Ambassadors meet every other Tuesday evening at 5pm. Visit the calendar on the homepage of CharihoYouth.org for more details!
Every Body Is Beautiful
Let’s learn to love our bodies for what they are – a tool. A tool that allows us to walk, to run, to dance, to do all the things we love. Let’s thrive, celebrate, and appreciate! Check out the recently published children’s book “Every Body Is Beautiful” now available in local libraries near you! Click here to learn more.
North Kingstown Prevention Coalition
The Coalition promotes collaboration, bringing together members of the community to help keep our kids substance-free and to promote safe and healthy neighborhoods.
- Our members include parents, youth, seniors, schools, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, healthcare, government, and concerned citizens in our community.
- We implement evidenced-based programs and initiatives that foster positive change and promote health and wellness in North Kingstown.
- Our primary goal is to raise awareness about ways parents, youth and community partners can work together to help prevent youth substance use by providing information and resources.
Education – Providing information and resources in our community on the latest substance use risks and ways to promote better health.
- Hidden In Plain Sight Exhibit
- Resource tables in the community and schools
- Strengthening Families Program for families with children 7-17
- Media Ready Program for middle school youth
- Raising Healthy Teens Newsletter
- Family Dinners Matter Campaign
- Talk Early, Talk Often and Listen Campaign
Safe Prescription Drug Disposal – Use the secure drop box at the NK Police Department – 24/7 – to dispose of unused or expired RX and over the counter medications.
- Count It, Lock It, Drop It Medicine Safety campaign
- Beechwood Senior Center Rx Drug Take Back events
- National RX Drug Take back events
Sticker Shock – Program to raise awareness in to prevent youth access to alcohol in partnership with our responsible community vendors.
VAASA program – Support Student Assistance Counselor run Peer Leadership Program for substance free varsity athletes who are trained to mentor younger students by being positive role models.
Kathy Yeager
Municipal Coordinator
[email protected]
Narragansett Prevention Partnership
The Narragansett Prevention Partnership(NPP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to improving the health and well-being of all Narragansett community members by developing and implementing programs and strategies that support a healthy and safe environment. NPP’s members include a broad base of constituencies and community partners.
Kelly Cartwright
Municipal Coordinator
[email protected]
South Kingstown Prevention
South Kingstown Prevention, originally known as South Kingstown Partnership for Prevention, aims to lead South Kingstown in substance use prevention by using multiple strategies and resources in collaboration with all sectors of the community. SKP is funded by Rhode Island Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH). The Coalition strives to build a healthier community in which the use of substances will be reduced through healthy alternatives, activities and education. Our coalition meets last Friday of the month from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
Sue Barrett
Municipal Coordinator
[email protected]
Our Community Partners
These are all of our community partners! We are very thankful to have them work with us in what we do. Click the button below each partner to view their website.
Gateway Healthcare
South County YMCA
URI Community First Responder Program
Rhode Island Student Assistance Services
Rhode Island Army National Guard
Thundermist Health Center
CODAC Behavioral Healthcare
Healthy Body Healthy Minds
Hope Recovery Community Centers
