| OUR MISSION: The Council on Chemical Abuse provides countywide leadership in the development and implementation of policies, programs and a system of prevention and intervention services that prevent the onset of illegal alcohol, tobacco and drug use and treatment services that promote recovery from addiction to all substances. |
Classroom EducationTo request a classroom presentation at your Berks County, PA school, please call 610-376-8669 or email a request stating your name, school, phone number, what type of presentation you would like to schedule and the dates and times you would prefer for the presentation in your classroom. Please call for additional information on what types of prevention services the Council provides. |
Evidence-Based Programs Getting Real (Middle School, Grades 6-9) Getting Real is a component of the Creating Lasting Family Connections curriculum. The Getting Real communications curriculum is a highly interactive training offered to youth to enhance their relationships. Using Getting Real gives youth the opportunity to examine their responses to verbal and non-verbal behavior they experience in their interactions with others. Keepin' It REAL (Middle School, Grades 6-9)This curriculum is based on teaching communication and life skills that can combat negative peer pressure and other influences. The program extends resistance and life skills models by using culturally based narrative and performance framework to enhance anti-drug norms and attitudes, and facilitate the development of risk assessment, decision-making, and resistance skills. Keepin' It REAL is a video-enhanced, multicultural program for middle school students. LifeSkills (Elementary-High School, Grades 3-12) The LifeSkills Training program is a comprehensive, dynamic, and developmentally appropriate substance abuse prevention program. This highly effective curriculum has been proven to help increase self-esteem, develop healthy attitudes, and improve their knowledge of essential life skills – all of which promote healthy and positive personal development. Project ALERT (Middle School, Grades 6-9)Project ALERT is a proven nationally recognized substance abuse program that gives students insight, understanding and actual skills for resisting substance abuse. Project ALERT successfully addresses tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and inhalants, the substances teens are most likely to use. Project Toward No Drug Abuse (High School, Grades 9-12) Project Toward No Drug Abuse (TND) is an interactive program designed to help high school youths (ages 14–19) resist substance use. This school-based program includes motivational activities, social skills training, and decision-making components that are delivered through group discussions, games, role-playing exercises, videos, and student worksheets. It addresses topics such as active listening skills, effective communication skills, stress management, coping skills, tobacco cessation techniques, and self-control—all to counteract risk factors for drug abuse relevant to older teens. Too Good For Drugs (Elementary-High School, Grades K-12) Too Good for Drugs is a school-based prevention program designed to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors related to alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among students. Too Good for Drugs (K-8) has a separate, developmentally-appropriate curriculum for each grade level. Each curriculum builds on earlier grade levels, an instructional design which enables students to learn important skills sequentially and retain them year after year. Too Good for Drugs & Violence High School is a comprehensive prevention education program for grades 9-12 designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to remain safe and drug free. A Too Good For Drugs curricula tailored to meet the needs of after-school programs is also available. |
Other Classroom Presentations |
Here's Looking At You (Elementary School, Grades K-5) This curriculum is a series of interactive educational lessons dealing with alcohol, tobacco and other drug education. The Council's trained prevention professionals are available to work hand-in-hand with Berks County elementary school educators to bring this program into their classrooms. Project Breathe (Middle-High School, Grades 6-12) Project Breathe students learn how tobacco use affects the health of their bodies and their longevity. Facilitators share tobacco and second hand smoke knowledge, skills and resources. In the process of the curriculum students also learn about their bodies and how to protect their heart and lungs. Upon completion of the program, students are equipped to learn how to make a plan to guide them through personal decision making regarding tobacco use. Speak Up (Middle-High School, Grades 6-12) The SPEAK UP lesson plans have been created for use in middle and high school settings. The primary aim for the program is to illustrate to students that they have the ability to decrease school violence (a health issue that affects the whole community) by speaking up about threats of weapon-related violence. Through a mixture of narration and excerpts from student journals, SPEAK UP portrays a realistic story of students who failed to speak up and prevent tragedy from occurring. |
Peer Mediation |
Peers Making Peace (Middle-High School, Grades 6-12) Peer Mediation is a specific training program in which students learn skills necessary to conduct a mediation involving peers. By participating in Peer Mediation, young people learn non-violent alternatives to dealing with conflict, equipping them with tools they need to respond to conflict in a positive way and to make good decisions in their own lives. Peer Mediation provides a pro-active alternative to reducing violence and disruption not only in our schools, but also in our communities. |
Smoking Cessation |
TAP/TEG Smoking Cessation (Middle-High School, Grades 6-12) The TAP smoking cessation program assists young people who want to quit smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. This eight-session program gently guides tobacco users to their personally selected cessation date and helps them remain tobacco-free. Facilitators provide options, guidance, and support as participants design their own approach to staying tobacco free. While the TEG Program uses attendance at this eight-session program as an alternative to suspension for teens who have been caught smoking or possessing tobacco products. The proven techniques and activities in this support group curriculum motivate young people to decrease their tobacco use, quit on their own, or join a voluntary cessation program. |
Assemblies and Single Prevention Presentations |
Berks PRIDE (Elementary - High School) An anti-drug assembly program led by the Berks PRIDE peer-to-pper prevention team of middle and high school youth. The assembly is a blend of dances, dramatic skits, and vocal entertainment by Berks County youth. Each performance piece carries with it the message of living drug and violence-free lives. Project X (Elementary - Middle School, Grades 4-7) An anti-tobacco assembly program designed by Clarion’s Heath Education Center. The animated program is along the lines of the movie “The Matrix,” with elements of television’s “CSI” programs. Noah Goodman, a special agent, works for smoke-free schools in the anti-tobacco program. The assembly is presented on a 15-foot screen using back projection. The interactive style is utilized so youth can give their ideas and opinions to help uncover the truth about tobacco products. Single Classroom Presentations (Elementary, Middle, and High School) Council Prevention Specialists can create prevention presentations to suit your individual classroom needs. Please e-mail us with your request. |
Peer Leadership Programs |
Berks BUSTED! (Middle-High School, Grades 6-9) PA BUSTED! is a prevention program that encourages teens to live tobacco free lives by taking steps to stop the manipulation of Big Tobacco. BUSTED! is a statewide organization that is made up of students, adults, and teachers whom are devoted to helping teens and community members live healthy, tobacco free lives. Berks PRIDE (Middle-High School, Grades 5-12) Berks PRIDE is a "peer-to-peer" alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention program designed to encourage youth to live drug-free lives through song, dance and dramatic skits. Berks PRIDE is the local chapter of PRIDE Youth Programs International. Berks PRIDE encourages students to make healthy choices. The Berks PRIDE goal is to help others be drug-free through example and peer leadership. PRIDE includes students in middle and high schools. Through a team structure, PRIDE encourages students to reach out to their friends, younger students and the community with an assertive drug-free message. |
Contact Rebecca D. Reinhart with questions or comments about this website.Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. Council on Chemical Abuse.