Prevention Services
Overview
The Linn County Alcohol & Drug Prevention Services programs are committed to providing community-based services that focus on prevention, teaching life skills, keeping young people in school, reducing the abuse of alcohol in youth and adults, and the prevention of drug abuse in our community.
Table of Contents
- Prevention Education in Schools
- Parent Education
- Technical Assistance for Linn Together Community Coalitions
- Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council
- Community Education
- Consultation and Staff Training
- Problem Gambling Prevention
- Other Prevention Efforts
Prevention Education In Schools
Botvin's LifeSkills Training
Botvin's LifeSkills Training is a comprehensive prevention program for elementary and middle school youth. Evaluation of the program indicates that it is an effective tool in reducing future alcohol, tobacco, other drug use and violence. The Prevention Program offers Botvin's Lifeskills Training to every Linn County school district at no cost. For more information call (541) 967-3819 or visit www.lifeskillstraining.com.
Reconnecting Youth
Reconnecting Youth is a school-based prevention program, found to be an effective program for high school youth. Reconnecting Youth focuses on youth in grades 9 to 12 who are at risk for school dropout and exhibit multiple behavior problems. It uses a partnership model involving peers, school personnel, and parents to deliver interventions that result in decreased drug involvement, increased school performance, and less emotional distress. The Prevention Program administers Reconnecting Youth at area high schools. For more information call (541) 967-3819 or visit www.reconnectingyouth.com
Parent Education
Staying Connected with Your Teen & Guiding Good Choices
Staying Connected with Your Teen and Guiding Good Choices are interactive workshop series for parents of youth ages 9—16. The programs offer strategies for helping children become more involved in the family, enhancing family communication, and strengthening bonding. The workshops are free, and include dinner and supervised children's activities for participating families. The Prevention Program offers several workshop series per year in Linn County communities. For a calendar of upcoming classes, please visit www.linntogether.org or call (541) 967-3819.
Technical Assistance for Linn Together Community Coalitions
Linn Together is a group of seven local volunteer coalitions working to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse in Linn County. Coalition members include educators, parents, business leaders, health professionals, retirees, youth, local government, law enforcement, civic groups, faith community, and more. Linn Together coalitions include Albany Together, the Central Linn Alliance of Support People (C.L.A.S.P.), Harrisburg Together, Lebanon's Communities that Care, Santiam Canyon Together, S.C.I.O. Cares (Scio Community Involvement Organization Cares), and the Sweet Home Healthy Active Partnership (S.H.H.A.P.) For more information, call (541) 967-3819 or visit www.linntogether.org.
Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council
The Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council is a group of concerned high school students who are working together to develop a variety of media awareness tools designed to reduce underage drinking and other drug use in our community. The council consists of students from high schools throughout Linn County and works in collaboration with community partners to change the community's perception of underage drinking. The group meets monthly to develop their media campaign.
For more information, please call (541) 967-3819 or visit www.linntogether.org. If you are a Linn County high school student and are interested in applying, please submit a Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council Application.
Community Education
The Prevention Program sponsors community education activities based on the current trends and community needs. For more information, please call (541) 967-3819.
Consultation and Staff Training
The Prevention Program offers consultation and staff training on a limited basis. To discuss the needs of your business or organization, please call (541) 967-3819.
Professional training, with continuing education credit, are sponsored one or two times per year by Linn Together. Recent training have included Underage Drinking Prevention, Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, and Building Non-Profit Organizations. See www.linntogether.org for a calendar of upcoming events, or call (541) 967-3819.
Problem Gambling Prevention
The purpose of the problem gambling prevention program is to increase public awareness and educate community members about the issue. Prevention efforts include:
- Building skills in youth that will increase healthy lifestyles and decision-making
- Parent education and awareness of problem behavior
- Community awareness campaigns
- Education regarding problem gambling treatment resources
For more information, please call (541) 967-3819.
Other Prevention Efforts
Linn County Teen Maze
The Linn County Teen Maze is an annual health education event for 8th graders, sponsored in part by the Prevention Program. Students progress through a maze filled with interactive presentations on topics important to their health and future success. For more information, contact the Linn County Commission on Children and Families at linnccf@co.linn.or.us or 541-967--3823.