Riverhead COMMUNITY AWARENESS Program

During its 41th year (2022-2023), our pulaski street prevention/education Program (too good for drugs) directly served 742 fifth and sixth grade students, a total of 33 classes each month for eight months. The pre-post test results demonstrated statistically significant outcomes.in addition, cap social workers provided weekly peer leadership training to over 65 high school and middle school students to teach the monthly pulaski street prevention/education Program, in english and spanish. Cap also provided summer workshops for 33 additional incoming middle school peer leaders, and provided the too good for drugs Program to 192 fourth grade students in 9 classes in 2 elementary schools.

During the 2022-2023 school year, cap social workers provided individual, group, and family counseling as well as significant crisis intervention services, assessments and referrals to 105 students in Riverhead high school, middle school and two elementary schools. There were a total of 942 counseling sessions. In addition, 61 students were seen in 10 social skills groups (typically using evidence-based programs) in the two elementary schools. At least 80% of the students who continued with individual, group or family counseling, or who were seen for crisis intervention, showed improvement in one or more measurable areas. The role of school based prevention counseling is to address risk factors for future substance abuse and to teach students to utilize appropriate coping strategies.

During year 10 of the drug-free communities grant period (2022-2023), the Riverhead Community coalition for safe and drug-free youth generated 633 accomplishments/outputs directed toward reducing underage drinking, prescription drug abuse, underage vape use (e-cigarettes) and marijuana use, as well as increasing coalition capacity. These included 37 Community actions directed towards changing policies, programs and practices; 31 Community changes that resulted from the Community actions; 94 services provided to over 19,191 individuals; over 6 million media impressions; and 18 organizational improvements. Areas of success included: the continued development and expansion of the youth coalition and successful implementation of youth coalition driven activities; outreach to build new relationships to better serve the community;implementation of marijuana zoning and smoke fee ordinances; staff members taking advantage of available technical assistance and training; strong environmental strategy implementation on prescription drug abuse, marijuana and underage drinking; developing new Community relationships and partnerships to increase reach in the Community including spanish language media outlets and translations; stronger relationships with elected officials and school administrators to address issues of underage vape use in the schools and Community; and expanding prescription drug safety practices, drop off Awareness and opportunities that resulted in the collection of 1,010 pounds of unwanted and unused medications.