National Prevention Week, promoted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is recognized from May 12-18. This public education platform showcases the work of communities and organizations across the country that are preventing substance use and promoting positive mental health.  We are very proud of our prevention program, Cortland Prevention Resources (CPR), and the important work the staff are dedicated to year-round.

Cortland Prevention Resources is committed to helping members of the community develop the skills they need to lead happy and healthy lives. At the forefront of our offerings, CPR provides Too Good, an evidence-based substance use and violence prevention program to schools throughout Cortland County. With curricula for grades K-12, children and teens learn core social-emotional skills including setting realistic goals, making healthy choices, building positive friendships, effective communication, managing emotions and resisting peer pressure. These foundational skills are incorporated into subsequent lessons focused on substances and their effect on the body.

In the youngest grades, the lessons develop an understanding of what is healthy to put in the body and what is not.  This prepares students for discussions about tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use in later elementary and middle school years. The final group of lessons teach students to manage bullying situations and choose peaceful ways to resolve conflict and handle stress. Interactive games and activities throughout the program create an experiential learning environment allowing students to learn and apply the skills in a safe classroom setting. Students use these interpersonal skills every day to guide appropriate behavior in social situations and to form meaningful connections.

The profound impact of meaningful connections led CPR to initiate the Compass program many years ago.  Although the program has seen several renditions, one component has remained constant: mentorship. CPR partners with the Adapted Physical Education Department at SUNY Cortland to pair college student mentors with local youth ages 12-18. The program uses the Positivity Project as the framework, with each week focused on a unique theme such as kindness, bravery, teamwork, and humor. Mentors model positive social interactions, exhibit positive character traits, and encourage drug free healthy lifestyles.

Over the course of a semester, mentors and mentees meet weekly to engage in fun, enriching activities designed to foster positive connections. The goal of the program is two-fold: offer a positive alternative to substance use among youth while building healthy interpersonal skills. Mentoring has been shown to increase graduation rates, improve attitudes about school, and decrease the likelihood of initiating substance use. Not only do youth benefit from Compass, but the SUNY Cortland students also gain valuable experience as they prepare for careers in teaching, criminal justice, and therapeutic recreation.  They are tasked with planning and facilitating meaningful group activities designed to help youth succeed in life.

Could your child, a student, or a youth you know benefit from a caring relationship with a positive role model?  Do you want to find a way to boost their confidence and overall health?  The next Compass session will begin early September and will run Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:00pm on the SUNY Cortland campus.

CPR’s school-based program Too Good and the community-based Compass program are offered at no cost to participants. To learn more about our programs, please email jsylstra@familycs.org or call our office at (607) 756-8970 x260.

Authors: Bailey Peck, Prevention Intern and Jennifer Sylstra, Prevention Program Coordinator

Cortland Prevention Resources, a division of Family and Children’s Counseling Services