Elementary School

* Program appears on Curriculum Resources for Educating Children about the Dangers of Substance Abuse, released by Kimberly Harrington, NJ Education Commissioner (2017)

Alcohol, Nicotine and Other Drug Presentation

This customizable program based on evidence-based principles discusses, “What is a drug?”. Topics such as medicine, legal drugs and illegal drugs are discussed. Students gain knowledge that although medicines are drugs that are developed to cure or lessen the effects of diseases and injuries, these drugs can be harmful when not taken correctly.  The legal drugs, nicotine and alcohol, are presented in more detail including how these drugs affect the body.  Finally decision making, peer pressure and coping skills are developed, and students role play different decision making scenarios.

Program Length: 2 sessions

Audience: Grades 3-5

* Footprints for Life

This evidence-based program builds important life skills and social competencies by using puppets in “real life” situations experienced by a children’s soccer team. Students develop their planning and decision making skills, interpersonal skills, and peer pressure resistance skills. They learn peaceful conflict resolution and continue to develop their cultural competence. The six lessons are:  (1) Feelings and “I” Messages; (2) Conflict Resolution; (3) Making Decisions; (4) Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; (5) Coping Skills; (6) Diversity and Program Review. A short homework sheet and parent letter accompanies each lesson. Program evaluations are given to the classroom teacher.

Program Length: 6 sessions

Audience: Grades 2 or 3

Forest Friends

This program utilizes puppets to help students learn skills to appropriately express feelings, resolve conflicts, and establish healthy relationships with adults and other children.  Each week’s session builds on the lessons learned in previous ones. In every session, the students are told a story using the Forest Friends puppets covering the following topics: feelings and communication, honesty and trust, respect, self-image/self-esteem, decision making and diversity. After the story, a discussion and related activity follows. The students are given a pre/post test on the program topics. Parent letters are sent home each week. Program evaluations are given to the classroom teacher. Although the Forest Friends program is not evidence-based, it was designed on evidence-based principles.

Program Length: 6 Sessions

Audience: Grades 1 or 2 

* My Generation Rx

My Generation Rx” includes resources designed to educate teens about the importance of using medications safely, as well as teaching teens key skills to turn down invitations to misuse and positive alternatives to cope with the demands of life. This will be done through PowerPoint presentations, role play, and games. By learning about safe opiate use and alternative options, youth will be less likely to abuse medicinal opiates preventing the transition to heroin. “My Generation Rx” is a nation-wide educational initiative to promote safe medication practices in an effort to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs.  Generation Rx is offered through a partnership between the Cardinal Health Foundation and The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. The program is based on evidence based practices and is on the New Jersey Department of Education, Curriculum Resources for Educating Children about the Dangers of Substance Abuse, list.

Program Length: 2-4 session

Audience: K-12

Steps to Respect

The research-based program uses interactive lessons and role-playing to teach elementary students to recognize, refuse, and report bullying, how to be assertive not aggressive, and how to build friendships. 

Steps to Respect lessons can help kids feel safe and supported by the adults around them so that they can build stronger bonds to family, school and community allowing them to focus on academic achievement. Students will learn skills that are modeled with role-play activities, age appropriate realistic scenarios lead to solution discussion and interactive lessons.

Program Length: 6 sessions 

Audience: Grades 4-6

* Too Smart to Start

This is a program designed to equip students with what they need to know, do, and say about underage alcohol use including: (1) the effects of alcohol on the brain and body; (2)  effective alternatives to using alcohol; and (3) how to say no and respond to difficult situations including those involving alcohol.

This program is a collaboration based on evidence- based practices and principles and was designed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Scholastic Inc. 

Program Length: 2 sessions

Audience: Grades 4-6

Don't see what you are looking for? Give us a call!

For information and pricing contact: Marigrace Flynn at 201-740-7098 or mflynn@cafsnj.org