Substance Use Services Program Outreach and Prevention Services

FNL and CL are youth development programs designed for and run by high school and junior high students on campus in conjunction with adult partners from Public Health and school staff. Students self-select to participate in the program and may drop out any time.  Friday Night Live and Club Live reach a segment of the youth population who may exert influence on their peers, their school environment, and the community.

FNLM is a peer-to-peer mentoring program facilitated by a staff member from the Calaveras County Youth Mentoring Program and a high school staff advisor. This is a youth development program in which high school students use a curriculum that is updated each year by the youth mentors in conjunction with the facilitator and advisor to discuss a variety of topics with their junior high school (8th grade) protégés. Students self-select to participate in the program and may drop out any time. Friday Night Live Mentoring reaches a segment of the youth population who may exert influence on their peers, the school environment and the community. These programs appear to be successful in strengthening protective factors in participants and their school communities.

The Life Skills 101 is an on-campus program that serves youth who have been referred due to substance-related discipline issues at school. This program consists of participation in four to six groups facilitated by a substance abuse counselor and a school counselor or school psychologist. It has been provided at both Bret Harte High School and at Calaveras High School.

The school-based “Projects” student assistance programs are designed to help youth avoid use of alcohol and other drugs, and also to help students find resources to address other concerns that they may express to the counselor. This program was developed based on the strategy of developing connectedness, as outlined in the Add Health study “Connections That Make a Difference in the Lives of Youth.” A Substance Abuse Program counselor is scheduled to be on campus at a consistent day and time each week to become a familiar part of the school environment. This strategy has been effective at increasing students’ use of the support available by reducing barriers to student trust and disclosure. The counselor also engages in classroom discussions and receives referrals from school staff. When indicated, the counselor refers students for counseling, medical, or other services in coordination with school staff.  

Having a counselor present on campus on a regular schedule allows students to speak with someone they have observed, assessed, and developed a connection with in their own time and on their own terms. The counselor has developed a connection with many students during the past several school years and he maintains ongoing contact with students as they transition from junior high to high school. Over the years, a number of students have reported that they have achieved abstinence from or significant decreases in their use of alcohol or other drugs as a result of their interaction with the counselor.

Schools participating in the “Projects” series are: Calaveras High School, Toyon Middle School, Bret Harte High School, Mark Twain Elementary (K-8), Vallecito Alternative High School and Goldstrike High School. Vallecito High School and Goldstrike High School are the alternative education school sites for Bret Harte Unified High School District and Calaveras Unified.