The Prevention Center serves as a hub, providing the infrastructure to link, coordinate and build community-wide prevention programming, with behavioral health as the main focus.   The primary goal is to become more effective in the reduction risk behavior , such as abuse of alcohol and other drugs including over the counter and prescription drug misuse.

The Prevention Center’s role is to direct a proactive and community based approach to substance abuse and its associated problems.  Partnering prevention and treatment entities are offered the opportunity to place relevant materials and displays in the Prevention center as well as staff training. 

Program Offerings: 

• Services - Training, Presentations to community groups, Speakers’ Bureau, Computer Based Interactive Prevention Programs.

• Resources – Pamphlets, handouts, audio/visual materials, calendar of events, self-help materials

• Special Events/Community Mobilization

Programs Currently Available:

Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) is a community organizing program designed to reduce teens (13 to 20 years) access to alcohol by changing community policies and practices.  CMCA employs a range of social organizing techniques to address legal, institutional, social, and health issues in order to reduce youth alcohol use by eliminating illegal alcohol sales to youth by retailers and obstructing the provision of alcohol to youth by adults. (program link)

Second Step Pre-K is a universal prevention program that proactively teaches critical social and emotional skills to children.  The curriculum goals are focused on reducing aggressive and disruptive behavior while promoting social- emotional competence.   The second step Pre-K curriculum is delivered at the 4 head start facilities in St. Mary’s County by the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, Inc. (program link)

Staying Connected With Your Teen (SCT) is a series of five two-hour workshops that enables parents of teens (12-17 years of age) to increase the chances their children will grow up healthy and avoid the risks for drug abuse, violence and other problems.  (program link)

Guiding Good Choices (GGC) is a five-session program that teaches parents of children ages 9-14 (generally grades 4-8) how to reduce the risk that their children will develop drug problems e.g. alcohol, tobacco, inhalants and all legal and illegal drugs. (program link)

Workshops available upon request:

Contact

Walt Biscoe, Prevention Specialist
301-475-4200 ext 1851  
walter.biscoe@stmarysmd.com