together... learning. caring. strengthening. protecting.
 

School Prevention Programs

Jennifer Lehman

Henry County Extension
319-385-8126
lehmanj@iastate.edu

LifeSkills Training

LifeSkills Training (LST) is the highest rated, recommended and researched school-based substance abuse prevention program today. It is uniquely designed, proven effective, and grounded in over 20 years of research. Rather than simply teaching information about drugs, LifeSkills combats the underlying causes of substance abuse.

The LifeSkills program consists of three major components that cover the critical domains found to promote drug use. Research has shown that students who develop skills in these three domains are far less likely to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors. The three components include:

  • Drug Resistance Skills enable young people to recognize and challenge common misconceptions about tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. Through coaching and practice, they learn information and practical ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug use) resistance skills for dealing with peers and media pressure to engage in ATOD use.
  • Personal Self-Management Skills teach students how to examine their self-image and its effects on behavior; set goals and keep track of personal progress; identify everyday decisions and how they may be influenced by others; analyze problem situations, and consider the consequences of each alternative solution before making decisions; reduce stress and anxiety, and look at personal challenges in a positive light.
  • General Social Skills teach students the necessary skills to overcome shyness, communicate effectively and avoid misunderstandings, initiate and carry out conversations, handle social requests, utilize both verbal and nonverbal assertiveness skills to make or refuse requests, and recognize that they have choices other than aggression or passivity when faced with tough situations.
LifeSkills is currently implemented in all four school districts in Henry County in grades 3-8.

 

Too Good For Drugs

Information coming soon!

 

Project ALERT

The Project ALERT two-year Core Curriculum consists of 11 lessons that are most effective when taught once a week during the first year, plus 3 booster lessons that should be delivered the following year. Project ALERT complements other curricula and can be implemented in conjunction with lessons from sex education, health, physical education, science and social studies.

Project ALERT core strategies:

  • Motivate students against drug use
  • Provide skills and strategies to resist drugs
  • Establish new non-use attitudes and beliefs