About the DPS Substance Use Prevention Program
Our Mission
The DPS Substance Use Prevention (SUP) Program was created to support schools with prevention and early intervention supports for youth substance use; included is a focus on reducing racial disparities in discipline by promoting the use of alternatives to suspension for substance related offenses.
The SUP Program directly supports the district's commitment to the Whole Child through its use of evidence-based, social emotional programming.
Program Goals
Decrease past 30 day use for students who are using substances.
Increase the perception that there is moderate or great risk for youth using substances.
Delay use for non-using students.
Decrease negative behaviors and emotions.
Our Team
Leah Raffa (she/hers)
Prevention Specialist & Grant Coordinator
Leah has worked as a prevention specialist for Denver Public Schools since August 2016. Prior to joining the DPS team, Leah worked for the Denver Office of Drug Strategy, where she worked to connect youth in Denver with resources needed to make safe and healthy decisions regarding drugs and alcohol. Leah earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Metropolitan State University in May of 2014. She is inspired daily by the youth in DPS who are working hard to make the world a better place.
Haley Figueroa (she/hers)
Prevention Specialist - Trainer
Haley has spent the past 20 years as a DPS school social worker promoting resilience and growth with youth. Her current role focuses on substance abuse prevention and intervention training school teams with evidence-based programs. Haley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Denver and is currently adjunct faculty at DU’s Graduate School of Social Work. Haley is deeply invested in high-quality, whole-child education for all youth and believes school is a critical place for upstream prevention, social-emotional learning and timely intervention for behavioral and substance abuse issues.
Megan Miccio (She/Her)
Prevention Specialist - Trainer
Megan has worked on the DPS prevention team as a School Health Professional since the 2017 school year. Prior to joining DPS she worked for an after school program, The Bridge Project for 7 years. Megan spent 3 years as an Adult Commissioner on the Mayor’s Youth Commission. She has always been passionate about working with and supporting youth during their transformational years. Megan received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2004. She then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Denver in 2011.Her home base is at Thomas Jefferson High School 3 days a week where she is able to be on the ground with students and staff building a strong foundation of substance use prevention. When she is not at TJ she is able to focus her efforts on supporting other schools in DPS to implement sustainable prevention and intervention on substance use related issues.