Learn more about the programs utilized by the Substance Use Prevention Program at Denver Public Schools.
We provide prevention through the use of evidence-based services in the following 4 areas:
Information Dissemination
Provides awareness and knowledge of the nature and extent of substance use, abuse, and addiction and their effects on individuals, families, and communities, as well as knowledge and awareness of available prevention programs and services.
Prevention Education
Involves two-way communication and is distinguished from the information dissemination strategy by the fact that interaction between the educator/ facilitator and the participants is the basis of its activities.
Environmental Strategies
Establishes or changes written and unwritten community standards, codes, and attitudes, thereby influencing incidence and prevalence of substance abuse in the general population.
Problem Identification and Referral to Treatment
Aims at identification of those who have indulged in illegal/age-inappropriate use of tobacco or alcohol and those individuals who have indulged in the first use of illicit drugs in order to assess if their behavior can be reversed through education.
Substance Use Prevention Services at DPS
Community Education
This strategy provides awareness and knowledge of the nature and extent of substance use, abuse, and addiction and their effects on individuals, families, and communities, as well as knowledge and awareness of available prevention programs and services.
Parent Presentations
“ How to Talk With Your Kids About Alcohol, Marijuana and Other Drugs”
Parent Newsletters
Monthly submissions of relevant prevention information to DPS middle and high school parent newsletters.
Community Resources
Blog posts with parenting tips and tools
Monthly calendar with free events for families in the Denver area
Prevention Education
This strategy involves classroom teaching of skills, refusal skills, and decision making before a substance use issue occurs. All programs are evidence-based with up-to-date scientific, factual information for youth.
A research-validated prevention program that reduces the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse by targeting social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors.
Marijuana Education Initiative’s Impact Awareness Program (MEI)
MEI engages students in reality-based conversations about the common uses of marijuana, health and behavior risks associated with marijuana use and abuse, and informed decision making about marijuana use.
A mindfulness-based curriculum created for classroom or group settings that is intended to strengthen attention and emotion regulation, and help participants integrate mindfulness into daily life.
Empowers educators to teach real-world skills in their classrooms. Teachers use our catalog of blended learning resources focused on skills like social-emotional learning, health and wellness, financial capability, early learning, and career readiness to bring whole child learning to life in their classrooms.
School-wide system with a comprehensive set of integrated and interactive components. Program materials contained in toolkits are easy-to-use and serve the school, family, and community.
ASSET Education equips educators with a curriculum of concrete tools to help their students reduce stress and build resilience through mindfulness, positive psychology, and positive self-talk.
Educational resource created by educators and researchers aimed at preventing middle and high school students’ use of tobacco and nicotine products.
School Culture and Climate
This strategy shifts school-wide culture by normalizing healthy choices and increasing connection to trusted adults and supports when necessary,
A mental health wellness prevention project that utilizes the power of peer social networks to increase help seeking behaviors and connections between peers and caring adults with a focus on Hope, Help and Strength.
GSAs provide support, build community, and create action for youth and their school community; research has shown that the presence of a GSA can help make schools safer for LGBTIQ students.
Early Intervention, Screening, and Referral to Treatment
This strategy does not include any activity designed to determine if a person is in need of treatment.
Teen Intervene is an evidence-based brief intervention designed to help young people who are beginning to struggle with alcohol and/or drugs.
Coping Cat is a manualized treatment program (Tier 2 or 3) for youth with anxiety disorders and/or social phobia.
Free, web-based, interactive, and self-directed alternative to suspension education program for youth who have violated a tobacco policy at school, including use of electronic nicotine products, or tobacco law in the community.
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) Is a group intervention for students who have experienced an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). CBITS is facilitated by school mental health professionals over ten group sessions and includes individual counseling and parent education.
Aggression Replacement Training (ART)
ART is an evidence based training to help children improve their coping and communication skills relative to anger and conflict.
The DPS Substance Use Prevention Program has Prevention Specialists in 26 schools throughout the district.
Find your school’s representative and contact info below.
