ykes & Teens Prevention Services Darcy Flierl, LCSW, CAP – Director Dorothy L. Brooking, CAC/CBHT -Prevention Specialist for Project Northland Tykes & Teens Prevention Services is committed to reducing underage drinking and other related risk behaviors among Martin County youth, by raising community awareness and engaging citizens in fun, safe and healthy                  activities.

What is Prevention?

A collaborative school, family and community process that promotes health through the planning and implementation of strategies that:

1. Reduce specific risk factors
2. Identify and intervene on unhealthy behaviors
3. Strengthen protective factors that contribute to health and well being

Tykes & Teen’s Prevention Initiatives:

Parent Action Committee (PAC): A Committee for parents to become pro-active and fight against high risk behaviors. The PAC was established as an organization to empower parents to effect change in our community and assist with community prevention initiatives. To learn more about PAC email: MCparentaction@gmail.com 

Parent Email Distribution List (PEDL): Born out of the Parent Action Committee, PEDL is an email distribution list for parents of Martin County youth to keep them connected with current trends in our community, offer parent tips and education and empower parents to stay focused on the health and wellbeing of our community’s youth. To Join email: MCPEDL@tykesandteens.org

Social Marketing: The systematic application of marketing along with other concepts and techniques to achieve specific behavioral goals for a social good.  This may include asking people not to smoke in public areas, encouraging them to use seat belts or prompting them to follow speed limits.  Some social marketing campaigns we sponsor are: Parents Who Host Lose the Most and Red Ribbon Week.

Project Northland (PN): Research proven science based alcohol Prevention Services aimed to reduce substance abuse among youth, specifically aimed at delaying the age of first use.  PN is a peer led curriculum taught in Stuart, Hidden Oaks, David Anderson and Murray Middle Schools across 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  Project Northland in Martin County includes both school and community components.

 
IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO BE A PROJECT NORTLAND PEER LEADER:

Helpful Hints for 6th grade peer leaders:

As a Peer Leader, youths will be asked to INTRODUCE the Slick Tracy comic books to their class and LEAD an activity in their group each week.
Here is a description of each kind of activity Peer Leaders will be leading:

1. Introduce the Slick Tracy comic book

Each week the teacher will call on one Peer Leader to read the introduction to that week’s comic book. Youths will need to prepare by reading through the comic book before class and writing in the space provided in their manual why they like that week’s comic. The Peer Leader’s job will also be to encourage their group to participate in the program at their homes.

2. Get into your groups

The teacher will let the class know when it is time to get into groups and will tell each group where to meet. Peer Leaders should help by getting there quickly and quietly & encouraging their group to get together quickly and quietly, forming a circle where everyone can see on another.

3. Lead small-group activities

Each week, Peer Leaders will lead their group in the “What’s-In-It-Minute” activity by reading directions to their group.

4. The teacher might also ask Peer Leaders to:

Help keep track of their group’s homework and record it on the Slick Tracy scoreboard, prepare materials for their group or help in other ways to teach important information to their classmates.

Also included in the Peer Leader manual on pages 3 & 4 are Helpful Hints and Troubleshooting tips for Peer Leaders to use when situations arise such as: their peers being distracted, changing the subject or giving answers not associated with the activity.  Keep in mind being a Peer Leader does not mean being Bossy! All peer leaders are informed in the training provided at their Each week the teacher will call on one Peer Leader to read the introduction to that week’s comic book. Youths will need to prepare by reading through the comic book before class and writing in the space provided in their manual why they like that week’s comic. The Peer Leader’s job will also be to encourage their group to participate in the program at their homes.