Prevention Education
Our Prevention Programs are available to children and teenagers across Bucks County. These programs are conducted in schools for some, while others take place in our Teen groups, Summer Camps, and After School Homework Zone. Here is a list of the current or recently offered programs.
Adversaries to Allies - A Curriculum for Change:
A research-based curriculum targeted to help middle school-aged girls to change the subtle but hurtful way girls fight and bully one another. The goal of the program is to offer strategies for girls to relate to one another and better understand stereotypical messages that often lead to behaviors such as betrayal, exclusion, teasing, and harassment.
Council for Young Boys and Men: Council for Young Boys and Men - One Circle Foundation
The Council for Boys and Young Men® offers training and curricula to guide the facilitation of strengths-based programs that supports the healthy development of adolescent and pre-teen boys and young men. In the groups, boys find belonging, build assets, and deconstruct harmful masculinity beliefs on their journey to manhood. The model is a strengths-based approach that is informed by adolescent brain development, trauma-responsive and restorative practices, masculinity research, rites of passage, and Relational-Cultural theory. Utilizes validated, evidence-based approaches including motivational interviewing, gender norms transformative strategies, resiliency and assets development, and culturally responsive approaches. Lastly, the model is for all boys and young men ages 9-18 years, as well as, inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth who identify with male adolescent development.
Girls Circle: Girls Circle Complete Set (onecirclefoundation.org)
Girls Circle is a program designed in evidence-based approaches including Motivational Interviewing and Strength-Based practices. Girls Circle provides a structured program that addresses girls’ inherent need to connect with others. Through topics, activities and environment, girls are empowered to address their needs, identify and change unhealthy behaviors, and developed and practice skills that are transferable to other aspects of their lives. Topics include, Mind, Body and Spirit, Who Am I, Body Image and Social Media, Wise and Well. Through this exploration of self, girls will be able to develop self-worth, coping and resiliency skills, interpersonal boundaries, goals, critical thinking skills and resources for safe, healthy activities.
Positive Action: https://www.positiveaction.net/
Positive Action is a six-session program for youth that teaches valuable life skills about self-concept, positive actions for your mind and body, treating others the way you want to be treated, telling yourself the truth, improving yourself, and promoting positive and healthy lifestyles.
Reading to End Racism:
Reading to End Racism is a racial justice program that utilizes trained staff to read to children in the classroom and, through books and personal stories, stimulates an insightful conversation about discrimination. Examples of books used in the program include Four Feet Two Sandals, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, The Crayon Box that Talked and I am Malala. Our goal is to empower students to stand up and speak out in the face of racism and discrimination whenever and wherever they encounter it. RER aims to provide students with the tools necessary to facilitate conversations about racism, bullying, and discrimination, and the resources needed to create solutions to conflict in their schools. We believe that an enhanced understanding of social and racial justice issues will promote peaceful relationships among students and will create a safe, nurturing environment in which every student can thrive.
Second Step: Second Step Youth Prevention Program
Second Step® social-emotional learning (SEL) programs empower preschoolers, teens, and all ages in between to build skills for success. Choose from a cohesive family of research-based programs that work together to provide SEL throughout students’ developmental stages, and in both classroom and out-of-school time settings. In addition, our professional development program for educators brings the benefits of SEL to your staff and school culture, so everyone can thrive. This program can be used for Pre-K up to 5th grade.
Strengthening Families Program: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (iastate.edu)
Strengthening the Families 10-14 is a seven-session program for families with young adolescents that aims to enhance family protective and resiliency processes and reduce family risk related to adolescent substance abuse and other problem behaviors.
Too Good for Drugs: Substance Use Prevention – Mendez Foundation (toogoodprograms.org)
Skill development is at the core of Too Good for Drugs, a universal K-12 prevention education program designed to mitigate the risk factors and enhance protective factors related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use. The lessons introduce and develop social and emotional skills for making healthy choices, building positive friendships, developing self-efficacy, communicating effectively, and resisting peer pressure and influence. Too Good for Drugs teaches five essential social and emotional learning skills, which research has linked with healthy development and academic success: Setting Reachable Goals, Making Responsible Decisions, Bonding with Pro-Social Others, Identifying and Managing Emotions, and Communicating Effectively.
Too Good for Drugs and Violence Afterschool: Too Good Programs – Mendez Foundation
Too Good for Drugs and Violence Afterschool is an evidence-based violence-prevention/character education program that improves student behavior and minimizes aggression. It helps students learn the skills they need to get along peacefully with others. The program promotes a “CAREing” approach to violence prevention which includes lessons on conflict resolution, anger management, respect for self and others, drug awareness and community involvement, and effective communication.
Vaping Prevention Plus Wellness: Vaping Prevention Plus Wellness Program
Vaping Prevention Plus Wellness is an evidence-informed intervention program. It’s the country’s only single session e-cigarettes prevention program designed to increase wellness-enhancing behaviors including physical activity, sport participation, healthy eating, getting adequate sleep, and practicing stress control. It can be implemented in any setting where youth are found in high schools or middle schools.
We Know BETter: We Know BETter – Compass Mark
We Know BETter is a skill building program that help students in 4th through 6th grades live lives free of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and gambling. This program addresses the media’s influence on decision making, perception of peer use and engagement in risky behaviors, and understanding that gambling is a risky behavior. Through this gambling prevention program, participants will build skills including effective decision making, developing resilience, stepping up for others, refusal skills and compassion for others.
Women's Circle: Women's Circle - One Circle Foundation
Women's Circle is a program for adult women that adapted from the Girls Circle program, which is a program for girls 4th-12th grade. A variety of topics are discussed in small groups with a facilitator based on topics such as Who I am, Being a Well Woman, and Relationships. These topics are facilitated through discussion, creative activities, and skill building in the areas of relationships, self-care, clarifying purpose, goal setting, money, conflicts, skills in work and professional life, etc. Women can gain self-esteem, confidence, and the power to live according to their true values. Participating allows individuals to empower themselves when it comes to their vital roles within the community and society. Lastly, the women who participate grow through and toward relationships as they share diverse strengths and capabilities that shape their lives and their communities.
For more information about YWCA Prevention Education please contact Ashli at aservis@ywcabucks.org