Intervention and/or Curriculum
Positive Action Curriculum/Substance Misuse Prevention
Positive Action Curriculum is uniquely aligned with the purpose of IHCP, which is to support wellbeing and prevent substance misuse. The goals of Positive Action are to reduce anxiety and depression; reduce substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs); improve self‐control; improve social problem solving; improve academics (math, reading, science); reduce behaviors that require disciplinary actions; reduce bullying behaviors and violence; reduce likelihood of being suspended or dropping out of school; reduce likelihood to solve problems aggressively; and reduce likelihood to cause damage to school property. The number of lessons by grade are as follows: 5th grade (21 lessons), 6th grade (22 lessons), 7th grade (20 lessons), and 8th grade (22 lessons). Each lesson is approximately 15 minutes in duration, and 3 lessons are taught consecutively during a 1‐hour education session to entire classrooms of students or to participants in small to medium‐sized groups (e.g., 10‐15).
- Locations: United ISD and Zapata County ISD (see table on page 2 for specific school/site information)
Mindfulness Positive Alternative Activities
Positive alternatives are one of the six (6) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) strategies that provide fun, challenging, and structured activities with supervision, so people have constructive and healthy ways to enjoy free time and learn skills. Mindfulness refers to a nonjudgmental state of awareness of things that are happening in the present, which includes a person’s thoughts, feelings, and senses. Teaching mindfulness to youth can have many benefits including improvement in attention, memory, mood, and socially appropriate behavior, and reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms. Mindfulness Positive Alternative Activities are provided to participants taking part in Positive Action lessons. Each participant will take part in at least four (4) Mindfulness Positive Alternative Activities for a duration of thirty (30) minutes each. Each activity will be provided after every third Positive Action lesson.
- Locations: United ISD and Zapata County ISD (see table below for specific school/site information)
Ages
- Ages 10-15 (youth in grades 5-8), Screenings ages 16-25
Population Served
Proposed
- Youth in poverty, at risk for substance use, speak a language other than English, lower graduation rates.
FY24 Q1, FY24 Q2, & FY24 Q3
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Question (LGBTQ+)
- Rural populations
- Youth and young adults, their parents/caregivers, and members of their support system residing in Webb and Zapata County, located in Southwest Texas along the border with Mexico. Hispanic individuals and individuals who speak a language other than English at home.
City or Counties Served: Webb and Zapata Counties
Region: Region 11
SCAN Innovative Healing Centered-Project School and Community Sites
