Student Assistance Services

This program is designed to reduce the risks of alcohol, drug abuse, addictions, and violence by providing adolescents with the confidence and skills necessary to overcome challenging situations.

Students work together—reinforcing desirable behaviors (called PAX) and inhibiting unwanted behaviors (called Spleems). Over the course of months, children develop agency—the ability to influence their world for the better. Students reduce impulsivity, leading to ability to delay gratification for a higher purpose. These skills increase their pro-social behavior and self-regulation, paving the way for remarkably better immediate and lifetime academic, behavioral/health, and positive lifetime outcomes (e.g., graduation from high school, university entry, gainful employment). PAX also develops and strengthens peer networks to improve relationships now, in the future, with lower risk of self-harm or harm to others.

This program was established by a globally recognized non- profit group known as the Committee for Children. It was created to help adolescents develop positive relationships; understand, manage, and express their emotions and empathy; and provide tools for making responsible decisions.

Substance use Prevention Optimizing Robust Teens (SPORT) is designed to allow adolescents to identify wellness behaviors, make goals to improve their health and fitness, participate in sports, and acquire techniques for managing stress.

Our new Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention & Awareness Curriculum, which is part of the Stanford Cannabis Awareness & Prevention Toolkit, is a 5-lesson theory-based and evidence-informed curriculum created by the Stanford REACH Lab as well as by our Youth Action Board, educators, healthcare providers, and scientists across the U.S.

Designed as a voluntary comprehensive screening, intervention, and referral to treatment program, Teen Intervene allows adolescents between the ages of 12-19 who have experienced problems with alcohol and other drug use to work with a counselor and seek intervention.

This program teaches adolescents how to develop the social and emotional learning skills necessary for conflict resolution, bullying prevention, and treating themselves and others with respect. Pivot oversees Too Good for Violence at various playgrounds and summer programs across Jefferson County.