Summit Prevention Alliance champions two youth prevention initatives:
This is Us
This is US is the Summit County Social Norms Project, an innovative prevention program that aims to increase healthy behaviors among Summit Middle School and Summit High School students. The project involves a community-wide, multi-media marketing campaign that broadcasts positive majority statistics as a way to strengthen the healthy norms of our youth. The social norms approach is a research-based practice that has produced remarkable results in reducing alcohol and tobacco use on college campuses, in communities, targeting high school age children, and statewide.
Research shows that if students perceive an unhealthy behavior, like underage drinking, to be typical or the norm, they tend to alter their behaviors to fit the norm, even if it isn’t reality. Most Summit County students are making healthy choices, but they do not know that they are “most students” or the majority.
By correcting misperceptions through a positive and intensive media campaign, utilizing Summit Middle School and Summit High School student data gathered from an anonymous online survey, This is US will in turn increase healthy behaviors.
Want to see some media examples? (Go on, Check them out…)
And…the Good News!
The This is US campaign started at Summit High School in 2002 and at Summit Middle School in 2004, and we have seen some great movement in the right direction. Survey results show statistically significant decreases in both perception of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, and self reported use. Students at both schools participate in the Hobart Williams and Smith Social Norms Alcohol and Other Drug Online Survey annually.
If you would like more information about our This is US campaign, please contact Holly Busnardo at 970-668-2077, or via email at holly@summitpreventionalliance.org
Asset Builders of the Summit
What are the developmental assets?
The developmental assets are essential building blocks that all young people need to succeed. As a scientifically proven set of skills, experiences, and relationships, the 40 assets, when nurtured in young people, provide powerful protection against involvement in risky behaviors. The more assets young people possess, the more likely they are to be involved in positive, healthy behaviors like valuing diversity, taking on leadership roles, and experiencing academic success.
40 Developmental Assets:
- Family Support
- Positive Family Communication
- Other Adult Relationships
- Caring Neighborhood
- Caring School Climate
- Parent Involvement in Schooling
- Community Values Youth
- Youth as Resources
- Service to Others
- Safety
- Family Boundaries
- School Boundaries
- Neighborhood Boundaries
- Adult Role Models
- Positive Peer Influence
- High Expectations
- Creative Activities
- Youth Programs
- Religious Community
- Time at Home
- Achievement Motivation
- School Engagement
- Homework
- Bonding to School
- Reading for Pleasure
- Caring
- Equality and Social Justice
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Responsibility
- Restraint
- Planning and Decision Making
- Interpersonal Competence
- Cultural Competence
- Resistance Skills
- Peaceful Conflict Resolution
- Personal Power
- Self-Esteem
- Sense of Purpose
- Positive View of Personal Future
Visit: www.search-institute.org for more information.