Prevention Plus educates the Burlington County community that alcoholism, drug abuse and tobacco use are preventable, identifiable and treatable. We are committed to replace the denial and lack of understanding about substance abuse with accurate information concerning the symptoms, effects and treatment of addiction. The professional staff of Prevention Plus provides a comprehensive menu of science based prevention education programs to community groups, human service agencies, educators, municipal alliances, businesses, special populations and to the general public. We strive to ensure the continued effectiveness of our programs through comprehensive evaluation measures.

For more information about any of the following programs, or for information on how we can design a program specifically to meet your needs, please call (609) 261-0001.

Bridge to Success

The Bridge to Success is designed to meet the needs of economically disadvantaged adults with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems. This program utilizes the SAMHSA Model Program, Coping with Work and Family Stress. The program consists of 8 sessions, each of which is 2 hours in duration. The purpose of the Bridge to Success is to teach individuals how to develop and apply effective coping strategies to deal with work and family stress. This program emphasizes the role of stress, coping and social support in relation to the occurrence of substance abuse and psychological symptoms. the program teaches (1) methods that can modify sources of stress, (2) techniques to modify cognitive as well as appraisal processes that exacerbate stress and (3) skills to manage stress by reducing the use of avoidance coping behaviors while increasing active behvioral coping skills.

Bridge to Families

This program is designed to help parents/guardians and children reduce conflict and improve communication. Participants will receive personal life management training in such areas as decision making skills, coping with stress, social skills and ATOD specific education. Each family attends one cycle of 7 sessions with follow up sessions provided. Each meeting is composed of a 3 hour session which includes a family dinner, group sessions for children and separate group sessions for the caregivers. Children and their caregivers meet together at the end of each session to practice the skills that they have learned. Bridge to Families is designed to help parents practice limit setting with love and to help children develop critical life and social skills

Bridge to Hope

Bridge to Hope is designed to decrease isolation and loss and increase the quality of life of older adults at risk for substance abuse throughout Burlington County. These goals are accomplished by providing prevention services to older adults in the general population, to older adults identified as at risk for substance abuse due to isolation and loss (including an individual assessment and follow up educational sessions), to caregivers of these at risk older adults and to providers of services to older adults.

Communities Against Tobacco

Prevention Plus administers a coalition of community-based organizations including youth groups and other concerned citizens dedicated to reducing the number of youth who begin smoking, reducing the exposure of the public to environmental tobacco smoke, supporting programs that help adults and youth quit smoking and providing tobacco prevention and control programs to diverse and underserved populations.

Congregation Assistance Program

The religious community, by virtue of its entry into the lives of many people, has the ability to influence them in marvelous and amazing ways. Clergy and local faith communities have a unique opportunity to reach out and help individuals and families suffering from substance dependency and related problems. Prevention Plus provides training and follow-up support activities for faith communities who wish to take a proactive stance with regard to substance abuse and related problems. The Congregational Assistance Program is a structured prevention and early intervention ministry in which core teams are trained to be resources on alcohol and other drug dependence and to promote health lifestyles through education, outreach and referral.

Professional Development Training

Prevention Plus provides staff development and training to community agencies in order to enhance the ability of the Burlington County community to address the full range of needs of our diverse population. Because the field of wellness is constantly changing with new insights in the field of addiction there is an urgent need for staff and volunteers to receive continuing education in the field of addiction prevention and treatment.

REBEL

Prevention Plus administers a county-wide youth group which is a youth-led, youth-driven, anti-tobacco coalition whose mission is to reach, educate and empower the youth of New Jersey to make healthy lifestyle decisions and support non-smoking norms.

School Based Programs

Prevention Plus offers school based programs for grades K through 12. These programs help children/youth learn about feelings, respect, decision making and accurate information regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through interactive modalities. These programs include ATOD Fact or Fiction, Heroin: The Ride That Never Ends, Pre Prom/Pre Graduation Program, Parenting for Prevention, Anger Management, Bully Prevention, Conflict Resolution, Fatal Vision Goggles Program and Family Prevention Practices. Also provided are Professional Development (In-service) Programs and Administrative Assistance in School Policy development for professional staff.

Training Institute

Prevention Plus provides courses certified by the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey, Inc. for those seeking to be certified or licensed as drug and alcohol counselors. These courses are also open to any interested individuals. The Fast Track Program allows the participant to complete all educational requirements within two years.

We Check for 21 and We Check for 21 Too

Prevention activities directed toward causing environmental changes related to access of alcohol by underage youth include “We Check for 21!” and “We Check for 21 Too!”. The “We Check for 21!” program is part of a statewide effort whose goal is decreasing the number of young people in New Jersey under twenty-one years of age who are using and abusing alcohol. Through a collaborative effort unifying communities across the state, this project promotes and builds a positive relationship between law enforcement, private retailers, parents and adolescents around the laws and issues of underage drinking. Under this program, Burlington County licensed liquor establishments sign pledges stating that they will consistently ask for identification when serving young customers. Upon signing the pledge, the establishment receives promotional and educational materials to assist them in implementing their pledge. The “We Check for 21 Too!” program incorporates parents and families who pledge to provide an alcohol free environment in their homes for teenage parties which they may host. Resource materials including information on how to talk to youth about alcohol, information on underage drinking laws and penalties and promotional stickers are available to participating families.

The professional staff of Prevention Plus will collaborate with all interested and concerned individuals and groups in Burlington County in order to design educational programs and advocacy efforts that will meet specific community needs. For further information regarding the programs and services available through Prevention Plus and to make an appointment to visit our Resource Center, please call (609) 261-0001.

Drug Free Workplace

Prevention Plus will work with county businesses to establish and implement drug free workplace policies. These policies may include drug testing procedures, policy meetings, policy construction, referral information, and policy presentations to workplace staff.