EPIC Protects and Empowers Our Youth
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Youth prevention programs implemented by the EPIC Coalition:
Empower UP is our Youth Assistance Fund to support under-resourced students with their basic needs. EPIC understands that every youth requires support that meets them where they are. For children and young adults who are disadvantaged by their economic situation, the challenges can be overwhelming. Our mission to promote positive changes for our youth begins with removing barriers by ensuring basic needs are met and opportunities to excel are given. Whether it's providing a new pair of shoes, covering a sports registration fee, or ordering a cap & gown for a senior's graduation- EPIC's Empower UP program is dedicated to providing immediate and confidential assistance to our community's most vulnerable young people. https://www.epiclongview.org/resources/empowerup/
Youth-LED Action Grants are available to youth leaders (ages 11-20) who want to make a positive difference in their community. EPIC believes providing opportunities for youth to actively participate in meaningful activities will increase their protective factors while building their confidence, leadership, and understanding of giving back to the community. https://www.epiclongview.org/get-involved/youthgrants/
Alcohol Literacy Challenge™ (ALC) is an IOM Model “Universal” underage and binge drinking prevention program. It is the first classroom based alcohol prevention lesson that challenges students’ beliefs about the effects of drinking alcohol. www.alcoholliteracychallenge.com
Project SUCCESS (Schools Using Coordinated Community Efforts to Strengthen Students) is considered a SAMHSA model program that is a highly effective, school-based substance abuse prevention and early intervention program. It works by placing a highly trained professional (Project SUCCESS counselor) in the schools to provide a full range of substance abuse prevention and early intervention services. The counselors primarily work with adolescents individually and in small groups; conduct large group prevention/education discussions and programs, train and consult on prevention issues with school staff; coordinate the substance abuse services and policies of the school and refer and follow-up with students and families needing substance abuse treatment or mental health services in the community. www.sascorp.org/success
SPORT (Substance use Prevention Optimizing Robust Teens) Prevention Plus Wellness is a substance use prevention program designed to increase fitness, health and performance-enhancing behaviors like physical activity, sports participation, healthy eating, getting adequate sleep, and practicing stress control for youth. preventionpluswellness.com
Spring Youth Forum recognizes and rewards youth prevention teams that have implemented a successful prevention project within their communities. The Forum provides youth the opportunity to learn from others while showcasing their own education and planning skills. Youth teams share successes and lessons learned from projects commenced during or following the previous Prevention Summits or other youth trainings. The Prevention Summit and the Spring Youth Forum work in tandem to create momentum and help to encourage, reward and support youth-led prevention work in communities throughout Washington. springyouthforum.org
EPIC Youth Spotlight is a recognition program for youth to be nominated by community members or school staff for making a positive difference in their school or community. Youth will be recognized and rewarded.
Youth Leadership Summit is a collaboration with the Castle Rock CARE Coalition to implement the youth summit for middle school students focusing on up-to-date substance abuse information and leadership training.
Plant the Promise is just one project that EPIC sponsors each October during Red Ribbon Week. We distribute thousands of red tulip bulbs to students to take home and plant with their family. Planting the bulbs symbolizes the promise to live a healthy & drug-free life. When the tulips bloom every spring, it serves as a reminder of their commitment & the beauty of a drug-free life. https://www.redribbon.org/
EPIC Essay Contest encourages essay writing with the topic of ‘staying drug-free’ to students in the middle schools. Top 3 students will be awarded and recognized.
Summer Youth Leadership provides leadership activities during the summer to middle school youth in conjunction with summer school and the summer meals programs.
EPIC Encourages and Strengthens Families
FAMILY PROGRAMS
Family prevention programs implemented by the EPIC Coalition:
Incredible Years® Series is a set of interlocking, comprehensive, and developmentally based programs targeting parents, teachers and children. The training programs that compose Incredible Years® Series are guided by developmental theory on the role of multiple interacting risk and protective factors in the development of conduct problems. The programs are designed to work jointly to promote emotional, social, and academic competence and to prevent, reduce, and treat behavioral and emotional problems in young children. www.incredibleyears.com
Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is an evidence-based family skills training program for high-risk and general population families that is recognized both nationally and internationally. Parents and youth attend weekly SFP skills classes together, learning parenting skills and youth life and refusal skills. They have separate class training for parents and youth the first hour, followed by a joint family practice session the second hour. www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org
Parent Project® believes that parents are the answer. For over 30 years, Parent Project has worked with over ½ million parents raising difficult or out-of-control children. The programs are based on their experiences and successes. No matter how difficult the situation may be, The Parent Project is now the largest court mandated juvenile diversion program in the country and for agencies, the least expensive intervention program available today. www.parentproject.com
EPIC's Deserving Families Program sponsors children and families who need additional support due to the pandemic and other personal hardships. EPIC believes with the support of the community, families can begin to heal and help others through the telling and sharing of their stories.
EPIC Commits to Supporting Our Schools
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
School prevention programs implemented by the EPIC Coalition:
Student Assistance Prevention-Intervention Services Program (SAPISP) is a comprehensive, integrated model of services that focuses on substance-use prevention and other supports. The program places Student Assistance Professionals in schools to: Foster Safe School Environments; Promote Health; Prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse.
Specifically, the SAPISP provides early alcohol and other drug prevention and intervention services to students and their families. Assists in referrals to treatment providers. Strengthens the transition back to school for students who have had problems of alcohol and other drug abuse. Provides LifeSkills Training program and other evidence based prevention programs to middle schools and high schools to foster substance abuse prevention, intervention, and refusal skills development.
Drug Impairment Training for Educational Professionals (DITEP) is intended to provide school administrators, counselors and nurses with a systematic approach to recognizing and evaluating individuals in the academic environment who are abusing and impaired by drugs, both legal and illegal, in order to provide early recognition and intervention. The goal of the DITEP course is to enable educational professionals to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol impairment, in order to prevent an impaired student from driving away from campus and/or serve as a treatment intervention tool to reduce future instances of DWI. www.theiacp.org/ditep
Anti-Vaping School Campaign directed at high school students to address the vaping problem amongst youth and the negative impacts of use.
School Policies collaborates with the Longview School District to review and update the drug and alcohol discipline policy that meets OSPI standards and the students’ best well-being.
‘Darby’s Story’ is a presentation about youth substance abuse prevention shared by Frank Hoetker. “As a loving father who witnessed first-hand for 15 heart-breaking years my son’s battle with substance addiction, Darby finally succumbed to the Beast. I have made it my life’s mission to share Darby’s Story as his Messenger with teens and families exposed to this horrendous nightmare. My testimony contains pictures & actual writings by Darby as he rides the Beast’s tortuous roller coaster through destructive behaviors while grappling hard to overcome his addiction; family and friends fearfully holding on. My fervent hope is to awaken our teens to the consequences of substance abuse, driven to inspire a positive difference and direction in the quality of life for our precious young people.”
EPIC Builds Safe and Healthy Communities
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Community prevention programs implemented by the EPIC Coalition:
National Drug Take Back Day is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. It also addresses a major public health concern, opioid abuse.
On April 24th, the EPIC Coalition partnered with local law enforcement (Longview Police Department, Cowlitz Sheriff's Office, Kelso Police Department & Department of Corrections) to collect 676 pounds of prescription & over-the-counter medicine in just 4 hours!
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The Drug Take Back event happens twice a year in April and October. takebackday.dea.gov
Starts with One is a public awareness campaign designed to inform and educate young adults, their parents, and older adults about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe storage, use, and disposal. Look for the Starts with One campaign in our community! getthefactsrx.com
Responsible Liquor & Cannabis Retailer Education is a collaboration with the WA State Liquor and Cannabis Board to provide education and training to local liquor and cannabis retailers. lcb.wa.gov
Strategic Prevention Framework
EPIC follows the Strategic Prevention Framework:
1) Assess specific community problems 2) Build capacity to address the issues 3) Create action plan 4) Implement prevention projects and strategies 5) Complete evaluation to determine level of impact.
Throughout the process, EPIC strives towards cultural competency and sustainable efforts. This framework allows us to implement prevention strategies with the greatest positive impact on our community.
Partner with Us
In order to become a partner with the EPIC Coalition, please provide your information in the form below.
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