National Prevention Week, a week dedicated to bringing awareness to substance use prevention and positive mental health, will be celebrated from Monday through Friday.

Prevention Works offers services to youth that include its Too Good for Drugs program, Intervention Services/Teen Intervene, Life Skills Transitions, Prevention Plus Wellness (SPORT), PAX Good Behavior Game (GBG), and services for children of caregivers with substance use disorders. We also offer Awareness Presentations on topics such as bullying, vaping, alcohol literacy, communication skills, and coping with negative emotions.

Prevention services offered to adults include Triple P: Positive Parenting Program (Ages 0-12), Triple P for Teens, and Triple P Stepping Stones for parents with children that have special needs, PAX Community Tools, and Intervention Services. There are awareness presentations offered on topics such as Hidden in Plain Sight, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Current Trends, Stress Management, I’m Hurting Too (Children Living in a Chemically Dependent Home), and Team Awareness which is a customizable worksite prevention training program for employees.

For more information about Prevention Works programs and services, call Natasha Battle, director of programs and services, at 716-664-3608 or email natasha@preventionworks.us. To refer a child or acquaintance for Prevention Works services, fill out an online referral form at www.preventionworks.us/contact-referral-form.php.

“Prevention is a key component on helping families and communities develop resiliency by strengthening their knowledge and skills on social emotional learning and substance use prevention. Prevention helps protect youth and families and stops addiction before it starts,” said Melanie Witkowski, Prevention Works executive director

Since 1974, Prevention Works, a United Way partner agency, has been providing prevention education and community awareness on social emotional learning and substance use. Prevention Works is the only New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports approved and supported alcohol and other drug prevention agency in Chautauqua County. For more information call the Jamestown office at 716-664-3608 or the Dunkirk office at 716-366-4623 or visit www.preventionworks.us.