Education and Prevention Programs

Paws Up For Prevention
Our staff are committed to providing education and prevention programming to all members of our community. Our Prevention Specialist works alongside Youth Services staff to bring awareness and substance misuse and prevention education to youth, adult community members, senior residents, as well as students in the Tolland school system. One instrumental initiative in spreading this message is our Paws Up For Prevention campaign. Using Therapy Dog Lincoln as our mascot, we have used this initiative to spread important messages to community members! Lincoln works to spread important messages like those presented by his friend Gizmo, a fellow Therapy Dog, who is the mascot for the Connecticut Suicide Prevention Campaign. Check out Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health and Guía de Gizmo para la Salud Mental (en espanol). 
 
Youth Advisory Board 
The Tolland Youth Advisory Board works with the Tolland Local Prevention Council (LPC) and helps to advise and make recommendations for Tolland Youth Services Programming. The LPC is comprised of a group of representatives from town departments, local faith-based organizations, the non-profit sector, the local health department and the Tolland School system. The LPC promotes substance abuse awareness, education, and prevention programs. Youth on the board establish and maintain connections to LPC members and provide the youth perspective when developing programming and events. This is a great opportunity for community involvement and service hours! 
Interested in joining the Tolland Youth Advisory Board? If you would like to join, please contact Youth Services at 860-871-3612.
 

Freshman Orientation Club Fair August 2024
New freshman students had the chance to learn about Tolland Youth Services and the Youth Advisory Board. Participating is a great way to earn community service hours towards graduation or honors society requirements. Youth have the opportunity to plan events and programming that they want to see in the community!

Tolland High School Open House September 2024
Staff spent time talking to parents about the programs and community service hours available by participating in Youth Services' Programs and the Youth Advisory Board. Most importantly, staff discussed the importance of knowing what is available as nearby as the local convenience stores, where teens are able to purchase snacks including THC. 

National Prevention Week: May 12-18 2024
Educational Fair 
Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Prevention Week is a public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country that are preventing substance use and misuse and promoting positive mental health. This year’s National Prevention Week tagline, “A Celebration of Possibility,” is about communities coming together to celebrate the possibilities and brighter futures that exist thanks to the ongoing work of prevention happening across the country. Tolland's Local Prevention Council (LPC) and Youth Advisory Board were excited to be taking part in this important national event. An educational fair took place during lunch waves at Tolland High School Monday May 13th- Thursday May 16th, with each day focusing on one of the following topics: Alcohol, Marijuana/Edibles, Vaping/Tobacco Products, and Mental Health. Thank you to our Substance Free Sponsors- the local businesses who helped to make our National Prevention Week a success in Tolland! We also appreciate the support of our Board of Education, Town Council, and Human Services Department who partnered with the Local Prevention Council and Youth Advisory Board to recognize this important public education initiative.

Hidden in Plain Sight 
Hidden in Plain Sight is an interactive community awareness program designed to educate parents and guardians on the signs of potential substance use. The program is a hands-on learning experience that allows participants to experience current trends which could be signs of risky behavior. This presentation allows parents, grandparents, teachers, caregivers and other adults the opportunity to examine a mock teenager’s bedroom to identify and examine paraphernalia and hiding places along with other signs that may indicate alcohol or other substance use by a teen. The program offers strategies to talk to youth about alcohol and drugs and what to do is a problem is suspected. The Hidden in Plain Sight workshop was last offered at Tolland High School on November 2 & 3, 2023.

Contact Youth Services at (860) 871-3612 for additional information regarding education and prevention programs.