Dial Help provides age appropriate programs for local area schools.
Kindergarten through Second Grade:
B.A.B.E.S. (Beginning Alcohol Basic Education) puppet program has been presented and enjoyed in classrooms in the Copper Country for sixteen years. It continues to be our most requested school program. A series of stories using colorful hand puppets focuses on prevention skills such as making good decisions, understanding consequences, avoiding unhealthy substances, asking for help and handling feelings. Six sessions last approximately one half hour each; an optional seventh session addresses abuse and neglect. There is a fee of $200 per series for this program.
Third or Fourth Grade:
THE DRUG AVENGERS is a video-based curriculum using an upbeat cartoon series. This enjoyable program features three young time travelers from 100 years in the future. They are on a mission to change the course of history regarding substance abuse. Episodes, sometimes incorporating songs, cover topics such as the impacts of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse; refusal skills; being media wise about advertising; and making healthy choices. These topics are addressed in the context of character and asset development. The program is delivered in a series of six classroom sessions, lasting approximately one half hour each. Students process each episode with a follow-up, presenter-led discussion. There is a fee of $200 per series for this program.
Fifth Grade:
TAR WARS® is a two-session tobacco prevention curriculum of the American Academy of Family Physicians. This program is offered to all area fifth graders by Dial Help Prevention Services in collaboration with the Copper Country Tobacco-Free Coalition. The program is the recipient of the United States Secretary of Health Award (1990-1991) for “Outstanding community health promotion project”. This program is free in Houghton county for FY ’07.
Middle or High School:
G.A.M.E.S.: Growing Actively, Mentally, Emotionally, Socially is based on the principles of experiential learning. While students have fun with hands-on activities such as problem solving initiatives and competitions that only succeed if everybody wins, they learn lessons in team building, responsible decision-making and character education. The facilitator, Bob Darling, certified experiential educator, interweaves components of substance abuse and violence prevention with perspectives on personal development and class as community. There is a fee of $200 per series for this program.
PROJECT STARR (Students Talking About Responsible Relationships) is an empowerment group series of educational discussion groups for 12 to 18-year-old males and females. Small groups meet for 8 to 14 sessions per semester to examine healthy relationships and the impact and issues related to prevention of victimization. Participants are generally divided into gender and age specific groups. Members may self-refer or be referred by community/school professionals. There is no charge for this program.
DISCOVERY and CHALLENGE GROUPS are youth development groups for teens. Discovery serves at-risk youth in a collaboration with CLK school district. Small groups of students in CLK Middle School meet once a week during study hall for discussion sessions. The groups also participate in recreational outings, team building, and problem-solving initiatives as well as discussion to enhance self-awareness, self-efficacy, and character development. There is no charge to participants in the partner school.
LifeSkills: The LifeSkills Training program was developed by Dr. Gilbert J. Botvin, a psychologist at Cornell University, to provide an organized way for all young people to learn important skills that make them better prepared to deal with the challenges of life and be less likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs. Dial Help offers LifeSkills in classrooms or as part of the family support programs. Topics include: Self-Image and Self-Improvement; Making Decision;, Smoking: Myths and Realities; Smoking and Biofeedback; Alcohol: Myths and Realities; Marijuana: Myths and Realities; Advertising; Violence and the Media; Coping With Anxiety; Coping With Anger; Communication Skills; Social Skills; Assertiveness; Resolving Conflicts. There is no charge for this program.
DRIVER'S EDUCATION AND ALCOHOL SAFETY PRESENTATION is available to area schools for their driver training classes. The presentation is a single one-hour presentation including penalties for young drivers. There is a $50 fee for this program.
Outreach Programs:
Baby Basics is a Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention program. This one-session lesson is available to any group. May be presented as part of living skills classes, baby-sitter certification classes, parenting or community education programs in school or community settings. Funding is provided by the Superior Child Abuse and Neglect Coalition (Children’s Trust). This program is free in Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga counties.
Skills For Managing Anger® is designed to help participants cope with stress by teaching concepts and skills that enable them to manage their anger without resorting to aggression. Program objectives include: reduce verbal and physical aggression; empower youth and adults with positive anger-management skills; engage participants through interactivity and role-play; improve relationships; adapt to diverse audiences, including school, work or community programs; aid in bullying-prevention effort; feature research-proven “Tutored Video Instruction;” include relaxation skills practice. There is no charge for this program.
Alcohol Highway Safety (AHS) is an educational program for individuals who are court ordered to attend for motor vehicle offenses of driving while impaired or driving under the influence. There are two classes, four hours each, in this program. These are scheduled approximately every other month. There is a $100 fee for this program.
Alcohol (and other substances) Community Education for Success (ACES) is a small-group education program for individuals referred by family court, the WUPSAS assessment service, schools, employers, family or persons self-referred. Participants will learn to identify risk factors and patterns of behavior indicative of substance misuse. Who should attend? Underage substance users or persons beginning to experience problems associated with substances affecting them in school, workplace, home or community settings. Participants will learn the risks of substance misuse and explore the motivation and thought processes involved in their own decision-making regarding the choice to use.
Victim Impact Panel / VIP is a two-hour presentation by a panel made up of speakers that have seen the effects of alcohol-impaired driving. Speakers may include law enforcement, emergency medical technicians, substance abuse professionals, and primary victims or family members of alcohol- related traffic offenses/accidents. A short video may also be shown, and a discussion may follow the panel presentation. Who should attend? First-time, impaired-driving offenders who have a court referral; Minor In Possession offenders who have a court referral. Other government agencies or employers may also refer. Panels are scheduled only when a sufficient number of referrals are received. There is a $20 fee for this program.
