Description:

From identifying the myriad of stressors facing the nation’s youth, to overcoming stigma and expanding prevention efforts to address these growing concerns, there’s lots to unpack around teen substance use and mental health. Student assistance programs have never been more relevant than they are today. All too often we find that substance misuse is not firmly at the center of these conversations. This workshop will provide opportunities to refine your elevator speech to ensure that everyone in your community understands the critical role of student assistance services.

 Objectives:

• Describe the value of effectively communicating the potential outcomes and prevention benefits of the Rhode Island Student Assistance Program.
• Customize a prevention pitch, grounded in a specific need, for a variety of stakeholder groups.
• Effectively communicate prevention messages to parents, teachers and other community level stakeholders to increase their participation in prevention.