Western Queens Prevention Services
Programs for Students
WQPS provides psycho-educational programs for children and youth (age 5 to 22) and parents focused on learning valuable skills that help children grow into well-adjusted adults and decrease the stress of parenting. Programs can operate in a variety of settings including schools, health and community centers. All of our services are completely FREE of charge.
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WQPS also provides individual short-term counseling and early intervention programs for youth that engaged into substance misuse.
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KG-2nd Grade
Too Good For Drugs
Too Good For Drugs (TGD) is an evidenced based school curriculum for children of various school ages. It is designed to teach children as young as kindergarten about important concepts such as
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effective communication
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creation of healthy friendships
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identifying safe spaces and behaviors
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identifying healthy foods
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mood management
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dealing with challenges
The elementary school children learn these concepts through interactive activities, such as games, puzzles, songs, drawing, and coloring.
3rd-12th
grade
Life Skills Training
Life Skills Training (LST) is a school based program that aims to prevent substance misuse by targeting the major social and psychological factors that often provoke substance use, as well as targeting other high-risk behavior.
Life Skills Training promotes healthy alternatives to risky behavior through activities designed to:
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Teach students the necessary skills to resist and overcome social pressures to smoke, drink, and use drugs.
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Help students to develop greater self-esteem and confidence.
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Increase knowledge and understanding of the real and immediate consequences of substance use and abuse.
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Provide methods to effectively deal with anxiety and stress.
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Enhance cognitive and behavioral fitness to reduce and prevent a variety of health risk behaviors.
5th
grade
Building Skills
Building Skills is a 12 lessons curriculum designed to help children avoid or reduce high-risk behaviors, including substance abuse, by improving their interpersonal and other skills, one hour a week for 12 weeks.
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Children are encouraged to practice their skills in everyday life, especially at home and at school.
Topics covered include:
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Self Esteem
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Goal Setting
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Decision Making
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Problem Solving
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Communication Skills
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Choosing Friends
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Stress/Anger Management
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Conflict Resolution and Assertiveness
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Substance Refusal Skills
High School
Too Good for Drugs and Violence-Social Perspective
Too Good for Drugs and Violence- Social Perspectives, High School (TGDV) is an evidence based curriculum for high school students and addresses topics that are vital for their continuous development and transition into a world of bigger independence.
The 3 units course offers students an opportunity to learn skills such as
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mood management
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problem solving
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relationships (including healthy dating and family bonding)
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conflict resolution
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respect for others and self
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goal setting
Additionally, students can study effects various substances have on their bodies and development.
Early Intervention
Teen Intervene
"Teen Intervene" is a structured program that targets youth, ages 12 to 19, who engage the early stages of substance use , but don't use drugs or alcohol frequently enough to start showing signs of substance use disorders. In a course of 3 to 6 sessions teens receive a brief intervention with the intention of preventing them from using alcohol or drugs again and to reduce other behavioral risks.
Therapeutic groups
Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET)
SSET an evidence-based program geared to help children and adolescents, ages 9-14, who have experienced traumatic or stressful events and struggle with processing their experiences. SSET helps participants to increase their coping skills, decrease their fears and avoidance, and to develop a new narrative about their trauma with a goal of improving their daily functioning. At the same time, SSET highlights the importance of building interpersonal connections and teaches pro-social skills.
During the 10 weeks sessions participants will learn:
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mindfulness techniques
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how to create new and healthy thinking strategies
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how to build resilience and learn understand their emotional responses
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how new narrative about their trauma narrative will help redefine their experiences.
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Please note that SSET is not a substitute for the individual therapy.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
During summer we offer children twice-a week engaging hands-on activities and social-emotional learning groups led by our dedicated staff to help children socialize, learn how to manage their moods and be creative. Participants are placed in age groups to create optimal learning environments for academic enrichment. For more information call us today!
