Thanks to the many generous donors who support Compass Mark’s mission to prevent addiction, Compass Mark is planning a new initiative that will make a big difference at three local schools. Compass Mark recently combined the Future Generations after-school program and the Leadership Institute to form the Leaders of Future Generations program, a blended school…
When the term “substance abuse” is mentioned, your mind likely goes to Pennsylvania’s much-publicized opioid crisis, but the issues of substance abuse are much broader. While they receive special attention in October during National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, these issues require attention all year round. That’s why Compass Mark’s dedicated Prevention Specialists work to build…
By Anne Schober, Youth Leadership Advocate I love summer. I love the idea of wearing flip-flops every day, soaking up the sun while sipping on lemonade, enjoying a refreshing dip in the pool, savoring Lancaster County sweet corn, catching fireflies and watching the sunset. . . summer is my season. And yet, October excites me….
As the new school year begins, Compass Mark is gearing up for prevention programming in partnership with area school districts in Lebanon and Lancaster counties. Effective and comprehensive school-based prevention programs help students develop social skills, decision-making skills and coping skills, all of which are important tools in avoiding potentially harmful behaviors. Children are often…
When many people hear the word “prevention” in the context of substance abuse, they may recall the prevention methods of yesteryear: emotionally charged school assemblies, disturbing photos of gruesome side effects or a health teacher that tried to “scare them straight.” These sorts of techniques have been proven to be largely ineffective, and they have…
Big brands that produce alcohol and tobacco products have seemingly unlimited marketing budgets. Watch TV, use the internet and social media, or just drive down the street and you’re exposed to content that makes smoking and drinking seem cool, or just ‘what people do.’ Try as they might, parents can’t shield children from all of…
Compass Mark took part in raising awareness for National Prevention Week last week. National Prevention Week is a week dedicated to increasing support for the prevention of mental health and substance use disorders. Compass Mark shared several of SAMHSA’s videos of individuals completing the 2018 Prevention Challenge: Dear Future Me. This challenged individuals to submit…
There’s strength in numbers, and Compass Mark is now part of a collaboration that brings together key organizations in Lancaster County’s efforts to reduce deaths from opioids and heroin. Joining Forces is a group of local government and community organizations that is working together to strengthen the great work already happening in communities throughout the…
Local children matter to you. That’s why you’re part of the Compass Mark community. You care about giving our youth meaningful experiences that help them grow their confidence and make positive choices. Summer programs available through Compass Mark offer a fun, safe environment and learning that has lifelong benefits. That’s right! Compass Mark’s work with…
Working in the helping professions isn’t easy. Doing so during an addiction epidemic is harder still. If hope doesn’t prevail, we cannot continue. Interventions for addiction fall along a continuum- from health promotion and prevention to treatment and finally, long-term support for recovery. We’d like to share hope today, and we find it at every…