KIDS OF PROMISE (YOUTH)
In-Person

This is a small group, psycho-educational support meeting for students who are affected by a friend or loved one’s substance use. Meetings are facilitated by Caron’s Student Assistance Program. Parent/guardian permission is required to participate in this 8-week series. Kids of Promise was developed for adolescents whose families have been impacted by addiction, and is very positively regarded by Scituate youth who have participated. KOP’s mission is to help participants benefit from support; learn to positively cope with their environments; and establish healthy boundaries and decision-making skills for the future. Topics covered include:

  • Identification of feelings associated with addiction in the family.

  • Recognizing healthy choices and developing coping skills.

  • The disease model of addiction.

  • Effective communication skills.

  • Self-esteem building techniques.

  • Drug and alcohol prevention.

  • Positive relationship building.

    Read more about KOP here. To register, please contact: Lindsay Newton at Gates or Jen Lopes at SHS.
    Permission slip.

Satell Program for Children & Teens (YOUTH)
Virtual

Caron’s Satell Children & Teens Program supports children ages 7-17 impacted by substance use disorder in their family. This curriculum-based and skill-building program allows students to gain strength and understanding in a confidential setting from peers and provides them with the tools necessary to thrive despite challenges. The program is similar to the "Kids of Promise" program through schools. The 4-week program is virtual and will be facilitated by Caron’s Satell Program Specialists. Parent/caregiver permission is required in order for the child to participate. Cost is $25 for 4 week program; financial assistance available. Please register directly on Caron website


MARIJUANA INTERVENTION & SUPPORT (YOUTH)
Virtual only

This small group, psycho-educational support meeting for students to explore their own choices around marijuana use. This is a supportive opportunity designed to empower students with the tools necessary to make more positive choices. Participants will work on difficult decision-making, self-esteem, stress management, resiliency, goal-setting and motivation to change.

Marijuana Intervention & Support Virtual Group Overview:

Week 1: Promoting Group Introductions and Bonding
Objective: This session will help the students get to know one another, learn about the rules and objectives of the group and determine their individual motivators for quitting marijuana use.

  • Introduction of yourself, the group process, objectives, and group rules including confidentiality

  • Ice Breaker- “M&M Icebreaker”

  • Have an Open Mind

  • My Motivation to Quit

  • My Mini Goals

  • Pre-Assessment

Week 2: Don’t Gamble With Your Health
Objective: Students will exercise decisional balancing regarding marijuana use, learn about the potential harm marijuana use can cause to their brains and bodies, and participate in interactive activities to demonstrate the effects of THC in the body and to experience how THC interferes with memory formation.

  • Ice Breaker- Pros and Cons of Marijuana Use

  • Marijuana’s Lasting Effects

  • Messing with Memory

  • Marijuana Trivia Questions

Week 3: The Consequences of Use
Objective: Students will learn about the stages that drug use progresses through and will define consequences they have already suffered due to their use and potential consequences they could suffer if changes are not made.

  • Ice Breaker - Consequences of Marijuana Use questions

  • Wheel of Consequences

  • The Stages of Use

  • The Loss Activity

Week 4: Coping with Triggers for Use
Objective: Students will learn to identify triggers to marijuana use and techniques for coping with and resisting urges such as positive self-talk, talking with supports, and engaging in distracting activities.

  • Ice Breaker- Choice of three activities

  • Rationlizations

  • Identifying Triggers

  • Patterns of Use

  • Plan for Triggers

  • "What If…” scenarios

Week 5: Developing Refusal Skills and Gaining Support
Objective: Students will discuss social pressure, the need for immediate and effective action, ways to say “no” quickly and convincingly, and avoidance of making excuses. The group leader will role-play ineffective (passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive) and effective (assertive) verbal and nonverbal responses. Students will identify potential supporters and kinds of support they could offer. Students will envision the positive impact of living marijuana-free.

  • Ice Breaker- Find the Numbers or Reach for the Stars

  • Enhancing Social Supports

  • Social Pressures

  • Role-Playing Response Styles

  • Future Self Letter

Week 6: Anger Management and Relaxation Skills Training
Objective: In this session, participants will evaluate the relationship between anger/stress and marijuana use. They will look at situations that make them angry & cause them stress, and will discuss positive ways to deal with these feelings and situations.

  • Ice Breaker– “How Angry Would you be If…”

  • Breaking the Anger Chain

  • Coping Skills Brainstorm

  • Tension Relaxation Technique

Week 7: Coping With Uncomfortable Feelings
Objective: In this session, participants will learn the effects of automatic negative thoughts that could lead to relapse, and practice techniques for substituting positive thoughts for negative ones. Students will be encouraged to use problem-solving skills to resolve situations that contribute to depressed feelings and boredom.

  • Ice Breaker- Hi/Low

  • Are you motivated?

  • Boredom Busters

  • Think Positive

  • Combating Automatic Negative Thoughts

Week 8: Effective Problem-Solving Skills & Review
Objective: Group members develop problem-solving strategies for handling situations that place them at risk for a “slip” or relapse. Students set long term goals for their futures with short term steps for how to achieve the goals to further motivate them to stay free of marijuana.

  • Ice Breaker- “Professional or 4 Year old” or “My Role Model” activity

  • Penny Stacker Problem-Solving activity

  • Problem-Solving

  • Real Life Practice Situation for Problem-Solving

  • Jeopardy

  • Closing Activity and Post Assessment

    Print Permission Slip

    For more information, please contact: Jen Lopes at SHS.Print Flyer

The Upper Course Program at Independence Academy
Students struggling with cannabis use, or in need of more support, may consider a short term program at the recovery high school in Brockton for 1-45 days. This is an affordable self-pay program, with possible scholarship available to families through the Friends of Scituate FACTS or South Shore Peer Recovery.Please contact Principal Ryan Morgan for more information.


“Virtually ConnectEd” PROJECT CONNECT (YOUTH)
Nicotine Cessation Support Group
Virtual
The main goal of the Project CONNECT group is to help adolescents plan, prepare, and develop skills that will help them find their own success through the quitting process. The program utilizes a well-studied “Stages-of-Change” approach to identify the stage each participant is in upon entering the program. Trained facilitators will assess each participant’s readiness to change and help them move along the continuum with support and encouragement throughout the program. Participants will meet in a small group for one hour, once a week for 6 weeks, to discuss topics such as the health effects of vaping and nicotine use, goal setting, decision making, healthy lifestyle choices, resilience, stress management and social skills. The program will increase their knowledge and awareness of the cycle of addiction and the benefits of quitting.


GOSNOLD REACHING OUT FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (18+)
Hybrid Group Open to All Communities
This weekly drop-in group is open to all communities. Substance misuse affects the whole family unit. Education and support is helpful for family members and concerned significant others to understand addiction, treatment options, and stages of recovery. Gosnold Family Support Group is currently meeting in-person at South Shore Peer Recovery, 51 Cole Parkway, on Sundays from 11:00am-12:30pm. Participants have the option to join virtually as well: https://zoom.us/j/499635631. Meeting ID: 499 635 631. Password: sspr. Or dial in at (929) 205-6099.
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LOVED ONES RAISING LOVED ONES (CAREGIVERS + YOUTH)
Support Group for all SPS families - We hope to resume this group during the 2024-25 school year.
This family group normally meets during the school year, on the second Tuesday of the month at Jenkins Elementary School. Many children in Scituate are being raised by grandparents or family members other than their biological parents. This group is designed to address the issues that are common for family members raising other family member’s children, and for children being raised by loved ones other than their parents. Children of all ages and their caregivers start with a pizza dinner, followed by separate groups with the School Counselors. Funding for pizza and crafts has been provided by the Friends of Scituate FACTS, and BeWell Studios and Scituate Health Services in the past.
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