Evidence Based Trainings & Programs

Active Parenting for parents of children in grades kindergarten through six and Active Parenting of Teens for parents of teens in grades seven through twelve are perhaps the most effective programs ever offered in the “how to” of raising children. Both Active Parenting and Active Parenting of Teens are designed to equip parents with new skills and enhance the ones they already have in order to face the challenges during the lifeline journey as a parent. The video-based parent education series address age related issues and topics. YES Community Counseling Center hosts both programs for parents and guardians to help families communicate with their children and ensure healthy families in Nassau County.

YESCCC’s PACT Initiative has been working to build Nassau County’s Prevention Capacity Infrastructure and is in the process of rolling out its Active Parenting Series Train the Trainer curriculum for Nassau County’s parent educators and Social Services professionals with a focus on our LatinX community. With the help of our schools, community partners and coalitions and parent partners, we will develop new and culturally competent community of Active Parenting Educators in our Train the Trainer program. If you are a Parent Educator or Nassau County Social Service Professional (social workers, counselors, psychologists, etc.) interested in attending, please contact PACT at 516-799-3203 X230 for registration information. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis.

In collaboration with our partnering school districts and community coalitions, PACT supports local pediatricians administering Screening and Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) during our student’s annual pediatric health visit. SBIRT is a set of tools doctors and pediatricians use to help identify alcohol or drug problems in young people and guide intervention if a problem exists. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), compared to people in other age groups, adolescents are at the highest risk for experiencing health problems related to substance use (Committee on Substance Abuse, 2015), and the potential benefits of identifying substance use and intervening to reduce or prevent it are substantial. Our youth begin drinking alcohol as early as age eleven (2020-21 PACT Schools’ DFC Core Measures Survey Report for Youth Grades 6-12 for Farmingdale School District, Island Trees School District, Levittown Public Schools and Massapequa Public Schools (2020-21 PSDFCCMSR) .

While many parents talk with their child regarding the dangers of underage drinking and substance use, only 50% of PACT Schools’ parents actually do (2020-21 PSDFCCMSR). Since most adolescents (95.6%) have contact with a doctor or healthcare professional annually and consider physicians an authoritative source of knowledge about alcohol and drugs, they are receptive to discussing substance use with them (Adolescent Health in the US ). The AAP also views pediatric care providers playing a critical, ongoing role in the lives of their adolescent patients and have a unique opportunity to educate them about the dangers of substance use and to influence their behaviors (Substance Use Screening and Intervention Implementation Guide). The AAP also recommends screening for substance use in children, starting at nine years of age (Centers for Disease Control).

Pediatricians, nurses and healthcare professionals are encouraged to attend PACT’s SBIRT Trainings that are held throughout the year. The trainings are presented in collaboration with Northwell Health. To learn more, contact PACT at 516-799-3203 X230.

PACT offers to Colleges and Universities FREE BASICS Training (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students), an evidence-based prevention intervention for College Students (ages 18-24) who drink alcohol heavily and/or have experienced or are at risk for alcohol-related problems such as poor class attendance, missed assignments, accidents or violence. PACT offers BASICS training FREE for mental health professionals, nurses, coaches and licensed substance prevention providers who work with college students ages 18-24.

A Harm Reduction Approach, BASICS aims to motivate students to reduce alcohol use in order to decrease the negative consequences of drinking and live a healthier and safer lifestyle. BASICS is designed to help students make better choices. The program’s style is empathic, not confrontational or judgmental and reduces the adverse effects of alcohol consumption; promotes reduced drinking; promotes healthier choices among young adults; and provides important information and coping skills for risk reduction.

During COVID-19, BASICS is offered via a virtual platform over two-days from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Approved for: 10 credits for Social Work CEU’s, NYS OASAS CPP/CPS/CASAC credentialing and renewal Administrative fee for Social Work CEU Credits is $10 per credit. For more information on BASICS or to schedule a training for your college/university, please email pact@yesccc.org or call (516) 799-3203 x230 

PACT is proud to partner with the Long Island Prevention Resource Center, to provide Teen Intervene Training, an evidence-based, comprehensive program for teenagers who have experienced mild to moderate problems associated with alcohol or drug use. Teen Intervene is an effective tool for anyone skilled at working with youth in many settings, including: school social workers, counselors/health professionals, psychologists, teachers, guidance counselors, nurses, coaches or licensed Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment providers. Participants should have formal training in basic counseling skills, as well as a basic understanding of the etiology, course and treatment of adolescent alcohol and substance abuse and work with youth ages 12-19.

At the end of this training participants will be able to explain seven key clinical skills of effective adolescent counseling; describe developmental characteristics of adolescents; explain how brain development affects adolescent behavior; give an overview of the background and research behind brief intervention; apply the basic tools of brief intervention, including motivational enhancement techniques (MET); identify the pros and cons of substance use with the adolescent; and develop short terms goals with the adolescent to reduce and/or abstain from alcohol and other substances 

Teen Intervene is approved for Social Work CEU’s*, CPP/CPS credentialing and CASAC re-credentialing hours. For more information or to register for our next Teen Intervene Training, contact PACT at 516-799-3203 x230 or pact@yesccc.org.

Whether your business serves or sells alcohol in a restaurant, bar, liquor store or convenience store, you are an essential part of keeping our communities safe.

PACT offers local off-premise (convenience stores, grocery stores, liquor stores, etc.) or on-premise (bars, restaurants, etc.) businesses and their employees, FREE Virtual Training, an alcohol training awareness program approved by the New York State Liquor Authority. Our TIPS training, delivered by our PACT Team, provides businesses and their employees with the knowledge and confidence to also recognize potential alcohol-related problems and effectively intervene to prevent alcohol-related tragedies. TIPS not only enhances fundamental “people skills” of servers and sellers of alcohol, it educates how to serve and sell alcohol responsibly and profitably.

TIPS certification is valid for three years, accepted statewide in New York and reduces your business’ exposure to alcohol liability while improving customer service. Businesses and organizations that use TIPS benefit immediately by lowering risk and creating a safer, more responsible work environment. In addition, TIPS training can:

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD), a universal K-12 prevention education program, is designed to mitigate the risk factors and enhance protective factors related to alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) use. The TGFD lessons introduce and develop social and emotional skills for making healthy choices, building positive friendships, developing self-efficacy, communicating effectively and resisting peer pressure and influence. Curriculum, to be updated in June 2021, fosters analysis and discussion of the effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use including prescription and OTC drug misuse and vaping THC and nicotine. The Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) is facilitated by YES’ social workers in the Massapequa School District elementary grade levels. This program builds on students’ resiliency by teaching them how to be socially competent and autonomous problem solvers. The program is designed to benefit everyone in the school by providing needed education in social and emotional competencies and by reducing risk factors and building protective factors that affect students in these age groups. To learn more about bringing Too Good For Drugs to your school, contact Corinne Alba at (516) 799-3203 x122.