PREVENTION
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Prevention Program at Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A) offers a variety of services to the community, schools, preschools, daycares and families to help build resiliency in hopes to prevent the onset of substance use and mental health concerns. Prevention focuses on helping individuals develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to make developmentally appropriate, safe and healthy choices. Substance use and mental health disorders can make daily activities difficult and impair a person’s ability to work, interact with family and fulfill other major life functions. Mental illness and substance use disorders are among the leading conditions that cause disabilities in the United States. In addition, drug and alcohol use can lead to other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Preventing mental health and/or substance use disorders and other related problems is critical to Americans’ behavioral and physical health.
TRIPLE P LEVELS OFFERED
ECMC builds protective factors in young children, increases skills of parents and promotes the competencies of early childhood providers for children ages birth to six years. ECMHC targets the healthy, social and emotional development of all young children to ensure they thrive and are ready for school.
SERVICES OFFERED
EARLY CHILDHOOD MIDDLE CHILDHOOD
OPEPP
OPEPP is a free, statewide program that aims to reduce the rate of expulsions in preschool age children. If you are a parent or a provider, please visit the website.
for more information prior to requesting a free consultation. This service is available as last report for those student who are most at risk of being expelled, removed or expulsed from their current education setting in order to offer immediate onsite consultation in order to personalized classroom strategies and offer additional resource for both the student, center, family and teacher in order to maintain placement. The hotline telephone number is: (844) 678-2227.
INCREDIBLE YEARS
Incredible Years Dina Dinosaur curriculum is offered to the local school districts in Stark County in order to strengthen children’s social, emotional and academic competencies. These skills are taught in fun ways using puppets, special activities, books, and games using real life events from the classroom and playground to discuss and practice new skills. The competencies embedded within this curriculum include: understanding and communicating feelings, using effective problem-solving strategies, managing anger.
LIFESKILLS TRAINING
LifeSkills Training is a highly effective curriculum that has been proven to help increase self-esteem, develop healthy attitudes, and improve knowledge of essential life skills, all of which promote healthy and positive personal development. Within this program students will: learn personal self-management skills, develop skills that enhance self-esteem, develop problem-solving skills, help them reduce stress and anxiety, and manage anger, improve general social skills, increase their ability to meet personal challenges such as overcoming shyness, communicating clearly, building relationships, and avoiding violence. For more information, check out website.
If you have a student who you feel would benefit from this group, please reach out to the prevention team to determine if this service is currently being offered within the child’s school district and then reach out to either the student’s school counselor or guardians to obtain guardian consent for the student’s participation.
ALL STARS CORE
All Stars Core is a research-based program designed to delay the onset of risky behaviors with middle school age students. The five All Stars Core strategies that are focused within this curriculum are the following: building idealism and a belief in the future; establishing a positive norm; establishing personal commitments to avoid risky behaviors; promoting bonding to school or the group; and promoting positive parent/adult attention. If you have a student who you feel would benefit from this group, please reach out to the prevention team to determine if this service is currently being offered within the child’s school district and then reach out to either the student’s school counselor or parent to obtain parental consent for the student’s participation.
CAST
Coping and Support Training (CAST) is an evidence-based curriculum that has been proven to cause significant and sustained reduction of drug use, reduction in anxiety and depression, reduction of suicide risk behaviors, increase in personal control, increase in problem-solving, and increase in family support. The primary focus of this group is to improve mood, decrease risky behavior and improve overall school performance. The CAST program is offered to high school youth. If you have a student who you feel would benefit from this group, please reach out to the prevention team to determine if this service is currently being offered within the child’s school district and then reach out to either the student’s school counselor or parent to obtain parental consent for the student’s participation.
STARK COUNTY YOUTH LED PREVENTION
SCYLP is a community-based youth-led program where members encourage peers to continue to make safe and healthy choices regarding mental health and substance use. SCYLP is a safe place for youth to come together and encourage their peers to make healthy decisions through planning and implementing various prevention and leadership development activities (i.e. hosting different events for back to school, Canton First Friday’s, etc…). To learn more about this program and for a calendar of meeting times, locations and events, please visit.
POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM
The Positive Parenting Program, commonly referred to as Triple P , is a parenting and family support system designed to prevent and manage behavioral and emotional concerns in children ages 0-16. This program offers several different levels that are all aimed to prevent concerns in the family, school, and community, and to create family environments that encourage children to realize and reach their full potential. For more information, please visit the Family Programming page at https://www.childandadolescent.org/family-programming/ or call 330-454-7917.
MEET THE TEAM
Kim Cernansky
LISW-S
Program Manager
SUPERVISORS
Larissa Haring
LPC, OCPC, ECMHC
Marissa Cooney
MSSA, LSW, OCPS, CDCA
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PREVENTION PROVIDERS
Julie Beachy
BA
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS
STATE SUPPORT TEAM CONSULTANT
C&A opened its doors in late June, 1976. Learn about our wonderful history and how the agency has expanded its programs, services and locations throughout Stark County.