Info

The Prairie Ridge Prevention Services offers quality and effective substance abuse prevention services for people of all ages using comprehensive prevention strategies. Our service area includes Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, and Worth Counties. Information Dissemination: Preventing substance abuse is an important part in improving the quality of life in our community. To increase awareness of the impact of substance abuse and the need for change, we provde information about substance abuse through newsletters, brochures, fliers, workshops, health fair displays, and speaking engagements in schools, workplaces, clubs, and other community organizations. Education:Througheducational program sessions, we increase individuals' understanding of substance abuse and how they can improve their well-being by making behavior and lifestyle changes. We provide educational sessions aimed to affect decision making skills, peer resistance skills, and critical analysis of messages received from our environment. Alternative Activities: By way of constructive and healthy activities, we can help offset the attraction to drugs. Prairie Ridge provides prevention services in a variety of outside-of-school programs. We host and participate in events to help develop social, leadership, and communication skills in a substance-free environment. Environmental Strategies :Community attitudes about alcohol/drugs influence the incidence and prevalence of substance abuse. Seeking to establish or change community attitudes is part of our on-going effort. We assist workplaces, schools, and other organizations in reviewing and enhancing their substance abuse policies. Problem Identification & Referral: Early problem identification is an important process in effective prevention of substance abuse. The beginning of lifestyle changes can be aided by substance abuse education. We offer operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) educational programs and student assistance programs. Furthermore, we act as a resource in our service area to help individuals and families affected by substance abuse. Community-Based Processes: Enhancing the ability of the community to provide effective substance abuse prevention and treatment services involves collaborations by all stakeholders (our whole community). We participate in many community coalitions and work in collaboration with schools, the area education agency, task forces, public health departments, and other organizations in our community.