Catalyst Club
The Catalyst Club is a student led leadership group dedicated to supporting and encouraging a drug and alcohol free lifestyle created in conjunction with Stand Strong Community Coalition.
Catalyst officially began summer of 2015 with 18 executive board members spanning students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade at Adlai E. Stevenson High School. The students underwent special training based on SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). The SPF uses a five-step planning process to guide the group in the selection, implementation, and evaluation of effective, culturally appropriate, and sustainable drug and alcohol prevention activities.
Once the school year began, the students began recruiting members, approximately 60 students who were nominated and selected for membership. The group is a "no-use" group dedicated to the prevention of underage drinking and drug use at Adlai e. Stevenson High School. The group is divided into committees:
For more information or questions regarding the Catalyst Club, please contact Dr. Christina Cortesti, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator Adlai E. Stevenson High School or Jamie Epstein, Stand Strong Coalition Executive Director.
Catalyst officially began summer of 2015 with 18 executive board members spanning students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade at Adlai E. Stevenson High School. The students underwent special training based on SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). The SPF uses a five-step planning process to guide the group in the selection, implementation, and evaluation of effective, culturally appropriate, and sustainable drug and alcohol prevention activities.
Once the school year began, the students began recruiting members, approximately 60 students who were nominated and selected for membership. The group is a "no-use" group dedicated to the prevention of underage drinking and drug use at Adlai e. Stevenson High School. The group is divided into committees:
- Alternative Activities: this group will look at providing SHS students with alternative events that encourage sober fun.
- Parent and Staff Outreach: The group works to provide prevention education and awareness to SHS staff and parents. This group met with several head coaches in November and talked about the importance of providing clear and concise “no-use" messages to their athletes. This committee hopes to tailor their presentation to club sponsors and parents.
- Middle School Outreach: This group works to increase awareness and participation of middle school youth and administrators. This committee hosted an event for West Oak Middle School 8th grade students in October and has reached out to the other consortium middle schools with hopes that they can provide education to their students in the spring. By the start of next year, this committee hopes to have a middle school consortium group trained in Strategic Prevention Framework.
- Community Outreach: This committee is working with community partners, such as Mariano’s Market, to provide prevention awareness in the community.
- Student Outreach: This committee is working to create prevention awareness and “no use" messaging with students at SHS. They are currently working on a “Courage" campaign that will roll out in 2016.
- Fundraising: This committee is working on providing sustainability to Catalyst with necessary funding for the initiatives.
- Evaluation: This committee provides survey creation, data collection and analysis so necessary in the Strategic Prevention Framework. They have already surveyed the participants of the Six Flags Fright Fest event and are currently working with Dr. Cristina Cortesi on the implementation of the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS).
For more information or questions regarding the Catalyst Club, please contact Dr. Christina Cortesti, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator Adlai E. Stevenson High School or Jamie Epstein, Stand Strong Coalition Executive Director.
The SPF Process:
The idea behind the SPF is to use findings from public health research along with evidence-based prevention programs to build capacity and sustainable prevention. This, in turn, promotes resilience and decreases risk factors in individuals, families and communities.
- Promotes youth development
- Reduces risk-taking behaviors
- Builds assets and resilience
- Prevents problem behaviors across the life span of the program
The idea behind the SPF is to use findings from public health research along with evidence-based prevention programs to build capacity and sustainable prevention. This, in turn, promotes resilience and decreases risk factors in individuals, families and communities.
