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Prevention Programs for Teens The Health Information Project administers 2 prevention programs for teens: the Class Action Program and the Teen Intern Program. Both programs employ teens, ages 14 to 19, and run in the summer at designated library Centers within the Mid-Hudson Library System's 5-county geographic area. The Class Action Program employs twelve teens; the Teen Intern Program employs six. Participants are selected by the individual libraries in late May and early June. Inquiries about participation opportunities may be made by contacting the library that offers the program. The Class Action Program (part of the Project Northland alcohol prevention curriculum series) is a high school level program that focuses on the social and legal consequences of underage drinking. It is a registered Model Program through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the US Department of Health and Human Services, and it functions to delay early use of alcohol, reduce alcohol use among teens who have already tried it, and diminish alcohol-related problems experienced by teens. In 10 sessions, the teen participants are divided into legal teams to prepare and present hypothetical civil cases in which someone has been harmed as a result of underage drinking. The case options are Drinking and Driving, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Drinking and Violence, Date Rape, Drinking and Vandalism, and School Alcohol Policies. Following the civil case preparation sessions, the teens perform trial presentations for two groups of their peers. The Class Action Program is currently implemented at the Howland Public Library (Beacon). Contact the library for more information. The Teen Intern Program operates during 10 weeks of the summer for a total of 50 hours. Teens work at four designated library Health
Information Centers to evaluate current age-appropriate
videos and websites that address general health and substance use issues.
These reviewers, ages 14 to 19, receive training in the risk
and protection factor framework, media literacy skills and video
and website evaluation procedures. In the fall, the teens share program
experiences with their peers for health classes, teen activity groups
and for youth agencies. By participating in the Intern Program, teens enhance their understanding of risk factors in their environment, learn protective behaviors and promote decision-making and other coping skills by sharing their experience with peers. They also serve as models of constructive school and community involvement. Columbia County Greene County Putnam County Ulster County To learn more about the summer programs or to apply, contact the individual library. |
