DRAGON Youth Project

 

  ~DRAGON Youth Project~

The DRAGON Youth Project is a prevention program offered through SJBHD, standing for Developing Real Assets through Guidance, Opportunities & Knowledge. The DRAGON Youth Project is funded by Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Divison and the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund.

Mission:

 

To work with at-risk youth in order to strengthen areas of self-esteem, personal control, decision-making, interpersonal communication, and cultural awareness.

 

To work with the entire community to provide education that will assist in our youth making healthier choices, and to reduce and prevent drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as other risky behaviors. 

 

Reconnecting Youth

The DRAGON Youth Project uses the science-based curriculum, Reconnecting Youth, A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills, as a resource and tool to provide effective prevention activities. The program contains all components of a life skills curriculum, including sections devoted to alcohol and drug-free living. It is a peer group approach to building skills for high-risk students. The program is designed to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors that are linked with adolescent problem behaviors in general, and adolescent drug involvement specifically. We currently offer Reconnecting Youth classes through La Plata Youth Services. 

Girls Circle

The Girls Circle Association has a research based curriculum that encourages the development of strength, self-esteem, honesty, enhanced judgment skills, confidence and communication skills for girls, not to mention maintaining an authentic connection with peers and other women of the community. A Girls Circle models structured support groups for girls from 9-18 years. It’s been proven to improve girls’ perceived body image, perceived social support and self-efficacy. The DRAGON Youth Project offers Girls Circles in conjunction with La Plata county schools, after school programs, etc.  For more information on this program, please visit their website at www.girlscircle.org  or contact the DRAGON Youth Project.

Community Education

The DRAGON Youth Project has a variety of resources available for any and all community organizations to help with the prevention of substance use and abuse and to make presentations on underage drinking, persistent drunk driving, drug knowledge, etc. We currently work with the La Plata Youth Services on a regular basis to provide drug and alcohol education. An ambition of the DRAGON Youth Project is to work closely with the multitude of community organizations in our area that are working towards similar goals. We participate in Town Hall meetings, coalitions, and community summits to network because we feel that everyone should be involved to educate and motivate our youth.

For information, contact Kendra Gallegos Reichle at (970) 247-5702, ext. 225.