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Building a Resilient Community

The Power of Prevention

Prevention Education

Empowering Individuals

The drug and alcohol substance abuse prevention program at PARS is designed to bring awareness to youth, families, and other community members in the Topeka area using a diverse set of strategies focused on awareness, education, and prevention. Evidence-based approaches have shown that by improving protective factors and limiting risk factors, the behaviors associated with addiction can be mitigated, and the potential for life-long, life-altering habits can be reduced.

Youth Prevention Education

Our prevention education program with youth is taught primarily within school classrooms through a partnership with our local school districts. While our education is based on science, it’s also interactive and geared toward youth to be factual, relevant information that they can connect with.

We utilize the Kansas Communities that Care (KCTC) survey data to help guide our efforts. The survey is given annually to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade students. It is based on more than 40 years of research identifying increases or decreases in risk and protective factors. Utilizing this data helps PARS to focus on the specific needs of a particular school district as reported by their students.

To receive more information or schedule a youth presentation, contact our Community Prevention Consultants at 785-266-8666 or info@parstopeka.org.

Youth Prevention Education

Youth Prevention Club

PARS has introduced a youth prevention club with Topeka area high schools in partnership with the Topeka Rotary to develop youth leaders and educate them about the inherent risks of substance use (alcohol, drugs, tobacco/vaping, and prescription drugs). This education will empower youth to make informed decisions, decrease substance use, and help build a healthy community. In addition, this club will incorporate youth peer-to-peer prevention efforts to help reduce substance use, misuse, and abuse, as well as other behaviors linked to substance use, including violence, teen pregnancy, school dropouts, and suicide.

Over time, PARS will incorporate the youth club into other programs and initiatives to help reach a larger demographic and share their ideas.

For more information about the youth prevention club, contact our Community Prevention Consultants/Youth Coordinator at 785-266-8666 or info@parstopeka.org.

Youth Prevention Club

Community Training & Programs

Our prevention education extends to adults and community partners, often in collaboration with other community partners like law enforcement, city and county officials and agencies, health providers, and other nonprofits with a shared vision. A few of our program focuses include:

Safe Streets Community Training

Safe Streets is a program offered by Prevention and Resiliency Services (PARS) focusing on the correlation between substance use and shared risk factors, including crime, violence, teen pregnancy, school dropouts, and suicide. Each calendar quarter, a community educational event is planned to explore a relevant issue affecting our community. PARS includes other community partners and resources to provide an in-depth review of the topic. Our Safe Streets Coalition welcomes a wide range of members to build community relations and collaborative efforts among public safety officials, first responders, healthcare professionals, individuals affected by substance use, and the overall community. The coalition members will share data, provide education, and seek opportunities to collaborate and achieve shared mutual goals.

Alcohol Sellers and Servers

This proactive training class is offered in partnership with the State of Kansas Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC) agents. The three-hour class provides owners and operators with a proactive way to reduce the occurrences of alcohol violations at their establishments with important, up-to-date information on the selling and serving of alcohol. This training class content covers the following areas:
ABC Regulations & Updates
CMB Laws
Recognizing Fake IDs
Enforcement Procedures
Local Ordinances and Statutes

To sign up for program announcements and information, contact us at 785.266.8666 or info@parstopeka.com.

Community Training & Programs