July news: Focus groups, vaping campaign, SMART support groups & more
- info450094
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
In this blog post:
Community Focus Groups on Youth Behavioral Health: flyer and sign-up for youth & parents of youth who recently struggled
Student-designed vaping campaign
Free streaming access to "If They Had Known"
SMART Recovery programs for teens, adults, family & friends
Free Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training
Community Focus Groups on Youth Behavioral Health
Norwalk teens & parents/guardians of teens: Have you (or your teen) recently struggled with mental health or substance misuse? Do you have ideas on how to make getting help easier? We want to hear from you! No judgment. Just real talk. Sign up for a focus group & we'll be in touch!
Our New Geofencing Campaign: Promoting Students' Anti-Vape Ads
Picture this: you're a teen, you're at the beach with your friends, and a notification pops up on your phone. It's the anti-vaping poster you created! All your friends stop to look. Before long, the whole group's talking about an anti-vaping PSA designed by and for them.
This is the vision behind our new, student-driven anti-vaping campaign! Members of the 2025 NPS Student Council worked with us to create a new batch of posters to inform their peers about the dangers of vaping. TNP is using their posters for a digital campaign during summer 2025... with additional posters to be posted in the schools next fall.
Click on the image to scroll through the posters. Way to go, NPS students!
"If They Had Known" - free streaming access
This short documentary tells the story of two young men who died from accidental overdoses involving prescription medication. Many college-aged young adults do not recognize the dangers of mixing alcohol with prescribed medication, or aren't aware of the risks of buying medicines online.
Take a half hour with your family (older teens or college age students) to watch this film in the comfort of your own home. It can help you start an important and possibly life-saving conversation. Just RSVP below to receive an email with the link and password, so you can stream the film at your convenience. Film license is provided by Positive Directions on behalf of our local prevention coalitions.
SMART Recovery programs
SMART Recovery groups are skills building groups led by a trained peer-facilitator. Participants used evidence-based tools to...
Build and maintain motivation to change
Learn to cope with urges
Manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Live a balanced life.
Our partners at Positive Directions offer weekly SMART Recovery groups for adults and for family/friends of someone struggling with substance misuse.
Online groups, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Adult SMART Recovery: Tuesdays from 6-7. RSVP with Positive Directions for link
Family & Friends SMART Recovery: Thursdays from 6-7. RSVP with PD for link
SMART Teens summer program for Norwalk middle and high schoolers
TNP is pleased to be providing a SMART Teens summer program this month for Norwalk teens who dealt with a substance issue during the past school year, through a collaboration between Positive Directions & Human Services Council. There will be a middle school group & a high school group which will meet weekly. Each session will include:
A brief educational activity on substance use or coping skills
A SMART Recovery group that teaches youth skills to motivate themselves for change; cope with their urges; manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and live a balanced life
Lunch and a fun social activity!
The middle school group will meet MONDAYS from 10am - 2pm at 1 Park Street, Room 209, Norwalk from July 7 through July 28 (4 sessions), with a possible fifth session on August 4.
The high school group will meet Wednesdays from 10am-2pm from July 9 to July 30 (4 sessions), with a possible fifth session on August 6.
Free Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training
Our next free QPR lunch & learn is coming up! Originally scheduled for July 25, it will now take place on Friday, August 1st. Bring your lunch for this interactive training. We will provide coffee & snacks.
QPR is an evidence-based training appropriate for anyone aged 16+. Learn to recognize and reach out to someone who may be struggling and provide life-saving support. The training includes videos, a slideshow, and a group role play.
We offer QPR group trainings to organizations in our catchment area upon request (English or Spanish), as well as other training programs. Please email Margaret at mwatt@positivedirections.org if interested in this option.
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