SHOW

Empowering Youth

Our PAWS (Peers Are Wonderful Support) Program, established in 1994, builds the capacity of students involved in peer helping programs in middle and high school in the ERASE Region. The PAWS Annual Conference brings together over 450 peer helpers to share ideas and learn about current issues affecting their peers such as the risks of binge drinking, bullying, depression, stress management, and youth empowerment. PAWS workshops are presented by volunteer professionals who generously donate their time and expertise to train PAWS involved youth. PAWS events are organized with the input of youth, planned by the PAWS Planning Committee, and coordinated by ERASE staff. For information about upcoming PAWS Events, visit our Events page.

Drug Free Communities Support Program-Prevention Partners Acting Locally (PAL):
ERASE is a recipient of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFC). For this grant project, titled Prevention Partners Acting Locally (PAL), five of ERASE’s Local Prevention Councils, representing 8 towns in the Region, are receiving in-depth technical assistance from ERASE, to learn the use of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Model.

The participating LPCs are Andover, Hebron and Marlborough (regional council), East Hartford, Somers, South Windsor and Vernon. Each group is assessing community data to determine the specific substance abuse needs within their community, grow and maintain their coalition membership, working to raise community awareness and gather support for LPC efforts. The LPCs will also plan specific interventions that have proven to be effective in addressing the problems identified in their needs assessment.