Archived Program: New Hampshire Teen Institute
The
Teen Institute is the primary statewide substance abuse
prevention program provider for middle and high school students. Since
1983 “T.I.” has been impacting the lives of young people by
effectively promoting youth leadership as a key strategy in the prevention
of youth alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.
The mission of the New Hampshire Teen Institute is to assist individuals in their development of specific behavioral skills essential for making positive choices in a variety of societal situations. Acquisition of these skills empowers individuals to influence positively those whom they encounter throughout their lives. This mission is accomplished through wellness focused prevention programs.
Through a series of year round residential and community-based training programs, the Teen Institute motivates and trains young people and adult advisors to be involved and informed advocates for creating positive change in their own lives as well as the lives of others. Our ‘asset-building’ strategy utilizes both an “individual” and a “team” approach to creating positive change. Program participants quickly learn how to enhance their personal health, and become motivated to actively participate in building healthier communities in their cities, schools and peer groups.
PROGRAMS:
Started by a concerned group of volunteers, “T.I.” was created to prevent substance abuse among teenagers. T.I. began as a weeklong leadership and prevention education experience for high school students. Sixty youth attended the first Teen Institute conducted by 30 volunteer staff. Twenty years later, between 6,000 and 10,000 young people and over 200 volunteers annually make Teen Institute programming possible.
Teen Institute currently offers the following programs:
The SUMMER PROGRAM is a week-long adventure in prevention skills and personal leadership development for high school students. Participants gain the skills, knowledge and motivation necessary to become prevention advocates in their schools and communities. This program involved over 80 youth and 35 volunteer staff. The 2005 Summer Program will be held July 24-29 at the NH National Guard Training Facility in Center Strafford, NH.
The LEADERS IN PREVENTION (LIP) Program was first conducted
in 1999 following a year of planning, as a result of increased demands
for middle school-based prevention programming. LIP is four-day residential
experience for teams of eight middle school students and two adult advisors.
Team participants gain the skills, knowledge and motivation necessary
to formulate action plans to implement prevention efforts and initiatives
within their school environments. The success with LIP is evidenced by
the fact that in only the fifth year of operation all 3 of our Leaders
in Prevention Programs are sold out!
The YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC) is open to all alumni of the Summer Program. This year-long advanced skills training program further connects young people with positive leadership opportunities. Many YAC members are chosen to be youth staff leaders at other Teen Institute programs. The Youth Council builds the confidence and skill levels of youth participants while ensuring a steady stream of youth advocates ready to make a difference in New Hampshire communities.
The THRIVING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL CONFERENCES are conducted 4 times each year in different geographic sections of the state. These one-day conferences serve to build awareness, provide technical assistance and support, and instill motivation for middle school students to get involved in community action.
NH Teen Institute is also the state coordinating agency for SADD (STUDENTS AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE DECISIONS). One of the most popular models of school-based prevention programming, Teen Institute provides monthly trainings and networking opportunities for SADD chapters from across the state, and participates in the annual SADD National Conference.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT is provided to school and community groups throughout the year. Through this outreach effort, Teen Institute staff provides training and technical assistance to over 4,000 students annually who are involved in school and community prevention initiatives throughout the state. The assistance takes on many forms, including weekend retreats, day-long workshops and coalition-building efforts.
Lastly, Teen Institute provides PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS to help train and support professionals working in the field of adolescent substance abuse prevention. TI is actively involved in the Prevention Providers Network (PPN), and works in partnership with other agencies to promotes substance abuse prevention on the local, state and national level.
All
Teen Institute programs:
• Provide accurate, practical information about the effects of alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs on individuals and society,
• Help youth understand the pressures and other factors that often
lead to substance use and abuse,
• Develop skills in decision making, communication, stress management,
assertiveness and action planning,
• Train youth to organize community activities and act as advocates
for prevention,
• Provide youth with an ongoing network of support for themselves
and their prevention activities.
Alumni of Teen Institute programs increase their level of community involvement; participate in prevention initiatives on both local and state levels, and often pursue careers in the helping/education fields (teachers, counselors, social workers, prevention specialists). Volunteer staff of the Teen Institute become invested in the empowerment model of motivating and training youth. Their skill levels increase through volunteer staff training and they become more effective youth advocates and educators in their own schools and communities. The staff and participant training format effectively builds intergenerational partnerships while building the social capital of the communities in New Hampshire.
For more information on the New Hampshire Teen Institute, please contact us!!
NH Teen Institute
PO box 951
Concord, NH 03302-0951
603.226.0111
(fax) 603.225.2740
or email:
Peter Swenson, Executive Director pswenson@nhteen.com
Ann Duckless, Program Coordinator aduckless@nhteen.com
University of New Hampshire - Pettee Hall - 55 College Road - Durham, NH 03824