In 2023-24 the Office of Pupil Services (OPS) used the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD) WCCC grant to provide WCCC students with access to a full-time drug and alcohol counselor. The OPS continued the drug & alcohol prevention counseling services to students in all schools for the 2024-2025 school year through another PCCD grant.
In effort to continue offering vital drug and alcohol prevention services to our students, in February 2024 the OPS also arranged for a speaker to share his story. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for your children. Through this upcoming presentation students will have access to educational resources and activities designed to raise awareness about the risk of substance abuse. Our goal is to equip students with the knowledge and skills with health making decisions.
We are pleased to announce that on September 18, 2024, 6-7:30p.m. Warren Area High School auditorium the district is sponsoring a special presentation for parents, guardians, and community members featuring Stephen Hill, a renowned national speaker on mental health promotion and substance use prevention with a truly inspiring comeback story that everyone must hear.
Stephen is the founder of Speak Sobriety, a young person in recovery, bestselling author, recovery coach, and a defense attorney. He has presented in front of thousands of people for over 750 schools and coalitions across the country, sharing his cautionary tale of addiction to recovery and beyond.
Through sharing his lived experience, Stephen inspires people to lead healthy, substance-free lives by demonstrating the importance of mindfully building a life worth defending. His powerful message will leave our community better educated on mental health and substance use, providing practical tools and coping skills to navigate challenges, and fostering a deeper understanding of the ripple effect—how our actions influence and impact the well-being of others.
Stephen will also be speaking with some of our students on September 18, 2024 during the school day.
Session I: 9-10:15a.m. Warren Area High School & Sheffield Area Middle High School students, grades 9-12
Session II: 1-2:15p.m. Eisenhower Middle and Senior High Schools & Youngsville Middle/High School, grades 9-12
Session III: Community Event/Parent Program. Title: Not My Kid Location: Warren Area High School. Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm
This is a unique opportunity for parents and guardians to use Stephen’s story as a platform to engage in meaningful conversations on substance use prevention and mental health with their children. This September 18, 2024 6p.m. community event is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there!
Link to Stephen’s biography About Stephen – Best Substance Use Prevention Mental Health Speaker (speaksobriety.com)