Prevention & Early Intervention
Through Social Advocates for Youth - SAY, we provide free school-based and community services to help teens minimize risky behavior, make healthy choices and work through difficulties caused by the tensions of adolescence.
Being a teenager has lots of responsibilities and challenges. The demands of school increase and students have to learn how to balance studying with extra curricular activities and family/friend time. Often teens have to navigate new social encounters and peer pressure.
Social Advocates for Youth - SAY helps support parents and schools guide teens through this difficult time. Grant funded, SAY is a free program that educates and empowers teens to minimize risky behavior while making healthy/good choices, and finding alternative highs.
In the schools, SAY master’s level social workers and counselors work as a team with school administrators and counselors to provide services such as mediation, intervention and support to students and families; group and individual counseling; and classroom presentations on prevention topics. Through a coalition of community representatives and parents, we provide programs and support throughout Greater Cleveland to:
- Help prevent and reduce the use of alcohol, prescription drugs and other drugs
- Reduce the incidence of social and behavioral health problems such as bullying, teen violence, depression and suicide
Prevention Topics
Teens are exposed to new experiences every day that can cause emotional or behaviors issues. Our SAY program specifically helps parents and teens work through a variety of issues including those listed here.
- Self-Image and Self-Esteem
- Depression and Suicide
- Self Injury
- Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
- Bullying
- Distracted Driving
- Abusive Relationships
- Sexual Activity
- Smoking and Tobacco Use
- Eating Disorders
- Diet and Fitness
- Parenting Issues
School-based Program
Bellefaire JCB SAY master’s level social workers and counselors are located in the schools where accessibility to students is the greatest. SAY provides prevention and early intervention services for high school students in the following school districts: Beachwood, Chagrin Falls, Cleveland Heights - University Heights, Orange, Mayfield, Shaker Heights and Solon.
The SAY school-based team consults with teachers, school counselors and administrators on identifying students who may be at risk for abusing substances or have behavioral problems. SAY counselors conduct student groups on topics such as social skills development, substance abuse prevention, conflict resolution and grief and loss. Other components of the SAY program include:
- Screening for substance abuse, depression and other risk behaviors
- Individual and family counseling
- Parent education
- Referrals to other community resources
- Collaboration with community groups on education and prevention programs
Community Services
The SAY Coalition: Reaching Beyond the Schools
Through the SAY Coalition our programing reaches beyond the schools and into the communities to support existing prevention programs and new initiatives that aid in strengthening families and youth. The Coalition consists of schools, parents, youth, health professionals, law enforcement, those working in the judicial system, business professionals, elected officials, and religious and community leaders. SAY Coalition offers the programs listed below.
Student Leadership Council Brings students together from area high schools to develop leadership skills, learn how to make healthy decisions and choose a positive path. Students meet monthly at Bellefaire JCB to discuss teen issues, plan and participate in volunteer activities and promote events that support healthy adolescent behavior.
Summer Leadership Institute A three-week program in the summer that offers students the opportunity to cultivate leadership skills through community service.
Parent Roundtable A group of parents who meet monthly to discuss teen issues, promote parent education and community events, and provide guidance and support in connecting to teens in positive and healthy ways. The committee’s mission is to strengthen the relationship between parents and youth as well as the connection to their school and community.
Collaborative Group This group is comprised of professionals from organizations across northeast Ohio who meet quarterly at Bellefaire JCB to share information, resources and ideas with the purpose of supporting healthy families, youth and strengthening communities.