Prevention Programs
Susan Cadena, LMSW
K-12 Prevention Coordinator
Phone: 480-545-2181
Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) believes that positive school
environments that encourage social and emotional learning significantly
impact the academic achievement and success of our students. Elementary
and secondary students are offered opportunities to participate in
classes and schoolwide activities that focus on tobacco and substance
abuse education, bully prevention, life skills training, and other
prevention-related activities.
Parent education is a significant
component of our prevention plan, offering parents an array of ongoing
workshops and presentations in collaboration with a variety of local
social service agencies.
The following is a list of several
prevention programs implemented at Gilbert Public Schools, followed by a
brief summary and links to websites with additional valuable
information.
- Gilbert Public Schools is a CHARACTER COUNTS!
district, based on basic values called the Six Pillars of Character:
trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and
citizenship. Read more about CC! at www.CharacterCounts.org.
- Gilbert Public Schools is pleased to partner with the Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MACTUPP).
Elementary and junior high schools throughout the District receive
funding and technical assistance for educational materials and
prevention activities in order to decrease the prevalence of tobacco use
among youth.
- Lions-Quest Character Education
programs are implemented from K-8th grade focusing on the development
of problem solving and healthy coping skills, refusal skill training and
drug and alcohol training at the secondary level.
- Gilbert Public Schools is pleased to partner with notMYkid.org
in providing prevention through education, and offers a variety of
education programs to students, parents and staff throughout the
District designed to promote increased awareness about youth health
issues, such as substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, bullying
and building healthy relationships. Read more about notMYkid at www.notmykid.org.
- Parent Education is a vital component to the District’s prevention program. Read more about the program.
- Transition Specialists
are located at each of the District’s six (6) junior high schools to
assist with new student transition, attendance/truancy prevention and
6th grade orientation. Transition Specialists are an additional support
system to students and their families to assure students’ success
throughout their junior high experience.
- Social Workers
are a vital component to Gilbert Public Schools’ prevention program.
There is a social worker assigned to each of the District's elementary
schools, a clinical social worker assigned to work with the secondary
schools providing specialized services to students and their families,
and a social worker assigned to the district's alternative junior/high
school to work with those students and their families. School social
workers bring specialized knowledge and skills to the District, and are
an integral part of the student services team. The school social worker
is instrumental in supporting the District’s mission for student
success, while collaborating with the home, school and the community to
do so.
For more information regarding the District’s prevention
programs or related activities, please contact the Gilbert Public
Schools Prevention Coordinator, Susan Cadena, at 480-545-2181.