Specialists involved at Brentwood area schools

Brentwood Home Page news reports
Students, families and schools across the Middle Tennessee area will see expanded services as Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) announces the adoption of several programs to address substance use and abuse by adolescents.

Effective on July 1, programs formerly under the direction of the Alcohol and Drug Council of Middle Tennessee, will be adopted by STARS, thus expanding the services provided by the non-profit agency.

“STARS has been providing support to young people and families impacted by substance abuse for the last 27 years," said STARS Chief Executive Officer Rodger Dinwiddie.  "We are thrilled to deepen our commitment to the prevention and intervention of substance abuse within our schools and the community."

Dinwiddie said the adoption of the programs complements the mission of STARS to help reduce barriers to learning including substance use and violence.  The programs being adopted include Youth Overcoming Drug Abuse (YODA), Recovery Support Services, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Prevention Services.

Dinwiddie said the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program assists young people who do not have access to appropriate care for their substance abuse problems. The Addiction Recovery Program provides individual and group counseling with case management focusing on substance abuse. It will continue in a modified format focusing on adolescents up to the age of 22 and young families who are appropriate for a Strengthening Families (SFP) or Incredible Years Program, both existing programs of STARS.

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Prevention Program is an extremely important child and adolescent program due to the high correlation of substance abuse in families impacted by this particular impairment. The scope of services provided through the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Prevention Program range from family work to in-school drug and alcohol prevention as well as after-school programs and camps with post-secondary education support.

 “Each of these programs has provided young people and their families with important help in both the prevention of substance abuse as well as more intense care for those already harmfully involved. These programs have proved invaluable to many and STARS is excited to be able to provide these essential services to our community,” Dinwiddie said.

Founded in 1984, STARS specialists operate in elementary to high schools serving more than 70 schools and community sites within a 10-county area. STARS specialists are involved at Brentwood Middle, Brentwood High, Ravenwood High, Sunset Middle and Woodland Middle.

STARS specialists help students tackle tough social issues like cyber bullying, substance abuse, violence and peer pressure.

In addition, their highly successful Kids On The Block puppetry program helps educate kindergarten through sixth grade students about health and social concerns that affect their lives while promoting an understanding and acceptance of all children and adults regardless of their differences. STARS Nashville is a nationally recognized resource for training and professional consultation. For more information, www.starsnashville.org.