Crittenton Children's Center Substance Abuse Prevention Program (SAPP) is a year-round group that is a part of the programming at the Residential Treatment Center (separate from the Co-Occurring Disorders of Adolescent Program, a COMBAT grant match program). 

SAPP has demonstrated to substantially reduce the incidence of violence and substance abuse among adolescents who have been exposed to multiple adverse life experiences that, if not proactively addressed, result in high likelihood of substance abuse. 

Within the structure of the residential program, SAPP engages approximately 100 Jackson County youth each year, girls and boys ages 12-19, who are challenged by mental illness and behavioral concerns. They are extremely vulnerable for lives of substance abuse because they come from environments defined by violence, limited parental involvement and family histories of substance abuse, mental illness and poverty. 

The residents of Crittenton Childrens' Center are placed through the court system (either 
Family Court or Juvenile Justice System). All youths are actively engaged in SAPP because all are at high risk of becoming substance users, and those who have been previously exposed to substances are at risk for continuing use. Through participation, all youths can complete the program with substantially enhanced protective factors that are known to prevent future substance use.
 
The SAPP uses Motivational Interviewing, endorsed by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, and is the prevention model used by Crittenton. Weekly psycho-educational groups are provided in combination with additional structured group and family activities. 

Youths are assigned to one of three groups, with six to eight residents of similar life experiences in each group. Group content provides increased personal and family addictions knowledge, development of social skills, anger management strategies, resolution of school concerns and development of positive attitudes toward drug refusal. Recreational experiences and service outings extend the information and skills provided in weekly groups, fostering pro-social involvement and community connections. 

The SAPP program is complementary with residents' individual, group and family therapy regimens, particulary the insights and skills obtained though the use of Motivational Interviewing. Crittenton has employed trauma-informed care and evidence-based trauma treatment for more than 12 years. 

The expected outcomes for youths participating in SAPP are: 

• Increased understanding of the harmful effects of illicit drug use;
• Increased interest and participation in (protective factors) healthy leisure activities;
• Demonstrated ability for successful drug refusal;
• Increased involvement and improved relationships between parents and their child;
• Improved academic performance as evidenced by increased TABE scores;
• Increased knowledge of available social support networks that uphold high expectations for youth. 

COMBAT Funding: $43,016.00