This campaign is dedicated to celebrating the power of personal stories in shaping our communities’ future through prevention. Every story shared contributes to a collective effort to build stronger, healthier environments where everyone can thrive. Through the voices of our community members, we highlight the importance of protective factors in preventing substance misuse and promoting well-being.
Call to Action
October is Prevention Month (Youth Substance Use Prevention and Substance Misuse Prevention Month). This is a critical time to highlight the importance of prevention efforts in our communities. Prevention is powerful—it strengthens protective factors and reduces risk factors across individuals, families, schools, and communities. Decades of community-based experience and scientific research confirm that prevention works.
Collaborating with the Cross Systems Prevention Network (CSPN), the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance (CPA) plans a month-long statewide advocacy campaign to coincide with Prevention Month. We invite you to be a part of this movement:
Prevention Month at the Capitol: Join us Wednesday, October 2nd for a day of advocacy in Harrisburg.
- If you’re interested in participating, please contact Jeff Hanley at jeff.hanley@paprevention.org
Prevention Month in Your Community: Throughout October, we encourage you to schedule a meeting with a local decision-maker. Use this toolkit, along with our leave-behinds and videos, to educate and advocate for prevention and healthy communities. Your voice is essential in making a difference in your community.
What This Campaign Is About
What Are Protective Factors?
By focusing on positive influences, we can support each other and build communities so everyone can thrive.
Using Protective Factors to Advocate and Educate
Additional Resources to Support Your Advocacy
(What Works in Prevention)
My Prevention Story Videos
Storytelling can be a powerful tool for conveying messages and fostering meaningful discussions on prevention topics. Personal stories have the unique ability to capture attention, evoke emotions, and inspire action. Here’s how you can harness the potential of these five videos and to promote prevention and positive change within the community:
Youth Leaders
- Incorporate the videos into school projects or presentations to educate classmates about prevention.
- Share the videos on social media platforms to raise awareness among peers about the importance of prevention and encourage discussions on related issues.
Faith Communities
- Use videos in gatherings, sermons, and classes to promote prevention as integral to community well-being.
- Include videos in outreach programs to highlight the community’s commitment to prevention.
Parents/Caregivers
- Share videos in parenting groups and online platforms to equip caregivers with practical knowledge.
- Host workshops for parents to discuss implementing prevention strategies in their households.
First Responders
- Use videos to engage with community members, including schools, youth groups, and other organizations, to promote substance use prevention initiatives.
- Incorporate videos into existing initiatives to demonstrate a commitment to prevention through proactive training and response strategies.
Workplace
- Organize trainings, screenings, and discussions to raise awareness among employees about prevention.
- Use videos in corporate social responsibility initiatives to support community well-being through prevention efforts.
Education & Advocacy
- Advocate for local prevention programming by sharing the videos with community leaders, local authorities, and policymakers to emphasize the importance of prevention efforts.
- Provide resources, training, and platforms for individuals to share ideas and thoughts address concerns and empower them to become advocates for prevention within their communities.