Published: January 20, 2009 09:41 pm         

Afternoons ROCK in Indiana

TERRE HAUTE — Nearly two-thirds of all new illegal drug use in Indiana begins between the 6th grade and the end of 9th grade. This experimentation often occurs in the after-school hours when youth are more likely to be unsupervised.

In 1997, Indiana Prevention Resource Center, created an after-school program using Evidence Based Curriculum to begin educating youth about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, along with violence and gambling. The program is conducted in all 92 Indiana counties. Afternoons ROCK in Indiana meets between the hours of 3 to 6 p.m. on days when school is in session; usually in a school building, church, YMCA, or community center. Students in grades 5 through 8 and also students ages 10 through14 are allowed to participate in Afternoons ROCK in Indiana. Youth benefit from structured recreation as well as academic and social skills development in a safe and supervised environment. Healthy snacks and incentives to complete the program are provided.

The acronym ROCK represents the program’s mission for Recreation, Object lessons, Culture and values and Knowledge. Certified or qualified prevention professionals conduct the programs. All program staff have a limited criminal background and sex offender registry check. The evidence based curriculums are Project Alert, Positive Actions, Too Good for Drugs and Violence and All Stars. The Gambling prevention curriculums are Kid’s Don’t Gamble … Wanna Bet?, Increasing Your Odds, and All Bets are Off.

Funding is provided by FSSA/Division of Mental Health and Addiction through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and the Problem Gambler’s Assistance Fund.

CHANCES for Indiana Youth sponsors Afternoons ROCK in Indiana in 18 counties. CHANCES is at 1101 S. 13th St. in Terre Haute. Its Web site address is www.cfiy.org and phone number is (812) 232-5190.