In-School Programming
Since 1994 Nicasa Behavioral Health Services has offered prevention curricula and services to Lake County school children. This included 12 years of funding from a Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant and more than 10 years of funding from a Drug Free Communities grant. First the organization provided a standards-based curriculum entitled Empowering Choices for Healthy Outcomes (ECHO), which is similar to Botvin’s Life Skills (an evidenced-based substance use and violence prevention program). ECHO was offered in middle schools in Waukegan, IL for many years until recently Nicasa adopted a new curriculum called Too Good For Drugs (TGFD) in response to new trends within the community surrounding an increase in youth substance use, bullying, self-esteem difficulties, and peer violence.
Today Nicasa provides in-school prevention programming in 9 middle schools throughout Waukegan, Mundelein, Wauconda, and Island Lake using an evidence-based curriculum called Too Good For Drugs. This program is designed to reduce risk factors for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by teaching about protective factors through lessons on decision-making, prosocial connections, identifying and managing emotions, and positive communication skills. It also educates students on appropriate use of over the counter (OTC) drugs, how to resist negative influences, and assists in setting goals for youth in regards to healthy relationships and lifestyle choices.
For more information, please contact our Prevention Coordinator, Marissa Everitt, BSW, at (847)244-4434 x3886 or meveritt@nicasa.org.
Teen Court
Teen Court is a collaborative effort between Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, local police departments, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. The program, based on the principles of balanced and restorative justice, offers youth an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system. Successful completion of the program allows for youth to connect meaning to behavior, take responsibility for their actions, connect and engage with services to address unmet needs (e.g. mental health and substance use), and receive life skills training.
First and second-time, non-violent juvenile offenders have their case tried and are sentenced by a jury of their peers. Teen Court gives youth a chance to address the harm that they have done through community service and learn how to make better choices through skill-building classes. The goal of the program is to give youth a second chance by connecting meaning with behavior in order to develop positive and healthy lifestyles, free of delinquent acts.
As the largest youth diversion program in Lake County, Teen Court currently operates in 3 court room locations with support and referrals from Gurnee, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park, Fox Lake, Wauconda, Lakemoor, Waukegan, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
If you are a high school student looking for a volunteer opportunity, sign up to be a Teen Court Juror.
Our teen volunteers fill various roles in the peer court
room (including attorneys, bailiff, jury, etc.) and will provide meaningful, alternative sentences to participates in the program so they can have a second chance and connect meaning to their behaviors while learning healthier ways to live. Volunteers also receive the following benefits: awareness of issues among your peers and within the community, leadership skills, responsible citizenship, critical thinking skills, community service hours, contribution to school and the community, additional skills for future resumes and job applications, and 3 college scholarships.
For Volunteers: Teen Court Volunteer Flyer
For Volunteers: Teen Court Juror Application
For Participants: Teen Court Participant and Volunteer Flyer
For more information, please contact our Teen Court Coordinator, Viviana Arzate, at (847)201-8543 or varzate@nicasa.org.
Choose Your Path Coalition
This coalition focuses on Wauconda, IL and the surrounding communities. It is comprised of community members representing many different sectors, including social service, faith-based, business, government, law enforcement, judicial, healthcare, schools, parents, high school youth, and more.
The target populations are 8th through 12th graders, parents of these youth, and other adults within the communities. The primary goals are to increase community collaboration and reduce youth substance use. The activities conducted focus on limiting the access to substances, changing the culture and context within which decisions about substance use are made, and shifting the consequences associated with youth substance use. Some activities include working with the Wauconda Police Department to complete alcohol compliance checks for liquor establishments, working with the Wauconda Park District to run specific and dedicated advertising in their brochures, events with Wauconda High School, social norms campaigns, social media awareness, and sticker shock campaigns.
Choose Your Path is generously supported by a federal Drug-Free Communities grant and is provided free to all residents in Wauconda, IL and the surrounding communities. Most recently, the coalition attended a ceremony at the White House where it was recognized for its exemplary work as a “model coalition” and received a Blue Ribbon Award for their impact on the community.
For more information from the coalition, visit their website: https://chooseyourpath118.org/
If you are a youth or resident of Wauconda, IL or the surrounding communities and have questions about the coalition’s work or how you can participate, please contact our Director of Prevention, Rebecca Price, LSW, CADC, at (847)546-6450 x1220 or rprice@nicasa.org.
Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force Coalition
The Mundelein STAND-UP Task Force is composed of community members from 14 sectors (business owners, civic/volunteers, community residents, education/schools, faith-based, government, healthcare, judicial/courts, law enforcement, media, parents/guardians, philanthropic, social services, and youth) who are concerned about the health, safety, and well-being of youth in Mundelein, IL.
This coalition was created in 2017 by Nicasa to address the concerns of underage drinking and substance use among Mundelein youth. It was a previous recipient of a Drug-Free Communities grant for 10 years, and is now continuing its impactful work with a Community Youth Services grant provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services to develop community involvement for the prevention of violence and delinquency among youth by addressing risky behaviors. The coalition addresses violence and substance use prevention, employment, and college and career readiness for youth, as well as family communication and supervision of youth and linkage to additional health and human services.
For more information from the coalition, visit their website: https://mundelein-stand-up.ueniweb.com/
If you are a youth or resident of Mundelein, IL and have questions about the coalition’s work or how you can participate, please contact our Project Coordinator, Viviana Arzate, at (847)201-8543 or varzate@nicasa.org.
