Project Survival

Preventing Substance Abuse

Project Survival

Hard Outcomes: Reduce substance abuse, build self-esteem and reinfore positive decision-making skills among middle school students. In the 2018-19 school year, Project Survival connected with 520 middle school students attending Champion, Starling and Wedgewood Middle Schools, providing prevention, education and enrichment activities.

Objectives: Use proven-effective curriculum and interactive activities to help Columbus City School students explore the consequences of poor choices and commit to healthy decision-making. Encourage participants to join other Columbus Urban League sponsored experiential learning events, including giving them top priority for the highly competitive internships offered through the organization’s Summer Youth Empowerment initiative.

Approach: Bring programming direct to Columbus City Schools middle school students at selected partner sites during regularly scheduled class times.

Evidence: According to the Franklin County Needs Assessment Report, 68% of students started smoking marijuana between the ages of 11 and 15, and 13% report regular use of marijuana. Drawing from the Botvin LifeSkills curriculum, a groundbreaking substance abuse prevention program based on more than 30 years of peer-reviewed scientific research, students take part in a series of lessons and facilitated discussions on relevant topics. They not only gain confidence and learn how to make smarter choices, they also find new ways to prevent violence, resolve conflict and avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.