STEPS Never Sleeps: Prepared for Launch of 2013-14 Year

Growing Great Kids is the fundamental essence of the mission of STEPS which is about growing healthy kids who are educated to be the best that they can be, in an environment of trust and respect for others, self-respect, responsibility as good citizens with regard for property and the well-being of the community. . 

STEPS is an acronym for Southington's Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success. The Town-wide aspect of the STEPS movement is critically important to the success of STEPS.  

STEPS relies heavily on a commitment of a coalition that includes students, parents, grandparents, the Board of Education, Southington Youth Services, Health, Police and Fire Departments, Faith Communities, commercial and professional enterprises, community service, fraternal and civic organizations, the military, media and every citizen who cares about those who will shape the future of society.

Prevention Coordinator, Kelly Leppard,
works with a town-wide coalition and
collaborating agencies to maintain
a positive and effective pace for STEPS.

A preview of the STEPS agenda for 2013-2014 year:

- Funding - STEPS is chiefly funded by a five-year federal grant from Drug-Free Communities Support Program Office of National Drug Control Policy through application with SAMHSA, (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration).  - STEPS will apply for the next 5-year grant cycle in February 2014. If approved in August 2014, STEPS will continue its work through 2019, with annual renewals. 

- New Board members will be announced this month. 

- This year, Asset Building Classrooms, (ABC’s), will continue with individual school and district-wide classroom activities directed by the designated STEPS Assets Champion for each school. 

- Third biennial round of surveys of 7th, 9th and 11th graders will be administered in March 2014 enabling STEPS and the B.O.E. to evaluate progress in reducing specific negative behavioral areas such as alcohol, marijuana and tobacco abuse. 

- Findings will be shared with the community to further engage the coalition.  (Four major tenets of SAMHSA are:  Behavioral Health is Essential to Health; Prevention Works; People Recover and Treatment is Effective.)  

Kelly Leppard and Evelyn Ciaburri
develop projects, ideas and keep
positive communications and action
going strong within the coalition.

- STEPS will continue to promote awareness of the Social Hosting state law, (which makes adults legally responsible for teen age drinking in their homes), Social Norming, Police Department's Medical Drop Box Workshop in September and continue building partnership with SPD in merchant education and compliance checks, (enforcement operations.)

- SPD will work with STEPS Drive-In Committee for Halloween Festival and other community projects. 

- Lt. Michael Baribault of the S.P.D. will join Town Council Chairman, John Dobbins and STEPS Youth Prevention Coordinator, Kelly Leppard, as presenters at the Connecticut Youth Safety Conference to be held on September 27, 2013 at Goodwin College.  

- This summer STEPS has stepped-up its efforts to partner with the media with the set up of a STEPS blog on Southington Patch, supplementing its website at www.southingtonsteps.org.  

- Fall efforts also include the use of popular family conversation cards, work on a town ordinance to effectively deal with substance abuse, Southington Safe Schools Tipline, awareness of Southington Serves and the Social Host campaign: Do not purchase alcohol for minors.