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The Prevention unit focuses on ​providing services designed for the enhancement of protective factors and the reduction of risk factors, enabling individuals, families, and communities to work together promoting their strengths and potentials. The unit also provides general information on drugs of abuse and has a variety of educational materials and videos available for the general public and for staff to borrow. ​​

 

Prevention Educators are available to provide substanc​e abuse education to community groups, civic leagues, and private institutions.

 

Behavioral Health and Prevention Services are physically located at 256/258 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 and can be reached by phone at (757) 385-0803.​​​​​

Celebrating Families! is a 13 week evidence based education support group that provides weekly instruction focusing on a healthy lifestyle, free from drugs and alcohol. This strength-based, skill building program helps the whole family recover from the disease of addiction and have an opportunity to live a safe, healthy and happy life. The class is free and includes dinner and activities to promote healthy family relationships. Following a healthy, nutritious family meal, parents and children participate in an age appropriate 90 minute instructional group session devoted to a particular theme. Afterwards, families are reunited for a 30 minute activity to practice what they learned. Session topics include information on nutrition; communication; facts about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; effects of chemical dependency on families; healthy relationships; and goal setting which strengthens family bonding. 
Contact:  Sabrina Pugh, (757) 385-0803, SPugh@vbgov.com​ 

Community Prevention is offered primarily in the summer, Prevention Specialists provide a wide array of educational sessions for citizens, children and adolescents. Relying on the prevention strategy of information dissemination, Preventionists provide active and entertaining sessions as summer camps, in the community and for faith based groups to teach about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. 
Contact:  Sabrina Pugh, (757) 385-0803, SPugh@vbgov.com​  ​

Families and Schools Together (FAST) is a collaborative prevention program offered at various elementary schools. The program uses the Universal FAST curriculum and is designed to help children succeed in school and in life by strengthening important relationships in their lives. The program focuses on activities that strengthen family ties and build ​communication bonds with the family unit. The main purpose is to help all children succeed at home, school and in the community. 
​Contact:  Sabrina Pugh, (757) 385-0803, SPugh@vbgov.com​  

Education services are designed to prevent and reduce the incidence of HIV infection among youth and adults in the City of Virginia Beach.  Staff are available to provide education for the community at large, and for consumes and employees of city departments. 
Contact: (757) 385-0811

Navigators is a school based violence prevention program offered at elementary schools. The program utilizes Second Step:  A Violence Prevention Curriculum, a universal prevention program that proactively teachers critical social and emotional skills to children. The program focuses on reducing aggressive and disruptive behavior while promoting social-emotional competence. 
Contact:  (757) 385-0803 

Substance Abuse Intervention Program is an alternative to expulsion for middle and high school students who are determined to be under the influence of or in possession of alcohol or other drugs, paraphernalia, or look-alikes.  SAIP is a ten-day, thirty-hour program with an emphasis on drug and alcohol education and problem solving skills. 
Contact: Dennis Southers, (757) 385-0803, DSouther@vbgov.com​​