Beginning New Outreach Opioid Affected Youth Initiative

The purpose of this project is to deliver an evidence-based Substance Abuse Prevention Program curriculum paired with Positive Youth Development (PYD) to help youth voluntarily refrain from use of illegal substances and alcohol (specifically opioid-related substances), and promote social and emotional well-being and healthy transitions to adulthood. Beginning New Outreach will focus on youth ages 10–17 living in the Muscogee County area of Georgia due to its reportedly fastgrowing rate of opioid and substance use. The initiative will provide an evidence-based curriculum, Narconon: Truth About Drugs (for middle and high school aged youth), and PYD services in the areas of success sequencing, healthy relationship education, career preparation, and healthy life skills for youth ages 10–17. The project will promote social and emotional wellbeing and provide goal-oriented group case management to all program youth, while offering individual case management to the highest risk participants.