Education & Prevention Services
TrueNorth’s Education & Prevention Services are proactive processes that empower individuals to meet the challenges of life events and transitions by creating and reinforcing conditions that promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles. Research-based prevention programs have been proven to help children, adults and communities identify and reduce risk factors and promote protective factors to achieve healthy behaviors.
During this year’s Adams County Giving Spree, we will be raising funds for our pre-school through school-age Education & Prevention Services. If you would like to donate to support this program, visit ACCFGivingSpree.org to donate on November 3rd.
Two of the programs that make up our pre-school through school-age Education & Prevention Services include HALO (Healthy Alternatives for Little Ones) and Girls Circle. Both of these programs support children in creating healthy behaviors that will carry through adolescence and adulthood.
HALO (Healthy Alternatives for Little Ones)
HALO is a hands-on health education and prevention program developed for preschool and early elementary school age children. The program is a comprehensive researched-based, 12-unit curriculum designed to teach and facilitate skill-building while emphasizing the importance of growing in healthy ways. Through HALO, children will:
- Strengthen their sense of self
- Learn to say “no” to things that are harmful
- Learn to recognize, label and express feelings
- Practice communication skills
- Obtain information about the harmful effects of tobacco and drugs
- Learn safety precautions for medicine
- Learn the importance of good nutrition and physical activity
- Practice techniques to reduce stress
- Be reminded that “HALO” means:
HEALTHY: Growing bigger, stronger and better able to think.
ALTERNATIVES: Choices…HALO encourages children to make healthy choices.
FOR LITTLE ONES: Children…through the concepts of diversity and inclusion, the program shows children they are special, each one is unique and precious.
The Girls Circle® model integrates evidenced-based principles of strengths-based approaches, motivational interviewing strategies, and positive youth and adult development. The program has been designed to foster self-esteem, help girls maintain authentic connections with peers, counter trends toward self-doubt, and allow for genuine self-expression through verbal sharing and creative activity.
TrueNorth Wellness Services’ target population for these groups are girls in grades 4-8. In this program, girls of the same grade meet weekly in groups of 4-7. During this time the girls take turns talking and listening to each other about their concerns and interests. The girls can express themselves further through creative or focused activities such as role playing, journaling, drawing, movement, and so on. Themes are introduced which relate to the girl’s lives, such as friendships, body image, goals, competition, decision-making, etc.
When girls voice their ideas and opinions in a safe environment, it strengthens their confidence and encourages them to express themselves more fully. They gain greater awareness of their options and strengthen their ability to make choices that are consistent with their personal values, interests, and talents.
Giving Spree 2022
Funds raised during this year’s Adams County Community Foundation Giving Spree will not only aid in maintaining these vital services, but help work towards expanding our programming to include male focused curriculum beyond the early elementary years. If you would like to support us, visit ACCFGivingSpree.org to donate on November 3rd.