State Announces Pilot Prevention Mentorship Program for K-12 Students

On March 21, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the launch of a new drug education and mentorship pilot program - the Drug Resilience Education Awareness Mentorship (DREAM) program. The program was developed by the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Ohio Task Force Commanders Association, and Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association, with support from RecoveryOhio. The pilot program is currently being used in seven K-3 elementary schools around the state and will later expand to older age groups.

The program offers a variety of videos for students, including a special role model series featuring several standout Ohioans delivering positive messages on the importance of hard work, the dangers of using or abusing substances, and the importance of never giving up on dreams. In addition to student videos, the video series also includes instructional videos for educators on how to best implement this program in the classroom, as well as informational videos for guardians to aid families in discussing these sensitive topics.

Learn more about the DREAM program and how to access the video series here.