Building Blocks for a Healthy Future

1. Building Blocks for a Healthy Future

2. Presentation Overview Topics covered: • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) overview; • Building Blocks for a Healthy Future (Building Blocks)initiative; • Building Blocks materials overview; and • Connecting Building Blocks’ six “protective” steps with the Family Article and Lesson Plans.

3. SAMHSA’s Direction MissionTo reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. Roles • Voice and Leadership • Funding—Service Capacity Development • Information and Communications • Regulation and Standard Setting • Improvement of Practice Strategic Initiatives

4. SAMHSA’s Key Messages • Behavioral Health Is Essential to Health • Improves health status • Lowers costs for families, businesses, and governments • Prevention Works • Treatment Is Effective • People Recover

5. SAMHSA’s Principles http://www.samhsa.gov

6. SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiatives 6

7. What Is Building Blocks? Building Blocks is an early childhood substance abuse prevention initiative for parents and caregivers to help young children develop the positive behaviors and social skills that can help them avoid underage drinking and other drug use as they grow older.

8. Building Blocks andEvidence Base for Early Childhood Prevention • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), early substance abuse prevention programs must: • Build social skills, reduce aggressive behaviors, and increase self-control among children; • Use developmentally appropriate and interactive learning methods; • Enhance family bonding and relationships, improve parenting skills, and increase parental involvement; and • Provide age-specific and culturally sensitive material. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2011). DrugFacts: Lessons from Prevention Resources, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/lessons.html.

9. Building Blocks andEvidence Base for Early Childhood Prevention (cont.) • Enhance protective factors. • Reverse or reduce risk factors. Examples of risk and protective factors for substance abuse by young people Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2003). Preventing Drug Useamong Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/preventing-drug-use-among-children-adolescents.

10. Building Blocks andProtective Factors Protective steps against future substance use: • Establish and maintain good communication with children; • Get involved and stay involved in their lives; • Make clear rules and enforce them consistently; • Be a positive role model; • Teach children to choose friends wisely; and • Monitor the activities of children. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2003). Preventing Drug Useamong Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/preventing-drug-abuse-among-children-adolescents.

11. Targets 3- to 6-Year-Olds • This age range is a critical time period when children start forming emotional and social patterns of behaviors. • A pattern of positive early interaction and parental involvement provides future benefits both academically and socially. • Children as young as age 3 are aware of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, whether the use takes place in their personal lives or in the media. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2007). Topics in Brief: Drug Abuse Prevention, from http://www.nida.nih.gov/tib/prevention.html.

12. Goals for Children Building Blocks aims to help children: Learn how to communicate their feelings, thoughts, and needs; Practice positive social skills and making decisions; and Form healthy, lifelong habits and attitudes.

13. Goals for Parents and Educators Building Blocks aims to help: • Educate parents and caregivers on the basics of early childhood substance abuse prevention; • Reinforce skills that will enable parents and caregivers to better nurture and protect their children; and • Assist in the development of risk-resistant children.

14. Positive Outcomes Build children’s skills to improve: • Resilience; • Self-confidence; and • Social/emotional health.

15. Building Blocks Friends • Miguel Tiger • Mee Possum • Kristi Kitty • Wally Bear • Sandy Squirrel • Ali Rabbit • Thurgood Turtle

16. Building Blocks Friends(cont.) • Ali Rabbit Hi, I’m Sandy Squirrel. I live with my mom and stepdad on Friendship Circle. Sometimes on the weekends, my older stepbrother and stepsister live with us, too. I’m the youngest—I’m 6 years old. My friend Benny also lives with us. He’s big and pink and furry. I know he’s imaginary, but he’s still fun to play with! We paint pictures together and play chess, too. Do you have an imaginary friend? I love to climb the trees in Friendship Park. Sometimes, Miguel goes with me, and we look for birds’ nests. We don’t bother them though—we just look! Sometimes, Thurgoodclimbs a tree with me, and we read books together. Where do you like to read? Hi there, I’m Ali Rabbit. I have a really big family. I live with my mom and dad, my grandparents, and my great-grandpa. I also have six brothers and sisters. The youngest is 2, and the oldest is 17. I’m 5. How big is your family? Do you have a favorite sport? Mine is soccer. I like to practice kicking the ball as straight as I can. How straight can you kick a ball? I’m going over to my friend Thurgood’s house to play on the computer later. Sometimes, we use the computer to make music! How do you make music? I’m hungry! I’m going to go make a fruit-and-yogurt smoothie with my older sister before going to Thurgood’s.  • Sandy Squirrel

17. Building Blocks Kit • Family Guide • Activity Book (3–4, 5–6) • Know Kit Cards (3–4, 5–6) • Character Cards • ABC Coloring Book • Music CD Materials available in Spanish

18. Building Blocks Kit Family Guide • Organized around the six protective steps for parents and educators to help young children learn how to make positive, healthy choices. • Includes tips, discussion starters, activities, and games that reinforce the important concepts and messages for children.

19. Building Blocks KitActivity Book • Ages 3–4 • Ages 5–6

20. Building Blocks KitCharacter Cards

21. Building Blocks KitKnow Kit Cards

22. Building Blocks KitWally Bear and Friends ABC Coloring Book

23. Building Blocks KitSing-Along Songs Music CD

24. Building BlocksEasy Readers • Play Day in the Park • Look What I Can Do!

25. Me, You, and Wally Bear:A Building Blocks for a Healthy Future Mobile Application

26. Building Blocks Articles The Building Blocks articles consist of a Family Article, Family Activity, and Lesson Plan. They are developed with a focus on maintaining links to the six protective steps while focusing on emerging research-based topics to support children’s social, emotional, and cognitive well-being.

27. Connecting Protective Steps With Building Blocks Articles

28. Connecting Protective Steps With Building Blocks Articles (cont.)

29. For Example … Family Article

30. For Example … Family Activity

31. For Example … Lesson Plan

32. Take Action • Other Parents • Faculty in your school • Other schools or groups • Community leaders

33. How To Order? Building Blocks materials are free and available for downloading or ordering through the SAMHSA Store at http://www.store.samhsa.gov/home

34. Questions and Answers For more Building Blocks information, please visit http://www.bblocks.samhsa.gov