Also See: Sioux Falls
District Policy
Prairie View Prevention Services
offers a variety of groups for students dealing with smoking, drinking and other
drug use issues. When students are referred to PVPS by a school officer or
court officer official, they first complete a screening (for a first offense) or
a full assessment (for someone who has two or more offenses). A screening
typically takes a half-hour to complete; assessments generally take an hour and
a half.
After a certified counselor has
reviewed the results with the student and parents, s/he will recommend one of
the following groups:
NOT (Not On Tobacco)
This three- or eight-hour class (depending on the results of a student's
assessment) focuses on the addictive properties of nicotine and the health
dangers associated with smoking. NOT participants also examine the various
reasons people may begin smoking and explore alternatives. The classes are
held at PVPS.
IPP (Intensive Prevention
Program)
This six-week long program focuses on drug and alcohol education, the stages
of dependency and family issues such as communication and trust building.
The groups meet twice a week either in the students' respective school buildings
or at PVPS
outside of regular school hours. One session a week is strictly for the
students, the other is for the students and their parents. IPP is the
minimum program which the Sioux Falls School District will accept for a
reduction in the activities suspension students may receive for violations.
BSI (Behavioral and Substance
Issues)
BSI meets every week for a minimum of ten weeks. Parents/guardians
will attend two family meetings. This program focuses on underlying
issues and influences on a student's substance abuse. Participants explore
and work on areas in their lives which they see as problems leading to substance
use. BSI is held at the PVPS office.
MRS (Motivating Recovery
Solutions)
For students whose drug and alcohol abuse is the primary issue; who may be
or have been in treatment; or those whose substance use is causing problems in
their lives, MRS offers an in-depth curriculum. MRS is a minimum of
sixteen sessions, with parents attending two family meetings. The group is established
at PVPS. Participants in MRS meet at least one of the criteria for
abuse or addiction as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
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