Our Mission
STEPS makes prevention a priority in our community through education, limiting access, and advocacy for policy change.
Our prevention work focuses on underage drinking, tobacco/vaping, cannabis/marijuana use, prescription drug misuse, and more. We believe that positive youth development is an essential building block to create generations of youth that are caring, competent, successful, and substance free.
Our Focus on Youth
STEPS was founded in 2007 with a mission to help our youth grow up to be caring, competent and successful. We develop programs and opportunities for young people to step up and showcase their best selves.
STEPS partners with Southington Public Schools to follow an Asset Building Classrooms (ABC) model. We also have STEPS Youth Council leadership opportunities, a youth community service initiative, and a classroom-based curriculum to improve student health and safety.
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Stay informed about our latest prevention efforts, news, and events.
Our Prevention Efforts
Our work in Southington to keep young people healthy and safe is a top priority. Data shows that substance use at a young age can lead to:
All these reasons are why substance use prevention among young people is so important. Take a moment to learn more about our work in Southington right now.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Comment on Facebook
Remember “this is your brain on drugs” with the frying pan and eggs? 🍳 Well, this is your lungs on nicotine. 🫁
These are pig lungs infected with disease that can happen to humans who vape or smoke. Today we displayed them at the southingtoncommunityymca during their informational lung cancer screening event with hartfordhealthcare. ... See MoreSee Less
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Join us in giving a round of applause to STEPS Youth Council, recipients of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Prevention Impact Award! There are few words to
adequately capture how proud, excited, and honored we are. Youth are the true prevention experts and STEPS YC is leading the charge!
Ava, Jackie, and Katie accepted the award on behalf of the club during the second annual CT Prevention Summit on Tuesday at the Delamar Hotel. DMHAS Deputy Commissioner Colleen Harrington and Sarju Shah, Prevention and Health Promotion Division Director, presented the award in recognition of Youth Council’s prevention campaigns, advocacy work, and youth leadership.
Earlier in the day, the students presented one of eight workshops offered at the conference; sharing their experience as youth engaged in prevention from elementary school through senior year. They were brave, eloquent, intelligent presenters and received many questions and compliments about the impact YC has on Southington and beyond!
Thank you to DMHAS and the Connecticut Clearinghouse for choosing Youth Council for this honor, and for organizing the Summit! ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations!
So proud!!!!! ❤️
So proud and delighted to meet these trailblazers at the conference. ❤️
Congratulations!!!! So well deserved!!! 👏👏👏
So proud of these students and all the great work they do to evangelize prevention backed by Southington STEPS Coalition! Bravo!
Wahooooo!!!
Congratulations
Congratulations, keep up the good work ..
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Our office at SHS is tidied up and ready for visitors! One way we use this space is as a meeting place for our SMART Recovery groups. Funded by a grant from yrconnecticut, these groups give youth the skills they need to make smart, healthy decisions and navigate life’s challenges substance-free. ... See MoreSee Less
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Love it!!
Keep up the good work.
This is awesome!!
Great!
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If you ask me, the school year doesn’t officially start until you have your STEPS calendar! They’re being sent to the schools as we speak and will be adorning the offices of our partners soon. Pick one up for your home or office at Youth Services! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
We were just talking about them at the Y Learning Center
Hi! Would it be possible for our center to get some again this year? They were a huge hit with our Southington families! 💚
Looking forward to this year's calendar!
Thank you, STEPS!
Phew! I have been waiting for this!
Love love love 💕
Can’t wait to see the design this year! 💜
Amazing!
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