Experience of the Lions Quest school-based prevention program CND 2018 Matthew Kiefer

LCIF and UNODC: Partners in Evidence-Based Prevention

What is Lions Quest? A multi-component… Comprehensive… Positive Youth Development program… Based in Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Positive School Climate Program Components Positive School Climate Family Involvement Initial Training & Follow-Up Support/ Community Engagement & Service Learning Classroom Curriculum

Global Reach Lions Quest has been implemented in more than 100 countries and curriculum materials have been translated into more than 45 languages. More than 16 million students have benefited from Lions Quest, making it one of the most widely-used SEL and prevention programs in the world

What is Social and Emotional Learning? Collaborative for Social Emotional Learning (2015) Research on high quality substance abuse prevention programs list several essential elements: Establishing positive norms and personal commitments that drug use is not the norm among young people and that a personal commitment to not use drugs is essential Addressing risk and protective factors that encourage and discourage drug use Building social and emotional competencies and resistance skills that strengthen the skills to make healthy choices and resist negative peer pressure to use drugs Recognizing impact of drug use with accurate information about short- and long-term effects of drug use on young people’s health, friendships, interests, and future goals Bonding with prosocial peers and caring adults who are skilled in reinforcing key prevention concepts and skills and providing a safe, caring network of support

SEL and Prevention Characteristics Associated with Quality SEL Implementation “S.A.F.E.” – Sequenced, Active, Focused, Explicit Targeted, Intentional Skill Development Repeated Opportunities for Practice SEL embedded into the school’s core curriculum and policies Positive Classroom and School Environment Characteristics Associated with Positive Prevention Outcomes Range of personal & social skills Structured, scaffolded sessions Delivered by trained facilitators Primarily Interactive Improvements to classroom environment Opportunities to Practice Skills Lions Quest programs reflect these best practices in Substance Abuse Prevention through: Sequential, universal K-12 prevention curriculum that includes three grade level units dedicated to substance abuse prevention lessons within a strength’s-based SEL curriculum for all students, providing long-term instruction in prosocial and resistance skills Highly interactive, student-centered instructional design that encourages critical thinking and leadership in becoming role models of drug-free, healthy choices for their peers Positive classroom and schoolwide climate and culture that establishes a clear drug-free policy and reinforces the norm that most students are choosing a drug-free lifestyle Parent and community materials to support parents and community members in identifying drug using behaviors and knowing how to help young people who do use drugs Service-learning and civic engagement opportunities that provide all students with opportunities for highly rewarding, equitable, and collaborative learning experiences Home-school-community partnership necessary to create systemic norms among the entire support network for effective and sustainable substance abuse prevention

Home-Community-School Skill building doesn’t just happen in the classroom, which is why the Lions Quest program incorporates the community and family through activities such as service learning. Community Successful Students Schools Family

LCIF and UNODC Since 2014, piloting was undertaken in Serbia, FYRO Macedonia, Montenegro Last year we started Bosnia-Herzegovina This year we started Guatemala; funding allocated for Albania

How You Can Implement Connect with LCIF If in a country with an existing program, we can put you in contact If in a country without an existing program, LCIF can help establish a pilot LCIF funding may be available if project is done in collaboration with local Lions clubs and members