What is it??

Health Rocks!Is a decision-making program for youth ages 8-12.  The program is taught by teens to help young people learn skills such as critical thinking, how to manage stress, how to handle peer pressure, and how to communicate effectively.  Special emphasis is given to tobacco, alcohol and other drug use prevention.  The program also includes components that bring youth and adults together as partners in developing community strategies that prepare youth to make healthy lifestyle choices.   The program was designed with the belief that programs that incorporate life-skill development and decision making will truly reduce tobacco and drug use in young people.  Personal social skills and abilities help youth become more resistant to substance use.  Ultimately, we want children who are already forming their opinions about tobacco, alcohol, and drugs to take healthy control of these choices so that they will resist pressures from peers, stress or other emotional factors.

Partnership between Youth and Adults

Health Rocks!Was developed by a team of youth and adult partners representing a broad spectrum of experience, ages, ethnicities and geographic locations.  As a result the program is easy to use and can be taught by teens and adults.

Program Curriculum

The Health Rocks! Program allows participants to experience activities that help them learn and adopt many important skills such as:

þ      How to take control of their choices

þ      Understand alcohol, tobacco and drug use

þ      The ability to make decisions based on solid facts

þ      The importance of building youth/adult partnerships to address healthy lifestyle choices

Health Rocks! In Livingston County

For more information on becoming a trainer and/or bringing the Health Rocks! Program to your community, contact:

Rachel Pena                                                             Donna Horton

HCTC Coordinator                                                   Cornell Cooperative Extension          

585-748-5146                                                                                                                       585-658-3250

585-227-0279                                                            Dfh3@cornell.edu

r.pena17@yahoo.com