Joining Forces for Prevention is a collaboration between the Eastern Lancaster County and Pequea Valley school districts, COBYS, and Compass Mark to implement a multi-tiered substance misuse prevention strategy.

Currently funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the project will provide support to the community, middle-school students, and families in order to prevent the onset of substance misuse. The long-term goal is to prevent opioid abuse later in life by reducing the risk factors that can lead to substance misuse in general and opioids in particular.

The fall cohort of the Strengthening Families Program for Caregivers and Youths will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at The Factory Ministries, 3098 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise. Youths ages 10 to 14 and their caregivers are invited; dinner will be provided for families to enjoy together.

To register for the fall cohort, visit http://www.lancasterjoiningforces.org/strengthening-families-program-registration.