Students who are taking part in the Student Opportunity Center’s alternative school program are able to receive help through the Chemical Awareness Resources & Education (CARE) program, which serves Dallas and Collin counties.
SOC Principal Sue Kirk says students who choose to participate in CARE are sometimes able to use that experience to be able to go back to their home campus sooner. The training and counseling offered outside of the school day about drug and alcohol abuse is helpful to students and to their parents, who may also choose to attend classes. Kirk points out that CARE goes beyond basic drug education and also tells parents what to expect if the student becomes involved in legal issues because of substance abuse.
About CARE
CARE is a non-profit organization that began in the 1980s to offer help to families dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. CARE works with over 40 schools in Dallas and Collin County communities to provide them with the very best education and awareness programs about drugs and alcohol use and abuse among young people. Often speakers are local or nationally known experts who speak about addiction, intervention, dual diagnosis, teen depression, anxiety and parenting skills. Many times the speakers are low or no cost to the schools because of their relationship with CARE. CARE also offers classes on site like New Directions and Because You Care.
Kirk stresses that CARE is an affordable resource for anyone looking for help with alcohol or drug abuse or addiction. It has referred families to interventionists, counselors, assessment, inpatient treatment, wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, outpatient treatment, sober living houses and life coaches. The referral sources are national in scope and current in the latest treatment methodologies for alcohol and drug addiction.
Additionally, CARE provides college scholarships each year to kids who abstain from drugs and alcohol during high school, has an extensive library of books and DVDs about drugs, alcohol, parenting and mental health issues, and also provides free drug testing kits to anyone in need.
Fundraiser
Because CARE is non-profit, it must hold fundraisers. This year’s event is a combination fundraiser and informative event to be held Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at Elevate Life Church, 8500 Teel Parkway in Frisco. CARE is raising funds through sponsorships of the event.
Families who wish to attend for free may learn more about drug abuse, rehabilitation and repercussions from former professional basketball player Chris Herren, the former Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics player who “lost it all” due to substance abuse. His story, Rebound: The Chris Herren Story is an inspiring presentation of his life struggles. Herren has written a memoir entitled Basketball Junkie and he is also the subject of the ESPN documentary Unguarded.
Click here to RSVP to the event.
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