Prevention and Education Services
DeKalb County Operation Snowball, one of 130 Snowball Chapters in Illinois, is an alcohol and other drug prevention program that focuses on empowering youth to develop leadership skills and to lead drug-free lives. "Snowball" describes the philosophy of the program: If I can have a positive impact on you, you can have a positive impact on someone else.
Operation Snowball, funded in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, is active in several DeKalb County high schools. Students meet weekly for education in the following areas:
- Substance abuse
- Self-esteem
- Communication
- Family systems
- Violence and gang prevention
- Stress management
- Depression and suicide prevention
The program encourages and sponsors alternative activities, such as leadership camps, monthly trainings, and the Annual Snowflake, which orients eighth graders to the Operation Snowball philosophy. All of these activities are alcohol and drug free.
Community Education
Health fairs, community presentations at schools and service clubs, and a variety of printed materials all serve to educate the community-at-large about preventing behavioral health problems and accessing services. Contact us if you need a speaker at your organization's next meeting.