Youth Program
PreVenture
A mental health and early intervention program for youth.
PreVenture: an Evidence-based
Youth Prevention Program
PreVenture is an evidence-based prevention program for youth aged 12-18 that uses personality-focused interventions to promote mental health and reduce the risk of substance use.
The PreVenture program was developed by Dr. Patricia Conrod, a Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Montreal. Dr. Conrod’s research focuses on risk factors for youth substance misuse and mental health problems with a view to understanding why early onset substance use is so highly concurrent with other mental health concerns and future addiction.
Personality factors can increase vulnerability to substance use and mental health challenges
PreVenture incorporates Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help youth better understand and manage the aspects of their personalities associated with risky behaviors and substance use.
PreVenture helps youth to:
- Learn Better Coping Mechanisms
- Weigh the Consequences of Their Actions
- Make Healthy Decisions
- Set Long-Term Goals
The four personality styles
The personality questionnaire (SURPS) identifies which of the following four personality styles youth align with most.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity is about acting on the spur of the moment without thinking much about the consequences of an action.
Sensation Seeking
Sensation seeking is the need for excitement, even if it means engaging in risky behaviors.
Anxiety Sensitivity
Anxiety sensitivity comes with uncomfortable physical sensations when anxious, and worrying about situations that will make these sensations appear.
Negative Thinking
Negative thinking is about feeling sad and hopeless, constantly finding the negatives in life’s events.
PreVenture Results
Evidence-Based. Multiple Research Studies. Results.
CANNABIS
USE
Delayed Initiation & Reduced Frequency
ALCOHOL USE AND BINGE DRINKING
Reduced by 50%
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
Reduced Risk Anxiety, Depression
DRUG
USE
Reduced by 50%
What PreVenture looks like
PreVenture is developed for youth ages 12-18 and can be implemented in school/non-school and online settings. The intervention requirements easily fit into a school partner’s limited time constraints.
Structure
PreVenture is administered by a trained facilitator in a supportive and comfortable environment or online.
Screening
The Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) identifies program eligible youth and their unique personality styles.
Content
The workshops help youths to understand the connection between their personality style and their behaviors.
Overdose Lifeline is an official provider of PreVenture training and implementation in the US.
Implementing PreVenture in Your Community
If you are a teacher, mental health practitioner, counselor, social worker, and/or prevention specialist, you can become a certified PreVenture facilitator and bring this proven, evidence-based intervention to your community.
Unlike most universal programs that offer generic coping skills and address normative attitudes around substance misuse, PreVenture focuses expressly on promoting cognitive behavioral strategies that have been shown to improve mental health. The intervention is delivered to youth in a workshop format and introduces cognitive behavioral strategies and coping skills based on individual personality styles. Youth fill out a brief personality questionnaire (SURPS) which aligns them with the personality style most relevant to them.
Consent
Consent forms are sent out to the parents.
Screening
The intended target population complete the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) brief screening survey which identifies program eligible youth and their unique personality styles.
Eligibility
Eligible youth are informed confidentially in person or in writing and invited to participate in the brief workshops.
Implementation
Two, 90-minute personality specific group workshops are held at least one week apart. The workshops utilize the evidence based curriculum to teach youth how to understand the connection between their personality style and their behaviors.
PreVenture Training and Packaging
Trainees will complete the PreVenture facilitator registration form and an online prerequisite course (approximately 60-minutes).
Facilitator training is 2 days for groups of 4-15 and is conducted online or in-person*. Day one: 7-hour session (with lunch). Day two: 5-hour session. During the training, you will learn about the evidence base and theoretical approach of PreVenture and walk through a hands-on practical experience delivering the PreVenture program using Motivational Interviewing (MI) exercises and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles.
Upon completion of the full low fidelity facilitator training, you will be certified to deliver the PreVenture Program. For continued access to delivering the PreVenture Program, certification must be renewed annually on April 1st of each year.
*Onsite / in-person training available with travel expenses additional.
After becoming a trained facilitator, you will have access to official PreVenture resources from preventureprogram.com such as:
- Flyers
- Consent form templates
- Student certificates
- Automatic screening tools
- And more!
Facilitator Training Fees $785/person
- 2-Day Training
- Facilitator Manual
Optional High Fidelity Certification Additional $500/person
Trainee must complete one full personality workshop under supervision and will receive a feedback session. This may be live workshop setting or a mock presentation. Contact us for more information.
Facilitator Certification Renewal $120/person
Annual Facilitator Certification fee payable to PreVenture-CHU Sainte-Justine.
Other Budget Considerations
Student Workbooks available in print and digital formats purchased from PreVenture-CHU Sainte-Justine. Contact us for pricing.
