Investing in the Success of Today’s Youth

With the recent debut of an introduction video, the implementation of the Asset Building Classrooms, or ABC program, in local schools and the completion of a survey showing positive change, 2012 is shaping up to be a banner year for the Southington Town-Wide Efforts to Promote Success program.

Southington Town-Wide Effort to Promote Success, or STEPS, has quickly grown into an integral part of the community and Kelly Leppard, youth prevention coordinator for STEPS, and Southington Youth Services Director Sue Saucier said they are looking forward to really “stepping up efforts” over the next year.

“We are really looking forward to releasing the next round of survey results. The first couple years are about establishing coalitions, but we have made some strides already,” Leppard said Tuesday. “We are very excited to share the news, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”

STEPS kicked off their 2012 campaign during the Southington Chamber of Commerce’s “State of the Town” dinner, unveiling a brand new introduction video that was led by Saucier and produced by the film company Dream Frames. The video, which can be seen above, has recently been added to the STEPS website.

Leppard and Saucier each said it has been amazing to see the way the community has gotten involved, with police and fire officials, school administrators and parents, business owners, town employees and even the students themselves all taking on active roles in promoting efforts.

After administrators, teachers, parents and students were trained in how to implement the ABC program, an initiative which aims to offer students 40 tools to promote smart decision makings and foster a caring learning environment for every student, Saucier said teacher Amber Smith produced their own video about the ABC effort.

“Amber called us and asked if there were any videos out there to help describe how the program works,” Saucier said. “We weren’t aware of any and started looking around. By the time we were able to get back to her, they had already moved forward with a video she produced with her students that was later presented to the whole school.”

Evelyn Ciaburri, a graduate and administrative assistant to Leppard, said across the district, there have been similar examples of school staff getting involved since the ABC program was unveiled at the 2011 school convocation. The ultimate goal is to assure that students eventually have all 31-40 assets available to assure their success.

The students have also gotten involved, hosting “random kindness” days and helping other students to succeed, she said.

“Last spring, middle schoolers made cards for the seniors before prom that encouraged them to have a safe, drug-free celebration,” Ciaburri said. “The juniors at the high school made cards for this year’s incoming freshman, just wishing them luck and providing tips on how to survive through four years of school.”

But now that the video is complete and STEPS has gained name recognition throughout the community, Saucier and Leppard said it’s time to focus on the future.

Saucier said the program there are several big events coming up this year, including the results program which will be held at on March 7 – a program that Leppard said would also provide additional tools to promote success – as well as hosting a round table discussion at .

The discussion will involve all interested adults and focus on preventing underage drinking and changing culture so that students make positive decisions and avoid risky behavior.

High school students Joe Rogus, Natalie Nyerick, Sean Erwin and Rachael Fabian, all student members to the STEPS advisory board, will also have the opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Washington D.C. hosted by the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America.

Saucier said all the programs are possible because of a grant from the coalition that STEPS received in 2009.

In order for the STEPS program to continue to make strides in the community, Leppard said she and other staff will lean heavily on the support they’ve received in recent years from those throughout Southington that have taken part in the development of STEPS.

“It’s not about the three of us here in the office,” Leppard said with a smile Thursday. “It’s the support we’ve received from so many in the community that has helped us get off to a great start and we are looking forward to seeing that collaboration continue.”