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Teen
Institute
Wally Waldbauer, Director of Special Services
Geauga County Educational Service Center
470 Center Place, Bldg. 2
Chardon, Ohio 44024
440-279-1706
Fax: 440-286-7106
Ohio Teen Institute is the oldest positive peer prevention program in the United States. With support from dedicated alcohol and drug professionals and educators across the state, Ohio’s Teen Institute program has touched thousands of young lives here in Ohio. Over 300 students per year are involved with Teen Institute groups in 15 high schools in Lake and Geauga Counties. The following Geauga schools host Teen Institute groups:
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Teen Institute (TI) for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse is a teen peer-prevention program. In this program, teens are taught about drug and alcohol abuse and how to do prevention projects in their schools and the community. Ohio Teen Institute is the oldest and largest peer-prevention program in the country. In 1982, TI was established in all seven public high schools in Geauga County.
TI has a clear and strong no use message for its members. Many of the TI trainings and projects are done on a countywide basis with students from all over the county participating. The TI year kicks off with a face painting booth at the Great Geauga County Fair. The TI students paint faces, pass out literature about substance abuse, and explain to kids and parents why they are involved in Teen Institute.
The big training for new TI members occurs for three days in November at Camp Burton. The first evening is spent in team building. The second day is learning about substance abuse and its effects on the individual, family and society. The third day is involved in learning how to do prevention projects in schools and community.
Other TI events include a dance and social event that demonstrate to the students that it is possible to have fun without the use of drugs and alcohol. A spring training provides additional training for those involved in Teen Institute. TI students serve as drug free role models and youth staff for an education program for seventh graders called Challenges and Decisions.
Some prevention projects completed by Teen Institute students include performing skits, talking to elementary students, helping run Red Ribbon Week activities, and participating in Prom Promise activities. Based on research, peer education is a promising approach in substance abuse prevention. Research suggests that well-trained peer educators may be more effective than classroom teachers and other adults in delivering prevention messages.
For over twenty years Teen Institute has been spreading the message that it is OK to be drug and alcohol free and doing prevention activities in the schools and community.