About

The Prevention Education Department at the Wood County Educational Service Center partners with school districts and community organizations throughout Wood County to provide comprehensive prevention education, student support, family engagement, and professional learning. Our team works collaboratively with educators, administrators, families, and community partners to strengthen protective factors, reduce risk factors, and build resilient school communities.

Using evidence-based practices and data-informed decision making, we deliver high-quality prevention programming that supports students academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.

History

For more than two decades, the Prevention Education Department has partnered with local schools and community agencies to improve the health and well-being of children and families throughout Wood County. What began as prevention-focused programming has evolved into a comprehensive system of school and community support that now serves thousands of students annually through prevention education, consultation, professional development, family programming, and collaborative coalition initiatives.

As community needs continue to evolve, so does our commitment to providing innovative, responsive, and evidence-based services that help schools create safe and supportive learning environments.

What We Do

Our department provides prevention-focused services that strengthen students, families, educators, and communities through education, collaboration, and early intervention. We partner with districts to identify local needs and implement evidence-based programming that promotes positive youth development and addresses today's most pressing challenges.

Our services include:

• Evidence-based classroom prevention education :Substance Use, Suicide, and Healthy relationships

• Mental health and wellness promotion

• Family engagement and parent education

• Community partnerships and resource coordination

• Professional development for educators and school personnel

• Program planning, consultation, and implementation support

How We Do It

We believe prevention is most effective when schools, families, and communities work together. Our specialists collaborate closely with districts to deliver programming that reflects local priorities while maintaining fidelity to evidence-based models.

Our department provides a wide range of services and initiatives, including:

• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• Lifelines Suicide Prevention
• Sources of Strength
• Teen Safety Matters
• Catch My Breath
• LifeSkills Training
• Start With Hello
• Handle With Care
• Safe Dates
• Dangers in Disguise
• Family Resilience and Parenting Program (FRPP)
• Parent Project
• Community education and awareness events
• School consultation and prevention planning
• County wide data collection 
• Prevention coalition and community partnership support

Every program is designed to strengthen protective factors, build resilience, promote healthy decision-making, and develop positive school climates where students feel connected, supported, and prepared for success.