OVERVIEW

The challenges provide a framework for helping youth think through their own decisions about their lives and their use of alcohol and other drugs. Counselors using The Seven Challenges Program teach youth to identify and work on the issues most relevant to them. In sessions, as youth discuss the issues that matter most, counselors seamlessly integrate the Challenges as part of the conversation.

SEVEN CHALLENGES

The purpose of Seven Challenges is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for adolescents who struggle with issues involving substance use, abuse, or dependence. This evidence-based program is designed to motivate adolescents in decision making, while assisting them in committing to changes in negative behaviors.  Young people are assisted as they begin to master developmental tasks, define their own identity, learn systematic logical thinking, and prepare for adult roles. Simultaneously, they are challenged to think about and examine their lives, their drug use, and the impact of this behavior on their future. This program is provided on a weekly basis to groups of no more than ten youth of similar age and development. The sessions are facilitated by trained facilitators for a period of 1 to 1.5 hours. The groups are based on confidential sharing between the youth present, and are designed to provide individual and collective development of tools and support systems that ensure participant success.

 Middle and High school students who regularly participated in Seven Challenges program reduced 20% use of drugs and alcohol compared to those youth who did not fully participate.