The Positive Change Conference is Lancaster County’s community conference on addiction, serving helping professionals, college students, and anyone interested in addiction prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery. Although it’s been an annual event in one form or another since 1991, Compass Mark ran the event from 2012 to 2018, when we began a partnership with Millersville…
An old-fashioned balance scale serves as a good metaphor for how we do addiction prevention. When our prevention specialists are out in the community, we’re asked some predictable questions about our work. Q: Are most kids using opioids? A: Definitely not. In both Lebanon & Lancaster Counties, less than 1% of kids have ever tried…
The Advocacy Team at Compass Mark created a packet containing three lessons with corresponding worksheets for students and families to enjoy at home. The lessons taught on personal strengths, time management, and goal setting. Even the cover page offered a chance to color and cut out your own bookmark! The packets were printed and dispersed…
As all but essential workers have stayed largely at home since mid-March, the need for distractions has risen. Hop on the internet and you’ll find many how-to articles for surviving social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Most recommend checking items off your bucket list–or at the very least, cleaning and organizing your home. Stress levels…
A few months ago, a 17-year-old high school senior and her nine-year-old brother came home from their Lancaster County school and their mom wasn’t there. Kira (not her real name) and Michael had faced this circumstance before, so they went on with their day—snacks, homework, bedtime and getting up for school the following day. Another…
LFG Students Leaders of Future Generations (LFG) is a school-based prevention program offered by Compass Mark for middle and high school youth who exhibit leadership potential. Students, mentors, Compass Mark facilitators, and youth advocates meet together for 12 weeks during their afterschool program to explore topics such as communication, personal values, managing conflict, and leadership….
Compass Mark’s dedicated teams work to fulfill the mission to prevent addiction through education, skill-building, and community mobilization. Lauren Krebs, Youth Leadership Advocate I haven’t been here long but I did get to witness Landis Run Intermediate School’s community service project day and it was great. The children started the day by handing out bracelets…
Photo: Ephrata Cares supports “Character Matters” In December of 2018, Compass Mark awarded grants to four deserving local coalitions that are undertaking various prevention projects in the community. These efforts were made possible thanks to funding received from the Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission. Recognizing that it truly takes a village to prevent addiction,…
Compass Mark’s Family Services Advocate program has been available in Lancaster County for the past four years and beginning in March, it is now available to serve children and caregivers in Lebanon County. The Family Services Advocate program identifies, supports, and advocates for the unique needs and rights of children whose parents are incarcerated, and…
Electronic vaping devices go by many names, such as e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pipes, vaping pens, e-hookahs, or hookah pens. They are often easy to conceal and some even give off little vapor and smell, allowing teens to easily conceal them on school grounds. Compass Mark is keeping track of various types of vaping devices…