your connection to prevention

The Regional Prevention Center of Comprehend, Inc. (RPC) serves the Buffalo Trace Region (Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson Counties). The RPC seeks to empower communities to prevent substance use, suicide and to promote mental health by fostering an environment that promotes, nurtures, and sustains healthy choices, thereby influencing and changing the norms of behavior around wellness. 

The prevention staff offers information and training around substance use, mental health, suicide, violence, and bullying to schools, parents, youth, coalitions, churches, workplaces, and many other community groups and organizations.

The RPC designs comprehensive programs using the six major strategies developed by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP):

1. Information

2. Education

3. Alternatives

4. Environmental Strategies

5. Community-Based Process

6. Problem Identification and Referral

Kentucky has adopted the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), endorsed by CSAP, to implement all substance abuse prevention activities. This framework outlines five steps that embody a strategic planning approach:

1. Assessment

2. Building Capacity

3. Planning

4. Implementation

5. Evaluation

The goal of using the SPF and the six strategies is to produce measurable changes in substance use and its consequences. 

The RPC staff provides information, presentations and trainings to coalitions, parents/caregivers, youth, schools, churches, workplaces and other organizations around substance use, suicide, and violence prevention and mental health promotion. 

Give Your Baby a Healthy Start:  The RPC works with regional health departments and prenatal care providers to offer free educational baby showers to expectant mothers. The program is held several times throughout the year and all pregnant women are invited to attend to learn more about a variety of pregnancy-related topics including nutrition, bonding and attachment, child safety and development, breastfeeding, and harmful things to avoid while pregnant. Participants receive goody bags and resource folders in addition to a light meal and door prizes! Fathers-to-be are welcomed and encouraged to attend along with other involved family members. 

The RPC offers voluntary and mandated parent education. The program utilizes “Nurturing Parenting,” an 18-hour, evidence-based curriculum created by Family Development Resources. The curriculum is a family-centered trauma-informed initiative designed to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglecting parenting and child-rearing practices. 

The long term goals are to prevent recidivism in families receiving social services, lower the rate of multi-parent teenage pregnancies, reduce the rate of juvenile delinquency and alcohol abuse, and stop the inter-generational cycle of child abuse by teaching positive parenting behaviors. This program is appropriate for parents receiving social services, parents of children with mental illness or challenging behaviors as well as parents who simply wish to improve their parenting skills. The program also uses “Nurturing Fathers,” a 13-week, evidence-based curriculum specifically designed for fathers developed by the Center for Growth and Development, Inc. This curriculum is appropriate for a variety of parenting circumstances, including incarcerated fathers.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a public education program focused on teaching adults how to help youth (ages 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or an emotional crisis. YMHFA training introduces participants to the unique adolescent risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help youth in crisis or experiencing challenges related to mental health or substance use.   

The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is provided by the RPC for any youth with early involvement with alcohol or other drugs. Youth that have violated school alcohol or other drug policies, have positive drug screens at school, or youth involved with juvenile justice or other court system programs may be referred. Youth may be referred to the RPC to initiate services. For school-related issues, youth may be referred directly to the Comprehend on-site school-based therapist for assessment. The program utilizes “Prime for Life,” an evidence-based harm reduction, addiction education curriculum. Participants receive 8 hours of education. The EIP also features a parent component. Parents/guardians may be required to attend a separate 3-hour class. The goal of this class is to educate parents/guardians on gateway drugs, risk and protective factors, effective family management and communication, and signs and symptoms of youth substance use/abuse.  

In accordance with KRS 189A.010 (1)(e), persons under the age of 21 who are operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .02 to .08, are required to receive an assessment, education or mental health and/or substance use treatment. These youth come through adult traffic court and are referred to the RPC, a licensed provider of the program. Participants are required to receive 16 hours of education through “Prime for Life, an evidence-based harm reduction, addiction education curriculum. Youth are assessed prior to participation in the program. Based on the assessment outcome, youth may be referred for additional services such as outpatient therapy. 

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a 1-2 hour suicide prevention training designed for anyone who is in need of basic suicide prevention skills. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. This program can be delivered to adults and to high school students. Comprehend, Inc. has multiple staff trained in facilitating this program and can train businesses, schools, organizations and more.

STOP is a drug and violence prevention coalition comprised of a small group of students from each high school in the Buffalo Trace region. STOP was developed to empower youth to take a stand against drug use and violence in their schools and communities. Youth members are committed to substance-free living and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and violence. The RPC provides technical assistance to the coalition as they plan and implement prevention projects in their schools and communities.  

The RPC provides consultation and technical assistance to community coalitions and other groups interested in substance use or suicide prevention. Services include needs assessment and data analysis; finding resources; meeting facilitation; mobilizing support for programs; as well as building capacities to institutionalize prevention efforts; and selecting, implementing, and evaluating a variety of evidence-based strategies that produce a broad and comprehensive approach to prevention in our region. Below is a list of coalitions/organizations with whom the RPC provides consultation and technical assistance. 

• Buffalo Trace Agency for Substance Abuse Policy
• STOP Regional Youth Coalition
• Mason County Smoke-Free Partnership
• Bracken County Smoke-Free Partnership
• Fleming County Inter-Agency Council
• Lewis County Inter-Agency Council
• Regional Early Childhood and Education Council
• Mason County Health Coalition
• Buffalo Trace Regional DCBS
• Lewis County Substance Abuse Committee 

The RPC resource library houses current curricula, books, brochures, and media information related to substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment; recovery and addiction; mental health; violence; and parenting. Pamphlets and posters are available for free. Books, DVDs, videos, and a variety of teaching materials are available for loan.