OUR CURRICULUM
Curriculum The focus of the District Opportunity Center is to intervene and assist students that are experiencing substance use and/or substance abuse related issues. Our goal is to educate students through lessons, videos, activities, one-on-one counseling, group support, and other available resources so that students fully understand the dangers of substance abuse.
The DOC program operates from 9:00am to 3:30pm and requires students to participate and engage in four days of intervention lessons. Each morning, from 9:00am to 10:30am, students are given time to work on classwork that they will be missing while participating in the DOC. During this morning period, students are pulled for one-on-one meetings with the District Intervention Specialist for risk assessment, intervention counseling, and exit planning. From 10:30pm to 3:30pm students are engaged in lessons and activities that are focused on substance use/abuse. The lessons that the students are engaged in include:
Welcome:
A 15-minute daily presentation designed to inform all students of the rules, expectations, and confidentiality pertaining to the DOC.
DAY 1
Alcohol Abuse:
This is a facilitated group discussion that allows the students an opportunity to consider the immediate and long-term dangers of alcohol abuse.
Marijuana Abuse:
This is a facilitated group discussion that allows the students an opportunity to consider the immediate and long-term dangers of marijuana abuse.
DAY 2
Myths & Denial:
This lesson is intended to shatter some of the most common myths pertaining to substance use. Students are also made aware of several forms of denial and encouraged to reflect on the role denial has played in their personal experience with substance use.
Stereotyping:
This lesson challenges students to look within and consider how stereotyping influences perception, emotion, and behavior. Students are also educated on the concept of “self-fulfilling prophecy”and consider the power in positive self-talk.
DAY 3
Drugs & Their Effects:
The lesson is intended to enhance awareness of drug classification and their physiological effects.
Pros & Cons:
This is a guided activity in which students provide all the lesson content. Students brainstorm all possible pros and cons stemming from substance use. The diagram used for plotting this student-given information paints a clear picture of the cost of choosing to use and the benefits from choosing to abstain from substance use.
Good-Bye Letter:
Students compose a personal good-bye letter to their drug of choice. Students are encouraged to share their letter with the group.
DAY 4
Self-Control:
The objective of this lesson is to examine situations which may pose added challenges for maintaining ones self-control. Students are also provided strategies for dealing with challenging situations and emotions. Furthermore, this lesson also contains a focus on the idea of recidivism. This concept is used to emphasize the increased likelihood of future school, legal, life problems if substance use behaviors do not change.
Goal Setting:
Establishing and pursuing goals is an essential process for behavioral modification. This lesson consists of a facilitated group discussion pertaining to short-term and long-term goals. Students are then given 20-30 minutes to develop goals and discuss the action plans for achieving said goals.
Personal Reflection:
Time is provided at the conclusion of each day for students to write about their experience, reflect upon the day’s lessons, and process emotions.
Upon completing the DOC program requirements,the Intervention Specialist facilitates an exit conference with the parent/guardian and student. The objective of this conference is to communicate to the parent/guardian the established exit plan, which may contain referrals to outside agencies based on the student’s particular needs. Students are also encouraged during this time to share their short-term and long-term goals with parents/guardians with the hope to increase accountability.
Curriculum The focus of the District Opportunity Center is to intervene and assist students that are experiencing substance use and/or substance abuse related issues. Our goal is to educate students through lessons, videos, activities, one-on-one counseling, group support, and other available resources so that students fully understand the dangers of substance abuse.
The DOC program operates from 9:00am to 3:30pm and requires students to participate and engage in four days of intervention lessons. Each morning, from 9:00am to 10:30am, students are given time to work on classwork that they will be missing while participating in the DOC. During this morning period, students are pulled for one-on-one meetings with the District Intervention Specialist for risk assessment, intervention counseling, and exit planning. From 10:30pm to 3:30pm students are engaged in lessons and activities that are focused on substance use/abuse. The lessons that the students are engaged in include:
Welcome:
A 15-minute daily presentation designed to inform all students of the rules, expectations, and confidentiality pertaining to the DOC.
DAY 1
Alcohol Abuse:
This is a facilitated group discussion that allows the students an opportunity to consider the immediate and long-term dangers of alcohol abuse.
Marijuana Abuse:
This is a facilitated group discussion that allows the students an opportunity to consider the immediate and long-term dangers of marijuana abuse.
DAY 2
Myths & Denial:
This lesson is intended to shatter some of the most common myths pertaining to substance use. Students are also made aware of several forms of denial and encouraged to reflect on the role denial has played in their personal experience with substance use.
Stereotyping:
This lesson challenges students to look within and consider how stereotyping influences perception, emotion, and behavior. Students are also educated on the concept of “self-fulfilling prophecy”and consider the power in positive self-talk.
DAY 3
Drugs & Their Effects:
The lesson is intended to enhance awareness of drug classification and their physiological effects.
Pros & Cons:
This is a guided activity in which students provide all the lesson content. Students brainstorm all possible pros and cons stemming from substance use. The diagram used for plotting this student-given information paints a clear picture of the cost of choosing to use and the benefits from choosing to abstain from substance use.
Good-Bye Letter:
Students compose a personal good-bye letter to their drug of choice. Students are encouraged to share their letter with the group.
DAY 4
Self-Control:
The objective of this lesson is to examine situations which may pose added challenges for maintaining ones self-control. Students are also provided strategies for dealing with challenging situations and emotions. Furthermore, this lesson also contains a focus on the idea of recidivism. This concept is used to emphasize the increased likelihood of future school, legal, life problems if substance use behaviors do not change.
Goal Setting:
Establishing and pursuing goals is an essential process for behavioral modification. This lesson consists of a facilitated group discussion pertaining to short-term and long-term goals. Students are then given 20-30 minutes to develop goals and discuss the action plans for achieving said goals.
Personal Reflection:
Time is provided at the conclusion of each day for students to write about their experience, reflect upon the day’s lessons, and process emotions.
Upon completing the DOC program requirements,the Intervention Specialist facilitates an exit conference with the parent/guardian and student. The objective of this conference is to communicate to the parent/guardian the established exit plan, which may contain referrals to outside agencies based on the student’s particular needs. Students are also encouraged during this time to share their short-term and long-term goals with parents/guardians with the hope to increase accountability.