We Bring Southington Together to Build Assets and Prevent Substance Misuse

STEPS Prevention Council

Our Mission

STEPS makes prevention a priority in our community through education, limiting access, and advocacy for policy change.

Our prevention work focuses on underage drinking, tobacco/vaping, cannabis/marijuana use, prescription drug misuse, and more. We believe that positive youth development is an essential building block to create generations of youth that are caring, competent, successful, and substance free.

Our Focus on Youth

STEPS was founded in 2007 with a mission to help our youth grow up to be caring, competent and successful. We develop programs and opportunities for young people to step up and showcase their best selves.

STEPS partners with Southington Public Schools to follow an Asset Building Classrooms (ABC) model. We also have STEPS Youth Council leadership opportunities, a youth community service initiative, and a classroom-based curriculum to improve student health and safety.

STEPS Youth Council

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Stay informed about our latest prevention efforts, news, and events.


Our Prevention Efforts

Our work in Southington to keep young people healthy and safe is a top priority. Data shows that substance use at a young age can lead to:

  • Higher suicide risk
  • Long-term substance use disorders
  • Mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, psychosis)
  • Poor school performance (lower grades, absenteeism)
  • Physical health issues (diseases, injuries)
  • Risky behaviors
  • Social and economic impacts (damaged relationships, missed career opportunities)

All these reasons are why substance use prevention among young people is so important. Take a moment to learn more about our work in Southington right now.

Areas of Focus

In both youth and adults, the perceptions around the risk of marijuana use has decreased dramatically. This is true not only in Connecticut but all over the United States. Some of this shift is in response to changes in social policies and laws.

It is risky to misuse prescription medications or obtain medications that are not provided by a doctor or other medical professional. This is a main cause of preventable overdoses.

Although tobacco use among youth in Southington is decreasing  – only 7% of Southington teens report using tobacco products – the usage of vaping products is on the rise.

Many activities have ages when young people can safely start them. A person must wait until age 16 to start driving, age 18 to marry without parental consent, age 35 to become president, and so on. The legal age to drink is 21 for a reason – it is based on research that shows young people react differently to alcohol.

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Build assets like Read for Pleasure throughout the summer at Southington Public Library!Registration for our all-ages summer reading program begins NEXT MONDAY, June 12th, at 9:00 a.m. Summer reading runs from Monday, June 19th, through Friday, August 11th.

Registered kids, teens, and adults can track their reading beginning Monday, June 19th. Teens and Adults can keep track of their summer reading through BeanStack. Kids can use BeanStack or paper logs to track their reading. Everyone who tracks their reading will be entered to win fabulous weekly prizes!

We will share more information about BeanStack on Monday, June 12th.
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Build assets like Read for Pleasure throughout the summer at Southington Public Library!

Introducing our first Lifetime Member of STEPS, Rachel Wache! You might recognize her from a few years ago when she won the @capp_ct Sector Member All-Star Award for her work within the military sector. We were thrilled to unanimously vote to make Rachel a forever member of our Board at today’s meeting. ... See MoreSee Less

Introducing our first Lifetime Member of STEPS, Rachel Wache! You might recognize her from a few years ago when she won the @capp_ct Sector Member All-Star Award for her work within the military sector. We were thrilled to unanimously vote to make Rachel a forever member of our Board at today’s meeting.

Comment on Facebook

She’s a star in our town

Congratulations, Rachel!

Yes!!!!! Rachel, you have always been an important and impactful member of our Southington STEPS Coalition family! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!

You selected the best person ever! Rachel is a Southington gem with a heart of gold who NEVER puts herself first. It's always about everyone else. Love you, Rachel!

Congratulations!!! Well deserved! Thank you for all your time you have given to Southington and STEPS!!

Well deserved!!!

Thank you Rachel for all you do for STEPS and Southington.

Wonderful person! Great selection!

Really nice choice and honor.

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Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Don't forget to check out our great selection of museum passes! You can get discounted or free admission to museums, zoos, and parks all across the state—and you can even reserve up to two weeks ahead. Check out our website, southingtonlibrary.org, or stop by the Reference Desk for more information! ... See MoreSee Less

A big hooray for our second Transition Day! A big eagle clap to our fifth graders, their teachers, our sixth grade panelists from JFK and our friends at Sloper! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Southington STEPS Coalition

Hats off to our DePaolo 6th grade panelists, YMCA Camp Sloper staff, fifth graders, their teachers and our C3 officers for making our Fifth Grade Transition Day Part 1
a success!
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Awesome. What a great tradition!!

So glad this program is continuing! ☀️😊

Kenny Curylo. Mongo!!!

3 weeks ago
Southington STEPS Coalition

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