It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

“It takes a village to raise a child” is a proverb that means an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.

At Steered Straight, we totally believe this adage is truer than ever!

Facing the increasing drug abuse pandemic that is affecting today’s youth, it is more vital than ever that parents, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement, first responders and members of each and every community are educated and on the same page in regards to addressing this scene in the hopes of salvaging our future generation.

We won’t sugarcoat it – it’s not always easy and it does take an active effort. But it is possible to create a positive impact on our youth so they are able to understand that their decisions have consequences that will affect not only their own future but that of their family, friends and community.

That’s why we offer presentations that go beyond addressing the students themselves. Our goal is to create a strong village in each community we touch by delivering our message and educating parents, teachers, school administrators and staff, police officers, churches and other community groups who have a vested interest in seeing that our youth today grow up to be strong, healthy and responsible citizens.

View our variety of programs to see how we are building villages across America!

We deliver a message that will help children, especially teenagers, to:

  1. Question their assumptions about bulling, gangs, drug use and crime;
  2. Analyze the social norms of the peers around them;
  3. Develop a self-paradigm to live by rather than the social mirror that so many of them use to gauge their direction; and
  4. Learn to rationally and intelligently make the right life-choices.

Student Assemblies & Special Programs

While each Steered Straight, Inc. student assembly focuses on the topic at hand, all assemblies emphasize the importance of consequential thinking and protective factors. In this way, students learn the significance of positive influences, both internal and external, such as, positive choices, positive self-talk along with positive role models.

Through pre and post presentation student surveys, we have found that 80% of students actually go home to talk to a parent about our assemblies. Externally, through a partnership in NJ with 2ND Floor Teen Help-line, NJ districts that receive a Steered Straight Student Assembly see an average 63% increase in help-line phone calls from students. One in five of 2ND Floor’s statewide calls come from students that have viewed a Steered Straight Student Assembly.

Professional Development Workshops for Educators

In addition to the presentations and programs designed for students, we offer four Professional Development Seminars for staff and educators.  These seminars educate teachers, administrators and professional staff on the behaviors, identification, laws and consequences surrounding the issues at hand.  They also discuss methods for appropriately recognizing and addressing situations related to bullying, gang involvement and drug and alcohol use/abuse.

Parent & Community Education Sessions

Steered Straight, Inc. education sessions are conducted similarly to professional development workshops. Essentially, they are presentations for educators, school staff, parents, guardians and community members. Each session is designed to educate its audience about a particular issue embedded in the social conditions of today’s youth. All sessions explain the etiology, prevalence and potential consequences related to the issue, as well as prevention and intervention methods.

View our variety of programs to see how we are building villages across America!

Business Community

Civic Organizations

Government Institutions Organizations

Law Enforcement

Faith Based Community

Medical Community