The Worthy Institute provides life skill workshops for teens in schools and after school that are essential to maintaining a drug-free life and healthy productive lifestyle.  The goal of the Teen Talk program is to increase positive social interaction within the family, friends and the community, develop healthy self-esteem, improve social skills and life skill development and increase hope for the future. The Teen Talk Prevention Program is designed to benefit students and families by providing information and education related to social and emotional competencies and by reducing risk factors and building protective factors that relate to substance abuse. The Teen Talk Prevention Program anticipates serving approximately 1500 teens and families through combined program activities by June 30, 2010.

The Teen Talk Prevention Program provides in school and after school workshops that utilize evidence-based curriculum that address teen substance abuse. The program will target teens in the African American community due to high risk factors for this population, however will be providing services to teens in all communities.  Worthy Institute, LLC utilizes existing and new collaborative community partnerships to implement The Teen Talk Prevention Program including partnerships with; Phoenix Union High School District, Roosevelt School District, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation and Housing Department and Tanner Community Development Corporation (TCDC).  As a collaborative partnership, The Teen Talk Prevention Program offers interactive educational workshops for teens, a community coalition, H.E.A.A.L. (Help Enrich African American Lives) that addresses prevention, health and family support for African American youth and families, public training for professionals that address cultural competencies in serving African American youth and  Community Teen Forums and Cultural Events that will bring together, teens, parents, professionals and community leaders to bring awareness within the African American community about the issue of teen substance abuse.

Activities under this collaborative program are supported by Magellan Health Services of Arizona.  For more information about Magellan Health Services of Arizona or the Teen Talk Program, contact Worthy Institute at (602)258-3300 or Stan Worthy at sworthy@worthyinstitute.com.