Chestnut staff members located in the Joliet area provide evidence-based youth prevention education in local schools and assist local community coalitions in their efforts to create healthy, drug-free communities through use of the Strategic Prevention Framework. The primary funder is the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Coalitions

Behavioral Health Alliance of Grundy County (BHA)

The BHA was formed in 2009 to address the behavioral health needs of communities in Grundy County by collaborating, educating, and advocating or community change. Underage drinking prevention is among the key issues being addressed by the coalition. 
Website:  www.bhagrundycounty.com


Braidwood Area Healthy Communities Coalition (BAHCC)

The BAHCC was organized to focus on youth issues such as underage drinking and substance abuse in the communities of Braidwood, Peotone, and Wilmington. The group’s mission is to create for everyone an environment free of alcohol and other drug problems.  

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/braidwoodareahealthycommunitycoalition

Website: www.braidwoodcoalition.org


Hispanic Latino Coalition (HLC)

Since November of 2001, HLC members have met to promote leadership and to encourage individuals and agencies to work together to make life better for the Hispanic/Latino community in Will County. In addition to encouraging educational attainment and providing scholarships to promising Hispanic-Latino students, the coalition is active in promoting healthy behaviors among youth.
Website:  www.hlcwillcounty.org


Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community (WCHC)

Since 2006, members of the WCHC have been working to build a strong and healthy, substance-free community that positively supports the economic, social, spiritual and physical well-being of Wilmington’s children, youth and adults. The Coalition has been implementing a federal Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grant since 2010.

Website:  www.wilmington-coalition.org


Youth Prevention Education

Guiding Good Choices

Guiding Good Choices is a research-based drug prevention program that provides parents of children ages 9 to 14 with the knowledge they need to guide their children through early adolescence. A bilingual Chestnut staff member delivers this program in Spanish to parents at Sator Sanchez Elementary School in Joliet.

Project TND (Toward No Drug Abuse)

Project TND is a drug use prevention program for high school youth and is designed to help students develop skills such as self-control, communicatCancel ions, and decision-making. A bilingual Chestnut staff member delivers this program in Spanish to students at Joliet Township High School, Central Campus.

Too Good For Drugs

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) is a school-based prevention program for kindergarten through 12th grade that builds on students' resiliency by teaching them how to be socially competent and autonomous problem solvers. Chestnut staff members deliver the TGFC curriculum to Joliet School District 86 students at A.O. Marshall Elementary School (5th grade), Gompers Junior High School (6th and 7th grade), Sator Sanchez Elementary School (5th grade), and Isaac Singleton Elementary School (5th grade).