What Is VFHY?

Established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1999, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) is responsible for statewide efforts to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use. Since these tobacco use prevention efforts began back in 2001, tobacco use among high school students has dropped by more than 30 percent and tobacco use among middle school students has dropped by more than 65 percent across the commonwealth. In 2009, the Virginia General Assembly added the responsibility for childhood obesity prevention to the VFHY mission. The Foundation works to prevent the youth of Virginia from using tobacco products through marketing and advertising efforts, local programs, education, research, and enforcement. Rockbridge Area Community Services’ (RACS) Prevention Services was a first-round recipient of a Foundation tobacco prevention grant and has been funded every year since. Prevention Staff and materials have been funded to provide a wide variety of prevention services for the Lexington and Buena Vista schools and communities.

RACS Prevention Educators present engaging science-based programs* in classroom settings for youth in grades 2 through Middle School. Some of the programs we provide include:

•          Too Good For Drugs:  A consistent, comprehensive program that builds

            five essential skills - setting goals, making decisions, managing

            emotions, relating to others, and communicating effectively.

            (Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8)

•          Positive Action:  An evidence based curriculum that is effective and

            efficient.  The outcomes are improved self-concept, improved

            behavior, prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use,

            violence and bullying prevention, and improved academic achievement.

            (Grades 5 & 8)

•          Too Good For Drugs and Violence - High School:  A comprehensive

            curriculum that promotes bonding, develops positive life skills, and

            establishes positive, violence- and drug-free norms.

            (Grade 9) 

    *particular program availability depends on VTSF funding each year - please

       contact us for more information.

OUR SCIENCE-BASED PROGRAMS…

•   Are Proven To Be Effective

•   Provide Grade Appropriate Workbooks

•   Are For All Types Of Students

•   Offer Great Health/Science Class Displays

•   Have SOL Components Related To Many Programs

•   Are Reported To Be:

COOL (By Students)

INFORMATIVE (By Faculty)

APPRECIATED (By Parents)

ASK ABOUT OUR:

•           Programming for Community Centers

•           Presentations For PTAs and Civic Groups

•           Information For Church Groups

•           Displays For Festivals and Health Fairs

To Ask About Our Services Please Contact Us at 540.462.6646

•           Kathy Coale, B.S., Prevention Educator kcoale@racsb.org

•           Wendy C. Morgan, M.A., Manager of Prevention Services

wmorgan@racsb.org

Other Websites Of Interest:

Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth www.healthyyouthva.org

VFHY Y Campaign www.ydoyouthink.com