The Center for Prevention Services (CPS) is a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to “promote healthy living and prevent addictions through integrated approaches to health.” The organization focuses on the “before.” Before substance use occurs, and before addition takes hold.
CALL TO ACTION: CPS is currently seeking sponsorships, donations, and grant opportunities to help bridge the current gap that they have in their funding. They need to find creative ways to make up these funds in order to continue providing their full slate of existing programs and operations. If you’re able to provide assistance in these efforts, please reach out!
Since its founding in 1971, CPS has offered high quality, creative educational opportunities on prevention and healthy behavior related topics. In addition, the organization conducts accredited trainings and maintains one of the nation’s longest running longitudinal studies relative to youth drug use.
CPS is one of the oldest free-standing prevention agencies in the nation and has a history of defining prevention through community intervention and science-based educational programs.
It is CPS’s belief that prevention is a process that empowers individuals to meet life’s challenges by creating and reinforcing healthy behaviors and lifestyles, which reduce risk that contributes to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug misuse and abuse.
CPS offers FREE programs for schools, summer camps, after school sites, faith-based and other community settings. Services provided are for elementary school youth through college level. Programs are also offered for adults and seniors. All of their programs are available in Spanish too. They even have a confidential drug hotline available on weekdays from 8am-5pm to provide information and referrals.
CPS also provides bi-monthly professional training sessions that offer North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB) credits. They’ve partnered with an organization to offer online education courses.
Center for Prevention Services has expanded its reach to Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Davidson counties by offering numerous evidence-based programs and serving youth and families of all ages.