Sources of Strength (SOS)Mission: To provide the highest quality evidence-based prevention for suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse by training, supporting, and empowering both peer leaders and caring adults to impact their world through the power of connection, hope, help and strength.
Vision: We believe that many strengths are more powerful than one, and our united goal is to activate and mobilize these strengths in ways that positively change individuals and communities. - Source: www.sourcesofstrength.org |
Who We Are |
In September of 2015, Col. E. Brooke Lee MS partnered with the National Alliance of Mental Illness in Montgomery County (www.namimc.org) to launch Sources of Strength (SOS). Staff organized approximately 15 staff members and 45 students from grades 6, 7, and 8 to join the SOS Project. Staff members (including teachers, security officers, administrators, counselors, office staff, building service, and more!) volunteered to become Adult Advisors, committing to two days of intensive training and two collaborations per month with Peer Leaders. Peer Leaders were nominated by the staff as representatives of the diverse social scene at Col. E. Brooke Lee MS who have the ability to influence peers and demonstrate leadership potential.
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What We Do |
The Adult Advisors and Peer Leaders meet twice a month, once during lunch and once after school, to build a positive community, build peer-to-peer and adult-to-student relationships, and plan positive school-wide campaigns. Campaigns are developed by the Peer Leaders and can take a variety of formats - from spreading thank you notes to staff members, acting out skits on the announcements, sharing classroom messages on resiliency, consulting with teachers on strengths-based assignments, coordinating positive spirit weeks, and more! All the campaigns focus on building hope, help, and strength.
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Why We Do It |
Sources of Strength is a nationally recognized, evidence-based prevention program that uses diverse peer leaders with adult mentors to connect student communities and spread positive coping skills. The goals of this school-wide health promotion and suicide prevention program are to increase positive help-seeking behaviors among all students and to break down "codes of silence" that often keep teens from seeking adult help when in crisis. However, the effectiveness of the program goes beyond suicide prevention. Research on the program has shown an impact on school environment, peer group norms and individual factors that are protective against a range of problems including: bullying, substance abuse, mental health, and violence. The principles of Sources of Strength are adaptable into a variety of populations and cultures. Successful implementation has included: schools, universities, juvenile justice, LGBTQ, drop-in centers, cultural centers, Latino groups, native/tribal groups and more. The SOS program is listed in the SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices as meeting the gold standard for prevention practices. (Source: www.sourcesofstrength.org)
SAMHSA's Research Summary Sources of Strength Research Summary |
Handout? |
Download a handout about SOS at Col. E. Brooke Lee MS here.
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