The answer to this question is a little more complicated than one might think.  To understand what Red Ribbon Week is, it is important to know that it is NOT a prevention program.

Red Ribbon is an Awareness Campaign

Red Ribbon Week is an awareness campaign observed annually the last full week in October.  We regard Red Ribbon Week as the "kick off to a year of prevention in our schools and in our communities."

The best Red Ribbon Celebration efforts highlight and support the continuing prevention efforts occurring, on and off campus, throughout the year.

Throughout the week students, parents and teachers are engaged in a variety of activities designed to demonstrate a commitment to youth and prevention.  

The focus is on developing and supporting ways to prevent youth from using illegal drugs or legal drugs illegally.

We Know That:

• Early and continued prevention efforts are crucial if we are to prevent youth from using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
• Affordable, effective treatment programs are absolutely necessary if we are to help those who need to overcome their substance abuse related problems.
• It is important to include youth in the development and implementation of school and community based prevention programs, activities and events.

The Red Ribbon Celebration will not (nor is it intended to) single-handedly fix the drug problem. There is not a single approach to prevention that can eliminate a problem so complex. 

• Your district's health and prevention curricula. 
• Counseling, health or support services.
• Parenting skills classes.
• A tobacco cessation program or other intervention services. 
• A community center offering after-school activities, a mentoring program, or an after-school homework club.

Your Red Ribbon Campaign Should Raise Awareness About:

• Your school district's health and prevention curricula. 
• The need for counseling, health and support services at school.  (Sadly, as budgets are cut year after year, these are some of the first programs to go.) 
• The value of parenting skills classes and other classes taught in your community.
• Your district intervention programs.  Parents and students who need help should know where to go.  
• The value of these services and the service providers in your community that provide safe, after school activities, mentoring programs, homework assistance, etc.

When developing your school based prevention awareness campaign, be sure to:

• Look over the lessons already taught in the classroom in order to develop/host Red Ribbon activities that compliment the curricula.
• Ask teachers to teach at least one health or prevention lesson during Red Ribbon Week.
• Find out what other services and programs exist in your community that support youth and families and share their information with those you serve!
• If you discover a need for additional services, meet with your district Title IV Safe & Drug Free Schools Coordinator, principal, school site council and others to develop services that compliment those already in place. An after-school homework club, mentoring program, or parent education series are just some examples of services that you might help develop.

As the School Site Prevention Coordinator, your mission should be to create an awareness campaign that supports ongoing alcohol, tobacco, illegal drug and violence prevention efforts.  Be sure your campaign:

• Delivers a clear and consistent "no use of illegal drugs, no illegal use of legal drugs" message to students and adults.
• Addresses the negative health, legal and social consequences of substance use and abuse.
• Creates or supports alternative activities that students can participate in that are free of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
• Highlights existing programs in order to increase awareness of, and participation in, those prevention education activities and events that are already taking place in your school and in your community.
• Strives to change community/school standards, regulations, perceived norms*, and attitudes regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. (*The truth is, most students are not using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.  This is an important message to deliver to the students and parents you serve.)
• Identifies resources where students and parents can find help in dealing with their own (or someone else’s) substance abuse problem.
• Provides an opportunity for students to be involved in the process of developing and implementing your schools prevention programs and activities.
• Initiates conversations between parents and their children, teachers and their students, and community leaders and their constituents, regarding the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and the need for early education and prevention programs, as well as effective enforcement, intervention and treatment services.

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