Maricopa Prevention Resource Center

45012 W. Honeycutt Ave.; Maricopa, Az; High School Campus Room 17-W

Julie Jimenez, Director 520-568-8123

Priscilla Behnke, Coordinator 520-568-8147
Connie Narcia, Ak-Chin Liaison

Our Mission
The Maricopa Prevention Resource Center is a community based partnership whose goals are to provide students with current information and education about substance abuse, premature parenting, and life skills building to increase academic achievement and community involvement.

Grades/Population taught: K through 12th

Current Population: 350-400 per month students receive prevention services

Number of Instructors: 2 instructors, 1 director, 1 support staff

Number of professional staff: 3

Average teacher/student ratio: 1-30/1-20

Types of classes/programs offered: See attached sheet

Individual/ Program achievements:

• Drug an Alcohol Prevention was completed with all participating 6th grade classes. 85% of students received high scores on their post tests.

• Unity Club has assisted with raising funds for the Annual Turkey Drive and assisted with delivering 60 complete Turkey Dinner’s to families in need in the Maricopa community.

• Service Learning After School Students have a list of accomplishments including a car wash to raise funds for families effected by Hurricane Katrina who moved to Maricopa.

Anything else to brag about:

• Maricopa Prevention Resource Center is one of only a few school site based centers in the state of AZ.

• Due in part to the comprehensive prevention program taught over the past 15 years; Maricopa School District continues to have one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in the county and state.

• Students in Maricopa’s Service Learning Group have logged in 56 community service hours this year alone and started WEB a group of student who Welcome Every Buddy to their school by giving them a welcome packet, tour and explanation of programs and activities on campus.

• There has been a marked decrease in Graffiti on our campus, especially in the middle school bathrooms since the institution of the Graffiti Busters Program this fall.

Description of Programs

H.S. Unity Club: This club originated from a Leadership Retreat, where students recognized the need to educate students about cultural diversity.

M.S. Drug and Alcohol Life Skills

Age appropriate sessions focusing on decision making, values awareness, problem solving, conflict resolution, resistant skills and self-esteem.

X-Treme G.A.G.G.

Teen driven education/discussion classes for High School, which addresses the topics most requested by teens. Topics are addressed with current health curriculum, as well as presentations by local professionals with particular areas of expertise.

M.S. Family Life Education

Age appropriate and gender separate sessions focusing on health awareness issues relative to their gender, decision-making, values awareness and resistance skills.

M.S. Baby Think It Over

An extension of the Family Life Education sessions. This program requires students to care for a simulated baby for 48 hours. Students learn by experience, the responsibility involved in caring for a baby.

M.S. and H.S. Leadership Retreat

The retreat is a 2 ½ day camp experience which focuses on making school a positive place, by increasing student ownership, responsibility, and attendance. Students participate in a variety of activities designed to reinforce leadership capabilities.

M.S. and H.S. Peer Mediation

Students mediate their peers in conflicts that arise during school hours. Peer leadership skills are developed through the paring of trained and supervised peers with others.

Grad Bash: An event held the night of high School Graduation that provides a drug-free alternative for celebrating graduation.

Service Learning: This group meets after school twice a week. Students plan and implement community service projects in the community.

Graffiti Busters

This after school program meets weekly to remove graffiti on their campus. Graffiti Busters also has a silent witness line where students can call anonymously to report graffiti. Tips can be called into 520-568-8140 or sent to graffitibusters@musd20.org.

WEB-(Welcoming Every Buddy)

This Service Learning program is made up of students who are paired with new students attending the schools. New students are given a tour by their buddy and offered a welcoming packet. These packets include a school map, lists of school activities, sponsors and where the activities take place, pens, pencils and other donated products along with a welcome letter written to answer all of the questions new students have on their first day. The buddy introduces students to peers, teachers, and coaches.