Student Leadership Services, Inc.

{ Excerpt from the Prevention in Practice Advisor Handbook }

A noteworthy and essential application of research-based strategies and asset development strategies are Student Leadership Services' chapter activities. In individual chapters advisors and students make the research come to life.

Each year chapters develop action plans and activities for their chapter, school and community. At the 1995 State Conference, chapters were paired with "Buddy Schools" and charged with designing an action plan and/or activity that would reach out to the community. The goal was to increase the effectiveness of the chapters.

In the Prevention in Practice Advisor Handbook, Student Leadership Services has identified the "Principles of Effective Prevention" in each chapter activity. Further explanation of the "Principles of Effective Prevention" can be found in the paper by Pamela Voss-Page, entitled "Prevention In Practice," 1999, 2006, 2009. Chapter activities are also correlated with the 40 Developmental Assets identified by the Search Institute. "Asset Building Actions for Youth" in SLS are listed as a resource and idea starter.

Student Leadership Services encourages all student-led organizations to use the benchmarks of prevention in yearly planning. Advisor and student officer retreats and planning sessions are excellent opportunities to focus on the principles of effective prevention. This strategy will guide chapters to increase their effectiveness and make an even greater difference among their peers.

Student Leadership Services encourages all advisors and student leaders to attend any training offered by Student Leadership Services, Inc. Each training provides education, application and practice of researched and data-driven prevention strategies and asset development. Since 1982, trainings and experiences offered by SLS have strengthened students and chapters and provided consistency of our message and focus.

Thank you for doing your part as a caring preventionist.

Pamela G. Voss-Page

About Pamela G. Voss-Page

The author, Pamela G. Voss-Page, serves as Executive Director for Student Leadership Services, Inc. (SLS). She has over 30 years experience in education and prevention. Pam has synthesized prevention principles, human development principles and effective practices in education in her work with youth and in this publication.

Pam is a certified teacher (K-8 all subjects), with a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan. Her master's studies focused on the developmental deficits in children from high stress families and strategies that teachers can implement in classrooms to facilitate healthy youth development for these children at-risk.

Pam has served as a county prevention specialist, college instructor, consultant to court administered intervention and education programs and community education trainer. Pam's volunteer involvement includes serving as president of a local Families In Action parent organization, founding vice-president of the Michigan Association for Children of Alcoholism and Other Addictions and board member of the statewide Prevention Network.

Pam has advised several youth programs including the Boy Scout Explorer Safe Rides and National Prevention Program. In recognition of Pam's contribution to helping youth, she has received the following awards. In 1986, Pam received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the National Council on Alcoholism-Michigan. In 1998, Pam was named Alumni of the Year from Marian High School. The Pamela G. Voss-Page Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 1996, in Pam's honor, by the Student Advisory Board Alumni. Pam was the first recipient of that award.

Pam has applied her considerable energy and leadership skills to building a statewide organization (SLS) that reaches over one million families annually and serves as a national model for youth leadership and peer-led prevention education. More than an executive director, she has been a recruiter, trainer, mentor, fundraiser and a forceful advocate for initiatives that develop youth leadership skills. She is comfortable and effective with any type of group, from corporate executives to educators and from state legislators to community activists. Pam is an organizational leader, educator, community volunteer and a role model for young people.

Pam is currently working on three handbooks, which contain practical resources for youth and advisors.