Southern Ocean Medical Center Partners with Local School to Educate Students of the Dangers of Substance Abuse
April 17, 2019
Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center and Stafford Intermediate School partner along with the police department D.A.R.E. officers and local anti-abuse leaders to present Project Aware, a dramatic presentation to inform and education six-graders about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Through realistic, dramatic presentations of real-life details that connect with students’ lives and experiences, students learn the consequences of making bad choices and discover that they have the power to make smart decisions.
The one-of-a kind theatrical program begins at the Stafford Theater Arts Center in Manahawkin; continues at Southern Ocean Medical Center’s Emergency Department; and concludes with a debriefing session in the Beach Plum Conference Room.
During of week of April 8, students of the Stafford Intermediate School’s Drama Enrichment program presented a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that has influenced the lives of thousands of students in our community. Over the past 20 years, nearly 6,000 sixth grade students have experienced this dramatic presentation that helps them make the “right” choice and aims to reduce the incidences of overdose and deaths in our community.
Project Aware has expanded to the Russell O. Brackman Middle School in Barnegat with performances the week of April 1 and Pinelands Junior High School in Little Egg Harbor on June 5. The goal of Hackensack Meridian Health is to further expand the program in Ocean and Monmouth counties.
Learn more at NJTVonline.org.