Sources of Strength (Sources) is an upstream  prevention approach to build protective factors and minimize risk factors for substance use and suicide.  Sources middle and high school is a model instead of a curriculum.  A diverse group of peer leaders come together and use their voices to promote culture change through message campaigns, activities, and by personal example.  

Sources employs a strength-based approach to suicide prevention by focusing on developing and promoting strengths, aka protective factors, and tapping into the students’ power of social networking through creative and regular message campaigns, which: 

utilize visual arts, storytelling, music, competitions, social media, drama, and other forms of expression to encourage healthy norms. 

increase all students’ awareness of their strengths and how to use them as a resource throughout their lifetime. 

In the same way that a cold spreads through a classroom, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs spread through a social network. Sources utilizes the power of peer social networks to spread messages of hope, help, and strength throughout communities. A diverse group of Peer Leaders, who ideally represent every social group within the school, develop and push out positive message campaigns school-wide to promote strength-building, help-seeking, and connectedness to school and community. 

Sources Elementary utilizes a universal curriculum-based approach and keeps an upstream focus to increase health and wellness and decrease negative downstream outcomes by using active learning, guided reflection and celebrating growth. The program not only incorporates solid social-emotional learning content but includes a robust focus on mental health and proactive prevention for elementary schools, grades K- 5. 

The Division of Substance Use Disorder provides training and materials for schools who are interested in Sources of Strength at no charge; however, there are requirements to participation: 

Participating schools will be expected to sign a Letter of Agreement and complete a check list.  

Schools will work with the Regional Prevention Centers (RPC) to review their current policies related to behavioral health, substance use/misuse, and suicide prevention and participate in the Sources of Strength evaluation process conducted by our evaluation partner.