Blind Brook Middle and High School, along with 44 other secondary schools in Westchester County, is continuing the Student Assistance/Project SUCCESS Program and other substance abuse prevention programming for the current school year.  The programs are funded by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services through the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention grant to the Blind Brook Community Coalition, the school district, and by corporate and private donations.  The program will provide alcohol, tobacco, vaping, and other drug prevention activities and counseling services to students including early identification of students experiencing, or at high risk for, substance related problems, and students involved in bullying situations and problem gambling.  It is anticipated that this combination of services will accomplish the following goals:

1. prevent the development of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse among students
2. reduce the incidence of alcohol and other drug related problems among students
3. improve school performance and attitudes toward school among program participants 

Monique Tricarico will serve as the Student Assistance Counselor at Blind Brook High School and the Prevention Coordinator at Blind Brook Middle School.  She will be working full time in the district and will have evening hours available to see parents and meet with community groups.  Mrs. Tricarico is a Mental Health Counselor and Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor with previous experience working with adolescents, and specialized training in prevention and early intervention strategies with adolescents at risk of having substance or gambling related problems.  She is being paid and supervised by Student Assistance Services Corporation, the coalition, and the school. 

Mrs. Tricarico will be conducting school wide awareness activities, classroom presentations, youth leadership activities, and meeting with students individually, and in large and small groups for education and prevention activities to correct erroneous perceptions about substance use and to teach students skills to identify and resist social and situational pressures to use substances. Parent meetings corresponding to our prevention program will also be offered.  Mrs. Tricarico will be available to see students who are using alcohol or other drugs, vaping, gambling or have personal, peer, school, or family issues that could lead to substance abuse, including involvement in bullying situations.  If you would like to speak to Mrs. Tricarico about your child or another student, please call her directly at 937-3600 x 3144.   All calls will be confidential.  

This year, Mrs. Tricarico will also provide the eight session Substance Abuse Awareness Program as an alternative to suspension for students who are vaping or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at school or school sponsored activities. 

We are hopeful that these programs will show promising results.  Data will be collected to assess the overall effectiveness of the programs in preventing and reducing risk factors for alcohol, tobacco, vaping, other drug use, and problem gambling.

Monique Tricarico

Student Assistance Counselor

Blind Brook Middle School & High School

914-937-3600 x3144