SFUSD School Health Programs Department :: Positive Alternatives Program

FEATURED PROGRAMS

	ExCEL After School Programs
	Nutrition Education Project

ALL PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Asthma Project (pdf)California Healthy Kids Survey/Youth Risk Behavior Survey Centers for Disease Control/Local HIV Prevention (pdf)Community-Based Organization Program Comprehensive Health Education Program Comprehensive Safety Plan for Every School Computer Based Health StrategiesCondom Availability Program (pdf) Crisis Response (pdf) Elementary School Counseling Grant (pdf) Elementary School Health Advocates Elementary School Truancy Program (pdf) ETR Associates (pdf) Expanded Collaboratives for Excellence in Learning
(ExCEL After School Programs) Featured Program

Foster Youth Services (pdf) Health Education Teacher Leaders High School Wellness Programs

High School Health Promotion Committee Indoor Air Quality (pdf) Influenza Vaccination Program (pdf) Middle School Healthy School Teams (pdf) Nurse of the Day (pdf)Nutrition Education Project
Featured Program Positive Alternatives Program (pdf)Primary Intervention Program (pdf) Proposition H Funding (pdf) Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities School Health Center (pdf)School Nurse Referral (pdf) Student Mentor Program (pdf)Support Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Youth Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Transition Program (pdf)

Positive Alternatives Program

The more assets young people experience (i.e. caring relationships, meaningful participation and high expectations) , the less likely they are to engage in a wide range of risky behaviors, fand the more likely they are to engage in positive behaviors.
Search Institute 2000.

Historical Background: In order to provide young people positive alternatives to substance use and gang involvement, in 1991 San Francisco Unified School District developed a Positive Alternatives program for middle school and high school students. Components of grant proposals submitted and awarded to SHPD included developing access to positive alternative activities. Through a collaborative with the San Francisco Police Department, SFUSD’s Urban Pioneer Program, and the Blue Water Sailing Foundation, SHPD has been able to offer sailing , ropes courses, and backpacking trips to select middle and high school students. Additional grant funding was secured to develop a before school/lunchtime physical activities program.

Site coordinators were identified and provided a stipend to implement this program and participate as a member of the site based Healthy School Team or the Health Promotion Committee.

What is the goal of the Positive Alternatives Program?
The goal is to provide positive alternative activities including sailing, backpacking and ropes courses to middle and high school students to increase their self-esteem.

What is the Positive Alternatives Program?
A selection criteria is established at each school site to identify student participants. Activities provided to students include:

SAILING: includes spending the day aboard vessels skippered by an experienced captain. Fourteen students are given an introduction to sailing operations and basic on-board safety procedures. Students work cooperatively to accomplish a common goal-a smooth sailing trip.
ROPES COURSE: includes warm-ups, games, group initiative problem solving, low ropes course elements and rigorous physically and emotionally challenging events.
BACKPACKING: an outdoor three-day adventure consisting of mental and physical challenges which emphasize teamwork, trust, individual, and group effort. Includes organizing and packing equipment, hiking 1-10 miles away from roads and electricity, and preparing and
cooking meals.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: includes opportunities to participate in before school/lunchtime activities. Hip-hop dance, basketball, volleyball, hiking, tennis, martial arts, badminton, soccer and ping pong are some of the activities offered at participating middle schools. Activities are based upon - students identified interest obtained via surveys.

For further information contact us.