In 1980 a south Brevard grassroots parent support group was
incorporated as a community substance abuse prevention organization under the
name “COPE” (Concerned Organization of Parents to Educate). From these humble
beginnings, the Organization has evolved into a provider of comprehensive
prevention, intervention, treatment and support services impacting more than
twenty-one thousand Brevard residents each year. In 1994, the Organization’s
name was changed to PREVENT! of Brevard, Inc. to better reflect this expanded
mission and proactive approach to preventing substance abuse, delinquency and
family dysfunction.
PREVENT! recognizes the relationship between substance abuse and other destructive behaviors, including violence, delinquency and child abuse. We work with individuals and families to stop the generational cycle of abuse. PREVENT! serves children and families from all social, economic and ethnic backgrounds, with special focus on the historically under-served indigent and working poor population of Brevard. Brevard taxpayers are spared the costs of more intensive medical, mental health, criminal justice and child welfare services when clients succeed. Particularly in the field of prevention, the Organization’s core mission and a greatly under-funded program area, PREVENT! has successfully secured competitive federal and state dollars for Brevard County.
PREVENT! currently provides 24 programs ranging from social and emotional competence- building activities for preschoolers to a long-term residential recovery home program for women, their infants and young children. Each year these 24 programs touch the lives of more than 21,000 Brevard residents.
- Families in crisis receive counseling, parenting skills and case management
- Adults and adolescents learn constructive ways to manage their anger.
- Students participate in school-based programs proven to prevent drug use, violence and delinquency.
- Entire school populations learn conflict mediation, bullying prevention and diversity awareness
- Adults receive alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, aftercare, and relapse prevention services
- Pregnant women live in Sally’s House and deliver healthy, drug-free babies
- Parents, employers, teachers and concerned individuals access free information and educational resources based on the latest available research. Referrals are made for a wide variety of needs.
In this the twenty-ninth year since incorporation, PREVENT! has grown from a group of concerned parent volunteers to a nationally-recognized federal, state, county and privately-funded professional organization with more than forty full and part-time staff, who are Certified Addiction Professionals, Addiction Prevention Professionals and Licensed Mental Health Counselors.
