About the Prevention Academy

Housed within Saint Joseph’s University's School of Education and Human Development, Prevention Academy is rooted in the idea of cura personalis, inspiring healthy individuals and communities through the promotion of health and wellness, good decision-making, climate and culture building, and prosocial identity development.

Strategic Focus

Prevention Academy uses a comprehensive approach to prevention by educating both students and the adults who care for them—such as faculty, school stakeholders, parents, guardians, and community members—on healthy living and informed decision-making. We achieve this through a variety of programs and initiatives designed to foster wellness and empower adolescents to make positive choices.

Education Programming

• Student workshops
• Staff and faculty training
• Parent and guardian support and resource opportunities

Research and Program Evaluation

• Utilize a community-informed approach to ensure the needs of the community are represented, addressed, and understood.
• Examine the efficacy of educational programming.
• Identify and bolster prosocial inventories of today’s students that contribute to their wellness.

Trainings

• Offer bi-annual Basic and Advanced Professional Training for prevention specialists as well as ongoing professional development opportunities throughout the academic year.
• Prepare graduate students in helping professions to discuss prevention; not just recovery.
• Train community members to become certified prevention specialists.
• Utilize a “train the trainer” model to prepare the adults who care for today’s children to discuss healthy behaviors and decision-making with the kids they support.

Our prevention specialists undergo rigorous training and are required to pass state and federal background checks before joining our team. The latter is in compliance with Saint Joseph's University policies for teacher education; for more information, visit the background clearances webpage.

Prevention Specialists will also engage in ongoing professional development opportunities throughout the year. These experiences are designed to support continued professional growth and ensure staff remain informed about the latest data, best practices, and emerging trends in the field of Prevention Education.

Don DiJulia '67
Vice President for Athletics/Athletic Director, SJU Athletics

Rev. Daniel R.J. Joyce, SJ, BA '88
Vice President, Mission and Ministry

Stephen Forzato, MS
Director, Center for Addiction and Recovery Education

Kevin O’Kane
Executive Vice President of Business Development, O’Kane Enterprises

Joan Dawson McConnon
Project HOME co-founder

Jennifer K. Niles, PhD, NCC, NCSC, ACS
Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Christine Rizzo, MA, CFRS
Executive Director, Shevlin Family Foundation

Tim Ryan, MEd
Co-Founder and Senior Prevention Specialist, Pathways for Prevention

Eduardo Torres
Co-Founder and Senior Prevention Specialist, Pathways for Prevention