Health Department offers family programs

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Educational Services Program is seeking community organizations to apply for fiscal 2010 grants to implement the Strengthening Families and Second Step model programs. The programs are approved by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

Strengthening Families is a weekly three-hour, 14-session program for parents and children ages 6-11. The programs focuses on improving family relationships, parenting skills and children's social and life skills.

Second Step is a weekly one-hour program designed to encourage middle-school youth to resist impulsive decision-making, and learn to solve problems nonviolently.

The grant awards range from $1,500 to $9,000. Staff training and the purchase of a curriculum will be included in the expenses for the grant award.

Applicants are required to attend a Pre-Application Workshop at 10 a.m. April 24 in Conference Room 131 of the Behavioral Health Building, 122 Langley Road North, Glen Burnie. The deadline to apply is June 5. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered by 5 p.m. to Anne Arundel County Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Education Services, Suite A, 122 Langley Road North, Glen Burnie. Information: Heather Eshleman, 410-222-6724.