The Alcohol and Drug Youth Services School Resource program is a partnership between the Fairfax County Public Schools , Safe and Drug-Free Youth Section and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board-Alcohol and Drug Youth Services. Eight ADYS School Resource Specialists work in FCPS. Each cluster has a dedicated ADYS Resource Specialist. Our primary goal is to help at risk students succeed academically and socially.

Systemically, the approach is proactive and flexible. The School Resource Specialists provide substance abuse prevention, intervention, education, consultation, and treatment referral services for students and their families. The ADYS School Resource Specialists interface with school staff, parent organizations, and other human service agencies to foster collaboration, teamwork, and community-based solutions to substance abuse issues. Clinically, the program utilizes a substance abuse intervention model that encourages identified students and their families to accept recommended therapeutic interventions.

The referral process is simple and requires minimal paperwork. Teachers, administrators, social workers, and other professional staff may refer identified students and their families directly to the ADYS School Resource Specialist. School staff may suggest that parents attend the free education seminar conducted by the ADYS School Resource Specialist. Registration is not required. The seminars are single, two-hour sessions held weekly at convenient school locations throughout the county. The seminars are for parents who:

• Suspect their child may be using alcohol/drugs
• Have found their child with drug paraphernalia
• Have seen a decline in their child’s attitude, behavior and / or school performance
• Have found their child under the influence of alcohol/drugs
• Want to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance abuse
• Want to know if substance abuse is contributing to their child’s problems

Parents who wish to have the ADYS School Resource Specialist conduct an evaluation interview at their child’s school may sign a permission form at the conclusion of the seminar. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine if therapeutic services are appropriate. Families often prefer to have evaluations conducted at a location other than school. In these cases, the ADYS School Resource Specialists will arrange for a free evaluation, including a urinalysis, at one of the ADYS Outpatient sites, or provide a referral to a private service provider.

In conjunction with the Safe and Drug Free Section, the ADYS Resource Specialists also provide individual case consultations to the FCPS administrators and staff regarding substance abuse intervention activities for SR&R violations.

For more information contact: Diana Rosario, School Resource Specialist (703) 538-3213     diana.rosario@fairfaxcounty.gov