The I CARE program has been in service to the greater Baton Rouge community for over 32 years. It began as a grassroots effort with a roundtable meeting in the kitchen of “Buckskin” Bill and Elma Black in 1980. The program grew, as do all grassroots efforts, out of a desire by key community leaders to address the growing problem of alcohol and drug use among the youth of East Baton Rouge. Over time I CARE has developed initiatives to address concerns in public and non-public schools across the parish.

Today, the I CARE program is unique. It is the only program of its kind jointly owned by the Baton Rouge community and the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. The I CARE Advisory Council is composed of 40 community leaders from every walk of professional and personal life. Companies, organizations and agencies with an interest in substance abuse and violence prevention provide representatives to serve on the council. The fields of health care, private industry, law enforcement and education are all represented. These community leaders work closely with the I CARE director and staff to provide valuable feedback on the needs of the community and the direction of prevention programming.
Even with the disappearance of federal funding for Safe and Drug Free Schools, the program continues to drive substance abuse and violence prevention in all schools. The people of Baton Rouge have renewed the local tax that supports the program three times in a vote of confidence to keep the prevention effort at the forefront in education. As a result of this ongoing support, a team of I CARE prevention specialists, many of whom hold a License for Prevention Professionals, work in elementary, middle and high schools. Specialists advise students in one-to-one situations; provide group sessions on topics including substance abuse, grief and anger; and coordinate prevention programming designed to meet the needs of each school.
As I CARE continues to evolve, so does its programming. In an effort to address growing concerns for bullying in schools, I CARE has developed an online bullying training for teachers. The training provides an overview of the bullying issue, provides a research-based definition, reviews trends and norms, and delivers concrete strategies for addressing bullying in schools. The I CARE program is currently developing a similar online bullying training experience for parents and plans to release that project in the fall of 2013. Similar online training experiences are planned for various topics, including suicide and substance abuse prevention, categorized specifically for students, parents and professional staff.
Other prevention efforts continue in schools. In April 2013 Scotlandville Magnet School of Excellence hosted a “Prevention Fair” in which a number of community partners, many of whom serve on the I CARE Advisory Council, provided a wealth of information for students. Throughout the school day, waves of students entered an auxiliary gym and were able to interact with professionals from various agencies, including Baton Rouge Crime Stoppers and Capital Area Human Services District. Students received helpful information on everything from avoiding illegal substances to reporting crime and contributing to healthy families. A similar prevention information day with a pre-prom prevention theme was held at McKinley High School. I CARE plans to repeat these efforts at participating area high schools in 2014.
In an effort to impact attitudes and beliefs, I CARE also continues to support national campaigns such as Red Ribbon Month in October and April Alcohol Awareness. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, in conjunction with the I CARE Advisory Council, recently expressed support for the “QuitNow” proclamation designed to direct efforts toward preventing tobacco use among youth.
Through active community partnerships and sound prevention practices, I CARE continues to serve as a model for school-community partnerships and community prevention programming.
For more information, please visit our website at icare.ebrschools.org.

Contact us:

I Care

(225) 226-2273

icare.ebrschools.org