Learning Objectives: This workshop highlights a prevention strategy, using theater as a mechanism for educating and empowering youth around safe choices, health and well-being. The Massachusetts Prevention Center in Framingham and Project DEPTH (Drug Education Through Participatory Theater) would like to present the above titled workshop as a Prevention Frameworks and Strategies workshop. The workshop will be co-facilitated by staff at MPC. Since its inception in society, theater has long been a form of enrichment and instruction. Theater has become a popular and effective tool in the education of youth because of its ability to entertain and not preach. Theater exercises allow teens to “try on” behaviors while experiencing various circumstances that resemble the experiences they find themselves in because of their unique position in life. Theater used in this context provides a safe place for youth to evaluate and respond to the forces that attempt to shape their lives. Project DEPTH has been using theater to touch hearts and change lives of youth for over 20 years. The intention of this workshop is to: A. Introduce participants to the basic concept of a youth theater program and how it fits into the prevention frameworks. B. Provide participants with an overview of the process involved in the implementation of this type of prevention program. C. Assist public health specialists in the cultivation and development of theater techniques that can be used in their own work. The final portion of this workshop will be an informal showing of a piece of work from the repertoire of Project DEPTH where teens will be available to discuss the process and experience of creating theater as an educational and prevention tool
Keywords: Youth, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None