Earlier this month, the Association of Fraternity / Sorority Advisors announced its 2020 award winners, and Tri Sigma proudly received the AFA/CoHEASAP Awards for Outstanding Alcohol/Drug Prevention Program and Outstanding Change Initiative.
The AFA/CoHEASAP Award for Outstanding Alcohol/Drug Prevention Program annually recognizes an outstanding campus and/or inter/national organization for its efforts in broad-based alcohol/other drug prevention efforts and the impacts they have had.
Tri Sigma’s Prevention Institute is a 3-day program for Collegiate Risk Managers and Honor Council Chairs. The in-person program provides chapter-specific data and coaching for each chapter on how to develop their own data-based prevention plan.
This personalized attention and development is only possible because of the skilled team of volunteers and subject matter experts who serve as small group leaders. In addition to the Honor Council national volunteers, Tri Sigma is fortunate to have approximately 30 trained SAFE Team (Sigma Alcohol misuse Facilitation and Education Team) and Prevention Coordinator volunteers who are trained in their prevention framework and philosophy. SAFE Team members were a combination of members and non-member higher education professionals. This partnership between Tri Sigma and other campus professionals brings a wealth of perspective, understanding, and student development.
Since the program started in 2016, results show a significant decrease in high risk/problematic drinks and an increase in moderate/light and abstainers.
Tri Sigma also received the Outstanding Change Initiative Award for the STRIDES Retreat program. STRIDES, which stands for Sigma Training on harm Reduction, Intervention, Development, and Evaluation, was developed after longterm data showed the previous accountability program was no longer effective in short and long-term goal completion for change behavior.
This enhanced educational program for first-time violations aligns with the Tri Sigma’s harm reduction mindset and prevention philosophy. Intended to create immediate change, the program aims to reduce repeat offending chapters, address barriers identified in focus groups, and increase long-term sustained change and chapter strength through member education.