Operation Snowball

Motivation

Funded in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, and governed by an elected board of directors, Operation Snowball is founded on the belief that youth and adults can make responsible and healthy life decisions when provided with factual information and an opportunity to develop self-motivation and responsibility.

The program provides opportunities for youths and adults to work together cooperatively to plan, implement and evaluate a community-based alcohol and drug prevention program.

Purpose

Operation Snowball, Inc. believes that the use of alcohol and other drugs during the teen years can be devastating to physical, social and emotional growth. Through the Operation Snowball program, youth learn that it is okay to say no to alcohol and drugs. Students also learn that they are not alone in their decision to stay drug and alcohol free.

Operation Snowball strives to create an environment that actively supports the decision to abstain from alcohol and drug use. Operation Snowball also believes that the most effective and comprehensive prevention programs must be undertaken by children and adults in partnership with one another.

Operation Snowball also focuses on aiding teens with issues that may arise in their relationships with friends or family. Snowball offers a support system that teaches teens coping skills to help them resolve interpersonal problems.

A Comprehensive Prevention Program

Operation Snowball is a comprehensive program that:

Includes alcohol and other drug information, responsible decision making skills, opportunities to enhance self-esteem, refusal skills, positive peer support, drug-free alternatives, leadership development, and much more

Gives a clear message to youth and adults that it is OK to say no to alcohol and other drugs and how to do this

Is flexible and can be adapted to any community or school setting. The model fosters youth and adult partnerships that make it ideal for community involvement and builds “A Community of Caring”.

Puts to use the powerful energy and influence of youth to create an atmosphere of positive peer support that makes it easier not to use alcohol and other drugs

Is unique because it recognizes youth as a part of the solution not the cause of the problem, thereby allowing them to learn and practice responsibility and leadership and be agents of community change

Operation Snowball is a prevention program and does not provide individual or group treatment. (Operation Snowball does require that youth choosing to serve in active leadership roles make a commitment to lead a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.)

Program Models

Operation Snowball has two types of chapters - school-based and community-based. Operation Snowball includes the following program models:

Operation Snowflurry, Preschool and elementary age youth

Operation Snowflake, Middle school and junior high school age youth

Operation Snowball, High school age youth

Operation Segue, young adults age 18–24

Operation Blizzard, Families and adults

Operation Snowcap, Senior citizens

Each program model focuses on the issues resulting from alcohol and other drug use and abuse in a manner appropriate for each age group. The concept of cross-age teaching and peer helping is an integral part of the Operation Snowball program. The programs follow the same principles and guidelines that may include the following:

Weekly meetings

Weekend retreats

Drug-free alternative activities

Opportunities to be a peer role model and to experience working with adults in a cooperative manor and atmosphere

Opportunities to develop special events that fit the needs of your community

Opportunities to get involved with other programs and events in your community

Through the development of leadership skills, Operation Snowball shall be a youth and adult partnership, providing awareness and prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, while encouraging healthy decision-making in an active community of caring."

United States Chapters

Antioch High School

Champaign County

District 86 (Hinsdale, IL)

District 113

District 205 (Elmhurst, IL)

District 211 (Cook County, Illinois)

District 230 (www.d230.org)(Orland Park, IL)

Dunlap High School 323

East Peoria

Effingham County

Elmwood Park High School (Illinois)

Evergreen Park Community High School (Evergreen Park, IL)

Greater Fox River Valley

Green Bay Area Operation Snowball (Green Bay, WI)

Grayslake Central High School (Grayslake, Illinois)

Grayslake North High School (Grayslake, Illinois)

Havana High School (Illinois)

Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Joliet Central High School

Joliet West High School

Kendall County Snowball

Leyden High School District 212

Lyons Township High School

Marian Catholic High School

Metamora

Naperville

Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, Illinois)

New Trier/Regina High Schools

Northwest Illinois

Oak Park and River Forest High School

Peoria Notre Dame

Westmont

Ridgewood High School (Illinois)

Rich South High School

Rich East High School

Rich Central High School

Adlai E. Stevenson High School

District 99 (Downers Grove)

Peoria Richwood

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin

Tinley Park High School

Community High School District 94

Sandwich Community High School

International Chapters [1]

For more information concerning the International Program, please contact: Jack Irwin at 630-232-7872. website: international-snowball.com Belarus

Minsk

Lithuania

Ariogala

Balsiai

Darbėnai

Klaipėda

Kretinga

Kriukai

Kupiškis

Kvedarna

Kybartai

Marijampolė

Obeliai

Pagėliai

Pajiešmeniai

Pakruojis- 2 groups

Palanga

Paluknys

Panevžys

Pasvalys

Rosalimas

Siauliai

Skaistgirys

Širvintos

Sventezerys

Tauragė

Trakai

Vilnius

Vilkaviskis

Vydmantai

Zagarė

Poland

Lodz

Zawiercie

Turkey

Gemlik

History of Operation Snowball

Operation Snowball started in 1977 in Rockford youth and adults who attended the Illinois Teenage Institute on Substance Abuse (ITI) sponsored by the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADD). It was created with the theory when a person affects another in a positive way, they would go on to positively affect someone else, creating a "snowball" effect. In 1979, the Superintendent of Barrington Area Schools asked three Barrington High School students to identify ways Operation Snowball could work to have a positive impact on both middle school and high school students. The team of three juniors designed and piloted a peer-to-peer drug and alcohol prevention & intervention program in 1980. In this pilot program Barrington High School student leaders were asked to meet with each Barrington Middle School class to discuss their leadership role, the impact alcohol has had on their lives, their choice to abstain and the additional choices abstaining has created for their lives. Its founders wanted to start a prevention and intervention program for youth, where they would learn leadership skills, feel empowered by making their own decisions, and could readily see the impact of their decision in light of their education and life goals. From its inception, Operation Snowball was planned and directed by teens/youth, with adults serving primarily advisory roles. By 1989, all of Illinois School District 220 was implenting the Barrington model. Within a few years, Operation Snowball chapters began to organize throughout the state of Illinois. At first the program was targeted at high school (Operation Snowball) and junior high school students (Operation Snowflake), but later expanded to include elementary schools (Operation Snowflurry). The model has continued to evolve over time and is now implemented mainly through retreats.

Snow Events

Participants of Snowball say they:

developed friendships

were able to give and receive support and caring

talked about problems

shared ideas and feelings

felt a positive, supportive atmosphere

had a lot of fun

could speak without fear of rejection

were "glad" they came to Retreat

would "recommend" the Retreat to their friends

Overcame difficult obstacles facing them