Patricia Marin,
director of school services at The Prevention Council loves
her job, and it is that love and dedication that earned her
the title of New York State's Credentialed Prevention
Professional (CPP) of the Year.
The award was
delivered to Marin by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance
Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen Carpenter-Palumbo
on Addictions Professionals Day, September 22. The day is
designed to call attention to the hard work and dedication
of professionals in prevention, treatment and recovery.
"I'm shocked and thrilled to accept this award," Marin said. "You can't teach someone to be child-centered and we certainly are" she said of Executive Director Judy Ekman, who nominated Marin for the award.
"Our kids have so much peer pressure to deal with today and I believe these programs really help them to make good decisions," she added. "Forty-nine percent of high school seniors in Saratoga County have drunk alcohol in the last 30 days. We have to keep our focus to bring this number down."
Marin, along with her three employees, hosts alcohol, drug and violence prevention classes in 13 school districts in Saratoga County for all grade levels.
According to Ekman, "Pat cares deeply about her work, her students, parents and teachers. She provides school-based services in 13 school districts, somehow making each school or student group feel that they are her exclusive concern. She sets a tone of positivism and humor in the workplace and is an eager learner even though she has years of experience. Pat's main contribution to prevention in New York State is to do an outstanding job in one county, as a prevention professional, supervisor, trainer and caring supporter of young people. She richly deserves this honor."
Marin was unanimously chosen for the CPP of the Year award from a range of professionals across the state.
"35,000 staff work every day for prevention and addiction treatment in New York," said Carpenter-Palumbo. "Pat's programs in schools are right on; she knows the age and ability level of the children she is working with."
While Marin and her colleagues work tirelessly to teach children good choices, there is still much work to be done, Carpenter-Palumbo added. Numbers of senior citizens with substance abuse problems are beginning to grow.
"It's important to focus on kids, but we must provide birth-to-grave prevention," she said.
Statistics have shown the anti-smoking prevention programs are working, as the level of smokers in New York is down to 16.7 percent from 23 percent, with credit to prevention programs and other facets of Marin's job. The national average of smokers is 19 percent.
"In its own way, smoking is a gateway and the way to make sure the numbers of smokers keep going down is to make sure they never start. In the coming years, only 10 percent of New Yorkers will be smoking due to people like Pat," Carpenter-Palumbo said. "Prevention is the first prescription for a healthy New York. To say 'drugs are bad' isn't working anymore. We need to hold ourselves accountable to reduce numbers of substance abuse."
"I'm shocked and thrilled to accept this award," Marin said. "You can't teach someone to be child-centered and we certainly are" she said of Executive Director Judy Ekman, who nominated Marin for the award.
"Our kids have so much peer pressure to deal with today and I believe these programs really help them to make good decisions," she added. "Forty-nine percent of high school seniors in Saratoga County have drunk alcohol in the last 30 days. We have to keep our focus to bring this number down."
Marin, along with her three employees, hosts alcohol, drug and violence prevention classes in 13 school districts in Saratoga County for all grade levels.
According to Ekman, "Pat cares deeply about her work, her students, parents and teachers. She provides school-based services in 13 school districts, somehow making each school or student group feel that they are her exclusive concern. She sets a tone of positivism and humor in the workplace and is an eager learner even though she has years of experience. Pat's main contribution to prevention in New York State is to do an outstanding job in one county, as a prevention professional, supervisor, trainer and caring supporter of young people. She richly deserves this honor."
Marin was unanimously chosen for the CPP of the Year award from a range of professionals across the state.
"35,000 staff work every day for prevention and addiction treatment in New York," said Carpenter-Palumbo. "Pat's programs in schools are right on; she knows the age and ability level of the children she is working with."
While Marin and her colleagues work tirelessly to teach children good choices, there is still much work to be done, Carpenter-Palumbo added. Numbers of senior citizens with substance abuse problems are beginning to grow.
"It's important to focus on kids, but we must provide birth-to-grave prevention," she said.
Statistics have shown the anti-smoking prevention programs are working, as the level of smokers in New York is down to 16.7 percent from 23 percent, with credit to prevention programs and other facets of Marin's job. The national average of smokers is 19 percent.
"In its own way, smoking is a gateway and the way to make sure the numbers of smokers keep going down is to make sure they never start. In the coming years, only 10 percent of New Yorkers will be smoking due to people like Pat," Carpenter-Palumbo said. "Prevention is the first prescription for a healthy New York. To say 'drugs are bad' isn't working anymore. We need to hold ourselves accountable to reduce numbers of substance abuse."