Project SUCCESS

Blind Brook High School, along with 48 other secondary schools in Westchester County, is continuing a Student Assistance/Project
SUCCESS Program for the 2025-2026 school year.  This program is funded by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports through
the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, the school district, and by corporate and private donations.  The program
will provide alcohol, nicotine, vaping, and other drug prevention activities and counseling for students including support for students and
families experiencing bullying situations, and/or problem gaming or gambling.  It is anticipated that this combination of services will
accomplish the following goals:

1. prevent substance use and social and emotional problems among students
2. reduce the incidence of substance use and social emotional problems among students
3. improve school performance and attitudes toward school, and support social emotional skill development 

Ashley Schlemmer is the Student Assistance Counselor at Blind Brook High School.  She will be working full time at the high school and will
have evening hours available to meet with parents and community groups.  Ms. Schlemmer has a Masters in Social Work, experience
working with adolescents, and specialized training in prevention and early intervention strategies with adolescents at risk of having
substance, gaming or gambling related problems.  She is being paid and supervised by Student Assistance Services Corporation and the
school.

Ms. Schlemmer will be meeting with students individually and in small groups for education and prevention activities to correct
erroneous perceptions about substance use, to support social and emotional health, and to teach students skills to identify and resist
social and situational pressures to use substances or participate in other unhealthy behaviors. She will also provide multi-session
educational programs for students who are vaping or under the influence of substances at school or school sponsored activities. Parent
meetings corresponding to our prevention program will also be offered.  Ms. Schlemmer will be available to see students who are using
substances, vaping, gambling or have personal, peer, school, or family issues that could increase their risk of using substances,
developing mental health problems, and/or being involved in bullying situations. If you would like to speak to the Student Assistance
Counselor about your child or another student, please call her directly at (914) 937-3600 ext. 4449.  All calls will be confidential. 

We are hopeful these programs will show promising results.  Data will be collected to assess the overall effectiveness of the program in
preventing and reducing risk factors for alcohol, nicotine, other drug use, mental health problems, and problem gambling.

Ashley Schlemmer
Student Assistance Counselor
Blind Brook Middle School & High School
914-937-3600 x4449