CERTIFICATION TIPS

Tips for Filling Out the Application

The Red Ribbon Certified Schools application is designed to provoke thought and orchestrate teamwork between the administration, staff, parents, students, teachers, and surrounding community. The questions are meant to highlight key points and actions that have been proven to prevent drug use in children.

Top 5 Tips on Getting Certified:

  1. Work as a team and meet regularly- (Principal, Teacher, Parent, Student, Prevention Coordinator)

  2. Organize yourself – Create a folder to document and store information on prevention related activities for your application. i.e. images, flyers, handbooks, resources, etc.

  3. Elaborate on your application answers and provide examples.

  4. Start the application early. Complete a section every 2 months.

  5. Ask us for help. Contact the certification via email with any questions you may have. We’re glad to support.

Helpful Videos for Becoming a Red Ribbon Certified School:

Red Ribbon Certified Schools Introduction Webinar:

Can’t attend our live monthly webinar to learn about the RRCS application process? View our pre-recorded webinar to learn all you need. Register on our webinars page to join us for a live webinar and get your questions answered.

Completing the Red Ribbon Certified Schools Application:

This section recognizes that successful prevention needs to be a consistent message delivered to the youth. Schools are asked how they make prevention a year round priority.

Healthy School Environments

This section of the application takes a look at healthy school environments where teachers, staff, principals and school board members communicate and share a commitment to substance abuse prevention.

Best Practices in Prevention

Section two of the application asks schools to demonstrate a commitment to offering students leadership opportunities by using and implementing prevention programs.

Parents as Partners

Parent involvement is the number one reason children succeed in school and in life. This section explores the issue of parents as partners, how schools can communicate effectively with parents, and how engaged parent in their children’s lives can enrich all relationships.

Year Round Red Ribbon Activities

This section recognizes that successful prevention needs to be a consistent message delivered to the youth. Schools are asked how they make prevention a year-round priority.