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PREVENTION WORKS INC
Falconer, NY · EIN 161037314 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE F20Z · Mental Health & Crisis Intervention · Medium ($1M-$10M) · preventionworks.us
revenue
$1.8M
expenses
$1.8M
net assets
$243K
employees
28
program ratio
93%
mission · from form 990

To build a safe and healthy environment by effectively educating the community on positive life choices.

profile · synthesized from sources

Prevention Works Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Falconer, NY that provides substance use prevention, social-emotional learning, and intervention services for youth, adults, and families. The organization delivers evidence-based programs in schools and communities to reduce behavioral health disparities and promote healthy life choices. Services include life skills training, parent education, and support for individuals affected by addiction.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $273K
    Community Prevention and Intervention Project (CPIP) - focuses on developing localized, coordinated, culturally responsive, and comprehensive prevention services to reduce behavioral health disparities such as access to prevention in specific geographic areas in our state that are currently underserved.
  2. #2 $223K
    Other Activities, including Social Network, Kids and Sibs, Opoid Settlement, Hope and Healing, Youth Bureau, and CYPEP (Complete Youth Prevention Education Project)
named programs · 12 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult Intervention Services
Includes Information and Referral, Adult Children of Alcoholics/Other Drugs support, and family-focused substance use disorder services.
Awareness Presentations
Research-based one-time lessons provided to classrooms or assemblies on topics including marijuana, stress management, bullying, and vaping.
Children in Addicted Homes
Resources and support for teachers, caregivers, and trusted adults to support children living with loved ones who may be addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Life Skills Training
Evidence-based prevention program for elementary and middle school students focusing on drug resistance, personal self-management, and social skills to prevent substance use.
PAX Good Behavior Game
Classroom-based intervention that builds children's self-regulation, improves focus and attention, and reduces substance use and psychiatric disorders.
Positive Action
Comprehensive, integrated prevention program for grades K-8 that teaches positive actions for physical, intellectual, social, and emotional well-being.
Prevention Plus Wellness (SPORT)
Brief multiple behavior program integrating substance abuse prevention and fitness promotion for adolescents to avoid substance use while increasing physical activity.
Teen Intervene
Evidence-based intervention program for teenagers (12-19 years old) experiencing mild to moderate problems with alcohol or other drug use.
Too Good for Drugs
Evidence-based substance use prevention program for grades K-8 focusing on goal setting, decision making, conflict resolution, and drug awareness.
Triple P: Positive Parenting Program
Parenting program offering discussion groups, one-on-one sessions, and seminar series for parents of children ages 0-12 and teens.
W.I.S.E. Program For Seniors
Wellness initiative for older adults to advocate for their health, make healthy lifestyle choices, and navigate medication and substance use.
Youth Intervention Services
Includes Information and Referral sessions and Teen Intervene for school-aged children and adolescents with substance use concerns.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Education 4 activities
    • Deliver evidence-based substance use prevention programs for youth
      Implements multiple evidence-based curricula—including Life Skills Training, Too Good For Drugs, Positive Action, PAX Good Behavior Game, and Prevention Plus Wellness (SPORT)—in schools to prevent substance use among elementary and middle school students. Programs focus on building self-concept, social-emotional skills, goal setting, decision making, and healthy norms, with demonstrated reductions in cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, and multiple drug use compared to control groups.
    • Deliver school and community-based prevention education and awareness
      Provides research-based presentations and trainings on substance use prevention to youth in classroom and assembly settings, as well as to professionals, parents, and community groups. These include one-time awareness sessions and multi-session programs designed to increase knowledge and promote healthy behaviors.
    • Implement Community Prevention and Intervention Project (CPIP)
      Delivers culturally responsive prevention services through the Community Prevention and Intervention Project (CPIP) in underserved areas of New York State, focusing on reducing substance use and promoting behavioral health equity.
    • Operate community coalition to address substance use
      Operates a community coalition focused on addressing alcohol and drug issues in Chautauqua County through coordinated programs and initiatives, including prevention, education, and intervention efforts. The coalition was active as of tax year 2020 and continues to engage stakeholders in reducing substance use harms.
  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 2 activities
    • Provide parenting education and support programs
      Offers evidence-based parenting support through group discussions, one-on-one sessions with trained practitioners (e.g., Triple P), and multi-part seminar series for parents of children and teens. Programs address common parenting challenges, positive discipline, youth cooperation, and self-regulation, including strategies to prevent youth substance use.
    • Support caregivers of children affected by substance use
      Provides resources and communication tools for teachers, caregivers, and other trusted adults to support children living with loved ones who are struggling with substance addiction, including distribution of parent/caregiver communication cards over multiple weeks.
  • Senior Independence Support Services 1 activity
    • Deliver health and wellness programs for older adults
      Operates the W.I.S.E. Program to empower older adults in health advocacy, healthy lifestyle choices, and responsible use of medications and alcohol, promoting overall well-being and prevention of substance misuse in later life.
  • Substance Use Information and Referral Services 1 activity
    • Deliver intervention and support services for adults and families
      Provides individualized information, referral, and intervention services for adults, including support for adult children of alcoholics, family support for substance use disorder, parenting education on youth substance use, and life skills education. Also offers confidential referral appointments for individuals concerned about a loved one’s substance use.
  • Community Service Office Operations 1 activity
    • Maintain operational service locations
      Operates service offices in Falconer and Dunkirk, NY, open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, to deliver prevention, education, and intervention services to the community.
  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
    • Offer one-on-one social-emotional and behavioral support for children and adolescents
      Provides individualized, tailored social-emotional education and skill development for school-aged children through one-on-one sessions, including Information and Referral services delivered over 3 to 5 weekly meetings. Focus areas include emotional regulation, communication, decision making, and conflict resolution.
  • Outpatient Substance Use Treatment 1 activity
    • Provide youth substance use intervention services
      Delivers the Teen Intervene evidence-based program for adolescents aged 12–19 with mild to moderate substance use or gambling issues, offering brief, structured interventions through individualized consultations and support. Services are tailored to reduce risk behaviors and promote healthy decision-making.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.82M
Contributions & grants$1.20M66%
Program service revenue$625K34%
Investment income$270%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.81M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.18M
Grants paid out$74K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$365K
Cash$266K
Investments$0
Liabilities$123K
Net assets$243K
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +2.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Melanie Witkowski Executive Director 35 $95K
board members · 11
  • Bella Liscindro — Director
  • Billie Jean Hubert — Director
  • C Berkeley Adams — Director
  • Carol Greco — Director
  • Dayle Loutzenhiser — Director
  • Fran Wilson — Director
  • Mary Carney — President
  • Michelle Shnars — Director
  • Michelle Starwalt-Woods — Vice President
  • Rebecca Haines — Director
  • Shirley Forbes — Director
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Government — Previously recognized as a "Programs That Work" initiative.
  • Chautauqua Crisis Services Partner — Refers individuals in personal, emotional, or mental health crisis to Chautauqua Crisis Services for 24-hour support.
  • County in New York Partner — Collaborates with county-level stakeholders through a community coalition to address alcohol and drug issues.
  • Lead PAX Coach Partner — Part of the PAX team structure supporting implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game
  • NCADD Partner — Uses publications and materials from NCADD to inform and support individuals affected by alcoholism.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse Government — Recognized as a "Programs That Work" initiative.
  • Not specified Partner — Partnership information not specified in source
  • Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Government — Recognized as a Model Program.
  • PAX Coaches Partner — Part of the PAX team structure supporting implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game
  • PAX Manager Partner — Part of the PAX team structure supporting implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Government — Recognized as a Model Program by SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • U.S. Department of Education Government — Recognized as an Exemplary Program.
  • White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Government — Recognized as a Model Program.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Classroom-Based Self-Regulation Training
    methodology: classroom_based_self_regulation
    By using classroom interventions like the PAX Good Behavior Game to strengthen children's self-regulation, the organization fosters long-term mental health and academic success because early behavioral self-regulation is a foundational protective factor against substance use and emotional dysregulation.
  • Culturally Responsive Prevention
    methodology: culturally_responsive_prevention
    By delivering prevention services through a localized, coordinated, and culturally responsive approach, the organization reduces behavioral health disparities in underserved communities because cultural relevance increases engagement and trust, leading to more effective intervention.
  • Evidence-Based Psychosocial Skill Building
    methodology: evidence_based_prevention
    By building individual psychosocial competencies through research-backed curricula, the organization prevents youth substance use because strengthening decision-making, self-efficacy, and resistance skills reduces vulnerability to peer and media pressure.
  • Family-Systems Approach to Addiction
    methodology: family_systems
    By treating addiction as a family disease and involving the family system in support and education, the organization improves outcomes because healing close relationships reduces isolation and strengthens recovery environments.
  • Positive Youth Development Through Intrinsic Motivation
    methodology: positive_youth_development
    By fostering a positive self-concept through intrinsic motivation, the organization promotes healthy behaviors because youth who associate positive actions with self-worth are more likely to sustain them long-term.