Fairfield County ESC Recognized for Piloting Program Helping Youth Make Mindful Decisions
November 6, 2024 – Fairfield County Educational Service Center (ESC) garnered national recognition in The Boston Globe for its local relevance to prevention efforts through an up-and-coming video game series, Playbl. ESC Superintendent, Marie Ward, is quoted in the article, “Can video games help prevent addiction?” speaking on a concentrated approach to educate youth on safe and informed decision-making about opioids, tobacco use, sexual health, and mental health.
Playbl, a web-based and evidence-informed video game series, was founded by Lynn Fiellin, MD following her decade-long practice in addiction medicine. Consisting of five interactive games, Playbl focuses on risk prevention, well-being, andsocial intelligence in children, teens and young adults. Dr. Fiellin’s company was selected as an award-winner from Dartmouth’s Innovation Accelerator for Digital Health, with the monetary prize applied toward an online platform for education and health care institutions to broaden accessibility of Playbl games.
Through a collaboration with Fairfield County Juvenile Court and the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board, Fairfield County ESC is piloting Playbl’s games at the Juvenile Court’s Resource Center at Connexion West. A trial program at The Success Center is also underway, with 37 student participants engaging with the video games to collect student-specific feedback, which will be integral to consideration for county-wide implementation.
“We’re venturing into this unique prevention tool with a proactive lens,” said Marie Ward, Ph.D., Superintendent, Fairfield County ESC. “Dr. Fiellin’s research has uncovered a valuable milestone in reaching youth where they are, and in an enticing manner. Video games are an accessible and entertaining way to dial in on a constructive message like prevention, and really target an audience like students who are exposed to these situations daily where they face crucial decisions like the ones simulated in Plabyl.”
In addition to its ongoing support for students, Fairfield County ESC is collaborating with Playbl to expand intervention topics, aligning their games with the needs of local school districts. On Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m., the ESC will present alongside Playbl’s Dr. Fiellin and CEO, Kirby Salernol, at the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Capital Conference in Columbus. The ESC and Playbl will also co-host a table in the Vendor Fair to showcase their collaborative efforts, highlighting prevention tools and the ESC’s InnevAto EDU curriculum.
To learn more about Playbl and its digital prevention efforts, visit playbl.com. To read the featured article, “Can video games help prevent addiction?”, visit The Boston Globe.
The Fairfield County Educational Service Center provides student-centered educational leadership and supportive services to meet the individual and collective needs of the staff, students and boards of education of the eight local school districts located in Fairfield County. More information can be found at faircoesc.org
