Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc. (CAP) is a non-profit community-based organization founded in 1979 by volunteers to address growing problems caused by alcohol and other drugs within the Riverhead schools and community. In 1982 CAP embarked on an ambitious agenda of providing a monthly prevention education to all students in Pulaski Street Elementary School; this program continues today and is referred to by most students as “CAP.” It is taught by community volunteers who are assisted by Peer Leaders from the 8th grade and High School.
In 1986, CAP expanded its mission from school and community awareness and education programs to include counseling services and crisis intervention to students and families of students at risk for present or future drug problems. Presently CAP provides certified social workers for the Riverhead School District in the High School, Middle School, STAR Academy (Alternative School), and Roanoke Avenue and Phillips Avenue Elementary Schools.
Riverhead CAP’s mission is to reduce and prevent alcohol and other substance abuse within the Riverhead schools and community. The three specific goals of CAP are:
(1) To prevent or delay experimentation with alcohol or any drug by school-age population. (2) To prevent experimentation from leading to abuse. (3) To prevent the abuse of alcohol and drugs from leading to serious harm to the individual, the individual’s family, peers and community, namely to prevent accidents, automobile crashes, health problems and addiction.
Today, CAP is the major provider of drug and alcohol prevention and counseling services in the Riverhead Central School District.
2011 CAP Board of Directors Nancy E. Binger, President W. Brian Stark, Vice President Jeanmarie P. Costello, Treasurer Jean Lapinski, Secretary Curtis Highsmith, Sr. Andrea H. Lohneiss Kelli McCabe Judith Miller Stephen J. Patterson III Agnes Stark Jessica Stark CAP Staff Felicia Scocozza, LMSW, Executive Director Karen Keller, LCSW-R, Clinical Supervisor and Middle School Social Worker Christina Ferlise-Clark, LCSW-R, High School Social Worker Clare Marie Lundberg, Community Prevention Specialist Sharen Dykeman, Administrative Assistant Cindy Schunk, Bookkeeper
Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc. (CAP) is a Not-for-Profit Organization funded by: Suffolk County Department of Health, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services Suffolk County Youth Bureau Town of Riverhead Town of Southampton Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
Benefactors Allstate Foundation (Beth and Owen Hanlon Agencies) Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1742 Rotary Club of Riverhead Suffolk County National Bank
Gold Sponsors Pulaski Street School PTO Riverhead Middle School PTO
Silver Sponsors Long Island National Golf Club Riverhead Building Supply
Bronze Sponsors Apple Honda Nancy and Walter Binger Riverhead Central Faculty Association Riverhead High School PTSO Tanger Outlets Veritas Rebekah Lodge
Friends Kandell, Farnworth and Pubins, CPAs Modern Snack Bar