Not My Kid outlines school-based prevention, diversion and family navigation programs to Surprise commission

Representatives from the nonprofit Not My Kid told the Surprise Veterans Disability and Human Services Commission on May 13 that their prevention and early-intervention programs reach students across the valley and include classroom curricula, diversion options and family navigation.

“All of our designs were put in … we go where the parents are, where the communities that need us,” Allison Tovod, program manager for Not My Kid, said, describing the group’s local presence and mobile approach. Tovod said the organization offers prevention lessons for students from fifth through 12th grade, parent presentations in English and Spanish, faculty professional development, and ongoing multi-week programs such as Botman’s Life Skills.

Tovod and co-presenter Blythe outlined Project Rewind, a diversion-style program the organization says has been used as a suspension-reduction option; they said the program has restored more than 12,000 classroom hours by providing alternatives to out-of-school suspension. “Project Rewind … can be used as a suspension reduction program, a diversion program, or it could be used as a prevention tool,” Tovod said.

The presenters cited evaluation numbers they said are from 2024–25: 88% of participating youth reported they would not vape after the program’s lessons; roughly 80% of youth could identify at least one trusted adult after participating; and 95% of parents and teachers said they learned how to better support youth. Tovod said the Catch My Breath curriculum focuses specifically on vaping, marketing tactics and health risks.

Commissioners questioned program cost and access. A commissioner asked whether behavioral-health services require payment or Medicaid coverage; Tovod said the organization offers scholarships, is in the final stages of becoming an access provider, and that Project Rewind and prevention education are generally offered without direct cost to families because the nonprofit is grant-funded. “We really don’t want to turn away a family if money’s an issue,” she said.

Commissioners also pressed how the programs adapt to students with intellectual or developmental disabilities and how Not My Kid could reach group homes; the presenters said they tailor delivery in coordination with teachers, social workers and school contacts and said they are open to adapting formats for different populations. A commissioner suggested outreach to local group homes and to Veteran-focused therapy-dog programs; presenters said they have staff with therapy dogs and partner with local organizations to provide animals when appropriate.

Tovod said Not My Kid’s funding is primarily private donations supplemented by grants, with some government grants and a small amount of fee-based revenue; she said about half of the group’s grant funding comes from community or family foundations. “We do a fair amount of work in government grants, both city, county, and state,” Blythe said.

Presenters said they hope to partner with the upcoming Surprise Resource Center and invited commission members to contact them for follow-up or to host programs in local schools. The commission thanked the presenters and discussed next steps for connecting Not My Kid to local school districts and community partners.

The commission did not take formal action on the presentation; commissioners asked staff to continue outreach efforts to evaluate potential partnerships and program placements in Surprise schools.