Healthy Respect employs a youth development and education model that focuses on identifying and building on individual, family, school and community assets. Youth development is the process through which adolescents acquire the cognitive, social and emotional skills and abilities required to navigate life. "Youth Development addresses the common and interconnected causes of many high risk behaviors - the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD), emotional problems, intentional injury, school failure and dropout, crime, HIV/AIDS, and pregnancy – by capitalizing on opportunities at the family, school and community levels to prevent their occurrence. Youth Development can be summarized by caring/compassion, competence, character, connection and confidence." Our curriculum helps students achieve three of the primitive needs: safety, love/belonging and esteem.

The Healthy Respect philosophy is based on the belief that the youth of America are bright young people who deserve to be treated as such. The program allows students the opportunity to explore and acquire sustainable healthy attitudes and behaviors. Through a positive progressive interactive teaching style, we strive to instill in our students a vision of hope for the future.

Dr. Nanci Coppola is the Executive Director of Program Reach and the Healthy Respect Program. She received her undergraduate training in biology and psychology at the University of Rochester. She received a Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and a Masters degree in Health Administration and Wellness Education from the California College of Health Sciences.

Dr. Coppola has twenty-eight years of experience in the fields of education and medicine.
She served as Healthy Respect’s Director of Curriculum since 2005-2008.