Keeping ICT Safe Prevention Program

About Us
Keeping ICT Safe (Substance Abuse Prevention Focusing on Empowerment) is a community-based prevention program created by Dr. Rhonda K. Lewis at Wichita State University and funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Our work focuses on supporting young people in Sedgwick County by addressing substance use prevention and mental health awareness. We aim to empower youth and young adults with knowledge, resources, and opportunities to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Through education, research, community partnerships, and prevention initiatives, we work to address the challenges young people face and encourage healthier choices. By bringing together local organizations and community members, Keeping ICT Safe helps create supportive environments where young people feel informed, heard, and empowered.

Goals for a Healthier Sedgwick County
Less Vaping
Reduce e-cigarette use among youth ages 12–17 and young adults ages 18–24 through prevention education and awareness.
Fewer Paths to Opioids
Help prevent the initiation and progression of opioid use among youth and young adults by increasing awareness and promoting prevention.
More Open Conversations
Promote mental health education, encourage open conversations, and reduce stigma so young people feel more comfortable seeking support.

How We Make a Difference
We believe prevention starts with awareness, education, and community involvement. Keeping ICT Safe works with local partners to share prevention resources, support educational initiatives, and encourage conversations about substance use and mental health.

Our approach includes community education, youth-focused prevention efforts, mental health awareness activities, and evidence-based programs designed to support healthier communities.

mascot

Meet Sasha, our friendly cloud mascot! ☁️ Sasha brings a little fun and positivity to our mission of spreading awareness and encouraging healthier choices among young people.

Visit :

1845 Fairmount St.

Wichita, Kansas 67260

samuel.paunetto@wichita.edu

316-978-5032

WHAT OUR SURVEYS REVEAL
Understanding Youth & Young Adult Experiences

Keeping ICT Safe conducted surveys across Sedgwick County, Kansas, to understand substance use, vaping behaviors, mental health, and prevention awareness among young people.

Our Survey Reach

- 127 Youth respondents (12–17 years)
- 328 Young Adult respondents (18–25 years)
  
  Youth Survey | Ages 12–17
  The youth survey explored adolescent health behaviors and prevention needs.
  Key Findings
  14.2% had used electronic vapor products.
  10.2% reported vaping within the past 30 days.
  Key Insight: Vaping remains an important prevention concern among adolescents, highlighting the need for early education and awareness.

Young Adult Survey | Ages 18–25
The young adult survey examined substance use, mental health, self-harm, food security, and prevention messaging.
Key Findings

27.8% had used electronic vapor products.
12.5% reported vaping in the past 30 days.
22.8% reported poor mental health sometimes or more often.
15.5% reported self-harm in the past year.
73.2% used social media at least once an hour.
46.6% had seen prevention content.
26.2% reported changes in opinions after seeing prevention content.
Key Insight: Vaping, alcohol use, and mental health are important areas of concern. Social media offers an opportunity to expand prevention awareness.

From Research to Action
These findings help guide Keeping ICT Safe's prevention education, mental health awareness, social media campaigns, and community outreach efforts.

Together, we are working toward a healthier and more informed Sedgwick County.

Empowering Communities Through Actionable Toolkits

Social Media Toolkit Vaping Quitting Toolkit

Grant Partners

Our program is implemented through the following local community partnerships:

HealthCore Clinic Saint Mark United Methodist Church

Wichita Children's Home Mirror Inc.Shocker Studios

Read our Impact Reports

The Keeping ICT Safe program works with local partners, building prevention coalitions. Our impact reports show the progress of our goals and outcomes.

Impact Report Q1 Impact Report Q3 & Q4

Meet Our Team

team

Samuel Paunetto, MDiv, LMSW

Project Director

Samuel Paunetto MDiv, LMSW. is our Project Director, he is a bilingual licensed master social worker. He received a bachelor degree in General Sociology from Inter American University of Puerto Rico, a Master degree in Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, and a Master degree in Social Work from Wichita State University. He is an adjunct professor at the WSU School of Social Work and a member of the Think Tank at the Kansas Health Foundation. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of Podemos, a non-profit dedicated to expanding mental health services in the local Hispanic community. In addition, Samuel is the author of the UPSTREAM curriculum, a cultural competence, and anti-racism training program for healthcare professionals.

Rhonda K. Lewis, Ph.D., MPH

Principal Investigator

Rhonda K. Lewis, Ph.D., MPH. is a Professor, Graduate Coordinator, and immediate past Chair of the Psychology department at Wichita State University. She received her Ph.D. in Developmental and Child Psychology from the University of Kansas and her Master of Public Health from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She is the Director of the Behavioral Community Research and Action Team (BCRAT), at Wichita State University. The research team focuses on building the capacity of community-based organizations, using ecological and strengths-based approaches to make community change. She is the PI of Keeping ICT SAFE (Substance Abuse Prevention Focusing on Empowerment) a grant funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, she is one of the Co-PIs for WSU’s the NSF Advance Adaptation grant to recruit and retain more Women and Underrepresented Minorities into the University and she serves as Co-PI for the Department of Corrections with Sedgwick County. She is a Service-Learning Faculty Fellow and a Culturally Responsive evaluation expert. She is a community-engaged researcher who investigates educational inequities, health equity, positive youth development and mental health, substance-use prevention and health promotion in the community. She is a member of the Society for Community Research and Action for Division 27 of APA, is a SCRA Division 27 Fellow, and a member of the SCRA’s Research Council. She is a member of the Association of Black Psychologists, is a member of the American Evaluation Association, and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Currently, she is the President of the Kansas Association of Black Psychology.

Sanjana Maila, MSBA, PGP-UXD

Project Data Analyst

Sanjana Maila, MSBA, PGP-UXD, is our Project Data Analyst for the Keeping ICT Safe initiative. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Analytics from Wichita State University and a Postgraduate Certification in UX/UI Design from the University of Texas. With a background in Analytics and over three years of experience in data analytics, Sanjana specializes in data storytelling, process improvement, and dashboard design. She is proficient in tools such as Python, SQL, Power BI, and SPSS, and she brings a human-centered design perspective to data solutions. Passionate about using data for social impact, she supports program evaluation, survey analysis, and digital strategy for youth-focused prevention efforts. Sanjana is also a volunteer researcher at The Trespass Project, where she contributes to global child rights advocacy through data analysis and UX research.

Maya N. Gulliford, MS

Graduate Research Assistant

Maya N. Gulliford, MS, is a doctoral student in Community Psychology at Wichita State University and a member of Dr. Rhonda K. Lewis’ research team. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Psychology. Her academic and professional work centers on community-based prevention, mental health awareness, and program evaluation. As part of the Keeping ICT Safe (KIS) initiative, Maya has contributed to the development of multiple evaluation reports and community-facing materials used to demonstrate the program’s impact across Sedgwick County. She has played an active role in engaging with program participants, supporting data interpretation, and assisting in strategic planning for future program development. Her work supports evidence-based decision-making and strengthens the program’s ability to address substance use prevention and mental health promotion within the community.