Did you attend Parent/Teacher Conferences? Thank you!

On behalf of the Van Buren SAFE Coalition We’d like to commend you for taking the time to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences last week at your son or daughter’s school. Being involved in your adolescent’s educational upbringing is just as important when they’re in middle school and high school as it is when they are younger. While we rely more on them to communicate with us as they get older about the happenings at school, it’s through discussions with their teachers that we get a better understanding of not just their grades but how they interact in the classroom, which can clue you in to other issues your son or daughter may be dealing with in their school setting.

Everyone is busy. Everyone has other things to do. It can be hard to find the time to get to conferences, but the message you send your child by attending is invaluable! Their education is important and taking an active role shows you care. Studies show that parents are the most influential person in a teen’s life. Having a good relationship with your adolescent will go a long way in helping them navigate the tough decisions they face and the challenges they must endure in the process of growing up. So again, pat yourself on the back for supporting your child by attending conferences. It really is the little things that add up to make the biggest difference.

If you would like any information concerning various issues your children will face in light of their middle school and high school years please feel free to contact the VB SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412. If we don’t have what you are looking for, we certainly can point you in the direction of those you may have what you need. Thanks again!

Great American Smokeout

Today is the Great American Smokeout, a day designated by the American Cancer Society to urge people to quit tobacco use for the day or for good.

People who quit smoking live longer than those who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit substantially reduce their risk of premature death. Join the Great American Smokeout today! The argument that it is never to late to wuit smoke because the damage is already done is untrue.

For assistance in quitting smoking contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 of Quitline Iowa at 1-800-quit-now.

Home Pledges

Home Pledges will be mailed to parents/guardians starting this week. The pledges may also be viewed online at www.vbsafecoalition.com. Click on View a 2009/2010 SAFE Home Pledge in the middle of the page. You may also view a SAFE Home Pledge here.
If you have questions about the home pledge please feel free to contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412.

Prepare for the next coalition meeting

Coalition and Community Members:
The November working session is quickly appraoching. In order to make the most effective use of our time during this meeting there are a couple of things you can do to prepare for the meeting.

We will be discussing the final two local coniditions on our logic model:
- School staff turn a blind eye when they hear about parties and alcohol use.
- Parents allowing drinking to happen in their homes.
A copy of the logic model may be found here: Logic Model

Coalition members need to come up with interventions that fall into the 7 strategies for affecting change- focusing heavily on strategies 4-7.
Seven Strategies for Affecting Change:
1. Provide information
2. Enhance Skills
3. Provide Support
4. Reducing Access/Enhancing Barriers
5. Changing Consequences
6. Changing Physical Design
7. Change Policies

These will be entered into the stratgic and action plan which can be found here: SAFE Coalition Strategic and Action Plan

Please take some time to review these two documents and brainstorm some ideas for strategies that the coalition could implement around these two local conditions to affect change in our community.

If you have questions about this process please feel free to contact the SAFE Coalition office at 319-293-6412.

Thank you for your continued support of the coalition!