JEL Members Participate in Trainings and Fun

On Tuesday, April 26th Faith Murphy, Drew Nolting, Hannah Sprouse (JEL Members) and Melissa Daugherty attended the 26th annual Risky Business Conference. This one-day conference brought together adults and youth from Iowa and surrounding states to develop skills and increase knowledge of community youth development and the critical issues confronting youth and professionals who work with youth today. The general movement of the day advanced from competency-building and skill development in the morning to a more practical application of knowledge and skills in the afternoon sessions. The conference goals included promoting Community Youth Development, informing communities about the value of increasing developmental assets of youth, increasing awareness of major problems facing America's families and youth, examining new ways to intervene earlier in the lives of at-risk families and promoting partnerships between youth and adult.

On Wednesday, April 27th Carson Schuck, Cassie Johnson (JEL Members), Chuck Banks, Heidi Bainbridge and Tonja Jirak attended the Life of an Athlete Training. At this training they learned about helping athletes be the best that they can be. This was accomplished by examining the importance of a strong code of conduct; alcohol’s effects on student athletes and getting the support that you need to support a strong code. They also learned about what to do once the code is in place; how to promote, enforce and make the policy a living document. This training provided information on doing what is best for youth. The JEL members decided they wanted to take this one as a group initiative for the 2011-2012 school year.

Finally, on Saturday, May 30th the Van Buren JEL Members attended a Substance Abuse Free Day at Adventureland. 52 Van Buren County youth from both Harmony and Van Buren High School and six chaperones attended this event. This is the end of the year JEL event for all of the hard work and success they have accomplished during the school year. All enjoyed the beautiful day and fun to be had at the park!

5th graders participate in “Dear Senior” Project

During the past two weeks SAFE Coalition Coordinator, Heidi Bainbridge, visited the classrooms of the fifth graders at the Harmony and Van Buren elementary centers and worked with them to write an important letter to one of our high school seniors as part of the “Dear Senior”project, a safety promotion project put on by the Van Buren SAFE Coalition.

Using knowledge and skills learned from Mrs. Bainbridge and the faculty and staff of the school district, each fifth grader asked the senior receiving their letter to go through graduation season free of alcohol and/or other drugs and to remember that young children view older students as important role models.

The letter will be delivered to each Senior during the month of May. Each letter is valuable to the project’s purpose and each speaks with a unique voice to the senior who receives it.

Another copy of the child’s letter has been saved to be given back during graduation of their own senior year. In this way, the current fifth grader’s own advice will come back to them. We hope this message from themselves will help them remember and rethink their own best interests and choose not to use alcohol or drugs during the important times of their last year in high school and beyond.

If you have any questions about the “Dear Senior” Project please feel free to contact the Van Buren County SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month - Resources & How to Get Help with Alcohol Issues

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to health problems, including alcohol poisoning, hangovers, and an increased risk of heart disease. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, the Van Buren County SAFE Coalition encourages you to take this time to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of alcohol abuse. To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse, the Van Buren County SAFE Coalition is joining other organizations across the country to honor Alcohol Awareness Month and to prevent alcohol abuse in our community.

If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Keep track of how much you drink, avoid places where overdrinking occurs, and find new ways to deal with stress. If you are concerned about someone else’s drinking, offer to help.

Locally the following agencies are available to help you and your family:
SIEDA Substance Abuse Services 800-622-8340
Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services of Southeast Iowa 319-753-6567
Iowa Substance Abuse Information 866-242-4111
Alcoholics Anonymous 319-293-9191

To help parents in preventing and reducing adolescent alcohol and drug use, The Partnership at drugfree.org provides information and tools through its website, its community education programs, and its public service messages.

Other Parent Web Resources:
• www.theantidrug.com
• www.timetotalk.org- Great Parent Talk Kit
• www.drugfreeactionalliance.org
• www.drugfree.org
• www.stopalcoholabuse.gov
• www.alcoholtalk.org
• www.alcoholfreechildren.org
• www.beersoaksamerica.org
• www.dontserveteens.com
• www.notnrhouse.org
• www.madd.org/powertalk21 has a free Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence Handbook

Teen Web Resources:
• www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov
• www.thecoolspot.gov
• www.abovetheinfluence.com
• http://teens.drugabuse.gov

For additional information you may contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412, info@vbsafecoalition.com or check us out at www.vbsafecoalition.com and on Facebook.

Myths and Facts of Alcohol Use

Teens think you know everything about alcohol? Here are some common myths debunked.

MYTH: Everyone drinks.
TRUTH: Not true. Although 31% of teens said they've drank alcohol in the past month that still leaves 69% who did not! If you choose not to drink, you're definitely not alone.

MYTH: Driving with someone who drank can be safe, because they drive extra carefully so they don't get pulled over.
TRUTH: YIKES! Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous. Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking and about 1,900 of these deaths are from motor vehicle crashes (NIAAA). In 2002, alcohol was involved in 41% of all fatal crashes (NIDA). A person might think he's in control, but alcohol slows down reaction time which makes driving a car one of the worst decisions one can make — even if he's had only a little bit to drink.

MYTH: If I drink too much, the worst thing that can happen is I get my stomach pumped.
TRUTH: No way. If alcohol is drunk excessively, it can lead to alcohol poisoning which can cause death. Also, drinking excessive alcohol can cause vomiting. When drunk and unconscious, a person may inhale fluids that have been vomited, resulting in death by asphyxiation. Long-term, heavy use of alcohol can lead to addiction (alcoholism), and can even cause a heart attack or stroke.

MYTH: Talk to me about drugs - that's a bigger issue than alcohol.
TRUTH: Both drugs and alcohol are serious problems among teens. Alcohol kills young people just like cocaine, heroin and other serious illegal drugs. Also, according to recent studies, nearly one-half (47%) of persons who began drinking before age 14 were alcohol dependent at some point in their lifetime.

MYTH: My parents drink - so what's the big deal if I do?
TRUTH: Actually, it's scientifically proven to be a big deal. According to new research by A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D., teens who drink and take drugs may be at greater risk than previously thought. His research suggests that the brain is not fully formed until age 24. Using drugs and alcohol during this important time as your brain develops might have negative long-term effects on brain functions such as memory.

Teen Web Resources: www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov, www.thecoolspot.gov, www.abovetheinfluence.com, http://teens.drugabuse.gov

Parents, family, and friends of teens please make sure to check out these sites or contact the SAFE Coalition for more information on issues that teens are facing today! Van Buren County SAFE Coalition: 319-293-6412, info@vbsafecoalition.com or check us out at www.vbsafecoalition.com and on Face Book.
Sources: NIAAA, NESARC and www.thecoolspot.gov

Adventureland Tickets

The Van Buren County SAFE Coalition has tickets for Adventureland. The cost for the tickets is $17 each. The tickets are only good for April 30th, May 1st, 7th or 8th. If you are interested in going to Adventureland on any of these dates please contact the Coalition by phone at 319-293-6412 or by email at info@vbsafecoalition.com.

How to Talk to Your Kids about Alcohol Use

Evidence suggests that alcohol use—and in particular binge drinking—may have negative effects on adolescent development and increase the risk for alcohol dependence later in life (Squeglia et al., 2009; Grant and Dawson, 1997). This underscores the need for parents to help delay or prevent the onset of drinking as long as possible.

Parents influence whether and when adolescents begin drinking as well as how their children drink. Family policies about adolescent drinking in the home and the way parents themselves drink are important. For instance, if you choose to drink, always model responsible alcohol consumption. But what else can parents do to help minimize the likelihood that their adolescent will choose to drink and that such drinking, if it does occur, will become problematic? Studies (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007) have shown that it is important to:

•Talk early and often, in developmentally appropriate ways, with children and teens about your concerns—and theirs—regarding alcohol. Adolescents who know their parents’ opinions about youth drinking are more likely to fall in line with their expectations.

•Establish policies early on, and be consistent in setting expectations and enforcing rules. Adolescents do feel that parents should have a say in decisions about drinking, and they maintain this deference to parental authority as long as they perceive the message to be legitimate; consistency is central to legitimacy.

•Work with other parents to monitor where kids are gathering and what they are doing. Being involved in the lives of adolescents is key to keeping them safe.

•Work in and with the community to promote dialogue about underage drinking and the creation and implementation of action steps to address it.

•Be aware of your State’s laws about providing alcohol to your own children.

•Never provide alcohol to someone else’s child.

Children and adolescents often feel competing urges to comply with and resist parental influences. During childhood, the balance usually tilts toward compliance, but during adolescence, the balance often shifts toward resistance as teens prepare for the autonomy of adulthood. With open, respectful communication and explanations of boundaries and expectations, parents can continue to influence their children’s decisions well into adolescence and beyond. This is especially important in young people’s decisions regarding whether and how to drink—decisions that can have lifelong consequences.

To help parents in preventing and reducing adolescent alcohol and drug use, The Partnership at Drugfree.org provides information and tools through its website, its community education programs, and its public service messages. Other web resources: www.theantidrug.com, www.timetotalk.org- Great Parent Talk Kit, www.drugfreeactionalliance.org, www.drugfree.org. Parents, family, and friends of teens please make sure to check out these sites or contact the SAFE Coalition for more information on issues that teens are facing today! Van Buren County SAFE Coalition: 319-293-6412, info@vbsafecoalition.com or check us out at www.vbsafecoalition.com and on Face Book.

The Importance of Talking to Your Kids about Alcohol Use

Drinking alcohol undoubtedly is a part of American culture, as are conversations between parents and children about its risks and potential benefits. However, information about alcohol can seem contradictory. Alcohol affects people differently at different stages of life—small amounts may have health benefits for certain adults, but for children and adolescents, alcohol can interfere with normal brain development. Alcohol’s differing effects and parents’ changing role in their children’s lives as they mature and seek greater independence can make talking about alcohol a challenge. Parents may have trouble setting concrete family policies for alcohol use. And they may find it difficult to communicate with children and adolescents about alcohol-related issues.

Adolescent alcohol use remains a pervasive problem. The percentage of teenagers who drink alcohol is slowly declining; however, numbers are still quite high. Forty percent of adolescents report drinking by 8th grade, and 55 percent report being drunk at least once by 12th grade (Johnston et al., 2009).

Adolescents do listen to their parents when it comes to issues such as drinking and smoking, particularly if the messages are conveyed consistently and with authority (Jackson, 2002). Research suggests that only 19 percent of teens feel that parents should have a say in the music they listen to, and 26 percent believe their parents should influence what clothing they wear. However, the majority—around 80 percent—feel that parents should have a say in whether they drink alcohol. Those who do not think that parents have authority over these issues are four times more likely than other teens to drink alcohol and three times more likely to have plans to drink if they have not already started (Jackson, 2002).

Parents influence whether and when adolescents begin drinking as well as how their children drink. Family policies about adolescent drinking in the home and the way parents themselves drink are important. For instance, if you choose to drink, always model responsible alcohol consumption. But what else can parents do to help minimize the likelihood that their adolescent will choose to drink and that such drinking, if it does occur, will become problematic? Studies (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007) have shown that it is important to:
•Talk early and often, in developmentally appropriate ways, with children and teens about your concerns—and theirs—regarding alcohol. Adolescents who know their parents’ opinions about youth drinking are more likely to fall in line with their expectations.
•Establish policies early on, and be consistent in setting expectations and enforcing rules. Adolescents do feel that parents should have a say in decisions about drinking, and they maintain this deference to parental authority as long as they perceive the message to be legitimate; consistency is central to legitimacy.
•Work with other parents to monitor where kids are gathering and what they are doing. Being involved in the lives of adolescents is key to keeping them safe.
•Work in and with the community to promote dialogue about underage drinking and the creation and implementation of action steps to address it.
•Be aware of your State’s laws about providing alcohol to your own children.
•Never provide alcohol to someone else’s child.

Web Resources to help you talk with your kids about alcohol: www.theantidrug.com, www.timetotalk.org- Great Parent Talk Kit, www.drugfreeactionalliance.org, www.drugfree.org

Parents, family, and friends of teens please make sure to check out these sites or contact the SAFE Coalition for more information on issues that teens are facing today! Van Buren County SAFE Coalition: 319-293-6412, info@vbsafecoalition.com or check us out at www.vbsafecoalition.com and on Face Book.