Prevention Council for Youth

What: The 7th Annual 2011 Southwest Virginia Regional YADAPP (Youth Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Project) Leadership Conference

When: Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 11:00 am – 4:30 pm at Northside High School, THEN STAY for Rachel’s Challenge Rally at 5:00 PM and the 2nd Annual Bandfest beginning at 7:00 PM

Who: Middle School Youth, Educators, Coaches, Parents, Faith Based Leaders, and anyone who is about making and keeping their communities safe and healthy

Cost: $10.00 per person (includes a t-shirt and lunch) Registration deadline is March 23, 2011

Registration

Workshop Information

Questions?  Contact nhans@pc4y.org 0r sflint@pc4y.org

This year’s conference is sponsored by  the Prevention Council of Roanoke County, Virginia ABC and Roanoke County Schools with support from RAYSAC – Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Area Coalition.

CADCA’s Got Outcomes!

Roanoke County Public Schools received an award from a national group called the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.

The award honors the county’s Prevention Council and the drop in substance abuse by students.

Each middle and high school has a council made up of students. They meet every month. Their goal is to raise awareness of the dangers among fellow students.

“If you talk to everyone and only one person is listening then it actually matters to somebody,” says student Courtney Becker, “My goal really is just to get one person to listen to me.”

Right now the Prevention Councils are focused on alcoholic energy drinks. The students say that many parents, administrators and stores don’t realize the cans contain alcohol because they don’t read the label.

“It’s a new challenge because they’re so common and they’re like the really big thing now,” says Becker, “And then you have to spot the difference between the alcoholic ones and the energy drinks. Most parents and administrators don’t know either.”

The council plans to talk about these alcoholic energy drinks and the dangers at an open house with parents.

Copyright © 2010, WDBJ7-TV

By: Nancy Hans, Council Coordinator, Roanoke County Prevention Council, and Fran Kiker, School Counseling Services, Roanoke County Public Schools, VA

The Prevention Council of Roanoke County and Roanoke County Schools have enjoyed a true collaborative partnership over the past ten years. This partnership effort requires building relationships one person at a time, finding those leaders that have a true passion for efforts in prevention and education of underage alcohol use/abuse and the consequences that surround this topic.

Data is of key importance. We are fortunate to have rich data (n=8,000 students) and five years of trend data spanning a ten year period.

Trust, open and honest communication is part of this data piece. As we come to the table, we believe that alcohol or other drugs are NOT school problems, but community problems that can ONLY be solved by local community solutions.

As a community coalition, we support the school system’s Student Assistant Program services now in its 24th year. School policies regarding substance abuse provide a structure for intervening with students who violate the policy. A Saturday substance abuse school, assessments, groups and individual support are available. Prevention programming is highly emphasized with students, parents, and school personnel.

We are proud to say that building “bench strength” through effectively using the Strategic Prevention Framework process has only strengthened this partnership. Our collaboration with the schools also includes as many sectors of the community as possible: youth, parents, grandparents, schools, multi-media, businesses, faith-based, medical community, recovery, colleges, social services ABC agents, Hispanic community, government officials, law enforcement, court services, and technology experts.

Our emphasis that has been critical to strengthening the partnership is youth! We have active prevention clubs in all five high schools, host an annual Regional youth leadership conference, participate in a statewide youth leadership conference and offer opportunities for our youth to be part of the planning and presentation that is made about prevention of substance use. Many times these youth plan the conferences, develop the power points, and assist with implementing environmental strategies. Our experience with developing youth leadership skills challenges adults to listen, participate in their world of multi-media, and sometimes even follow the youth that are leading!

As the community arm for the school system, we can support changing community norms surrounding underage alcohol use through larger environmental strategies. The overall benefit for this partnership is keeping our youth healthy, safe and alive!

Brooks Michael | Michael is the coordinator for Carilion Clinic’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Project and parent education coordinator for the Roanoke County Prevention Council

I am writing with a few comments about the power parents have to influence whether or not their teens and pre-teens engage in risky behavior. In my years of experience working in prevention of risky behaviors of Roanoke area adolescents, there has been one consistent theme: Parents have the greatest influence on whether or not their child engages in risky behaviors. Yes, teens are influenced by the media. True, they are influenced by their peers and siblings. But the greatest influence they receive is right at home from mom and dad.

So now that we are aware of how influential parents are, what is next? First, parents need to understand that during these challenging adolescent years, they need to function in their role as a parent, not as their child’s friend. The opportunity to be their friend will come down the road. A parent’s No. 1 job is to protect their children, keep them safe. As a parent, it is our job to get our children from childhood to adulthood as safely as possible.

Second, talk to your children about risky behaviors such as underage drinking, sexual activity and drug use. Turn off the television, walk away from the computer and set down the Blackberry. And just to be clear, this is not a one- time conversation. Just as important as talking to your kids is listening to them. When your children talk to you, read between the lines. Are you really hearing what they are saying?

Finally, there are many daily things we can do as families to reduce the likelihood our children will engage in risky behaviors. Eat dinner together as often as possible. Know your children’s friends and their families; know who they are spending their time with. Limit cellphone and computer use, especially late at night. With rapid changes in technology, our children live in a different world than we did. As parents, we have to keep up. Be a good role model because your children will grow up to be like you. They watch how you handle situations and learn from you how to respond. And last but not least, set clear rules and boundaries and follow through with consequences that are consistent and meaningful. Children may not always agree with you, but children want rules and boundaries. Many studies indicate this to be true.

I urge all parents in our community to do their part to be involved in their adolescent’s life and show them a successful road for the future. Your influence is the greatest of all, and your kids are counting on you.

Parents have the GREATEST Influence

I am writing with a few comments about the power parents have in whether or not their teens and pre-teens engage in risky behavior.  In my years of experience working in prevention of risky behaviors of Roanoke area adolescents, there has been one consistent theme:  Parents have the greatest influence on whether or not their child engages in risky behaviors.  Yes, teens are influenced by the media. True, they are influenced by their peers and siblings.  But the greatest influence they receive is right at home from Mom and Dad.

So now that we are aware of how influential parents are, what is next?  First, parents need to understand that during these challenging adolescent years, they need to function in their role as a parent, not as their child’s friend.  The opportunity to be their friend will come down the road.  A parent’s number one job is to protect their children; keep them safe. As a parent, it is our job to get our children from childhood to adulthood as safely as possible.

Second, talk to your children about risky behaviors such as underage drinking, sexual activity, and drug use. Turn off the television, walk away from the computer, and set down the blackberry.  And just to be clear, this is not a one time conversation.  Just as important as talking to your kids is to LISTEN.  When your children talk to you, read between the lines.  Are you really hearing what they are saying?

Finally, there are many daily things we can do as families to reduce the likelihood our children will engage in risky behaviors.  Eat dinner together as often as possible. Know your children’s friends and their families; know who they are spending their time with.  Limit cell phone and computer use especially late at night.  With rapid changes in technology, our children live in a different world than we did.  As parents, we have to keep up.  Be a good role model because your children will grow up to be like you.  They watch how you handle situations and learn from you how to respond.  And last but not least, set clear rules and boundaries, and follow through with consequences that are consistent and meaningful.  Children may not always agree with you, but children want rules and boundaries.  Many studies indicate this to be true.

I urge each parent in our community to do their part to be involved in their adolescent’s life, and show them a successful road for the future.  Your influence is the greatest of all and your kids are counting on you!

Sincerely,

Brooks Michael
Coordinator for Carilion Clinic’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Project and
Parent Education Coordinator for the Roanoke County Prevention Council

The pilot collaboration between the Council, RAYSAC and four ABC stores has been completed.  All stores were given 1,000 Parents Who Host cards to be distributed to patrons during December and through the holiday season.  Kathy and Nancy completed an evaluation of these stores on January 12, 2010.  Feedback was positive. We are planning to give all ABC stores in the Roanoke area these cards to continue to have for the community.

Its My Prom was held on January 16th, 2010 at Northside High School with over 100 models from across the region participating, over 250 attended and 21 schools within the region were represented. The overall evaluation was excellent with extremely positive feedback from adults and youth, as well as the businesses that participated. Blacksburg High School won the banner contest and Perry McClure High School in Buena Vista won the Red Carpet prize for their school.

Pictures from ItsMyProm

For more information, click this link.

Bandfest 2010

Southwest Regional YADAPP 6

YADAPP 6 and Bandfest – This leadership conference is planned, implemented and led by high school youth for middle school youth. This year we are partnering with the Student Advisory Council from Roanoke County Schools to also have Bandfest that evening. Local student bands will compete for cash prizes and the winning title! For more information, visit our website.

Go to www.itsmyprom.org to register to be a model

When:  January 16^th, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.

Where:  Northside High School Alumni Gym

Who:  Starring YOU and your friends as models!!!

Celebrity Host Johnathan Kayne!!!

(Project Runway Season 3)

Admission is $10… You get that back & much MORE… Simply take your ticket to any of our sponsors. Every time you use your card you get $$$ off your purchase price!!! How much will you make this ticket worth?

Visit ItsMyProm.org for a list of our sponsors. Discount cards to for your 2010 prom season!!! (Visit multiple times, limit one per visit)

There will be a contest at the fashion show and the school with the most people in attendance will win a red carpet event for their schools prom this year!

“Funded by a federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention through the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control”.