Red Ribbon Week, October 24-31, starts today!

Ask your child what's happening at school this week. Many schools have special events or speakers all related to promoting the importance of living a healthy and drug-free life.

Take the opportunity to talk with him/her about how drugs & alcohol can get in the way of a healthy and successful future.

Summer Time Tips for Parents of Teens

Hot Tips for the Hot Summer Months

 1. Monitor 

The "Be Involved" message is part of a campaign in Western Michigan from TalkSooner.org

Monitoring your child/teens whereabouts, who they're with and what they're doing helps them make healthy choices.

2. Set Clear Rules

Setting clear no-use rules and consequences for breaking the rules and then discussing them  with your child can help them choose not to use alcohol or drugs.

3. Make a Plan

Sometimes a teen can end up in a situation that they want to get out of but aren't sure how to make that happen. Talk to your teen and make a plan for this type of situation. Think about creating a secret text message that alerts you that they need your help.

4. Make Alcohol Less Accessible to Youth

Students report that alcohol is easy or very easy to get and they most often get it from social sources such as at a party or from a friend, but the third most common source is "taking from their parent without their permission."

Adults can help keep alcohol out of kids' hands by limiting quantities, locking it up in a safe location or keeping track of the supply in their home.

TXTaTIP

Report non-emergency crimes to police anonymously by text messaging and use TXTaTIP.

 

Two minute tip for parenting teens. How much freedom is appropriate? Ask questions and contact other parents but ultimately you know your child best.

2MT:

It’s practically summer, your kids’ school is out or will be shortly, and hopefully your schedule will be less hectic and more relaxed. Summer gives many families a chance to enjoy a welcome change in schedule. You may be more relaxed about dinner and the food you prepare, about your kids staying up late, about spending time just enjoying down time…and all of this is wonderful and healthy.

But there is an area where parents really shouldn’t let your guard down too much.
Don’t get too lax…remember to continue to provide supervision at a level that’s appropriate for the age and maturity of your teenager. There are times this may be inconvenient for you, so be smart about your choices.

You may find yourself wanting to say “yes” to kids who want to stay out late and play flashlight tag, or go to the local pool on their own; encouraging kids to play outdoors and be together in healthy activities is important, as is giving them more freedom as they mature.

But be cautious, as these are also opportunities for things to go awry, which they are more likely to do if there is no supervision.

The question you must ponder is “how much freedom is appropriate?”
Your kids are likely to demand more free rein than they are ready for, so get comfortable with your position of authority. Your adult perspective and judgement is vitally important here and you may have to say “no” at times.
Get used to asking good questions, picking up the phone to speak with other parents, and checking up on kids to make sure they are doing what they say they are doing. Your best gauge for making the judgment calls required of you is your intuition.

This summer, enjoy lightening up when there is room to do so, but keeping vigilant with your important supervisory responsibilities can help ensure fun, safety, and no nasty surprises.

from www.parentingteensinfo.com

Parents Who Host Lose the Most. Don't Be a Party to Teen Drinking

Prom and graduation are this weekend for Maine Township District 207 High School students. Parents and other adults can work together to make sure that alcohol is not accessible to teens. Help protect your children by following thise guidelines when hosting teen parties:

1. Refuse to supply alcohol to children or to allow anyone under 21 years old to drink in your home or on your property.
2. Be at home when your teen has a party.
3. Make sure other teen's don't bring alcohol into your home. Don't allow teens to bring their own water bottles or drinks.
4. Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol to youth.

All adults in the community can help each other keep all of our kids safe.

Park Ridge Memorial Day parade 2012

Thank you to our partners and volunteers for marching in the parade with us.

A father's perspective on teen drinking.

OK Parents, What’s Your Position on Teen Drinking?

Posted May 15, 2012 by jimhigley

The Chicago Tribune TribLocal asked me to put some thoughts together pertaining to teenage drug and alcohol use. It’s a tough subject to write about – I desperately want to get it “right.” But I don’t know all the right answers. So I’m going to go with what’s in my heart…
Teenage drug and alcohol use. Just writing those words brings me a sense of unrest. Maybe it’s because the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.
I’ve raised one child to legal age. I have one who is within months of being 21. And I still have one in the thick of the pressures of high school. I know all too well – from past experience with others in my family – how real alcohol use and abuse is. I’ve worked with and interviewed some of our country’s leading authorities on the subject.
And yet I still feel grossly limited in my knowledge. Perhaps that’s because I’ve come to understand there isn’t a silver bullet to all of this. And because this issue is wrapped around the lives of teens and their families, I find it excruciatingly important.
While I’d never profess to know everything, a few of the things I’ve learned along the journey of parenting include:

1. The conversation must start early. Starting this conversation in middle school is too late. I’d start real conversations in the early years of grade school.
2. Modeling healthy lifestyles starts with mom and dad. Like everything else, kids watch and see all of our actions. If you have a healthy lifestyle – as their parent – it is a step in the right direction. More importantly, if you don’t have a healthy lifestyle, your kids are at a disadvantage.
3. Kids will accept rules. Honestly. You must have house rules that everyone must follow when in your home. Kids want to be kids. Rules help them be kids.
4. “Everyone” isn’t doing it. Granted, you and your kids may be in the minority. As a parent, you have to recognize the pressure your child is under.
5. Drinking in the “safety of your home” is not safe. It sends mixed messages that are very confusing for kids.
6. Weed is not an acceptable alternative to alcohol. There’s a growing belief that weed is an acceptable substitute for alcohol. It isn’t. The acceptable alternative to drinking is living healthy and making healthy choices. That’s what I try to instill in my kids.
7. No tolerance is an acceptable family position. This is hard. Painfully hard. But study after study confirms that – in our country -this is the most effective position.
8. Parents who look the other way are doing their kids a disservice. There’s a trend for parents to start to relax (ignore) their kid’s actions when they become juniors. Parenting isn’t over at that point. Especially with this topic. Stick with it.
9. Kids who enter college with zero (or very limited) alcohol use do better. Some parents believe it’s better to “ease” their kids into drinking so they are better able to handle themselves in college. The truth is (and studies prove) that kids who enter college with no alcohol use (or very, very little) are far more likely to succeed. Those who enter college with moderate to high alcohol use are far more likely to struggle or drop out of college.
10. Did I mention the conversation must start early?

Is this the perfect list? Not a chance. But it’s what’s at the top of my head when the issue knocks on my door.
And what are a few specific things you need to do? Well, according to my friend and one of the country’s leading authorities on teen alcohol and drug use, Jeff Wolfsberg, here are four specific suggestions:

1. Take care of yourself. Really. You need to be healthy – physically and emotionally – to be the parent your child needs you to be.
2. Be physically awake when your kids come home. This is important. If your child knows you will be awake and talk to them, it will have in impact on their choices.
3. Show up and make telephone calls. Don’t be afraid to make an appearance if they are out at a public location. Additionally, call the parents of homes they are going to. Ask questions. Make sure you understand what kind of rules (or lack of) they are exposed to.
4. Be open. To everything. Never, never, never assume your child is not getting into problems. Every teen is vulnerable. Be aware. Be open.

So what things would you add to the list?

Maine Township teens report that alcohol is easy to get. The most frequently reported sources are: getting it from a friend, at a party or taking it from their parent's without their knowledge. Only about 2% of Maine Township students reported getting alcohol on the Internet. 

Minors can easily avoid age requirements when buying alcohol online, study suggests

MCYAF hosts annual Volunteer Appreciation Event

Thank you to all the MCYAF partners, volunteers and supporters who continue to work with us to reduce youth alcohol and drug use in Maine Township. Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event was held on May 1st at the Des Plaines Park District Prairie Lakes.
Gene Haring from the Des Plaines Park District was recognized as Outstanding Partner of the Year. Gene is a member of the MCYAF Evaluation Sub-committee, assists by providing graphic design help and marketing expertise and helps us reach adults in the community with our messages.
We also recognized students from Maine West and South High Schools who have been part of a MCYAF Youth Advisory Board this year for being Leaders of Tomorrow. These students have been meeting monthly to provide feedback and ideas on how to reach adults with prevention messages as well as to brainstorm ideas about how to reduce youth alcohol and drug use in our community. Youth alcohol and drug use are issues that will require our entire community to work together to change. We appreciate everyone who supports efforts to help youth make healthy choices.

Talking to your kids can help them choose not to use alcohol or drugs.

The message is simple, but true. Parents can help reduce teen alcohol and drug use by talking with their kids. It’s best to talk before they start using and update the message as they get older, but it’s never too late to start talking.

Being afraid to talk or avoiding the topic because you think your child will take more of an interest in drugs or alcohol won’t prevent him/her from trying these substances. Research has shown that when parents clearly express that "It's not OK with me if you drink or smoke" and then explain why, kids are less likely to use drugs or alcohol.

In fact, Maine Township High School students who said their family has clear rules and their parents think it's wrong for them to drink alcohol or use drugs reported higher avoidance of alcohol and marijuana than students who report otherwise.

More parents in Maine Township are talking to their teens about NOT using alcohol. According to the Illinois Youth Survey from 2009 to 2010, more students reported that their parents had talked to them about not drinking. For the same time period, alcohol use was down 7.6 percent among high school age youth in Maine Township.

When parents talk, kids really do listen. If you don’t know what to say or how to say it, we can help. See www.mcyaf.com for helpful ideas.

Medication Take-Back Day is tomorrow, Saturday, April 28th from 10am -2pm. Dispose of your unused, expired and unwanted prescription medications safely at the Park Ridge, Des Plaines and Niles Police Departments.

Parent Patrol Volunteers Needed!

Volunteer for the Park Ridge Parent Patrol program and show support for underage drinking prevention. Training for new volunteers is scheduled for April 24th.  Read more about this Park Ridge Police Department and MCYAF initiative here: 

http://parkridge.suntimes.com/news/11734925-418/volunteers-sought-for-anti-teen-drinking-program-in-park-ridge.html

More Great Sticker Shock Coverage!

Teens Slap Warning Labels on Alcohol

Parents’ role vital in helping teens make safe choices

Check out THIS ARTICLE from the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate. 

Online safety, driving, underage drinking - parents have the most influence to help their kids make good choices.

Making the Message Stick

Park Ridge Police Explorers Gary Lynch, Anthony Perez and Karl Meister join Police Chief Frank Kaminski, Officer Mike Luehr and Alderman Joe Sweeney at Sticker Shock celebration

MCYAF, the Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation, working with 90 volunteers, conducted Project Sticker Shock on Wednesday, April 18th at 59 retail stores across Maine Township that sell alcoholic beverages, posting reminders that it is illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.

Fourteen Sticker Shock teams of teens and young adults accompanied by adult chaperones travelled to stores that sell alcohol in Des Plaines, Niles and Park Ridge and posted stickers, window clings and posters that read “Warning: it is illegal 1) to provide alcohol to a person under age 21 and 2) for a minor to use a fake ID.”

Afterward, teams assembled at St. Andrews Lutheran School in Park Ridge to share experiences and celebrate their work with refreshments donated by local businesses. Participating students received certificates of appreciation from City and Police officials and credit for volunteer service hours. The event ran from 3:30- 6:00 p.m.

Sticker Shock reminds adults and teens in Des Plaines, Niles and Park Ridge that providing alcohol to minors is illegal, unhealthy and dangerous. MCYAF organizers believe the event will help deter adults who otherwise might provide or sell alcohol to teens or simply look the other way when it comes to young people drinking.

The one-day campaign was prompted by 2010 Illinois Youth Survey results that showed teens most often get alcohol from someone or somewhere familiar such as a friend, older sibling, parent, at a party, or from their own house or a friend’s house without parents’ knowledge.

Project Sticker Shock materials were provided by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission’s Don’t Be Sorry campaign to remind the public during April, which is Alcohol Awareness Month, about the consequences of underage drinking. This is the third year that MCYAF organized Sticker Shock.
If you would like to help with Sticker Shock next year or other MCYAF activities, call (847) 858-7090.

My Kid Would Never Do That: Driving

Did you see this on Sunday night? There was a lot of good information for parents of teens. 


http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/21/11323022-apr-22-my-kid-would-never-do-that-driving

Sticker Shock A Success

The Des Plaines Library Youth Advisory Board team hard at work putting stickers on packaged alcohol. Thank you for volunteering!

Photovoice: What Do You Aim For?

Did you miss the Photovoice: What do You Aim For Open House on Friday night? No worries. The exhibit will be on display until April 7th at Brickton Art Center in Park Ridge. 

Maine Township High School students answer the question, "What do you aim for?" Check their website for hours. The combination of young photographic artists and their art presented to community decision makers to jump start the conversation between the youth of the community and its adult leaders. The art and quotes are in response to the question, WHAT DO YOU AIM FOR? As it relates to drug and alcohol avoidance by teens. We have more than 40 examples to guide this discussion to help the youth and adult leaders of our community as they work together toward a better tomorrow.

Read more about Photovoice Here

Parents Welcome!

Parenting teens can be a challenging and sometimes thankless job. During the teen years, a natural separation process occurs between teens and their parents. This is all part of them growing up - and growing into - responsible, mature, independent human beings.

In spite of what your kids may say, they really do want you to be part of their lives. Maintaining a healthy relationship with your kids through the teenage years is a vital part of raising healthy kids.

"I choose not to drink because I don't want to encounter future health problems and I don't want to cause harm and worry to the people close to me.  Also, it affects mental judgment and can lead to bad decisions.” – G.R., Maine South sophomore

There’s a lot that parents can do to raise healthy kids and help them avoid risky behaviors. And there are plenty of resources available too, including online help, books, videos, etc. See Raising Healthy Kids (above) for more information.

You're not alone!  Learn more about all MCYAF has to offer parents at  http://www.mcyaf.com/parents.htm