Portage County Alliance for Youth

Info from Laura Clark Hanson on Asset Building #31

admin — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:52:41 +0000

I did a 3 year qualitative research study seeking to learn how young people involved

in Supporting Players Peer Drama Troupes were affected. These high school

students attended a 2 day training, developed skits about teen issues, learned

how to process with their peers – and then presented a performance a month

in their communities. I was specifically looking at their choices re: alcohol,

tobacco, and marijuana. Visit my linkedin page and you can download

the “cliff notes version” (3 pages as opposed to 60) of my results.

What I discovered is that our actors were spontaneously describing the

Developmental Assets. In particular, Asset #31.

Get Smart on Crime, Community Solutions Event planned

admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:13:52 +0000

Wednesday April 25 from 5:30-7pm at PC Library Pinery Room Stevens Point WI

April Developmental Asset Article

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:49:20 +0000

DEVELOPMENTAL ASSET ARTICLE FOR APRIL 2012:

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout the country. The Governor of Wisconsin proclaimed April as “Teenagers Drinking Alcohol Awareness Month” in an attempt to address underage drinking and align with another statewide campaign titled “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don’t Be a Party to Teenage Drinking.” He also designated the week of February 13-19 as Children of Alcoholics Week.

These topics remind us as parents and those who work with youth that we need to understand the laws and the information about making healthy choices to support youth as they deal with issues of sexual violence, alcohol abuse at home and underage drinking.

As a community embracing Developmental Assets from birth to adulthood, we know research indicates the protective factors within the assets offer guides and suggestions for youth as they navigate the daily challenges of any at-risk behaviors they face.

It is during the preschool years that children learn more about their own feelings as well as the feelings of others. Caring adults can then connect the dots for children by fostering empathy, help them develop problem-solving skills, and teach them about consequences and responsibility. For pre-school children, unhealthy and acting out behaviors can be symptoms of violence and may include hitting, yelling, pulling hair, refusing to talk with someone, making fun of someone, and taking away something important that belongs to someone else. Teachers and parents can recognize, address any unacceptable behavior and then offer alternative ways for the children to meet their needs safely without hurting themselves or anyone else.

However, when not addressed early, these hurtful symptoms can re-occur with teens and young adults resulting in law enforcement being involved and possible arrests.

The governor of WI notes one in four children under 18 in theUSis hurt by family alcohol abuse.Wisconsinranks highest for binge drinking and the culture of alcohol use abounds. When drinking is hurting a family or its resources – then help needs to be provided for any youth involved. A trusting relationship becomes more important.

By building trusting relationships with youth, we become adults who believe in them. We can listen as a way to support their need to confide their fears and concerns. Problems can be shared and with us as their guides, youth can learn to develop their own resources and solutions. Consequences and responsibility are being faced – but not alone.

Together as a community we can continue to build Assets in Youth. Join coalitions who work to develop responsible drinking practices and remove the code of silence. It is time to talk about scary stuff and what can be done so that our youth can be safe and grow into mature responsible adults …. that is what Asset Building is All About.

Written by Mary Ann Krems, PCAY and Dee Erlandson,CAPServices with ideas from GREAT PRESCHOOLS: Building Developmental Assets in Early Childhood by Will, King and Merler SEARCH Institute.org , State ofWI Proclamationand Dept. of Health Serves for WI.

MADD

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:45:31 +0000

PowerTalk 21^®—the National Day for Parents to Talk with their Kids about Alcohol

PowerTalk 21 day—April 21^st—is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, and MADD wants to equip all parents and caregivers with the tools to help them start this potentially lifesaving conversation. MADD’s Power of Parents™ handbook, developed by MADD and Pennsylvania State University’s Dr. Robert Turrisi, provides guidance for talking with teens about the dangers of drinking before age 21, and is based on research proven to reduce underage drinking by up to 30 percent. Download a copy of the handbook here, free of charge.

Teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year, more than all other illegal drugs combined. However, research shows that there’s a disconnect when it comes to underage drinking: one out of five teens binge drinks, but only one in 100 parents thinks their child binge drinks.

The good news is that you can make a difference! Parents have the power to help teens make healthy decisions that can keep them safe. In fact, research shows that parents are the primary influence on their kids’ decisions about whether or not to drink alcohol.

Not a parent? Help MADD and its national program partners prepare parents to talk with their teens about alcohol on PowerTalk 21 day and beyond. Visit www.madd.org/powertalk21 to get a free toolkit to promote PowerTalk 21 day, request a free parent handbook, host or find local 30-minute parent workshops and much more.

Start talking on April 21^st, and together, we can help prevent underage drinking and save lives!

More News from MADD

	Double Your Donation with Groupon From April 9^th through April 15^th, Nationwide Insurance will match all donations made through Groupon—so your money will go twice as far! Donations made will fund Power of Parents™ workshops, where we provide parents with the tools and techniques needed to have potentially lifesaving conversations with their kids about alcohol. Learn more»
	MADD Featured on Lifetime’s “The Balancing Act” On April 17^th at 7:00 a.m. (ET/PT), MADD will be sharing information about the Power of Parents program on Lifetime’s “The Balancing Act.” MADD National President Jan Withers joins host Danielle Knox and Ken Griffith, President of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), to give parents tips on talking with their kids about alcohol, as part of the show’s “Parent Teacher Corner.” Learn more»
	Coming Soon: MADD on Dateline MADD’s Power of Parents program will be featured in the April 22^nd episode of Dateline NBC’s “My Kid Would Never Do That” series. Dr. Robert Turrisi, the Pennsylvania State University researcher behind the Power of Parents handbook, provides information about the importance of parents talking with their teens about the dangers of alcohol, while parents watch their teens decide whether or not to get in a car with a peer who’s been drinking. Learn more»

A Word from MADD’s National President

This April 16^thmarks a significant anniversary for me and my family. It seems like it was only yesterday when my daughter, Alisa, was enjoying her spring vacation by spending the night at her best friend’s home. They were only 15 years old, with their futures shining brightly before them. But because a 17-year-old decided to drive after drinking, Alisa was killed that evening. That was 20 years ago next week, and my heart is still longing to kiss her one last time.April begins prom and graduation season. That is why April 21^st is our national PowerTalk21 day. Now is a critical time for parents to begin conversations about the dangers of drinking before age 21, and it is important to continue those conversations frequently. Research shows that three out of four teens say that their parents are the number one influence on their decisions about drinking. Parents, I urge you to have those conversations and keep them going. Also, remind your kids to never ride in the car with someone who has been drinking. Our Power of Parents handbook can help you with suggestions on how to have those discussions.

MADD’s lifesaving work is possible because of caring people like you.

Learn more»

Last year, we served more than 60,000 victims and survivors of drunk and drugged driving crashes—that’s one person every nine minutes at no charge.

Learn more»

The longer your child waits to start drinking, the safer he or she will stay.

Learn more»

Get the Parent Handbook

Sign up to receive MADD’s research-based parent handbook and learn the best way to talk with your teenager about underage drinking.

Summit for Prescription Drug Prevention

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:43:20 +0000

CDC Calls Rx Drug Abuse an Epidemic at National Rx Drug Abuse Summit

“The CDC doesn’t take the word epidemic lightly,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Principle Deputy Director Dr. Ileana Arias. “But overdose deaths in the United States have reached epidemic levels.”

Dr. Arias stood in front of hundreds Wednesday morning as a keynote presenter on day two of the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit.

Dr. Arias says there’s a distinct correlation between opiate (narcotic drugs) sales and the number of overdose deaths in the U.S. “As opiate sales have gone up, so has overdose deaths from 1999 to 2010,” Dr. Arias said. Dr. Arias went on to say opiate abusers generate more than eight times the annual direct health care costs than non-abusers.

The CDC says a concerted public health and public safety approach is required to curtail this epidemic.

“Success will come through collaboration with all stakeholders,” Arias said.

Collaboration is exactly what the Summit is focusing on—by fostering better understanding and cooperation between law enforcement, medical professionals, state and national leaders, among others, who are finding success in battling this nationwide epidemic.

Also featured as a keynote speaker Wednesday morning—Candy Finnigan from A&E’s Emmy award-winning series Intervention. Finnigan is an interventionist and said 90 percent of her practice is prescription medication abuse. Finnigan said the series has a 78 percent success rate. She points to the 90-day treatment patients on the show go through, along with watching the show and seeing the devastation the abusers caused family and friends.

The National Rx Drug Abuse Summit continues through Thursday. For more information about the Summit call 1-866-678-6483, visit www.NationalRxDrugAbuseSummit.org, or follow news about the event on Twitter using @RxSummit, on Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Eat Breakfast, Support The Teens

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:40:52 +0000

Subject: Eat Breakfast, Support the Teens

Kyle Beach

Youth and Teen and Camp Program Director

Stevens Point Area YMCA

1000 Division Street

Stevens Point, WI 54481

715-342-2980 ext. 326 (office)

715-342-2987 (fax)

Create Positive Change with your gift to the 2012 Annual Campaign. Click here to Donate Now.

America’s Promis Newsletter

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:39:01 +0000

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America’s Promise Alliance, in partnership with GrantStation, brings you the weekly GrantStation Insider. In addition to this newsletter, GrantStation, a member-based company, provides online grantseeking resources for organizations throughout the world.

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Published by GrantStation – Your fast track to funding

Mary Ann Krems, here is the newsletter summary for the week of April 16.

Click here to read the entire newsletter or click on the section headings for specific grant opportunities and important announcements.

National Funding Opportunities

Support for Innovative Organizational Changes for Museums
Golf Programs for People with Disabilities Funded
Grants Promote Community Improvement and Public Education
Projects Addressing the Unity of Humanity Supported

Regional Funding Opportunities

Funds for Health Care Programs in Florida
Grants Enhance Quality of Life in the Pacific Northwest
Support for Programs Serving Bank Communities on the East Coast
Watershed Management Projects in Texas Funded

Federal Grant and Loan Programs

Senior Community Service Job Training Funded
Housing Service Personnel Funds Available
Grants Fund Refugee Women Entrepreneurship
Mentoring Program Model Development Supported

Online Education Sessions

Conducting a Community Needs Assessment: How and Why?
Capital Campaigns: The Next Generation (NEW)
Measuring the Impact of Your Programs
Understanding and Securing Corporate Grants and Support

Partner Depot

True Nonprofit Accounting with Blackbaud
NTEN: Change: A Free Quarterly Online Journal for Nonprofit Leaders

GrantStation Announcements

Tracks to Success – Common Grant Writing Mistakes You Can Fix Today!

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About America’s Promise Alliance

America’s Promise Alliance was founded after the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997 where Presidents Bush (’41), Carter, Clinton and Ford, with Nancy Reagan representing President Reagan, challenged the country to make children and youth a national priority. The America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest multi-sector collaborative dedicated to the well-being of children and youth. Our Alliance Partners dedicate themselves to working together for the success of our young people, using the Five Promises framework to shape their efforts and improve the odds for youth. Together, Alliance partners are working on our National Action Strategies to deliver more of the Five Promises to 15 million children in the next five years. Visit www.americaspromise.org to learn more.

Final Concert of the Season

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:34:57 +0000

Classic Artistry ~ April 21st and 22nd

Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra
P.O. Box 65
1128 Main Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
715-345-2976
cwso@cwso.org
cwso.org
Hours: M,T,Th 10-2 or by appointment

Dear James,

The final concert of the CWSO’s 63rd season on April 21st and 22nd is just around the corner!

Even though it’s Trivia 2012 weekend, there’s nothing trivial about Classic Artistry!

In addition to the subscription concerts, we’ll be conducting the second annual Orchestras Feeding America food drive, kicking off the 2012-13 Naturally Yours season ticket sales and selling tickets for Jazz Night 2012.

These concerts are dedicated to the life and work of Dr. Helen Godfrey, a life-time supporter of the arts. Funding for the performances is made possible by a bequest from Helen Godfrey estate, which was matched by funding from the Friends of Helen Godfrey. The CWSO is grateful for these gifts.

Dr. Helen Godfrey

Update on documentary BULLY

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:49:48 +0000

I have some amazing news to share.

Last month, I saw the new documentary, Bully, which reveals the raw and honest reality behind bullying in high schools and middle schools. I cried when I watched the movie because I was horribly bullied in middle school. That’s why I was shocked to find out that other young people like me might not be able to see the movie because the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave it an “R” rating.

Outraged, I started a petition on Change.org asking the MPAA to change the rating to PG-13. After more than half a million people signed – including you! — the MPAA agreed. When Bully is released on April 13, it will be rated PG-13, and the most controversial scene in the film will remain unchanged, reflecting the reality and brutality of bullying.

This happened because people like you — 500,000 strong — came together to say that we think the issue of bullying in schools is important, and if this movie can help, then kids should be able to see it. We were even joined by people like Ellen DeGeneres, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Michael Jordan, Drew Brees, Justin Bieber, and 35 members of Congress.

My petition was covered by almost every major TV station and newspaper in

America.

When I was bullied, I felt alone. But today I feel the power of half a million

people standing beside me. Thank you so much.

- Katy

Leadership Portage County

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:02:01 +0000

Leadership Portage County will begin a new Leadership program in August.

It is an excellent program of monthly meetings to learn about and interact

with all the structures in the county and is well worth the investment. For

more information go to the PC Business Council Web site for an

application.