The Worth Caring Coalition met again Tuesday night and continued their ongoing dialogue about the problem of underage drinking in the county. Immediate needs in the area were recruitment, getting together activities that were alternatives to alcohol, and bringing more people into the process. Chris Turpin of the Heartland Foundation encouraged them, saying that their efforts would make a difference down the road. "It used to be that when I grew up, there was Joe Camel," he said. "Now, smoking is not such a cool thing to do any more. And that was the result of people like you."
Coalition members reported that they had already got together two dance classes, taught by an instructor from Mount Ayr; they said that there were 15-20 people at both of these events. Coalition member Megan McClain said that the hardest part was getting peers to change. "The stuff I found out was so shocking, I didn’t even think of that stuff," she said.
Gary Hillebrand of Preferred Healthcare and Turpin suggested some ideas for the students -- designing T-shirts, setting up rules for members, giving out cards for staying clean, and scholarship opportunities for other kids. McClain said that those were ideas and that the main thing for the coalition was to keep on track with what they were doing. She said that they were working on having a drive-in movie for the summer as well as reaching out to the elementary students as well. Hillebrand said that a lot of what they did would have a major impact and then pointed to a surprising statistic -- "75% of you will come back here." Turpin added, "You will have an inside track on telling kids what they need to hear about underage alcohol."
McClain said that anyone over 21 could get alcohol for younger teens and that more and more, people in their 30’s and 40’s were hanging out with high school kids. She said that was one of the main factors driving the underage drinking problem in the county. As Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith pointed out, this could lead to further problems down the road such as domestic violence. Deputy Sheriff Dennie Mildfeldt said that in 98% of the arrests that he made, alcohol was involved. Hillebrand said that one of the strengths of the coalition’s activities were that they were reaching out to the adults in the community. "It used to be that programs were just focused on you, and that is not enough," he said. "Youth are not always in the position to get things done, and adults are."
Mildfeldt said that one attitude that led to the problem is that people think, "I got drunk when I was young, and I don’t see the problem." He said that youth were drinking more than their parents were, reinforced by the fact that parents buy 2-3 cases of beer. But Judge Joel Miller said that the problem was not necessarily the local convenience stores; he said that when the state did a recent sting operation, the clerks all ran the kids out of the store. He said that the difference between Worth County and other places was that older people were generally working the registers.
Hillebrand said that attitudes towards drunkenness were another factor. "Most cities have the problem of stores selling underage people liquor," he said. "We’re not proud in St. Joseph that our rate is so high, and one of the first steps to combat that is to raise public awareness. It used to be that it was a matter of public embarrassment if you showed up drunk to something."
Hillebrand said that another attitude that he saw was the misconception that if someone only drank one day of the week, they were not an alcoholic. "But if they only drink on Friday, and they are focusing all that week on Friday, then they are still an alcoholic," he said. Hillebrand, who works with kids who are trying to get free of substance abuse, said that it used to be that there was no empathy or compassion for students. "No community organizations or schools understood what was going on with these kids," he said. "Fortunately, we have moved beyond that." Hillebrand encouraged the coalition members to come up with a set of best practices that have been proven successful in many different settings that they could use for their program.
Hillebrand said that another myth about alcohol that he encountered was that it was better for the kids to drink at home than it was to go away and do it. But he said that myth ignored the fact that the human brain does not fully develop until it is 25. "People who start drinking before that don’t reach their potential," he said. He pointed to the case of Yankee baseball superstar Mickey Mantle, whom he said hit all those home runs, but still did not play up to his potential because of his drinking problems. "He could have done even greater things than what he did," he said. The dying Mantle himself said that kids should not look up to him as a role model.
Then, Hillebrand challenged the students to look for ways to make things better. "We’re not looking to blame anyone," he said. "We’re looking for how we can make things better." He said that merely doing mass assemblies, horror stories, and reciting facts would not be enough; only a combination of activities would reach the community and the people that they were trying to reach.
Hillebrand said that too often, such efforts only focused on weaknesses; he said that the students should focus on strengths and resources such as law enforcement, the school system, and youth groups. He said that once the community got a handle on the alcohol problem that other problems, such as robberies, domestic violence, and drug abuse would go down in the community as well. "And alcohol is involved in 75% of domestic violence cases," he added.
He said that it was also a matter of getting out and talking to as many different people as possible. "Even people who oppose you won’t stand in your way if you talk to them," he said. Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith said that she would call around and see if she could find someone interested in providing self-defense classes; there was a lot of interest in that expressed by area youth along with dance classes.
McClain said that one of the problems was that there was nothing to do in the area but ride four-wheelers. She said that it was a matter of figuring out how to get people involved.
Turpin said that sometimes, it was a matter of trial and error; for instance, one idea that worked for one teacher was taking his students to the local jail and having his students lie down in the hard beds. "They did not want any part of that," he said.
Brooke Adams said that one of the problems in the county was that there were hardly any Minor in Possession (MIP) arrests in the county. Highway Patrolman Scott Pritzel said that juveniles were routinely taken to Maryville or Bethany where they were detoxified and released to their parents; usually, he said that they would not tell them who supplied them with alcohol. He said some people supplied alcohol to teens for the money; for instance, they would take money from the teen to buy alcohol and then get some for themselves with the remainder.
Hillebrand reminded the students that they were in the majority; for instance, 80-88% of students don’t smoke pot. "Most would rather do fun stuff," he said. "Focus on the ones who would rather do fun stuff than hang out and use alcohol and drugs," he said.
He said that when power was given to youth, their involvement skyrockets. But Hillebrand said that there were obstacles that the coalition had to deal with. For instance, parents hosting parties or not securing alcohol might be an obstacle as well as new problems, such as abuse of prescription medications. He said that one key would be for the group to train people as advocates; another idea would be to meet with representatives and discuss laws that they could pass. "You need to decide what it is you need to do," he said. In places that stay at square one, things will continue to get worse; your goal is to get to square two and square three."
Teacher Jonell Cook said that there was a family issue that was involved. "Some people see underage drinking in the family as natural and normal because they’ve always done it," she said. McClain said that a lot of times, people were not open to new ideas. Hillebrand responded that "we can only do what we can. We can’t change backgrounds, but we can be role models to other kids," he said. Turpin added that a lot of times, the family members were absent. "That’s when you have to step in as a teacher," he said.
Cook said that a lot of times, it was generational; another factor was that there were a lot of different ways that people looked at things. She recounted a poverty project where everyone had to take pictures of what they thought poverty looked like. The students focused on old barns and houses, she focused on gardens "because that was their food," and others focused on spiritual poverty.
Hillebrand came back to his point about role modeling. "Even 5th graders can see for themselves how alcohol affects people," he said. He said that it was a matter of setting norms that stated that this was not acceptable as well as enrichment of strengths. "Focus on what you would like to see done, and plan a campaign or strategy that fits your needs," he said.
Showing posts with label Worth Caring Coalition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Worth Caring Coalition. Show all posts
Monday, June 16, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Worth Caring Coalition Conducts Town Hall Forum on Underage Alcohol Use
The Worth Caring Coalition held a town hall meeting on March 27th on the problem of teen alcohol use within the county. A panel of students, educators, school board members, judges, members of the public, and law enforcement officers met at the Grant City Christian Church to discuss what could be done about the ongoing problem.
There were some facts about alcohol use that surprised people. First of all, there was the fact that there were 5,000 deaths per year within the US caused by underage drinkers. Another surprise was the fact that perceived parental disapproval was a strong factor in a student’s decision not to drink alcohol. This was a surprise to many of the participants, given the perception that 13 is the time when teens are at the most rebellious against their parents.
Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith said that the rationale for laws against drinking under 21 is that teens who start at 15 or below are five times more likely to develop long-term drinking problems.
The coalition is in its third year of existence. The project started when students did surveys and found that 88% of respondents felt that teen drinking was a problem in the area. The coalition is applying for a grant from Heartland to help promote education of adults, stronger enforcement of laws, and healthy and positive alternatives to drinking. The coalition has met with the Worth County School Board as well as the Grant City Council and area church groups; they also plan to meet with law enforcement as well as the Worth County Commission.
"It’s a bad thing that the kids had to bring it up," said Grant City Mayor Debbie Roach, who was in attendance at the meeting.
The coalition has already held dance classes at the school for 7th to 12th graders. They are planning to offer self-defense classes as well as a drive-in movie at the Grant City Assembly of God this summer.
There were five panelists who were chosen for the discussion. Teacher Clella Goodwin, highway patrolman Scott Pritzel, NWMSU college student and teacher April Miller, and students and coalition members Megan McClain and Brooke Adams were chosen for the panel. Miller, who was a standout athlete and student for Worth County as well as a national High School Heisman finalist, was hired as a business teacher by the School Board at its March meeting; she will be replacing Josh Allee, who will resign at the end of the school year to pursue other opportunities.
Pritzel said that a lot of times, it was a matter of lack of respect. "A lot of times, it’s good kids from good families, and they do it for no other purpose than to defy the system," he said. Pritzel said that in many cases, it could progress to more serious crimes. As a college student, Miller said that many kids saw college as party time rather than a time to study. McClain said that some younger kids started drinking because of their older siblings and parents doing it, while Brooke Adams said that for some kids, it was a matter of having a social life. "And then it takes up their whole life," she said.
Role modeling was discussed as a way of preventing alcohol use. Panelists said that the reason junior high kids started drinking was to feel cool and because they had access to alcohol somehow. "Usually, it’s a group that gets together and decides to do it," said Miller. Goodwin said that part of the reason was because of the trusting nature of the community. "We’re a trusting community, and a lot of times, parents are not home to supervise their kids," she said.
Turning to what schools could do, Pritzel said that some schools west of the area will expel students who get caught drinking for a whole year. "And then parents get mad, because they see sports as their kids’ only way to get to college," he said. Worth County’s policy in the event of a Minor in Possession was a 10-day Out of School Suspension and a certain period of time when they were ineligible for sports; penalties get progressively worse if a student is caught multiple times.
McClain said that she was shocked by the extent of the problem in the county and that it was a matter of getting the word out so that parents would know. Judge Roger Prokes, in attendance, said that it was a matter of how they were raised. "If kids see dad with a 6-pack of beer in the refrigerator, they will see a hypocrite from a mile away," he said. He also said that early intervention was important as well. "The younger you present these issues to your kids, the more impact it will have on them."
Goodwin said that other problems in the county were pasture parties, which she said some kids see as a rite of passage, and attitudes of parents. "There are parents here who would just as soon see their kids drink as do drugs," she said. Deputy Sheriff Dennie Mildfeldt said that one time, he arrested someone for an MIP and the parent was thankful that no drugs were involved. "Until we change that mindset, we will make no headway in this fight," he said.
Dr. Smith said another problem was house parties, where young adults threw beer parties at which kids were invited. "It is against the law for any person to supply alcohol to kids," she said. Ideas that were thrown out to address this problem were the education of parents and kids, using the school webpage, alternative activities, and law enforcement involvement. Kyla McClain said that as a parent, for her, it was a matter of taking real-life examples and passing them onto their kids. Miller said that what hit home with her was the financial cost of getting caught with an MIP. As a student, Brooke Adams said that the key to get across to kids was to "talk to us; don’t preach." "Tell us how it affects you," added Megan McClain.
Mildfeldt said that it was a matter of playing the odds for some people. "People figure, ‘what are the chances of me being pulled over in Worth County at 1:30 in the morning?’" he asked. "There’s no threat, why not?" added Miller.
Prokes said that it was a lot more important to focus on the shattered lives that underage drinking causes than people who got killed. "You get a lot more alcoholics that start drinking at the age of 12 than people who get killed," he said. "It impacts your brain and leads to broken families. Me and [Associate Circuit Judge] Joel Miller would be selling pencils if it weren’t for underage drinking." Teacher Josh Allee said that another problem was the mentality that enforcement was OK until "it’s my child."
Dr. Smith urged people who know about an upcoming beer party with teens present to call the Highway Patrol Office at (816) 387-2345 or the Worth County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 564-2222. Prokes said that it might also be a good idea for neighbors to ask neighbors having a beer party to stop. He said that there was only so much that law enforcement could do; "they can’t go into someone’s property on a gut feeling," he said. "Law enforcement cannot enter a property without permission unless they see a crime being committed." Both Miller and McClain said that even the threat of enforcement works.
Overall, Dr. Smith said that in order to get a handle on this problem, that it was not just a matter of people looking after their own kids, it was a matter of looking after their neighbors’ kids as well.
Dennis Adams was present at the meeting to talk about their work with the Skating Rink. He said that they were planning to add onto the west side and turn the facility into a safe place where students could go after school. It would include a study room as well as a pool table. "People who can’t drive yet will have a safe place to stay out of trouble," added Karen Fletchall. Adams said that the place had good supervision; "the kids know that if you do something you’re not supposed to, you’re out." He said that it was a matter of respect, which meant not letting things slide. "If you’re consistent, they won’t hold it against you," he said. Adams said that the interest was growing now that younger kids were growing up with the Skating Rink.
But not everyone thinks that the laws banning people under 21 from drinking are good. There is a ballot initiative in Missouri this year that would lower the drinking age from 21 to 18 this year. But both local officials and students all say that it would be a bad idea. "The brain is not as developed at 18 as it is at 21," said McClain. "And most 18-year olds are surrounded by kids who are even younger than they are." April Miller added that "even 21-year-olds are not always mature."
There were some facts about alcohol use that surprised people. First of all, there was the fact that there were 5,000 deaths per year within the US caused by underage drinkers. Another surprise was the fact that perceived parental disapproval was a strong factor in a student’s decision not to drink alcohol. This was a surprise to many of the participants, given the perception that 13 is the time when teens are at the most rebellious against their parents.
Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith said that the rationale for laws against drinking under 21 is that teens who start at 15 or below are five times more likely to develop long-term drinking problems.
The coalition is in its third year of existence. The project started when students did surveys and found that 88% of respondents felt that teen drinking was a problem in the area. The coalition is applying for a grant from Heartland to help promote education of adults, stronger enforcement of laws, and healthy and positive alternatives to drinking. The coalition has met with the Worth County School Board as well as the Grant City Council and area church groups; they also plan to meet with law enforcement as well as the Worth County Commission.
"It’s a bad thing that the kids had to bring it up," said Grant City Mayor Debbie Roach, who was in attendance at the meeting.
The coalition has already held dance classes at the school for 7th to 12th graders. They are planning to offer self-defense classes as well as a drive-in movie at the Grant City Assembly of God this summer.
There were five panelists who were chosen for the discussion. Teacher Clella Goodwin, highway patrolman Scott Pritzel, NWMSU college student and teacher April Miller, and students and coalition members Megan McClain and Brooke Adams were chosen for the panel. Miller, who was a standout athlete and student for Worth County as well as a national High School Heisman finalist, was hired as a business teacher by the School Board at its March meeting; she will be replacing Josh Allee, who will resign at the end of the school year to pursue other opportunities.
Pritzel said that a lot of times, it was a matter of lack of respect. "A lot of times, it’s good kids from good families, and they do it for no other purpose than to defy the system," he said. Pritzel said that in many cases, it could progress to more serious crimes. As a college student, Miller said that many kids saw college as party time rather than a time to study. McClain said that some younger kids started drinking because of their older siblings and parents doing it, while Brooke Adams said that for some kids, it was a matter of having a social life. "And then it takes up their whole life," she said.
Role modeling was discussed as a way of preventing alcohol use. Panelists said that the reason junior high kids started drinking was to feel cool and because they had access to alcohol somehow. "Usually, it’s a group that gets together and decides to do it," said Miller. Goodwin said that part of the reason was because of the trusting nature of the community. "We’re a trusting community, and a lot of times, parents are not home to supervise their kids," she said.
Turning to what schools could do, Pritzel said that some schools west of the area will expel students who get caught drinking for a whole year. "And then parents get mad, because they see sports as their kids’ only way to get to college," he said. Worth County’s policy in the event of a Minor in Possession was a 10-day Out of School Suspension and a certain period of time when they were ineligible for sports; penalties get progressively worse if a student is caught multiple times.
McClain said that she was shocked by the extent of the problem in the county and that it was a matter of getting the word out so that parents would know. Judge Roger Prokes, in attendance, said that it was a matter of how they were raised. "If kids see dad with a 6-pack of beer in the refrigerator, they will see a hypocrite from a mile away," he said. He also said that early intervention was important as well. "The younger you present these issues to your kids, the more impact it will have on them."
Goodwin said that other problems in the county were pasture parties, which she said some kids see as a rite of passage, and attitudes of parents. "There are parents here who would just as soon see their kids drink as do drugs," she said. Deputy Sheriff Dennie Mildfeldt said that one time, he arrested someone for an MIP and the parent was thankful that no drugs were involved. "Until we change that mindset, we will make no headway in this fight," he said.
Dr. Smith said another problem was house parties, where young adults threw beer parties at which kids were invited. "It is against the law for any person to supply alcohol to kids," she said. Ideas that were thrown out to address this problem were the education of parents and kids, using the school webpage, alternative activities, and law enforcement involvement. Kyla McClain said that as a parent, for her, it was a matter of taking real-life examples and passing them onto their kids. Miller said that what hit home with her was the financial cost of getting caught with an MIP. As a student, Brooke Adams said that the key to get across to kids was to "talk to us; don’t preach." "Tell us how it affects you," added Megan McClain.
Mildfeldt said that it was a matter of playing the odds for some people. "People figure, ‘what are the chances of me being pulled over in Worth County at 1:30 in the morning?’" he asked. "There’s no threat, why not?" added Miller.
Prokes said that it was a lot more important to focus on the shattered lives that underage drinking causes than people who got killed. "You get a lot more alcoholics that start drinking at the age of 12 than people who get killed," he said. "It impacts your brain and leads to broken families. Me and [Associate Circuit Judge] Joel Miller would be selling pencils if it weren’t for underage drinking." Teacher Josh Allee said that another problem was the mentality that enforcement was OK until "it’s my child."
Dr. Smith urged people who know about an upcoming beer party with teens present to call the Highway Patrol Office at (816) 387-2345 or the Worth County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 564-2222. Prokes said that it might also be a good idea for neighbors to ask neighbors having a beer party to stop. He said that there was only so much that law enforcement could do; "they can’t go into someone’s property on a gut feeling," he said. "Law enforcement cannot enter a property without permission unless they see a crime being committed." Both Miller and McClain said that even the threat of enforcement works.
Overall, Dr. Smith said that in order to get a handle on this problem, that it was not just a matter of people looking after their own kids, it was a matter of looking after their neighbors’ kids as well.
Dennis Adams was present at the meeting to talk about their work with the Skating Rink. He said that they were planning to add onto the west side and turn the facility into a safe place where students could go after school. It would include a study room as well as a pool table. "People who can’t drive yet will have a safe place to stay out of trouble," added Karen Fletchall. Adams said that the place had good supervision; "the kids know that if you do something you’re not supposed to, you’re out." He said that it was a matter of respect, which meant not letting things slide. "If you’re consistent, they won’t hold it against you," he said. Adams said that the interest was growing now that younger kids were growing up with the Skating Rink.
But not everyone thinks that the laws banning people under 21 from drinking are good. There is a ballot initiative in Missouri this year that would lower the drinking age from 21 to 18 this year. But both local officials and students all say that it would be a bad idea. "The brain is not as developed at 18 as it is at 21," said McClain. "And most 18-year olds are surrounded by kids who are even younger than they are." April Miller added that "even 21-year-olds are not always mature."
Monday, March 17, 2008
Town Hall Meeting on Alcohol Use
The Worth Caring Coalition is hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Thurs., March 27 from 6:30-8 at the Grant City Christian Church. A light dinner will be served.
The results of a survey conducted during the Courtwarming basketball game indicated that 88% of those who responded felt that Worth County has an underage drinking problem.
The town hall meeting will feature a member of the highway patrol, students, a school staff member, and a parent talking about the concern. Efforts begun by the Coalition to educate community members on the dangers of underage drinking, to increase activities for students, and to increase stronger and more consistent enforcement of no-alcohol policies will be shared.
Ideas for families and for communities will be distributed. Please plan to attend, and if possible, RSVP to Kandi Sorensen at 660-564-3389.
The Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall Meetings are a part of a national effort to increase understanding and awareness of the underage drinking and its consequences. Up to 2,000 organizations are hosting meetings thought the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on Underage Drinking.
The results of a survey conducted during the Courtwarming basketball game indicated that 88% of those who responded felt that Worth County has an underage drinking problem.
The town hall meeting will feature a member of the highway patrol, students, a school staff member, and a parent talking about the concern. Efforts begun by the Coalition to educate community members on the dangers of underage drinking, to increase activities for students, and to increase stronger and more consistent enforcement of no-alcohol policies will be shared.
Ideas for families and for communities will be distributed. Please plan to attend, and if possible, RSVP to Kandi Sorensen at 660-564-3389.
The Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall Meetings are a part of a national effort to increase understanding and awareness of the underage drinking and its consequences. Up to 2,000 organizations are hosting meetings thought the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on Underage Drinking.
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