CIS Harvey County Drug Free Youth Coalition March in Chisholm Trail Parade (July 2009)

	Communities In Schools of Harvey County Drug Free Youth Coalition marched in the Chisholm Trail Parade to encourage drug free community outreach.  The Newton Kansan provided the photo of CIS staff and volunteers.		The Communities In Schools NOT IN OUR HOUSE campaign is spearheaded by the Harvey County Drug Free Youth (DFY)Coalition. Below is a Letter to the Editor by DFY Coalition Chair.

Communities In Schools of Harvey County Promotes NOT IN OUR HOUSE Campaign
 

Social Hosting Law Change Better for our Kids

As a member of the Communities In Schools of Harvey County Drug Free Youth Coalition, I’d like to share some insight about social hosting.

The Kansas Family Partnership puts it this way:

"You may have heard the term, 'social hosting'," but were unsure of its meaning. Social hosting or unlawfully hosting is generally defined as providing and/or serving alcohol to a young person who is under the minimum legal drinking age. It can take place in a party-like atmosphere or by any adult simply providing alcohol to young people and their peers for them to drink. It can even extend to parents and homeowners who are not on the premises and/or did not provide the alcohol.

Social host liability refers to laws that hold non-commercial individuals responsible for underage drinking events on property that they own, lease or otherwise control. You may not need to actually serve or provide alcohol to underage guests to violate these laws. The penalties for breaking this law include possible jail time, and the potential for criminal or civil lawsuits, as well as public humiliation for breaking the law. By violating the law, you are sending every child you know a message that can have risky consequences."

On July 1, this law became more enforceable across the state. The Drug-Free Youth Coalition supports our law officials and knows that providing alcohol to a minor will not be taken lightly in Harvey County.

Eugene Kaufman Drug-Free Youth Coalition Chair

Communities In Schools Keeps Kids in School!

Communities In Schools is the nation’s leading community-based organization helping young people stay in school and prepare for life. Since 1990, Communities In Schools has been helping local students choose success by ensuring their access to the "Five Basics":

A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult

A safe place to learn and grow

A healthy start and a healthy future

A marketable skill to use upon graduation

A chance to give back to peers and community
 

Each year, more than two million young people in 27 states and the District of Columbia have access to services through Communities In Schools.
 

Programs Don't Change Kids – Relationships Do!

Communities In Schools helps students stay in school and make right choices by connecting schools with needed community resources. By bringing resources, services, parents, and volunteers into schools, we create a community of caring adults who work hand in hand with educators.

Communities In Schools helps communities assess the needs of their youth. We then design plans for meeting those needs, using existing resources. We connect young people with services in a variety of ways. In partnership with the local school system, CIS identifies the most critical needs of students and families – needs that are preventing children from succeeding in school, and in life. CIS then locates and coordinates community resources, dedicated volunteers and agencies to serve in partnership with the public schools, both during the day and after school, thereby making the work of our educators much more effective. 
 

Economic Stimulus Bill Hits Home for CIS

President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package into law, marking the passage of one of the biggest pieces of economic legislation in history. Prior to the bill passing, Communities In Schools advocated for funding to support site coordinators – the backbone of the CIS network in delivering integrated student services.