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From
the Desk of Drug-Free Youth Coalition
Coordinator...
May 2010
To all parents, guardians, grandparents and those of us living in
Harvey County, I have some news for you. As part of the
Communities That Care Student Survey Harvey County kids were
asked: In the past year 12 months, how many of your four best
friends have tried beer, wine or hard liquor when their parents didn`t
know about it? 43% responded ‘at least
once’ one of their
friends had ‘got away’ with drinking alcohol.
Ah, but wait...here are more details to that 43%...students responded
with ‘at least once’ with the grade break downs
of: 12th grade= 68%, 10th grade= 64%, 8th grade =38% and 6th
grade =12%.
Do you see the huge jump from 8th to 10th grade in the number of kids
drinking? Do you realize these are Harvey County kids giving
these answers? Can we ignore the fact that kids are drinking?
I don’t want to leave you with a poor impression of our
kids. I want to open your eyes to some serious drinking
issues our kids have right here in Harvey County. Early
initiation of alcohol or other drugs lead to more violent behavior,
pregnancies, and crime, as well as harmful physical
and mental health effects on our kids.
Here’s some good news...you can help. Talk to your
kids. Not sure how, go to
www.timetotalk.org. Another option is to be a part of the
whole community and get involved with the CIS Drug Free Youth
Coalition. The coalition is working across the county to
reduce risks kids are facing when it comes to early use of alcohol and
drugs. Give us a call at CIS 316-284-6520 and see how you can
join the efforts. It does take a whole community to help
raise our children. Each of us has a part.
One last point...We are sending a good community message to our
kids. 95% of Harvey County students said most adults in their
neighborhood think it’s wrong for kids to drink
alcohol. Let’s get that percent higher next
year. Let the kids you care about understand that drinking is
not for them until they are 21.
Sincerely,
Lynnette Redington,
Drug-Free Youth Coalition Coordinator
Communities In Schools of Harvey County
Social
Hosting Law Change Better for our Kids
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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.
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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
The Harvey County Drug Free Youth (DFY) Coalition is funded through a
CIS grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. Lynnette Redington is the DFY Coalition
Coordinator. To reach her, e-mail
lredington@cisharveyco.org or
call 284-6520.
For more information on
talking with your kids, go to timetotalk.org
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