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

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

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.

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

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.

The final stimulus bill contains close to $100 billion for education funding, including the following:

• $40 billion in state stabilization funds to help avert education cuts

• $12 billion in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (special education) funds.
  

•      $13 billion in Title I funds to help economically disadvantaged students
  

In addition, the bill includes an Innovation Fund of $650 million to provide incentives for partnerships between nonprofits and local education agencies that are making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.