Monday, September 30, 2013

Youth summit discusses how teens use social media to express feelings

Channel 3 Eyewitness News (Hartford, CT) September 27, 2013

"Spotting kids that are crying out for help was one of the topics discussed Friday at Connecticut's first ever Youth Safety Conference.
The youth summit was put on by the Governor's Prevention Partnership where officials looked at social media and how its a place where many teens share their feelings.
In August, 15-year-old Bart Palosz took his own life following the first day of classes at Greenwich High School. Shortly before his death, the Greenwich teenager posted an ominous message on a social media website about a song he wanted played at his funeral." Read More

FREE Parent Forum: Video Gaming, Social Media and the Safety of Our Children

Danbury Patch (Danbury, CT) September 25, 2013

"Did you know that excessive internet use can have a potential negative effect on your child? When not used appropriately, recent research indicates that time spent online may negatively impact a child’s brain function, academic achievement, social connections and engagement. Excessive and inappropriate video gaming and social networking is also believed to possibly desensitize youth to violence and mean behaviors.
During this parent forum, a panel will discuss appropriate use and share tips on supporting children by monitoring video gaming and use of social media." Read More

Fairfield Warde Students Stand Up to Violence & Bullying

Fairfield Patch (Fairfield, CT) September 27, 2013

"The Center for Women and Families works with schools, police and municipal leaders to end domestic violence and bullying. Now two Fairfield Warde High School students joined the fight.
Kaleigh Fidaleo, a junior, and senior Cozette More formed the leadership group Raising Abuse Awareness for Teens (RAAFT) at their school and membership has grown to 15 students." Read More

Mentoring program illuminates opportunity

Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT) September 19, 2013

"Guadalupe Ramirez, 18, knew from a young age that she was undocumented, having been brought to the United States from Mexico by her mother when she was not yet 4 years old.
It was never an issue. Until high school.
Friends at Bullard Havens Technical High School started talking about college, getting summer internships, applying for scholarships and financial aid. Without a Social Security number, Ramirez could do none of those things." Read More

Monday, September 23, 2013

Bullied no more: St. Luke’s student speaks out

NC Advertiser (New Canaan, CT) September 21, 2013

"Alex Levy, a 15-year-old student at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, is no stranger to bullying and the feelings of despair and isolation that come with it. A victim of severe bullying before he attended St. Luke’s, Alex is now using his past torment to help educate others.
Alex is a teen ambassador for STOMP Out Bullying, an organization that strives to assist kids and teens and focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyber bullying and other forms of digital abuse, while also providing education to stop violence, racism and homophobia in schools."  Read More

Drop-off box at police HQ accepts unwanted meds

Darien News (Darien, CT) September 21, 2013

"Residents looking to dispose of unwanted, excess and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications may use the safe and secure permanent drop-off box in the lobby of the Darien Police Department, 25 Hecker Ave.
The Darien Health Department has partnered with the Police Department to establish a permanent collection program in order to reduce the supply of drugs that can potentially harm teens and adults as well as protecting the environment from improper disposal." Read More

Norwalk Mentor Program Welcomes New Director

Norwalk Daily Voice (Norwalk, CT) September 23, 2013

"The Norwalk Mentor Program, kicks off its 28th year with its annual 'Back to School Breakfasts' and a new leader.
Nancy Pratt joins the program as its new director. Pratt has helped recruit mentors for the program the last four years as Outreach Coordinator of RSVP of Southern Connecticut.
The mentoring program is run by the Human Services Council in partnership with the Norwalk Public Schools. The breakfasts will occur over the next few weeks." Read More

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Putnam drug prevention group gets $125K per year grant Read more: Putnam drug prevention group gets $125K per year grant

Norwich Bulletin (Putnam, CT) September 13, 2013

"Putnam’s PRIDE has gotten a boost of confidence.
The coalition of local organizations and community members runs the town’s drug and alcohol prevention programs, but has been running without grant funding for two years. It has just won a grant that will fund efforts for the next five years.
'It’s a vitally important program,' Mayor Peter Place said. 'We’ve will have $125,000 a year for five years and we can send a message out that we really care about this issue and the children of our community. We’re in this for the long run.'" Read More

Health, Prevention Officials Warn Parents After Recent Deaths From ‘Molly’

Newtown Bee (Newtown, CT) September 13, 2013

"School District and local Prevention Council representatives have teamed up to warn parents about a high-powered type of Ecstasy that has contributed to the deaths of four individuals in New York, Boston, and in Washington, D.C., since the beginning of September.
Martha Shilstone, Newtown student assistant counselor, and Judy Blanchard, co-chair of the Newtown Prevention Council and district health coordinator for Newtown Public Schools say that parents may not be aware their children are consuming the drug, because they are acquiring and using it when they are attending concerts formerly known as 'raves.'
It is most commonly taken at dance parties featuring electronic dance music." Read More

Extreme binge drinking not uncommon in high school

CT Post, September 16, 2013

"Almost 1 in 10 U.S. high school seniors have engaged in recent extreme binge drinking — downing at least 10 drinks at a rate that barely budged over six years, according to a government-funded report.
Less severe binge drinking, consuming five or more drinks in a row, has mostly declined in recent years among teens. But for high school seniors, the 2011 rate for 10 drinks in a row — 9.6 percent — was down only slightly from 2005.
The most extreme level — 15 or more drinks in a row within the past two weeks — didn't change from 2005 to 2011. Almost 6 percent of high school seniors reported recently drinking that amount." Read More

Bullied Kids Often Develop Physical Symptoms, Study Says

Health Day News, September 16, 2013

"Kids who are the victims of bullies are often reluctant to report the abuse. But a new study shows that frequent and unexplained physical symptoms are common in bullied children, and experts say they can be signs that should alert parents and teachers to a problem.
The research is a combined look at 30 studies representing almost 220,000 school-aged children from 14 countries.
Taken together, the studies show that kids who are bullied are more than twice as likely as kids who aren't to report feeling bad or sick, even when there's no obvious explanation for their symptoms." Read More

Monday, September 16, 2013

Meriden organization receives grant to combat substance abuse

Record Journal (Meriden, CT) September 16, 2013

"Rushford Center will receive a $125,000 federal grant every year for the next five years to combat underage drinking and marijuana use.
Rushford, part of Hartford HealthCare, is one of four organizations in the state to receive funds through the Drug Free Communities grant. The organization provides mental health and addiction services through locations in Meriden, Middletown, Durham, Portland and Glastonbury.
Rushford administrators said the grant was competitive." Read More

Ask and tell on teen substance abuse

Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT) September 13, 2013

"Earlier this month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The findings confirm trends that addiction therapists working with teens have known, but that parents may be overlooking.
Although the report explains that adolescent drug use is decreasing, there is still a large concern for drug use and abuse among our teens. The report shows many new findings in illicit substance use and abuse. Perhaps the most significant is the increase in marijuana and heroin use." Read More

Durham, Middlefield to get substance abuse grant

Middletown Press (Middlefield, CT) September, 13, 2013

"U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, CT-3, announced Friday that a Durham and Middlefield drug-free support program was one of three groups receiving federal grant money that will go toward preventing youth substance abuse.
DeLauro said that a $375,000 grant would be split between the Durham-Middlefield Drug-Free Community Program, along with the Assets Steering Committee in Guilford and Bridges, A Community Support System in Milford, which each receiving $125,000." Read More

Friday, September 13, 2013

Raytheon mentors drive meaningful, measurable outcomes with students

The Sacramento Bee (Waltham, MA) September 12, 2013

"Thousands of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) employees nationwide are headed into local schools this fall to share their knowledge and skills by mentoring students as part of the company's MathMovesU® science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiative.
Students who work with the Raytheon mentor network report increased interest in academics and improved grade performance. The MathMovesU mentoring programs provide students nationwide with hands-on, project-based learning, one-on-one tutoring, and real-life math and science applications – techniques that are proving highly effective." Read More

McKersie: no tolerance for bullying

Greenwich Time (Greenwich, CT) September 12, 2013

"Public Schools Superintendent William McKersie was adamant Thursday that the Greenwich school district's zero tolerance of bullying policy is more than just words on paper.
'We for sure have a zero tolerance on bullying,' he said. 'In the last 24 hours, I've had to be very explicit about our zero tolerance. I agree with progressive justice and progressive discipline, but at the end of the day, for students with validated, definite cases of bullying, expulsion is what we will look to.'" Read More

KNOW DRUGS: THE PARENTS GUIDE

Knowdrugs.org, September 13, 2013

"Know Drugs: The Parents Guide iPhone/iPad app provides parents and carers with all of the essential information and advice you need to understand the important issues around young people’s drug use.
Using video, graphics and photos this essential app equips you with a comprehensive collection of resources that you can use to educate your teenager about the world of drugs." Read More

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Gang presence escalates aggression in bullying, according to study

The Rock River Times (Champaign, IL) September 11, 2013

"The presence of gangs in the vicinity of schools creates a pervasive climate of fear and victimization among students, teachers and administrators that escalates the level of aggression in bullying incidents and paralyzes prevention efforts, suggests a new study in the journal Psychology of Violence.
Gang presence causes incidents of victimization toward students and teachers to become more violent. And, fearing for their own safety, bystanders, teachers and administrators adopt a laissez faire attitude toward bullying that perpetuates a culture of victimization, the researchers say." Read More

Greenwich student urges bullying victims to find someone who can help

Greenwich Time (Greenwich, CT) September 9, 2013

"Sixth grade was hell for Audrey Niblo.
She got her hair pulled in the halls of Eastern Middle School. Water bottles were hurled at her on the school bus. 'You smell like skunk,' her peers told her on Facebook.
'They made fun of me because I didn't wear size double zero designer clothes like everyone else,' said Audrey, who is now 16.
Audrey said she was also taunted by classmates because she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder." Read More

Former Miss Teen USA continues anti-bullying message

Reminder News (Vernon, CT) September 9, 2013

"Logan West just recently completed her year as Miss Teen USA. The former Miss Teen Connecticut USA said her year was 'a whirlwind.'
'It was more than I could have ever imagined,' she said. 'I went into this competition thinking that I could do it, but never honestly believed that I would win. So to have won, and to have had such an amazing year, has been an incredible journey.'
After touring the country and the world, and then crowning her successor in August, West has returned home to Connecticut, coinciding with her family's move to Vernon. She said she is also turning the page of her life to, as she puts it, 'be Logan, without a title attached.'" Read More

Monday, September 9, 2013

Anti-bullying expert invited to speak

Greenwich Time (Greenwich, CT) September 7, 2013

"As the community struggles to understand the conditions that led a bullied Greenwich High School student to take his own life after the first day of classes, an anti-bullying expert will be on hand to help advance the dialogue at next week's Board of Selectmen meeting.
Ross Ellis, founder of Stomp Out Bullying, said she will discuss the death of 15-year-old Bart Palosz as well as bullying and suicide prevention tactics when he addresses town leaders Thursday morning." Read More

Anti-Homophobia Measures Reduce Binge Drinking for All Students

Science Daily, August 15, 2013

"Canadian high schools with anti-homophobia policies or gay-straight alliances (GSAs) that have been in place for three years or more have a positive effect on both gay and straight students' problem alcohol use, according to a new study by University of British Columbia researchers.
GSAs are student-led clubs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their straight allies. Their purpose is to provide support and advocacy and help make schools more inclusive." Read More

New pilot program for parents whose children are struggling with drug and alcohol problems

News Medical, September 7, 2013

"The Partnership at Drugfree.org, the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to finding evidence-based solutions to adolescent substance use disorders, has announced a new, pioneering pilot program specifically for parents whose children are struggling with drug and alcohol problems. The Parent Support Network is a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide direct peer-to-peer support and assistance to parents who are dealing with their teen or young adult's substance issues.
Working together with the Center for Motivation and Change, a group of nationally recognized clinicians and researchers specializing in motivational and cognitive-behavioral approaches to addiction, The Partnership at Drugfree.org has trained an initial group of parents from around the country in parent-to-parent phone coaching based extensively on two evidence-based approaches." Read More

Thursday, September 5, 2013

What Kids Wish Their Parents Knew: Preventing Bullying

Greenwich Patch (Greenwich, CT) August 30, 2013

"While Greenwich High School's 'Names Day' is an anti-bullying program for freshmen who are typically 14 or 15, a new workshop called "What Kids Wish Their Parents Knew" will be geared toward parents of elementary school and middle school children.
The Anti-Defamation League–the folks who created Names Day–are pairing up with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) to help parents spot, intervene and prevent bullying.
The JCC refers to the statistics of adolescent suicide – the third leading cause of death among Connecticut residents ages 15-19 as 'staggering,' and, in a release, described the untimely death of Greenwich High School student Bartlomeiej 'Bart' Palosz (15) as 'an urgent reminder that bullying, name calling and cyber-bullying are frequently associated with tragic consequences.'" Read More

The Partnership at Drugfree.org Comments on National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Statement of Steve Pasierb, President and CEO

PR Newswire (New York, NY) September 4, 2013

"Mixed news from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), found that while prescription (Rx) drug abuse among young adults has decreased from its peak in 2009, the same progress has not been made to achieve year-to year declines (from 2010-2012) in abuse of Rx medicines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has deemed abuse of prescription medicines an 'epidemic' and one that continues to threaten the health and well-being of American teens and young people."  Read More

Rockville Bank Foundation Donates $10,000 to The Governor's Prevention Partnership

Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) August 28, 2013

"Rockville Bank Foundation, the charitable arm of Rockville Bank, recently presented The Governor's Prevention Partnership with a $10,000 contribution to support The Partnership's mission to keep Connecticut kids safe, successful, and drug-free today for a stronger workforce tomorrow.
Celebrating more than 20 years of keeping Connecticut kids safe, successful and drug-free, The Governor's Prevention Partnership is a statewide, nonprofit public-private alliance, building a strong, healthy future workforce through leadership in mentoring and prevention of youth violence and bullying, underage drinking, and substance abuse." Read More

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Social media pics affect risky behaviour

Health 24, September 3, 2013

"Teenagers who see friends smoking and drinking alcohol in photographs posted on Facebook and Myspace are more likely to smoke and drink themselves, according to a new study from the University of Southern California (USC).
'Our study shows that adolescents can be influenced by their friends' online pictures to smoke or drink alcohol,' said Thomas W. Valente, Ph.D., professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the study's principal investigator. 'To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply social network analysis methods to examine how teenagers' activities on online social networking sites influence their smoking and alcohol use.'" Read More

East End Community Council in Bridgeport holds Connecticut Against Violence Back to School picnic

News 12 (Bridgeport, CT) August 31, 2013

"Community leaders on Bridgeport's East End held a picnic today in an effort to end bullying among children and teens.
The East End Community Council in Bridgeport held the Connecticut Against Violence Back to School event Saturday afternoon.
The picnic featured free book bags and a raffle with prizes that included a bike and Kindle e-readers." Read More