Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Getting To Outcomes On Underage Drinking – But Still Some Way To Go

Prevention Action, February 25, 2015

"Laws and strategies against underage drinking are unlikely to prove effective by themselves unless actively applied by communities. How far does it help them to have a toolkit for implementation?

The RAND Corporation’s Getting To Outcomes is a leading example of a toolkit that has been applied usefully to social concerns such as teen pregnancy, drug misuse and homelessness, as well as the promotion of positive youth development. The ten-step generic model covers such crucial issues as needs and resources assessment, specification of desired outcomes, identification of evidence-based strategies, capacity building and evaluation." Read More.

For more information on how to prevent underage drinking, visit our Resource Center here.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Advocates Seek New Laws Promoting Drugs That Deter Abuse

The Hartford Courant, February 22, 2015


"Mary Marcuccio knows all about the toll of opiate abuse: Her son became addicted to prescription painkillers that he first obtained from a friend's medicine cabinet.

'Our story is typical,' said Marcuccio, a former Southington resident who runs a consulting business helping other parents of drug addicts.

Her son, now 26, moved from crushing and snorting prescription pain pills to using heroin. Marcuccio believes his descent into addiction might have been thwarted by new manufacturing technology that's designed to curb the abuse of prescription painkillers called opioids." Read More.

For more information on preventing prescription drug abuse visit our Resource Center here.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Prevention Program Leader Inspires Berlin For Decades

The Hartford Courant, February 19, 2015


"Fresh out of the University of Massachusetts in 1968 with a bachelor's in health and physical education and looking for a job, Alice Mitchell got as far as Berlin and stopped.

'It seemed like a really nice community,' Mitchell said when asked why she picked Berlin High School to start her career in education. For the first seven years, she taught health and physical education. Then in the mid-70s she earned a master's in counseling and left the classroom behind." Read More.

Visit our Resource Center for more information about mentoring and prevention programs in Connecticut.

Gov. Baker Unveils Plan to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse

The Boston Herald, February 19, 2015

"BOSTON — Calling drug addiction a public health emergency, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday unveiled the first steps his administration plans to take to combat abuse of heroin and prescription drugs, including the release of county-by-county data on opiate addiction.

Speaking at Hope House, a treatment center in Boston, Baker also announced the formation of a 16-member task force assigned to formulate a statewide strategy for dealing with addiction, treatment and recovery. The group will hold several public meetings and submit recommendations in May." Read More.

For more information on avoiding underage drug abuse, visit our Resource Center here.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

'This Is Not Your Parents' Marijuana'

Reminder News, February 16, 2015

"'This isn't your parents' marijuana,' was the message passed on by speakers at a marijuana forum sponsored by the AHM Youth and Family Services Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force, held Feb. 12 in the RHAM High School auditorium. The first speaker at the forum, Alicia Farrell, Ph.D., is a cognitive psychologist and owner of Clearview Consulting.

Three years ago, said Farrell, she started to notice a shift in the demographics of her clients. They were younger, said Farrell, 'and these were kids that were floundering.' These kids shared many characteristics, said Farrell. They were disengaged, unmotivated, showed a lack of persistence or willingness to hang in to get tasks accomplished. And many of these clients, said Farrell, were regular pot smokers." Read More.

Visit our Resource Center here for more information on preventing underage substance abuse.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Power of You(th) Toolkits Now Available

MADD, February 12, 2015

"At MADD, we know that our hopes for a safer future are riding on tomorrow’s drivers. By getting today’s youth off to a good start, we are taking a giant step toward fulfilling our vision of a nation without drunk driving. That’s why we’re focused on tackling underage drinking, a problem that threatens the safety of our kids and endangers entire communities, now and down the road.

In anticipation of spring break and the upcoming prom and graduation season, we worked with our National Teen Influencer Group to come up with a toolkit for students, educators and community partners that offers tools to help prevent underage drinking, and the many lives lost as a result. This toolkit, sponsored by State Farm, was created and approved by teens, for teens." Read More.

Visit our Resource Center here for more information on preventing underage drinking and substance abuse.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Local Anti-Bully Expert Gets Amazon’s Coveted #1 Best Seller Status

PR.com, February 11, 2015

"Sandy, UT-On Friday January 30th, Sandy Utah’s Brett Lechtenberg achieved the birthday present of a lifetime by becoming an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author with his recently released book The Anti-Bully Program: A Common Sense Guide for Families.

The Anti-Bully Program is a straightforward and insightful training program for families who have a child that is the target of a bully or are interested in minimizing their child's chances of being bullied. The program is full of easy-to-follow and straightforward training that parents can work on with their children in the privacy of their own home." Read More.

For more information on dealing with or preventing bullying, visit our Resource Center here.

The Link between Bullying and Children’s Body Image

Psych Central, February 10, 2015

"The U.K. government recently released the results of a nationwide survey to better understand public perceptions of body image. Shockingly, they discovered that 87 percent of girls aged 11- 21 think that women are judged more on their appearance than on their ability.

This is worrying. Evidence from academic experts shows that poor body confidence can have a devastating effect. From achieving at school to effectively dealing with bullying, healthy body image is important for children. (The term “body image” describes a person’s comfort level with his or her body, their integrated sense of body and self, and the extent to which their personal value is tied up with their physical appearance.)" Read More.

To learn more about preventing bullying, visit our Resource Center here.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Do Social Media Encourage Drinking?

Psych Central, February 9, 2015

"New research suggests the more a Facebook user views shares or comments in alcohol-related pages, the more likely that person will consider drinking alcohol.

The findings come from a Michigan State University study which asked more than 400 participants their feelings after they encountered and responded to alcohol-related Facebook items." Read More.

Visit our Resource Center to learn more about preventing underage drinking and substance abuse.

There’s Still Time to Help Greater New Haven’s ‘Gang of Dads’ Win $10K Grant

The New Haven Register, February 9, 2015

"To raise awareness about the community benefits of mentoring programs, and in observance of National Mentoring Month, First Niagara Bank created the “2015 First Niagara Mentoring Matters Grant Giveaway.”

The Greater New Haven Help Alliance’s 'Gang of Dads' program is a finalist, among seven others, for the grant giveaway’s $10,000 grand prize. There is also a $4,000 second place price and there are six runner-up slots for $1,000 grants." Read More.

For more information on mentoring programs available in Connecticut, visit our Resource Center here.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Why I Mentor: One Software Engineer Tells Her Story

Forbes Online, February 5, 2015


"I am a builder.

I build cloud solutions. I even built my own house. And throughout my career as an engineer, I also have learned to build valuable relationships as a mentor inside and outside of the workplace.

I learned a lot about being a good mentor through the many people who have mentored me in my own career. I have had mentors who have enhanced my technical skills and business acumen or served as an emotional rock and professional guide. I’ve had both male and female mentors, and in all cases, they helped accelerate my career and bring me to where I am today." Read More.

Visit our Resource Center for more information on mentoring programs in Connecticut.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Forum Helps Parents Learn About Risky Teen Behavior

The Greenwich Times, February 3, 2015

"It might have come as some solace for parents at Tuesday night's forum at Greenwich High School on risky teen behaviors to learn that the motivation for that behavior is pretty much the same as it was for their kids when they were babies and infants.

But it probably came as an even greater reassurance for them to hear that there is a lot they can do to help their kids to reduce those risks such as underage drinking and inappropriate behavior on social media." Read More.

To learn more about prevention strategy, visit our Resource Center here.

AHM Lanterns Mentoring Program Celebrates 15 Years

The Hartford Courant, February 3, 2015

"This year, the AHM Lanterns Mentoring Program celebrates 15 years. In 2000, Andover Elementary School was the first to sign on. Andover served as the model to help launch the program, which today is in the Hebron, Marlborough and RHAM schools. More than 200 participants have been part of Lanterns since 2000, according to an AHM press release.

According to the National Office of Juvenile Justice, mentor programs have been shown to improve youth's self-esteem, behavior, and academic performance. Children who enroll in mentoring programs are less likely to use drugs and more likely to complete their education and have a more productive life." Read More.

Visit our Resource Center here to learn more about mentoring programs in Connecticut.

How Local Parents Can Better Address Underage Drinking

FOX 8 News, February 3, 2015

"SUMMERFIELD, N.C. — In the gym at Northern Guilford Middle School, row to row packed with 8th graders, it’s oddly quiet. That’s because the students are riveted and all-ears listening to one mom share her family’s painful story.

'I felt for her, you know. She has an amazing son. The love is there, but it can happen to any of us,' said Patricia Goots, a parent of an 8th grader." Read More.

For more information on preventing underage drinking, visit our Resource Center here.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Can Congress Force Schools to Finally Get Serious About Bullying?

Take Part, February 3, 2015

"With a brilliant smile, sunny personality, and sweet disposition, Ronin Shimizu loved cheerleading, despite being the only boy on his Folsom, California, middle-school squad. The pain he suffered from years of bullying, however—schoolyard taunts, gay slurs, nasty remarks about his masculinity—was impossible to take.

So Ronin, age 12, decided not to take it. He killed himself two months ago." Read More.

For more information about bullying prevention, visit our Resource Center here.

Stamford Public Education Foundation Honors Volunteer Mentors

Stamford Patch, February 1, 2015

" The Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) celebrated the commitment and hard work of its volunteer mentors and dedicated program partners at its 2nd annual Mentor Appreciation Night on Wednesday at the UConn Stamford campus.

SPEF’s volunteer mentors and partners are instrumental in the success of SPEF’s flagship program, the Stamford Mentoring Program." Read More.

For more information about mentoring programs in Connecticut, visit our resource center here.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

BEST Doing Its Best To Keep Kids Drug-Free

Tahlequah Daily Press, February 3, 2015

"The Drug-Free Communities Support Program is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent drug use and promote health among our youth. The DFC program provides grants to local community coalitions to increase collaboration among community partners.

Tahlequah Public Schools is fortunate to receive one of these grants to sponsor the Tahlequah BEST Community Coalition. BEST stands for 'Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together.' This refers to the many partnerships and individuals who offer their strengths and resources to contribute to the coalition’s success." Read More.

For more information on how to prevent underage drug abuse, visit our Resource Center here.

UConn-Killingly KUBE Collaboration Makes President's Honor Roll

The Hartford Courant, February 2, 2015

"n Jan. 31, a busload of Killingly Intermediate School students made their way to the University of Connecticut. It's a trip 57 Killingly students have been making regularly as part of Kids & UConn Bridging Education, a collaboration among the UConn cultural centers, KIS and Windham Middle School. The goal of the multicultural mentoring program has been to help students succeed academically. The program's one-on-one mentoring and focus on academics is meant to reduce the racial, ethnic and economic isolation middle school students may face.

The program is one of the reasons UConn was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for "General Community Service" for the second time in three years. Out of 766 schools nationwide, UConn was the only Connecticut school named. The distinction recognized the commitment and participation by UConn students and the measurable impact on the communities those students serve." Read More.

Visit our resource center here for more information on local mentoring programs.