Fox News, March 2, 2011
"In the minds of most college students, spring break means excessive binge drinking, the occasional blackout, and sex with strangers.
That’s scary enough for some on U.S. soil.
But what happens in a foreign country, where spring-breakers can easily get mixed in with common drug violence, or be abducted? According to the State Department, about 100,000 spring breakers will travel to Mexico and 'the vast majority' will enjoy their vacation at the destinations listed here.
But perhaps not everyone.
'Several may die, hundreds will be arrested, and still more will make mistakes that could affect them for the rest of their lives,' according to the State Department." Read More
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Are Teen Brains Hardwired for Hazard?
ABC News/Health, February 28, 2011
"There's a lot of evidence to suggest that the teen brain is hardwired for hazard. Studies have found that the areas of the brain involved in social interaction and emotion mature at an earlier point than those that regulate behavior. One 2007 Iowa State University analysis surveyed more than 10,000 adolescents about what went into their decisions, including choices about their behavior.
The answer? Not much. Most seem to rely little on premeditation or planning.
Experts say that the best chance parents and caregivers have of steering their kids safely through the teen years is remaining vigilant about looking for the signs and symptoms of problematic behavior, talking to their children when they suspect trouble and getting help at the earliest opportunity. Here, a guide to the risk factors and steps parents can take to combat risky teen behaviors." Read More
"There's a lot of evidence to suggest that the teen brain is hardwired for hazard. Studies have found that the areas of the brain involved in social interaction and emotion mature at an earlier point than those that regulate behavior. One 2007 Iowa State University analysis surveyed more than 10,000 adolescents about what went into their decisions, including choices about their behavior.
The answer? Not much. Most seem to rely little on premeditation or planning.
Experts say that the best chance parents and caregivers have of steering their kids safely through the teen years is remaining vigilant about looking for the signs and symptoms of problematic behavior, talking to their children when they suspect trouble and getting help at the earliest opportunity. Here, a guide to the risk factors and steps parents can take to combat risky teen behaviors." Read More
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Teens Say Drinking Starts at Home
The Daily Stamford (Stamford, CT) March 1, 2011
"One big question comes to mind after alcohol-related problems occurred among teens in Stamford and Greenwich: Where do the teens get alcohol in the first place? Students at Greenwich High School agreed the easiest place to get alcohol is from home.
'At parties people have it at their house, it’s just around. Usually people get it from their parents,' said Elizabeth Fawcett, a freshman. Another freshman, Haley Sylvester said, 'Our parents don’t give it to us or anything, I think people just take it.' Both girls agreed that most teens know where the alcohol is kept.
Two weeks ago, several Stamford High School students were arrested on reckless endangerment charges after a video surfaced of teens partying in Boyle Stadium while a 15-year-old girl was lying unconscious from drinking an excessive amount of alcohol. She was taken to Stamford Hospital, then rushed to Yale-New Haven Hospital after several attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. She was released the next day." Read More
"One big question comes to mind after alcohol-related problems occurred among teens in Stamford and Greenwich: Where do the teens get alcohol in the first place? Students at Greenwich High School agreed the easiest place to get alcohol is from home.
'At parties people have it at their house, it’s just around. Usually people get it from their parents,' said Elizabeth Fawcett, a freshman. Another freshman, Haley Sylvester said, 'Our parents don’t give it to us or anything, I think people just take it.' Both girls agreed that most teens know where the alcohol is kept.
Two weeks ago, several Stamford High School students were arrested on reckless endangerment charges after a video surfaced of teens partying in Boyle Stadium while a 15-year-old girl was lying unconscious from drinking an excessive amount of alcohol. She was taken to Stamford Hospital, then rushed to Yale-New Haven Hospital after several attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. She was released the next day." Read More
Sacred Heart receives funds to compat high-risk drinking
Stamfordplus.com (Fairfield, CT) March 1, 2011
"Sacred Heart University is the recipient of a $22,000 grant from the State of Connecticut under the Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative program. The grant will be used to combat underage drinking. Specifically the grant, which will be administered by Alcohol and Other Drug Coordinator Janice Kessler, will be used to:
* Reenergize and reorganize the Campus Community Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition
* Continue the work of the Social Norms Marketing Campaign
* Administer the Core Survey in 2011 and 2012
* Expand the Peer Educator program
Kessler is extremely excited about this opportunity to continue the work she and the rest of the Counseling Center team have done to combat the misperceptions about student drinking and lower the amount that students drink – especially the instances of high-risk drinking" Read More
"Sacred Heart University is the recipient of a $22,000 grant from the State of Connecticut under the Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative program. The grant will be used to combat underage drinking. Specifically the grant, which will be administered by Alcohol and Other Drug Coordinator Janice Kessler, will be used to:
* Reenergize and reorganize the Campus Community Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition
* Continue the work of the Social Norms Marketing Campaign
* Administer the Core Survey in 2011 and 2012
* Expand the Peer Educator program
Kessler is extremely excited about this opportunity to continue the work she and the rest of the Counseling Center team have done to combat the misperceptions about student drinking and lower the amount that students drink – especially the instances of high-risk drinking" Read More
Mentoring Program for At-Risk Students Gaining Momentum
Stamford Patch.com (Stamford, CT) March 1, 2011
"Jack Bryant, president of the Stamford chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has a goal of recruiting 100 mentors for Stamford Public School students by this fall.
By the start of the 2011 school year, Bryant wants every at-risk student below proficiency level in grades six and nine to be paired up with a mentor from the community to meet once each week. If it seems a bit ambitious, the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) doesn’t seem too worried.
'Jack can move mountains,' said Susan Rigano, executive director of SPEF. 'If he says 100 people, he will get at least that.'" Read More
"Jack Bryant, president of the Stamford chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has a goal of recruiting 100 mentors for Stamford Public School students by this fall.
By the start of the 2011 school year, Bryant wants every at-risk student below proficiency level in grades six and nine to be paired up with a mentor from the community to meet once each week. If it seems a bit ambitious, the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) doesn’t seem too worried.
'Jack can move mountains,' said Susan Rigano, executive director of SPEF. 'If he says 100 people, he will get at least that.'" Read More
Low Turnout at Teen Drinking Talk Raises Red Flag
The Daily Stamford (Stamford, CT) March 2, 2011
"The low turnout for a Stamford community forum Tuesday night on teen alcohol use raised concerns that parents really don’t know what their kids are doing. The meeting at Stamford High School came on the heels of recent drinking incidents in Stamford and Greenwich that sent teens to the hospital.
'We need to reach out to the parents who are not here,' said panel member Matthew Maddox. The Stamford and New Canaan attorney added that one unfortunate tendency among parents is to overestimate their kids’ abilities.
Edward Moran, a social worker at Family Centers, said, 'What parents need to keep in mind is that [teenagers] are struggling to get through the day, fit in and be socially successful.'"Read More
"The low turnout for a Stamford community forum Tuesday night on teen alcohol use raised concerns that parents really don’t know what their kids are doing. The meeting at Stamford High School came on the heels of recent drinking incidents in Stamford and Greenwich that sent teens to the hospital.
'We need to reach out to the parents who are not here,' said panel member Matthew Maddox. The Stamford and New Canaan attorney added that one unfortunate tendency among parents is to overestimate their kids’ abilities.
Edward Moran, a social worker at Family Centers, said, 'What parents need to keep in mind is that [teenagers] are struggling to get through the day, fit in and be socially successful.'"Read More
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Disability Bullying: Has Your Child Been a Target?
ADDitude Magazine, February 25, 2011
"Children with special needs, including invisible differences such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and learning disabilities, are two to three times more likely to experience bullying than their typically developing peers, according to a new report released from AbilityPath.org, a nonprofit serving families and children With special needs.
Chances are that doesn’t surprise you. As the mother of a child with ADD/ADHD and comorbidities, it sure didn’t surprise me.
For me, reading the report, titled 'Walk a Mile in Their Shoes: Bullying and the Child With Special Needs,' required a box of tissues and many calming deep breaths. It begins with the personal experiences of being bullied from several children with disabilities -- stories that are both heartbreaking and infuriating -- then goes on to cite research on the topic, and finishes with a plan of action for parents and schools." Read More
"Children with special needs, including invisible differences such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and learning disabilities, are two to three times more likely to experience bullying than their typically developing peers, according to a new report released from AbilityPath.org, a nonprofit serving families and children With special needs.
Chances are that doesn’t surprise you. As the mother of a child with ADD/ADHD and comorbidities, it sure didn’t surprise me.
For me, reading the report, titled 'Walk a Mile in Their Shoes: Bullying and the Child With Special Needs,' required a box of tissues and many calming deep breaths. It begins with the personal experiences of being bullied from several children with disabilities -- stories that are both heartbreaking and infuriating -- then goes on to cite research on the topic, and finishes with a plan of action for parents and schools." Read More
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