Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) October 24, 2013
"The graduation numbers continue to be low for the UConn men's basketball program. In figures released by the NCAA on Thursday, UConn scored an 8 percent graduation success rate for players who entered school between 2003 and 2006 — far below the national average of 74 percent in the sport.
This period involves 12 players, only one of whom graduated, and most of whom went on to play professional basketball.
The GSR is determined by allowing athletes a six-year window from the time they enter school to graduate, and is measured for a four-year period. Players who entered the program in 2003 had until 2009, for instance." Read More
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Think You Know What Your Child's Up to Online? Think Again
HealthDay News, October 30, 2013
"Parental perceptions can be way off when it comes to what their kids are exposed to while surfing the Internet, according to a new study that puts an e-spin on the enduring generation gap.
The survey of 456 parent-child pairs revealed that although nearly one-third of the 10- to 16-year-olds polled said they had been bullied online, just 10 percent of parents were aware of that.
Parents also underestimated how often their child was exposed to online pornography, the survey found." Read More
"Parental perceptions can be way off when it comes to what their kids are exposed to while surfing the Internet, according to a new study that puts an e-spin on the enduring generation gap.
The survey of 456 parent-child pairs revealed that although nearly one-third of the 10- to 16-year-olds polled said they had been bullied online, just 10 percent of parents were aware of that.
Parents also underestimated how often their child was exposed to online pornography, the survey found." Read More
First Niagara Foundation Announces $80,000 Grant
Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) October 30, 2013
"Governor Dannel P. Malloy today joined First Niagara Bank in announcing a commitment of $80,000 from the First Niagara Foundation to support the Governor's Prevention Partnership (GPP), a statewide public-private alliance building a strong, healthy future workforce through leadership in mentoring. Governor Malloy serves as co-chair of the GPP Board of Directors.
'Last year, with the help of volunteers and local businesses like First Niagara, the Governor's Prevention Partnership was able to support mentoring relationships for 20,000 youth in 135 programs,' Malloy said. 'I applaud First Niagara for its efforts to support mentoring initiatives in Connecticut and look forward to continued success as a result of this collaboration.'" Read More
"Governor Dannel P. Malloy today joined First Niagara Bank in announcing a commitment of $80,000 from the First Niagara Foundation to support the Governor's Prevention Partnership (GPP), a statewide public-private alliance building a strong, healthy future workforce through leadership in mentoring. Governor Malloy serves as co-chair of the GPP Board of Directors.
'Last year, with the help of volunteers and local businesses like First Niagara, the Governor's Prevention Partnership was able to support mentoring relationships for 20,000 youth in 135 programs,' Malloy said. 'I applaud First Niagara for its efforts to support mentoring initiatives in Connecticut and look forward to continued success as a result of this collaboration.'" Read More
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
New warning about ‘study drugs’
Digital Journal, October 29, 2013
"A new warning has been issued about the dangers of taking prescription medicines as ‘study drugs’, to enable students to stay up late and cram for examinations.
Students who take powerful prescription medicines whist studying can easily become hooked on the medications and can carry this addiction into adulthood. Many of the drugs taken are not intended to help people to think and act faster; one of the popular study drugs taken is one intended for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a disorder marked by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity." Read More
"A new warning has been issued about the dangers of taking prescription medicines as ‘study drugs’, to enable students to stay up late and cram for examinations.
Students who take powerful prescription medicines whist studying can easily become hooked on the medications and can carry this addiction into adulthood. Many of the drugs taken are not intended to help people to think and act faster; one of the popular study drugs taken is one intended for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a disorder marked by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity." Read More
SADD, State Working Together To Curb Underage Drinking
Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) October 27, 2013
"One might expect a package store to be on the lookout for minors using fake IDs, but few people would expect minors to bust a package store for selling alcohol to them.
But in Connecticut, some students are doing exactly that. This year, as of mid-August, students have gone undercover and completed 412 compliance checks, with 97 resulting in action against the liquor store. And there are more compliance checks scheduled, according to Claudette Carveth, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Consumer Protection.
Carveth said the student volunteers, working with Students Against Destructive Decisions, go undercover for the compliance checks." Read More
"One might expect a package store to be on the lookout for minors using fake IDs, but few people would expect minors to bust a package store for selling alcohol to them.
But in Connecticut, some students are doing exactly that. This year, as of mid-August, students have gone undercover and completed 412 compliance checks, with 97 resulting in action against the liquor store. And there are more compliance checks scheduled, according to Claudette Carveth, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Consumer Protection.
Carveth said the student volunteers, working with Students Against Destructive Decisions, go undercover for the compliance checks." Read More
Monday, October 14, 2013
Prescription drug abuse dangerous, even fatal
News Times (Danbury, CT) October 12, 2013
"When a drug is purchased from a pharmacist, and not a street corner, there's a temptation to think it is perfectly safe.
But a recent report from a national nonprofit group shows prescription drugs, particularly painkillers, cause more fatal overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined.
And their use is pervasive all over the country, including Connecticut. The continued misuse of these drugs might be due in part to a misperception about how dangerous they are, said Ingrid Gillespie, president of the Connecticut Prevention Network." Read More
"When a drug is purchased from a pharmacist, and not a street corner, there's a temptation to think it is perfectly safe.
But a recent report from a national nonprofit group shows prescription drugs, particularly painkillers, cause more fatal overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined.
And their use is pervasive all over the country, including Connecticut. The continued misuse of these drugs might be due in part to a misperception about how dangerous they are, said Ingrid Gillespie, president of the Connecticut Prevention Network." Read More
Ever-Morphing Party Drugs Keep Users, Authorities Guessing
Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) October 13, 2013
"A couple of hours into a dance concert at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury last month, four people started dropping almost simultaneously. Their friends told police that the four had taken 2C-P.
The news sent officers to the Internet for research. They had never heard of 2C-P.
Considering the variety of party drugs circulating, it's not surprising that police were caught off-guard. There is an ever-expanding family of designer drugs known by an assortment of names: molly, smiles, 25i and 2C-P, among others. Authorities said the substances that make up these drugs are ever-changing — a molecule is tweaked, or a new chemical is added — and often users aren't even sure what they're taking, let alone how it will affect them." Read More
"A couple of hours into a dance concert at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury last month, four people started dropping almost simultaneously. Their friends told police that the four had taken 2C-P.
The news sent officers to the Internet for research. They had never heard of 2C-P.
Considering the variety of party drugs circulating, it's not surprising that police were caught off-guard. There is an ever-expanding family of designer drugs known by an assortment of names: molly, smiles, 25i and 2C-P, among others. Authorities said the substances that make up these drugs are ever-changing — a molecule is tweaked, or a new chemical is added — and often users aren't even sure what they're taking, let alone how it will affect them." Read More
Friday, October 11, 2013
Unity Day urges end to bullying
WFSB Channel 3 News (Greenwich, CT) October 10, 2013
"Wednesday was Unity Day around the country, which is a day devoted to taking a stand against bullying.
The event comes as a school in Greenwich continues to heal after a student took his own life at the beginning of the school year. After his death, some classmates joined forces to try to tackle bullying.
Greenwich High School senior Elias Frank said he hated how his final year of high school started. Classmate Bart Palosz, 15, shot himself using the family gun after the first day of classes. Palosz's family said he was bullied for years and he just gave up." Read More
"Wednesday was Unity Day around the country, which is a day devoted to taking a stand against bullying.
The event comes as a school in Greenwich continues to heal after a student took his own life at the beginning of the school year. After his death, some classmates joined forces to try to tackle bullying.
Greenwich High School senior Elias Frank said he hated how his final year of high school started. Classmate Bart Palosz, 15, shot himself using the family gun after the first day of classes. Palosz's family said he was bullied for years and he just gave up." Read More
DEA, Resident Troopers Offering Drug Take-Back Day
Tolland Patch (Tolland, CT) October 10, 2013
Prescription drugs can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day at the Resident Trooper’s Office, 749 Tolland Stage Rd." Read More
"It's time for another prescription drug Take-Back Day.
The latest initiative, sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and supported by the Tolland Resident State Trooper's Office, is scheduled for Oct. 26.Prescription drugs can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day at the Resident Trooper’s Office, 749 Tolland Stage Rd." Read More
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Renowned Radio Personality Michael Baisden Launches "One Dream One Team" Mentoring Initiative In Nationwide Effort to Recruit Male Mentors for 12,000 African American Boys
PR Newswire (Orlando, FL) October 10, 2013
"When renowned radio personality Michael Baisden posted "A real man takes care of his kids no matter what the relationship is with the mother of the child," on his Facebook page, he never anticipated the over nine million views or one million plus likes and comments he received as feedback! The overwhelming response prompted him into immediate action. A diehard advocate for mentoring since 2010 with his "One Million Mentors National Campaign to Save Our Kids" 72-city tour, Baisden has now launched a new initiative, the "One Dream One Team" Mentoring Initiative. His specific goal is to help recruit African American male mentors for the 12,000 African American boys on the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) waiting list for a one-on-one mentor match." Read More
"When renowned radio personality Michael Baisden posted "A real man takes care of his kids no matter what the relationship is with the mother of the child," on his Facebook page, he never anticipated the over nine million views or one million plus likes and comments he received as feedback! The overwhelming response prompted him into immediate action. A diehard advocate for mentoring since 2010 with his "One Million Mentors National Campaign to Save Our Kids" 72-city tour, Baisden has now launched a new initiative, the "One Dream One Team" Mentoring Initiative. His specific goal is to help recruit African American male mentors for the 12,000 African American boys on the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) waiting list for a one-on-one mentor match." Read More
Early Puberty Tied to Higher Odds of Substance Use in Teens: Survey
HealthDay News, October 9, 2013
"Teens who began puberty at an early age are more likely to experiment with cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana, researchers report.
The study included nearly 6,500 boys and girls, aged 11 to 17, who were asked about their substance use in the past three months. The participants also completed a questionnaire designed to determine when they began puberty.
The findings were published in the October issue of the journal Addiction.
Puberty typically begins between the ages of 9 and 10, but wide variation exists in its onset and how long it takes to complete puberty. The results from the study participants were in line with national estimates of puberty onset. For example, girls report developing earlier than boys and nonwhites report developing earlier than whites." Read More
"Teens who began puberty at an early age are more likely to experiment with cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana, researchers report.
The study included nearly 6,500 boys and girls, aged 11 to 17, who were asked about their substance use in the past three months. The participants also completed a questionnaire designed to determine when they began puberty.
The findings were published in the October issue of the journal Addiction.
Puberty typically begins between the ages of 9 and 10, but wide variation exists in its onset and how long it takes to complete puberty. The results from the study participants were in line with national estimates of puberty onset. For example, girls report developing earlier than boys and nonwhites report developing earlier than whites." Read More
Group mentoring
Michigan State University, October 8, 2013
"When most people hear the word mentor they think of a traditional one-on-one relationship between an adult and a young person. Over the past few decades, the definition of mentoring has expanded to include virtual relationships, peer relationships and group relationships. Group mentoring brings a small group of young people (usually four or fewer) together with a mentor. While the mentoring relationship is the primary goal, many programs focus on a project or topic to give the group something to work on together. Programs like Michigan 4-H Tech Wizards provide a great example of how group mentoring can lead to a myriad of positive outcomes for youth and a memorable experience for volunteers." Read More
"When most people hear the word mentor they think of a traditional one-on-one relationship between an adult and a young person. Over the past few decades, the definition of mentoring has expanded to include virtual relationships, peer relationships and group relationships. Group mentoring brings a small group of young people (usually four or fewer) together with a mentor. While the mentoring relationship is the primary goal, many programs focus on a project or topic to give the group something to work on together. Programs like Michigan 4-H Tech Wizards provide a great example of how group mentoring can lead to a myriad of positive outcomes for youth and a memorable experience for volunteers." Read More
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
School compassion for bullied and bully
Stamford Advocate (Stamford, CT) October 7, 2013
"Officials at Trailblazers Academy have released some details about how they handled a disagreement between two students before police stepped in and arrested one for bullying.
On Tuesday, Stamford Police arrested a 12-year-old girl after the parent of a 13-year-old complained. The 13-year-old indicated she was contemplating suicide because of how the other girl made her feel. Police, who did not reveal the name of the school, investigated the claims for two weeks before filing disorderly conduct charges against the 12-year-old." Read More
"Officials at Trailblazers Academy have released some details about how they handled a disagreement between two students before police stepped in and arrested one for bullying.
On Tuesday, Stamford Police arrested a 12-year-old girl after the parent of a 13-year-old complained. The 13-year-old indicated she was contemplating suicide because of how the other girl made her feel. Police, who did not reveal the name of the school, investigated the claims for two weeks before filing disorderly conduct charges against the 12-year-old." Read More
Glastonbury parents arrested for underage drinking party
WTNH News-8 (Glastonbury, CT) October 1, 2013
"Two parents are facing charges, accused of hosting a dangerous underage drinking party at their home in Glastonbury.
Police say more than 100 teenagers were at that party.
'They knew the party was going on, they knew alcohol was there and they didn't do anything about it,' said Agent James Kennedy, Glastonbury Police Department." Read More
"Two parents are facing charges, accused of hosting a dangerous underage drinking party at their home in Glastonbury.
Police say more than 100 teenagers were at that party.
'They knew the party was going on, they knew alcohol was there and they didn't do anything about it,' said Agent James Kennedy, Glastonbury Police Department." Read More
5 Orange businesses accused of selling alcohol to minors
New Haven Register (Orange, CT) October 2, 2013
"Five businesses allegedly sold alcohol to youths during compliance checks conducted by the Liquor Control Division and Orange Police Department in late September, according to a press release from the Department of Consumer Protection.
A total of eleven businesses were tested for compliance on Sept. 19 after the Liquor Control Division and Orange Police Department selected restaurants and bars in town. Two youth volunteers, trained and provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, entered the businesses and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages from the employees." Read More
"Five businesses allegedly sold alcohol to youths during compliance checks conducted by the Liquor Control Division and Orange Police Department in late September, according to a press release from the Department of Consumer Protection.
A total of eleven businesses were tested for compliance on Sept. 19 after the Liquor Control Division and Orange Police Department selected restaurants and bars in town. Two youth volunteers, trained and provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, entered the businesses and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages from the employees." Read More
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