_____________________________________________________
CHECK
OUT this web site for great information to support a
strong, drug-free relationship with your teens: www.thepassagegroup.com
PARTNERSHIP
PERSPECTIVE
By
Lamar Koontz , Coordinator
LaPorte
County Drug Free Partnership
A recent newspaper article headline read “MEANEST MOM’S Ad Takes Son For A Ride”. When an Iowa mom found alcohol in her 19 year old son’s car she placed an ad stating: “Totally uncool parents, who obviously don’t love their son, selling his car. Snoopy mom, who needs to get a life, found booze under the front seat. Call meanest mom on the planet”. And she sold the car!
Prom and graduation time is approaching and our young people will celebrate. Read the wise words of teens written to parents by Peers Having an Impact on Life, a South Central High School student awareness group. “You may think I don’t listen to you, that I turn my back on your advice. But you’re wrong. I still look up to you, and choices you make influence my choices too. Be a role model. You may think I wouldn’t take alcohol out of our house, but having it readily available is only tempting me to cave to peer pressure”.
So what can you do to prevent your teen from abusing alcohol? Educate yourself about the effects of drugs and alcohol, create and enforce rules with your teen, remember you are the parent and they are the child, and most importantly keep the lines of communication open.”
A Chicago Tribune story titled “Teens at the Wheel” suggests:
“Keep track: Monitor closely where they are going, when they will return and who is with them.
Limit passengers: One passenger decreases the odds of an accident for teens.
Ban cell phone use: Its use while driving is high on the list of distractions that greatly increase the odds of an accident.
Put rules in writing: Written driving contracts between parents and teens can be effective.
Blunt peer pressure: When teens call home hinting they are being pressured into a risky situation, embrace the role of being a killjoy.
Educate yourself and teens on the risks on substance abuse: Check out the Indiana state laws and discuss them together. Any alcohol or other drug use may result in license suspension.
Talk about risky behavior long before children are licensed to drive: Give and take is better than lectures. Focus on alcohol and other drugs, like prescription and street drugs, and talk about the danger of mixing alcohol and drugs and interactions between them.
Set a good example."
START TALKING BEFORE THEY START DRINKING and you will put your positive parent power to work during prom and graduation season as well as every day your teen drives.
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 WHAT
IS THE LAPORTE COUNTY DRUG FREE PARTNERSHIP?
The LaPorte County Drug Free Partnership, formed in 1989,
is one of the 15 counties in the Northwest Region of the Governor’s
Commission for a Drug Free Indiana. All county residents are
directly and indirectly impacted by drug abuse and problem
gambling and are encouraged to become members of the Partnership
to help in solving the resulting social problems.
MISSION STATEMENT
To bring together representatives, organizations, and agencies
both public and private, who seek to provide optimal resources
for the combating of alcohol and other drug abuse in LaPorte
County. To formulate a countywide comprehensive plan, while
evaluating and restructuring to insure its goals are met.
To fund proposed projects and programs by awarding grants
from the local portion of the Drug Free Community Fund.
PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEES
Prevention and Education
This committee gathers and shares information regarding skill
building programs, community or professional mobilization,
and social and environmental change programs for both youth
and adults. Members also work with local youth to plan special
events and gatherings with a substance-free focus.
Justice
The justice committee is concerned with the legality and consequences
of substance abuse and examines law enforcement and prosecutorial
efforts. The committee tracks court disposition of drug and
alcohol related matters, encourages the development of neighborhood
watch programs, OWI patrolling, and pro-active community policing.
Intervention and Treatment
This committee’s efforts are centered on services for
those citizens who are in recovery from problems associated
with addiction and substance abuse. It represents services
which deal with interventions, referral, and assessment, as
well as aftercare and continuum of treatment. The group is
now focusing on locating affordable residential treatment
in our community.
Youth Activities
Organized
in July 2000, middle and high school youth from across the
county are brought together under the guidance of a Youth
Advisor. They plan and develop their own initiatives to
address substance use / abuse by their peers within their
own school populations and are backed and financially supported
by the Partnership.
The Red
Ribbon Campaign
Red
Ribbon is an annual countywide effort to heighten community
awareness and increase education, which takes place each October.
The Partnership encourages business, churches, government,
and all county residents to participate and especially support
our children and youth in increasing awareness and striving
to reduce drug and alcohol abuse in LaPorte County. Small
grants are awarded to fund a variety of activities including
essay and art contests, rallies and other activities designed
for and by our children and teens.
Grant
Funding
Under state law, funding is obtained through court-imposed
fines from alcohol and drug-related offenders. 75% of these
funds are annually awarded back to community individuals and
organizations involved in designing and implementing projects
and services addressing the actions recommended in the County
Plan. Interested applicants should contact the Partnership
for more information regarding obtaining grant funding.
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JOIN
THE PARTNERSHIP! Meetings
are at noon on the first Wednesday of each month, alternating between
Marquette Mall Office Building in Michigan City and First United
Methodist Church, 1225 Michigan Avenue, in LaPorte.
For
more information:
LaPorte County Drug Free Partnership
P.O. Box 8750 Michigan City, IN, 46360
Phone/Fax 219-608-1418
MEMBER
AGENCIES
Afternoons
ROCK
Boys
& Girls Club
CASA
Figment
Group
Full
Circle Center
LP
Community Corrections
Dunebrook
HOPE
Indiana State Excise Police
Indiana State Police
Healthy Communities of LaPorte County
Images
Juvenile Service Center
LaPorte County Schools
LaPorte City Police Dept.
LaPorte Community Schools
LaPorte Community Corrections
LaPorte County Circuit
Court
LaPorte County Metro Operations
LaPorte Sheriff’s Dept.
LaPorte
YMCA
LaPorte
Hospital Stress Center
LaSalle
Boy Scout Council
Michigan City Police Dept.
Michigan City Schools
Minority
Health Coalition
Madison
Center
New
Prairie Schools
NOPE
NW
Office Governor's
Commission
Open Door Adolescent Health Center
Pathway Family Center
Purdue
North Central
READ
LaPorte County
Triad
Singing Sands Girl Scout Council
St. Joseph Catholic School
Stepping
Stone Women's Shelter
Superior Courts # 1, # 3 and # 4
Support Our Youth
Swanson Center
Teen Court LaPorte and Michigan City
Voyagers
Westville
Schools
Westville
Police
YANA
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