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C & G News
August 7, 2008 |
Maria Allard
Staff Writer |
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Warren-Center Line Prevention Coalition resumes its mission
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The Warren-Center Line Prevention Coalition, which has been inactive for some time, is back. Group members met July 14 to discuss the coalition's goals and also to plan upcoming activities, including how to publicize the organization. The group plans to meet on a regular basis.
The WCPS is one of 10 Macomb County community coalitions under the umbrella group called the Macomb County Prevention Coalition. The MCPC receives a Drug Free Communities federal grant, and funds are distributed to each of the 10 coalitions to enforce anti-substance use and awareness activities. In 1997, Congressman Sander Levin, D-Michigan, authorized the Legislature to approve the grant money.
Keith Nelson, casework supervisor/community liaison for Levin, is overseeing the group with assistance from various members of the community, including Warren Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer Jodi Walny and Ken Lampar, executive director of the MCPC.
"Because Congressman Levin feels so strongly about this, he's allowed me to rebuild the coalition," Nelson said. "We're kind of building for the summer, so we're ready for students in the fall. (When) we get going, we're going to conduct activities."
Many ideas were brainstormed during the meeting. Coalition members would like parents and students to become active in the program. Members plan to include information about the coalition inside the welcome back-to-school packets for students and parents. Walny also suggested providing informational packets to parents at the D.A.R. E. graduation ceremonies.
The group also discussed the Michigan Profiles for Healthy Youth online surveys, which garner feedback about risky behavior in which students might be involved. Students in seventh-, ninth-and 11th-grades take the survey. School officials can administer the tests at any time. The surveys question students about various behaviors, including drug use. Lampar realizes that no matter how hard the coalition works to keep kids substance-free, some kids will make bad choices anyway.
"They're always a certain percentage of kids you can't reach," Lampar said. "Our efforts are directed at the vast majority of kids who we hope won't make bad decisions. Statistics show the younger they start, the bigger chance (they'll use.)
"Ten to 20 percent are going to be involved in risky behavior no matter what," Lampar said. "Ten to 20 percent of kids, they're not going to use. They're going to make decisions not to use. We target the 60 to 80 percent in the middle that could go either way."
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To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
