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Welcome to the Tri‑City Partners (TCP)
Monthly News
Tri-City Partners Mission:
To promote health, reduce substance use and other risk behaviors, and build assets in our youth in the communities of Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield
For December 2011
1. The next Steering Committee meeting - Thursday, March 8
2. Research shows parents positively influence their teen's
behavior by monitoring what they do
3. Bloomington Schools: Chemical Health Week activities
promote drug-free communities
4. Over 5,000 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs collected in
Minnesota Metro and Southern Regions
5. Join Together: "Legalization of Marijuana and the Impact
on Children"
6. Join Together: "American Medical Association Calls for Doctor
Training to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse"
7. Study: "Under-21 Drinking Leads to Lasting Harms,
Especially in Women"
8. "Holiday Break: A Lesson in Responsible Living for College Teens"
9. Nominations Sought for Connecting With Kids Leadership Awards
1. The next Steering Committee meeting - March 8
Everyone is welcome!
The Steering Committee has been working on some changes regarding leadership meetings and action team meetings. More information about this will be included in next month's newsletter.
Location:
Bloomington Civic Plaza - Haeg Conference Room
1800 West Old Shakopee Rd.
Bloomington, MN 55431
Time: 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
If you have questions, please e-mail Julie Zamora at jzamora@ci.bloomington.mn.us.
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2. Research shows parents positively influence their teen's
behavior by monitoring what they do
Research shows that teens whose parents use effective monitoring practices are less likely to make poor decisions. They are less likely to have sex at an early age, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, be physically aggressive or skip school. It is especially important to discuss the behavior you expect with your teen. Teens are less likely to choose risky behaviors if they believe their parents will disapprove.
Competing demands on your time such as work or other activities may limit your ability to monitor your teen. To help bridge this gap, use e-mails, text messages and phone calls to check in with your teen.
What can you do to effectively monitor your teen?
- Talk with your teen about your rules and expectations, and explain the consequences for breaking the rules.
- Talk and listen to you teen often about how he or she feels and what he or she is thinking.
- Know who your teen's friends are.
- Talk with your teen about the plans he or she has with friends, what he or she is doing after school, and where he or she will be going.
- Set expectations for when your teen will come home, and expect a call if he or she is going to be late.
- Ask whether an adult will be present when your teen is visiting a friend's home.
- Get to know the parents of your teen's friends.
- If your teen does break a rule, enforce the consequences fairly and consistently.
- Make sure your teen knows how to contact you at all times.
The above information was taken from an article from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and is based on findings from leading academic researchers in the book entitled, Parental Monitoring of Adolescents: Current Perspectives for Researchers and Practitioners. For the entire article go to http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/adolescenthealth/pdf/parental_monitoring_factsheet.pdf
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3. Bloomington Schools: Chemical Health Week activities
promote drug-free communities
November 14-18, the Bloomington School District joined schools and communities statewide in celebrating Minnesota Chemical Health Week. Throughout the week, Bloomington schools offered activities that promoted drug-free lifestyles and making healthy choices. November 16 was "Wear Red Day." The schools encouraged students, staff and families to participate in order to show a strong commitment to a drug-free community.
With consistent, year-round, alcohol and other drug abuse prevention efforts we can help keep young people healthy, safe and drug free.
Wear Red Day at Valley View Middle School
Click picture to view the slide show.
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4. Over 5,000 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs collected in
Minnesota Metro and Southern Regions
Sites in the Metro and Southern Regions of Minnesota collected 5,114 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs on the third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day held October 29, 2011. (Drug Enforcement Agency data) The event provided a safe method of disposing unwanted and expired medications. The medications could otherwise end up in unsecured home medicine cabinets, flushed down toilets or thrown away to become safety risks and environmental hazards.
The goal of these Take-Back events is to prevent misuse of prescription medicines through continued efforts to establish more permanent drop-off sites. The events also provide increased public education and participation. With the steady increase of prescription drug abuse, the community effort makes a difference.
Consider this:
- The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention report that in 2010, the amount of prescribed painkillers could medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month!
- The majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them for free through home unsecured storage, family and friends.
- More Americans abuse prescription drugs than use cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined. (2010 National Survey on Drug Use & Health Studies)
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5. Join Together: "Legalization of Marijuana and the Impact
on Children"
In this article, the president and CEO of National Families in Action appeals to voters and law makers to consider the consequences to children of passing legislation making marijuana available to adults.
She examines California where such legislation is being considered and compares the prevalence of underage drinking to the potential for underage marijuana use. One-third of California's 7th graders (29 percent) and half of its 9th graders (47 percent) are at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol before they reach the legal drinking age because they had access and started drinking as children.
Keeping drugs illegal prevents commercial industries from emerging that are free to advertise and target children. She concludes that much tougher provisions than those in laws governing alcohol and tobacco will be required to force a marijuana industry to keep its hands off kids. Without the tougher provisions, she calls for legislators and voters to reject attempts to legalize marijuana - another addictive drug.
Read the complete article from Join Together at drugfree.org here.
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6. Join Together: "American Medical Association Calls for Doctor
Training to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse"
The American Medical Association's (AMA) policy-making body is calling for the organization to promote training that would help doctors reduce prescription drug abuse.
They are calling for the use of screening tools to identify patients who are likely to abuse prescription drugs and prescription drug monitoring programs.
Read more about this and other measures proposed to help doctors fight prescription drug abuse in the article from Join Together at drugfree.org here.
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7. Study: "Under-21 Drinking Leads to Lasting Harms,
Especially in Women"
This study examined data for people who turned 18 before the nationwide 21-law went into effect in 1984. The findings provide evidence to support the 21-law and demonstrates the law saves lives.
Researchers found significantly higher rates of alcohol and drug problems in adults who turned 18 between the years of 1967 and 1989 when the legal drinking age was lowered in many states. The study showed that elevated risks for suicide and homicide in adulthood were especially prevalent in women.
The 21 minimum legal drinking age was initially adopted to reduce the number of DUI-related accidents and other social consequences of drinking involving young people. The finding that the 21-law may also save lives and reduce problems during adulthood shows the importance of maintaining these laws. It supports developing other interventions aimed toward reducing drinking among young people.
Read the entire article about this study in The Fresh Story Blog here.
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8. "Holiday Break: A Lesson in Responsible Living for College Teens"
This article's author expresses that parents have an opportunity during the holidays to celebrate their college-age son or daughter's independence and assess how college has affected him or her so far. Well-positioned to still have influence, parents can steer their son or daughter away from indiscretion and toward responsible behavior that will lead them to a successful college experience.
The author suggests parents give their kids some freedom in order to make their evaluation. Parents should consider the following:
- Did they come home looking to show off their new party prowess, or is the break a welcome respite spent among the comforts of home and family?
- What attitudes have they brought back from their college experience?
- What priorities have they embraced?
- Are they exhibiting the hallmarks of adulthood or the warning signs of indiscretion?
Read the full article in Pact 360 from The Partnership at drugfree.org here.
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9. Nominations Sought for Connecting With Kids
Leadership Awards
Connecting With Kids believes that the community and all of its members have a
powerful influence on the development of youth. They are currently accepting nominations for their Leadership Awards that recognize individuals and organizations within the City of Edina that have consistently worked to
build assets in its youth. Award recipients will be honored at their Leadership Breakfast on Thursday, February 23rd, 2012.
Award nominations are due by Sunday, January 15, 2012. The Connecting With Kids Board of Directors will choose the winners, and winners will be notified prior to the
Leadership Breakfast.
Who can be nominated?
Individuals or
groups nominated should share the organization's vision to be a community where all children have
the support they need to grow up to be responsible, healthy and caring adults. They
do not need to be currently affiliated with Connecting With Kids, the City of Edina, or
Edina Public Schools, but the nominees must have had a direct and positive impact on
the youth of Edina.
To submit a nomination
Send your nomination by Sunday January 15, 2012 with the following information to
info@connectingwithkidsedina.org
- Your name and contact information
- The person or organization you are nominating and their contact
information
- The reason nominee should receive a Leadership Award from Connecting With
Kids
- 1000 word limit
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Please feel free to pass this on to others you think would be interested in or would benefit from the information.
Have a good month!
Laurie Masanz
Health Communication Specialist
Bloomington Public Health
952‑563‑8904
lmasanz@ci.bloomington.mn.us
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Make your request to lmasanz@ci.bloomington.mn.us
