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 June 2009 . . .
1. Thursday, June 25 - the next Steering Committee meeting
New members are welcome!
2. Thursday, August 6 - Tri-City Partners' rejuvenation retreat
3. June 26, 27, and 28 - Ford Driving Skills for Life program
4. New booster seat law effective July 1, 2009
5. Report finds federal, state, and local governments spend almost half a trillion dollars yearly on substance abuse and addiction
6. Resource: National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
Open Letter print ads
1. Thursday, June 25 - the next Steering Committee meeting
New members are welcome!
Location: Fire Station #1, 10 West 95th Street, Bloomington – small conference room
Time: 3:30-5:00 p.m.
May meeting minutes, June meeting agenda
2. Thursday, August 6 - Tri-City Partners' retreat
Please join us. Get the tools to do something you can be excited about! It's amazing what can be accomplished when people with the same interest join together. At the Tri-City Partners retreat, you will join with others who care about the health of our community. This will be an interactive training to learn new skills and hone existing ones.
Rhonda Ramsey Molina, a nationally recognized expert in coalition development and management, will lead this retreat. Ms. Molina has nearly twenty years experience in substance abuse prevention and community organization.
Refreshments will be served.
When: Thursday, August 6 / 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Where: Public Works - training room / 1700 W. 98th St. / Bloomington 55431
RSVP: Denise Reese at 952-563-8984 or dreese@ci.bloomington.mn.us
Download the flyer
3. June 26, 27, and 28 - Ford Driving Skills for Life program
The Ford Motor Company Fund and Westfield Insurance is bringing its FREE highly successful Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) teen safe driving program to Minnesota on June 26, 27 and 28. The program allows students to improve their driving skills by participating in a half-day driving clinic with hands-on driving activities under the instruction of trained professionals.
The Ford Driving Skills for Life program helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60% of vehicle crashes: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed management, and space management.
The program is provided by the Ford Motor Company and Westfield Insurance at no cost.
Who:
- Teens with a valid Minnesota instruction permit and a minimum of 30 hours driving experience, and their parents
-
Teens with a valid driver license and their parents
When: June 26, 27, or 28 / 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. or 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Robin Lot, Randall Ave. (NW of Grandstand)
Registration: Participants must register on-line at www.drivingskillsforlife.com under Events.
4. New booster seat law effective July 1, 2009
Minnesota has strengthened its child passenger safety law. The law now requires a child who is both under age 8 and 4 feet 9 inches to be fastened in a child safety seat or booster. Under this law, a child cannot use only a seat belt until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall. It is recommended to keep a child in a booster based on his or her height rather than age. Boosters are seat lifts that help raise a child up so a seat belt fits properly.
Children shorter than 4 feet 9 inches aren't ready to use only a seat belt because it won't fit properly. Poor belt fit can contribute to death or serious injury - including ejection, internal decapitation, and serious abdominal damage. A seat belt does not fit properly if it rubs against a child's neck or if the child tucks the belt behind his or her back.
5. Report finds federal, state, and local governments spend almost half a trillion dollars yearly on substance abuse and addiction
A report from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) found that substance abuse and addiction cost federal, state and local governments at least $467.7 billion in 2005 (the most recent year for which data were available over the course of the study).
The report, based on three years of research and analysis, is the first ever to assess the costs of tobacco, alcohol and illegal and prescription drug abuse to all levels of government. Read the press release.
6. Resource: National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
Open Letter print ads
The Media Campaign publishes Open Letters to Parents in more than 40 publications nationwide. The Open Letters raise awareness and educate parents and caregivers about steps they can take to prevent their teens from drinking, using drugs and tobacco, and engaging in sexual activity. Your organization can download the electronic ad files from the website to customize and distribute. Send the important messages to local media, members, stakeholders, and partners. Helpful guidelines for customizing are given. Download the ads at www.theantidrug.com/openletter/.
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