www.tricitypartners.org
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 November/December 2009
1. The next Steering Committee meeting - Thursday, December 17
New members are welcome!
2. Hot topic: Caffeinated alcoholic drinks may be illegal
3. Walking the Talk presented for Spanish-speaking parents
4. Edina survey helps youth
5. December 9, 2009 - Shutting Off the Tap to Teens
6. Holiday gift ideas from Tri-City Partners
7. An inspiration break
8. The annual Teen Traffic Safety PSA Contest
1. The next Steering Committee meeting - Thursday, December 17
New members are welcome!
Location: St. Luke's, 1701 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington 55431
Time: 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Download the 2010 Steering Committee meeting dates
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2. Hot topic: Caffeinated alcoholic drinks may be illegal
The CNN Health website reports the Food and Drug Administration plans to examine alcoholic beverages containing added caffeine.
The question is not only if these products are safe but also whether it is legal to add caffeine to such drinks. Several studies showed stimulants such as caffeine mask the intoxicating effects of alcohol and could lead to increased risk-taking and other alcohol-related problems such as violence, sexual assault, traffic accidents and even suicide.
View the website article.
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3. Walking the Talk presented for Spanish-speaking parents
A Walking the Talk workshop was presented for Spanish-speaking parents on October 28 and November 4. Walking the Talk helps parents and other adults talk with children about the use and nonuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. It also helps parents understand the important influence of their own behavior and attitudes on their children.
Tri-City Partners Coalition partnered with Assumption Church, Minnesota Institute of Public Health and Metro Region 7 Center of Prevention to offer the workshop. Over twenty parents attended the session and another session will take place in the winter.
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4. Edina survey helps youth
The Community Readiness Survey was mailed to 625 randomly selected Edina homes in mid-November. The survey asked citizens for their opinions on the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs among young people. It also asked questions about gambling. All pre-selected names are confidential and survey answers are anonymous. The views and opinions expressed in this survey are important to planning effective strategies to benefit Edina’s youth.
The Minnesota Institute of Public Health (MIPH) designed the survey and will compile the results. Later this spring, Edina community members may review the results to make a plan for reducing risky youth behavior.
A partnership between the City of Edina, Bloomington Public Health, and the Tri-City Partners for Healthy Youth and Communities coalition made this survey possible. A Drug Free Communities grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy provided funding.
The survey is intended to do the following:
- Strengthen substance use prevention strategies in Edina
- Raise awareness of community norms and attitudes toward alcohol, tobacco, other drug use and gambling
- Focus prevention efforts on the areas of greatest need
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5. December 9, 2009 - Shutting Off the Tap to Teens
Shutting Off the Tap to Teens and Young Adults is a skill-building conference to prevent underage drinking and alcohol use. Download the brochure/registration form.
Keynote speaker: Jim Mosher, Senior Policy Advisor, The CDM Group, Inc. - a National expert on policy and environmental policies to prevent high-risk alcohol use.
Conference: The day will feature a panel discussion and breakout sessions addressing a wide variety of environmental strategies including: social host ordinances, festival and public event’s policies, youth engagement strategies, Zero Adult Providers (ZAP), and much more.
This year a skill-building and networking session just for youth will be offered! (Note: Registration for youth is full and unavailable to additional youth who may want to attend.)
When: December 9, 2009 / 9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Where: Ramada Plaza Minneapolis / 1330 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis
Registration fee: $30 adults, $10 youth
Information:
Molly Malone, Minnesota Prevention Resource Center
763-427-5310 x180, mmalone@miph.org, or visit
www.emprc.org/SOTT2009
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6. Holiday gift ideas from Tri-City Partners
"Let's Talk" tins
Bloomington Public Health created “Let’s Talk” tins because many parents ask for help when it comes to having conversations with their teens. Family meals are the perfect time to talk to your kids, and the Talk tins are a great help. The Talk tins can also be used for many other occasions and even just for fun!
To use “Let’s Talk,” pull one or two questions out of the tins at meal times and see where the conversation leads. Some of the questions are serious and others are silly. Some questions are for older children and others are suitable for all ages.
“Let’s Talk” tins can be purchased for $8 at Bloomington Public Health, 1900 W Old Shakopee Rd. More information is available at www.tricitypartners.org or can be obtained by calling Public Health at 952-563-8984.
Eat Pizza for $$$
Give the gift of 10 free pizzas and raise money for Tri-City Partners. Get a Nick-N-Willy's V.I.P. Fundraiser Card for $10. Buy any signature pizza at the regular price and get a same-size, one-topping pizza for FREE. Valid for up to 10 visits = 10 FREE PIZZAS!
Contact Denise Reese: 952-563-8984 or dreese@ci.bloomington.mn.us
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7. An inspiration break
This short online video came highly recommeded by Phyllis Bengtson from Department of Human Services Alcohol & Drug Abuse Division. It was sent with the instructions: "Share with your coalition or prevention co-workers today!"
This short video is from BJ Gallagher's new book "The Best Way Out is Always Through."
Watch and enjoy.
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8. The annual Teen Traffic Safety PSA Contest
Minnesota teens in grades 9 through 12 are challenged to submit a 30-second video PSA that communicates the importance of not texting while driving. The top spots will be posted on the DPS Web site for online viewing and voting to determine the top three winners.
The top producer will receive $1,000 from AAA Minnesota/Iowa, the second will receive $600, and the third-place winner will receive $400.
Entries are due April 19, 2010. Complete rules and entry forms can be found on the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety website.
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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