Recently I was sitting in a hallway at Searsport Elementary School participating in their Health and Wellness Fair and trying to engage with parents about helping their kids stay alcohol and drug free. Several parents said something like “I’m glad I don’t have teenagers yet!” Unfortunately, they had not reviewed the results from the latest version of the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS);  I have. I shared with them that when asked about their first use of alcohol, “other than a few sips”, 37% of Waldo County middle school students said that happened before age 11. So as I watched these often quite tiny 4^th and 5^th graders walk by I had to agree that, like their parents, I was surprised that they would have access to alcohol and the interest to try.  I shouldn’t be. I know the data and I have talked with focus groups of young people. I remember that one 10^th grader said that “you know by the time you are in like second grade whether you are the kind of kid who will smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol”.

His peers agreed with that. Parents – is your kid that “kind of kid”?

       In the same MIYHS survey, 27% of Waldo County middle school students reported using marijuana before age 11.

        It is important to recognize that some children early on form the intention of “using” and wait for an opportunity to try. Parents are the greatest protective force to help their children stay alcohol and drug free. Many parental  heartaches can be relieved when parents commit  to protecting  their child from this early drug experience. Whether you believe or not the idea of what may be a gateway drug, when I have spoken with those therapists who treat adult addicts, and interviewed jail inmates about their drug use, it is nearly guaranteed that early use of substances (including tobacco)  is a pathway to addiction. Research shows that youth who begin drinking alcohol prior to age 15 are 4 times more likely to develop an adult substance use disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as an “adolescent developmental disorder” recognizing this pathway.

        The Partnership At Drugfree.Org has recently released a guide for parents citing research-supported parenting practices that will help parents help their kids stay drug and alcohol free.

1.  Build a warm and supportive relationship with your child
2. Be a good role-model when it comes to drinking, taking medicine and handling stress
3. Know your child’s risk-level
4. Know your child’s friends
5. Monitor, supervise and set boundaries
6. Have ongoing conversations and provide information about drugs and alcohol. (note – not a one time or one way talk)

The full guide and a lot more information can be found at www.drugfree.org

       Parents can also consider enrolling in a course planned to begin April 24^th at the Morse School in Brooks. Active Parenting Now focuses on parents of children aged 5 to 12. Call me at 338-2200 ext 109 for more information. The RSU 3 District will be holding a Community Forum on Underage Drinking and other drug use on Wednesday April 25^th; call 948-6136 x6811 for more information.

Patrick Walsh
Healthy Waldo County
Broadreach Family & Community Services
338-2200 ext 109

Most parents want their children to be respectful; to follow family rules; to help out at home; to learn from their mistakes; and to succeed at school. The Active Parenting Now program offered by Broadreach Family & Community Services supports parents of children aged 5 to 12 to help their children meet those goals. Active Parenting Now classes will begin in Belfast on Tuesday February 28th at the Captain Albert Stevens School. Classes will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm. This program offers 6 two-hour sessions and has been shown to improve parents’ confidence and ability. This is program is part of a scheduled series of classes offered by Broadreach in Waldo and Knox Counties.

Active Parenting Now is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 5 to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. Class material promotes mutual respect among family members within a democratically run family. The program teaches parents how to raise a child by using encouragement, building the child’s self-esteem, and creating a relationship with the child based upon active listening, honest communication, and problem solving. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.

These parent classes will be open to all parents and child care will be provided during class. Because of grant funds awarded by the Maine Children’s Trust, there will be no cost for parents who want to participate.

Broadreach provides a variety of services to young parents and their children in Waldo and Knox Counties. Broadreach services have been making a critical difference in the lives of area children and families since 1983. Each year over 2,000 families with children benefit from the agency’s quality education and support programs. Broadreach has over a quarter of century expertise in delivering parenting education, family support, early childhood education and family literacy programming. Other provided parent education options include Kids First, Guiding Good Choices, and the Nurturing Fathers Program.

If you would like to learn how to register for Active Parenting Now, or learn more about our parent education offerings, please call Patrick Walsh at 207-338-2200 ext 109 or e-mail pwalsh@brmaine.org.

October 18, 2011

Broadreach Family & Community Services has announced that Active Parenting Now classes will begin in Searsport on Tuesday November 1st at the Searsport Elementary School. Classes will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm. This program offers 6 two-hour sessions and has been shown to improve parents’ confidence and ability. This is the seventh scheduled series of classes offered by Broadreach in Waldo and Knox Counties.

Active Parenting Now is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 5 to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. Class material promotes mutual respect among family members within a democratically run family. The program teaches parents how to raise a child by using encouragement, building the child’s self-esteem, and creating a relationship with the child based upon active listening, honest communication, and problem solving. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.

These parent classes will be open to all parents and child care will be provided during class. Because of grant funds awarded by the Maine Children’s Trust, there will be no cost for parents who want to participate.

Broadreach provides a variety of services to young parents and their children in Waldo and Knox Counties. Broadreach services have been making a critical difference in the lives of area children and families since 1983.  Each year over 2000 families with children benefit from the agency’s quality education and support programs.  Broadreach has over a quarter of century expertise in delivering parenting education, family support, early childhood education and family literacy programming. Other provided parent education options include Kids First, Guiding Good Choices, and the Nurturing Fathers Program.

If you would like to learn how to register for Active Parenting Now, or learn more about our parent education offerings, please call Patrick Walsh at 207-338-2200 ext 109 or e-mail pwalsh@brmaine.org.

By Broadreach Family & Community Services
Mar 08, 2010 Once again, Broadreach Family & Community Services and RSU 20’s 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program are working together to provide the program Guiding Good Choices to parents of 4th to 8th graders, 9 to 14 year olds. Parents who participate will have a chance to win a $25 gift card and if completing all 5 sessions of the program, a chance to win a $100 gift card to reward them for their participation.

Guiding Good Choices has been presented in many communities across the country and research has demonstrated that participating parents experience improved success in keeping their children drug and alcohol free. The program focuses on building family strengths and reducing risk factors that could make substance abuse by youth more likely. Children whose parents have completed the program have shown a 40% reduction in alcohol and marijuana use; a 54% reduction in the progression to use more serious substances; and a 26% increase in the likelihood that non-users will continue to remain drug free. But to be clear, this is a prevention program and not the best choice for parents whose son or daughter is currently using and in need of treatment.

This free five-session program will be offered at two sites and will meet weekly beginning on March 24th at Searsport District Middle School and on March 30th at Troy Howard Middle School. Sessions will begin at 6 pm and end at 8:15. Childcare and food will be provided. All parents are invited to participate, but preference in registration will be given to families whose children are enrolled in RSU 20.

Grant funds from the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program and the Maine Children’s Trust make it possible to offer this program at no cost to parents. Sessions will be led by Patrick Walsh a parent educator from Broadreach and Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for Healthy Waldo County. To register or for more information contact Walsh at Broadreach, 338-2200 ext 109 or by e-mail at pwalsh@brmaine.org.