Parents, Back Each Other Up.
The work of preventing teens from using alcohol and drugs can be a daunting and isolating task for parents. Often, parents feel that they are the only ones setting expectations, enforcing rules, and checking in with other parents. The Back Each Other Up campaign will provide parents with tools to reach out and create a network of support to help one another keep kids safe.
In collaboration with 21 Reasons, SHIFT Grey-New Glocester, Casco Bay C.A.N., and Communities Against Substance Abuse, CPHC will be hosted an event to kick off this campaign at Lydia Lane on Monday, April 29th, at 9:00 a.m.
What We Do:
CPHC's Substance Abuse Prevention Program is dedicated to reducing teen alcohol and drug use and high-risk drinking among young adults.
We use a comprehensive approach to make population level changes. To do this, we:
- Provide support and technical assistance for community-wide efforts by organizing action teams and youth advocacy programs
- Share tools and information with parents through media campaigns, parent groups and school connections
- Offer training and resources to schools and youth-serving organizations, including workshops with youth, activity toolkits for educators and policy guidance
- Provide trainings and resources for law enforcement and retailers
CPHC's Substance Abuse Prevention Program uses evidence-based strategies to prevent substance abuse based on the findings of an assessment and strategic planning process that was completed in June of 2007.
Regional Substance Abuse Action Teams:
Action teams help drive the work of CPHC's Substance Abuse Prevention Program by providing important local input, creating partnerships with other groups and organizations and communicating strategies, successes and concerns back to the community. Membership on the teams includes local parents, school staff, law enforcement personnel, staff from community groups and organizations, business owners and other community stakeholders.
Action teams help drive the work of the CPHC Substance Abuse Prevention Program by:
- Building relationships that assist with implementation of prevention objectives
- Gathering information on community needs
- Disseminating substance abuse prevention information and resources to the community
- Acting as a sounding board for new and ongoing prevention initiatives
If you would like to join your local action team, contact us at: prevention@opportunityalliance.org.
Parent Campaign:
Did you Know?:
Parents are the single most important influence on children's decision to smoke, drink, or use drugs.” (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2001)
How We Work With Parents:
We provide educatation to parents on the facts about teen alcohol and drug use, create opportunities for parents to discuss prevention with other parents and offer tools to help parents communicate expectations and enforce rules with their teens.
Resources that we provide include:
Parent Meet-ups on Teen Alcohol and Drug Use: Parent Meet-Ups provide a comfortable opportunity for parents to communicate openly with each other about teen alcohol and drugs use and how to prevent it. A trained facilitated offers tools and resources for parents and most importantly, parents are given the opportunity to connect with each other about the challenges and successes in communicating with their children and setting limits.
Parent Meet-Up Flyer
Contact us if you would like more information or if you would like to help organize one in your area.
Local Parent Groups
- Support for start-up of local support and advocacy groups, including training and materials
- H.O.P.E. is a group in Cape Elizabeth that has been given support through CPHC.
- Parent Helping Kids Make Good Decisions (PHK) Raymond/Windham Parent Group.
- Guest speaking appearances and workshop presentations
Did you know?
The human brain does not fully develop until after age 21. Any alcohol use before that time can be harmful to your child's brain. Brain Develpment Fact Sheet
For Schools and Youth-Serving Organizations
How We Work With Schools and Youth-Serving Organizations
CPHC's partnerships with schools and youth-serving organizations allow us to maximize the reach of our prevention messages throughout the towns we serve. We seek to support schools and youth-serving organizations by resources, technical assistance, training and programming support.
Resources to share with parents and school/organization staff
- Parent Materials (see resources)
- Tips for Teachers and Coaches (link to PDF)
Technical Assistance
- Support in developing or revising substance abuse policies
- School Policy Guide (link to policy handbook)
- Policy Tips for Youth Serving Organizations
- Toolkits offering activities to use in the classroom or with youth groups
- Guidance for creating new youth programming
Training
- "Know You Stuff": a Game about Teen Alcohol and Drug Use A 1 hour training for teachers, administrators and staff of youth organizations to increase their knowledge of the risks and consequeences of teen alcohol and drug use and their role in substance abuse prevention.
Youth Programming Support