Community Problem Community Solution Underage Drinking: It’s Everybody’s Problem

Community Community ProblemProblemCommunity Community SolutionSolution

Underage Drinking: It’s Everybody’s Problem

Community Community ProblemProblem

Several incidents within the Lake Shore school-community brought concern and awareness to a growing problem of students participating in risky behaviors:– Minors found in possession of large amounts of alcohol– Large underage parties with alcohol and drugs resulting

in law enforcement involvement and students losing privileges at school

– Several episodes of risky behavior resulting in personal injuries; including a fatality


The School is viewed as the binding agent and the authority to take action within the community– The Board of Education was approached by the

mother of a student who fell off of a balcony at an underage drinking party.

Wanted the school district to get involved in a solution.

A mother’s mission…A mother’s mission…

Janice Struebel Mathew Struebel


The School-Community said, “Enough is Enough!!!”

We needed to move from reaction to prevention A grass roots group was formed:

– Parents– Representatives from law enforcement– School board members– Members of the community

Citizens for Responsible Choices or “CRC” was officially formed.

Community Community SolutionSolution

As we recognized the disconnect between the prevention message and our parents, The CRC proposed an innovative idea to the School District.– The idea was risky and bold– Only attempted at Salpointe Catholic High

School in Tucson, Arizona.

Community Community SolutionSolution Initiative Requirements:

– Support from the High School Administration– Support from the District Office– Support from the Board of Education.

Initiative Partnerships:– Lake Shore Central School District– Western New York United Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse– Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcoholism and

Substance Abuse– Town of Evans Police Department– Citizens for Responsible Choices.


Parent Drug and Alcohol Awareness Seminars were formed:– Parent attendance is required in order to allow

student(s) to attend school dances.– Attend only once during four years of high

school.– Attend only one seminar for multiple students.


Purposes of the 90 minute Prevention Seminar is to increase parent’s knowledge of:– Legal implications of underage drinking and drug use

(including consequences for hosting parties)– Signs and symptoms of abuse– Recognizing drugs and drug paraphernalia– Potential health risks associated with short term and

long term abuse– Partnering with the school to keep our youth of our

community safe

Community Community SolutionSolutionFormat of each seminar:

– Introduction of Program (District Administration)

– Video on risks and influence (WNYUADAA– Drug and Drug Paraphernalia Presentation

(ECCPASA)– Legal Overview (Town of Evans Police

Department)– Question and Answer Session– Evaluation

Community Community SolutionSolutionPositive Reactions:

– Sally Yageric from Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

– Paraphernalia Show and Tell, including items such as:

Pipes (Lip Stick, Cap Stick, Highlighters and Tin Foil) Toilet Paper Rolls and dryer sheets Flip Flops and Cell Phone Flasks Water Bottle Stash Containers Energy Drinks and Caffeine Shots

– This part of the presentation really wakes parents up and raises their level of awareness.


Where are we today?– Began in the 2006-07 school year with six

presentations for two dances.– Continued in the 2007-08 school year with five

presentations at the High School level for five dances.– Added an annual Spring Middle School program for 8th

grade parents.– Currently 90 percent of all high school parents have

attended at least one of the seminars.


Sally Yageric made a profound statement:– In all of my years of presenting this important

information, I was never able to reach the amount of parents that I have been able to reach through these seminars.


Feedback from parents before they experienced the seminar:– “Why do we have to do this?”– “You are holding our kids hostage”.– “This is the dumbest decision you have ever

made”.


Feedback from parents while they were experiencing the seminar:– “Wow”!– “Why are companies allowed to sell this stuff”– “We never knew”– “This is scary”.– “The teachers need to hear this stuff”.

Community Community SolutionSolutionFeedback from parents after they

experienced the seminar:

– Do you believe the topics covered were relevant and helpful? 98.7% Yes 1.3% No

– Are there other things you would like to see included? 87% Yes Suggestions: Where parents can get help.

Behavior Traits to look for in kids.

Kids and Sex

Over-the-counter drugs


Feedback from parents after they experienced the seminar (continued): Was the information given by the presenter interesting and

well prepared? 99.1% Yes

Were your questions and concerns answered to your satisfaction?

99.5% Yes Would you recommend this forum to other parents?

97.5% Yes


Feedback from parents after they experienced the seminar (continued):– I am very happy, because it gave me a wakeup– Helped me understand what is going on– I was surprised by what was said– I learned new things to watch out for– Now I know what to look for in the home– We need to know these things as parents– Parenting is a life long commitment– This topic relies on parenting at home and developing

responsible individuals

Why Collaborate?Why Collaborate?

There is widespread consensus, proven in research, that family engagement is a critical ingredient for children’s school success “from cradle to career.”

More importantly, establishing relationships is a critical ingredient for children’s life success.

More to come…More to come…

Comprehensive School Counseling ProgramFamily Support CenterFreshman AcademyBoys and Girls Club of Lake ShoreWestern New York United Against Drugs and

Alcohol at Elementary and Middle SchoolPreventionfocus Programs at High School



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Community Problem Community Solution Underage Drinking: It’s Everybody’s Problem