Second Shock a Success!

The Youth in Action team's "Sticker Shock" event was a success! The team hit Neely's and Convenient in East Wheeling. The business locations were extremely helpful, friendly and cooperative. Patrons of the stores were also very polite and supportive. The youth provided merchant education regarding the laws about selling alcohol to minors. They also placed stickers on alcohol products with the same reminder to purchasers of alcohol for minors.

Thanks so much for all your help We Are The Future, law enforcement, and OCSAPC!

East Wheeling to be “Sticker Shocked” by Kids and Cops

Our Youth in Action team is taking part in the second in a series of "Sticker Shock" campaigns designed to educate merchants and raise community awareness about underage drinking laws. Many clerks do not understand that they are held responsible for their actions if they choose to sell to minors. We Are The Future youth group, Wheeling PD, Ohio County Sheriff''s and OCSAPC adult volunteers join forces with an aim to lower youth access to alcohol and thereby reduce underage consumption.

It is found that teens have access to alcohol through "social access" that is from friends or family and through "retail access" usually having adults purchase the product for them or by purchasing it themselves using fake ID cards or by not being "carded" properly. This action addresses retail access by having youth placing stickers on alcohol products in Convenient and Neely's in East Wheeling. They will educate clerks using performance techniques and they hope to raise community awareness of this issue. The merchants benefit by allowing the public to see that they do make thoughtful business decisions and they do support proper sales procedures to minors.

We recently surveyed 37 recovering addicts/ alcoholics and 30 said alcohol was the first drug they tried. It is indeed a gateway drug. The group hopes their efforts will begin to reduce substance use and abuse in their community.

The action is scheduled for December 10, 2008 at 4:30PM. They participants will meet at Lincoln and proceed to East Wheeling. All media is welcome to join them!

Substance Abuse Prevention Funding Continues

CHARLESTON, W.VA.— Funding to County Prevention Partnerships across West Virginia continues for local substance abuse prevention efforts. Governor Joe Manchin recently announced the federally-funded prevention grant awards, which total more than $1.8 million dollars, to the following 17 counties: Barbour, Cabell, Calhoun, Doddridge, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mercer, Mingo, Morgan, Ohio, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, and Wood.

Locally the recipient is Ohio County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition with Youth Services Systems, Inc. as the fiscal agent providing administrative support. The grant amount of $120,850 covers funding from Oct.01, 2008-Sept. 29, 2009. The coalition efforts include grassroots prevention initiatives such as media campaigns to raise community awareness of substance abuse related issues, parenting programs, retailer education and stings to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors, school-based curriculum such as the Too Good For Drugs Program, and community-based programs such as a Youth Forum or Town Hall Meeting.

“County Prevention Partnerships are the front line of West Virginia’s Substance Abuse Prevention System,” said Mike Lacy, Chair of The WV Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being (WV Partnership). “They are vital to tackling our state’s substance abuse problem, which costs more than $470 million a year.” The WV Partnership is the state’s Governor-appointed substance abuse prevention and intervention planning body. It advised the Governor regarding these grants.

The source of the grants is a federal Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) awarded to West Virginia in 2004. The five-year, more than 11 million dollar federal grant is intended to build prevention capacity and infrastructure at the state and local levels; prevent the onset and reduce the progress of substance abuse including childhood and underage drinking; and reduce substance abuse and substance abuse-related problems in communities.

The SPF SIG is administered by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. West Virginia’s Office of the Governor is the official recipient of the SPF SIG. The Governor has chosen the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services to fiscally administer the SPF SIG sub-grants to counties. The Governor has also contracted with the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center (WVPRC) to coordinate the implementation of the SPF SIG in the form of planning, grant administration, training, technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation.

Additional information about WV’s SPF SIG, WV’s Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being, Regional Learning Opportunities, and the WVPRC is available at www.PrevNET.org or by contacting grant director Kristen Kroflich at kkroflich@ysswv.com or prevention educator Martha Polinsky at mpolinsky@ysswv.com.

Parents Needed & Your Teens Are Asking For You!

Really!! How often do your kids ask for your help?

In July our coalition, with much community support, brought a Youth Forum on underage drinking to the area. In attendance were youth from several area schools, churches, shelters, and community groups. We had 6 discussion topics and we tabulated the responses. We also gave each of the 32 attendees an evaluation form.

The following statements were given with a yes/no option:
“I feel like my opinions were heard at this forum.” 29 Yes
“I feel like youth can make a difference in preventing underage drinking in the local area.” 28 Yes
“I feel like the adults here today want to help youth lead efforts to prevent underage drinking.” 28 Yes
(Remember this is out of 32 youth in attendance)

They were also asked to “list types of people in the community needed most to help youth make a difference with underage drinking.” The top answers were:
Teachers/Schools – 17
Sports/coaches -12
Parents -11
Police -10

Parents are in the top 3 as to who youth think can help them. Don’t let them down! Help us give them the chance to lead social change. Our coalition has only one parent member not associated with any other organization. The only area we have less active interest or participation is from elected officials. We’re going to have to do reduce Underage Drinking as a community and we need parents to give our youth a chance.

We hope you join us on Oct. 22 at 12:30PM for our next meeting. We look forward to meeting you and gaining insight from your knowledge, talents, and experience in the most important job you’ll ever have…..a parent!

FASD Workshop and Outreach a Sucess!

Pictured with infant demo dolls are Lynne Stanley, Kristen Kroflich, Deb Allen and Shelly Behm. They attended the Healthy Babies/Health Future Workshop and FASD Community Outreach. The workshop, which over 60 people attended, focused on Shaken Baby Syndrome, bonding and attachment and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD.) After the workshop from 3PM -5PM approximately 60 on-premise alcohol establishments recieved a visit from a volunteer. The volunteers spoke with business owners, managers, and workers giving them information, statistics and the supplemental FASD warning sign shown in the previous blog entry. What a great way to comemorate Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders National Awareness Day!

FASD Prevented by 9 Months Alcohol Free

The above poster was conceived of by We Are The Future youth; it is to be distributed to local on-premise alcohol establishments. It is a supplemental sign that can hang with the old mandated sign. It contains updated information and is more visually appealing.

On September 9 is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) National Awareness Day, recognizing the need for 9 month of a sober, healthy pregnancy. Our coalition in collaboration with the Ohio County Partners in Prevention will be hosting a Healthy Babies - Healthy Future: Preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and other issues that are easily preventable by education. The workshop is from 8AM to 3PM at the Vineyard Church 135 Waddles Run Rd., Wheeling.

The workshop will end with a bang as attendees who have volunteered will take part in a grassroots community outreach effort. The volunteers will visit on-premise alcohol establishments for about 10 minutes. They will read information to clerks and managers advising them about FASD and how they can help. Supplemental FASD warning flyers and posters (as shown above) will be given to businesses for use in their establishments.

FASD is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the western world and it's 100% preventable by abstaining from consumption alcohol during pregnancy. The U.S. Surgeon General has advised that it is never safe to consume alcohol during pregnancy. The updated signs show that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome has changed to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. It has been found that a whole spectrum of disorders can occur, and many go undiagnosed as FASD because it is often unknown whether the mother of the child affected drank alcohol during her 9 month pregnancy.

This is a first of its kind, proactive and positive effort in Ohio County. Please invest in this effort and your community. You don't have to attend the workshop if you want to volunteer for this effort.

Workshop Agenda is as follows:
8:0-8:45 Registration & Welcome
8:45-10:15 Shaken Baby Syndrome
10:30-12:00 Bonding & Attachment
12:30-1:45 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
2:45-3:00 Community Outreach Directions & Evaluation
3:oo-5:00 Volunteer Outreach

You may have also noticed the FASD billboards all around Wheeling; these, as well as, a grass roots appeal by mail to local city officials rounds out the month. We hope to educate and influence businesses and our community to be aware and do all they can to educate others. If you would like to volunteer to help educate businesses and your community, please contact the OCSAPC by way of Kristen Kroflich at (304) 233-2045 ext 305 or kkfroflitch@ysswv.com.

Kids and Cops Rock with "Sticker Shock"

WHAT: Youth in Action (YIA) is a team of Ohio County youth, local police officers, and adult volunteers; this collaboration will take part in a community action called “Sticker Shock” which promotes the prevention of underage drinking. This team will canvas area businesses asking them to allow the team to place stickers on all alcohol products. The stickers, designed by local youth, will provide a reminder about the laws regarding persons over 21 purchasing alcohol for minors.

WHEN: August 18, 2008 at 1:00PM

WHERE: Woodsdale/Pleasanton Area Businesses who choose to participate.

WHO: Local youth from We Are The Future youth group, the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department and the Ohio County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition have joined forces to bring about social change. As of now, the youth will be going to CVS, Kroger, and Gumby’s. Let’s give these businesses a big hand for stepping up and showing the community that they do not support underage drinking and that they have made thoughtful business decisions and sales procedures.

WHY: This action will allow area business owners the opportunity to showcase that they really do take underage drinking laws seriously and care for the well being of our community. The involved youth will be empowered to know that their voice is heard and they can influence adults in the community and make a difference.

HOW: The volunteer youth, law enforcement and other adults will meet at 1:00PM and the kids will ride in cruisers to businesses that have chosen to participate

Area Students Unite with the Youth Forum

The first in a series of youth forums kicked off Tuesday night July 29 at Linsly. About 40 area youth participated in discussion groups that focused on coming up with ideas to help youth lead the way in tackling the underage drink problem in Ohio County. There has never been a youth activity like this in our area and it is much needed as the county ranks third in the state for this issue.

Many of the students in attendance have seen first hand how alcohol abuse among youth can cause death, injury, or broken families. The diversity of student background really added to the success of this forum. These young people came together for a common cause. They were thrilled that adults cared to listen as they shared what they knew. The students also worked together to come up with ideas that youth themselves could do to alleviate the problem.

The questions posed asked if they thought there was an underage drinking problem in our area, and they asked about the attitude that youth and adults have about underage drinking. Finally ending with what youth can do about it and how adults can help youth to make social changes regarding alcohol use among youth.

The students were amazingly open as they shared their thoughts about the problem and the solutions. Some youth shared their bad experiences using drugs and alcohol while others shared how they have been able to stay away from harmful substances altogether.

On a group level, the youth came together from different backgrounds and viewpoints and worked for social change. On an individual level, it seemed to give them an alternative view of what other young people go through and from this they gathered strength in their conviction.

Day Campers Dabble in Alcohol Prevention

OCSAPC was able to bring the research based prevention program, Keep a Clear Mind, to Wheeling Park Day Campers. We also added some fun reinforcement activities including a talk show, sculpture, writing their own rap song about remaining free of drug and alcohol, and a choices obstacle course. We had great weather and great participation from the 9-12 year old Ohio County students.

Pictured are students creating sculpture with cigarette packaging refuse. We talked about how much money one could save if they quit smoking for an extended period of time. The sculptures represent what they could buy with the money saved.




Also pictured are children watching We Are The Future youth perform free-style raps about staying off drugs and alcohol and reaching their goals. The kids then broke into groups and wrote their own songs and preformed them.

Youth In Action Training and Collaboration

We recently sponsored a Youth in Action training session in which we collaborated with law enforcement and We Are the Future youth. The Goal was to launch a social marketing campaign which addresses irresponsible marketing practices by area businesses that sell alcohol. After a day of activities geared to understanding the problem and learning how we can help, we decided to create a Youth in Action team. The team organized and decided on a “Sticker Shock” campaign in which the youth, law enforcement and any volunteers meet with business owners who are interested in participating. We ask if we may come into the place of business during working hours and place warning stickers on all alcoholic beverages. The stickers will be developed by We are the Future Youth. The hope is that business owners and customers will learn that youth are concerned about the problem of selling alcohol to underage youth and it might cause them to rethink there sales procedures. It could also show the community that there are young people who want to do something about this problem.

On a personal note, that I know is shared by Kristen, Jill, Carole and myself, it was quite heart warming to see local law enforcement officers interacting and having fun with these fabulous young people. That was a success in itself.

Beer Pong: The Video Game?

During this Christmas, I got the chance to play the new Nintendo Wii interactive video games. It was great to bowl or play virtual tennis with my friends and family. We each created our own virtual character, that served as a "mini-me" in the games. It was good,clean fun for everyone. It has recently been brought to the coalition's attention that Nintendo now plans a "Frat Party Games" series, which will include Beer Pong.

Although that sounds highly unappealing to me, I may be tempted to say, "to each his or her own," however, a company representative recently said the game would be designated with a "T" for teen rating. I, as well as many other OCSAPC members, am very disappointed in this company.

One major statistic that comes to mind is that youth who begin to drink before the age of 15 are 4 times more likely to become alcoholics, than those who simply wait until they are 21 to drink. I find those to be staggering odds. Games from supposedly reputable companies, like Nintendo, only intensifies the perception that binge drinking and underage consumption is the norm and is socially acceptable. The coalition ventured to write a letter to the editor of Ogden Newspapers, and we urge anyone offended by this idea to write a letter to:
Jag Jaeger, Vise President
JV Games Inc.
P.O. Box 97455
Las Vegas NV 89193

It is possible that this is a ploy by the companies marketing department to raise interest in the game by creating controversey and thereby causing teens to highly desire the product. It seems manipulative either way, and we hope this company will decide to choose a more responsible policy.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)Campaign

Kristen and Cory have been working diligently on the FASD campaign in September. We're having public service announcements and we will be campaigning at county locations for more awareness. Information will be distributed to families, women of child bearing age, alcohol outlets and other locations. We are the Future youth will be helping to design and distribute media awareness materials such as bilboards, stickers, and flyers. Along with the coalition, the Early Childhood Interagency Committee (ECIC through the Ohio County Family Resource Network) will be helping in campaigning to create change.

Project Towards No Drug Abuse

Project Towards No Drug Abuse is an evidence based curriculum that I just completed, today as a matter of fact, at Wheeling Middle School with the 8th graders. Evidence based means it has proven results. I feel very lucky that I was able to bring this program to these students just as they are about to embark on a new adventure...High School. The students were wonderfully honest and I think they really got something out of the program even though they would never admit it. When they heard someone was going to be in their science classes for 12 sessions, they thought we would be discussing drugs and their effects. To their surprise, Project Towards No Drug Abuse really focuses on ways for students to deal with life without drugs and helps them face peer and societal pressure to use harmful substances. It's not just about saying "no" but taking care of themselves in the process. It's about choosing situations that are beneficial to their own life goals.

Many of these kids face addiction and alcoholism every day in their own families. This program brings hope and answers to some problems and questions they deal with continually. For some, this is the only life they know; we have the power to show them there is another way through these programs. They really learned that addiction and alcoholism touch every person in an addicts life, but those affected can chose another route and grow to be happy and healthy.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to be a small part of the students eighth grade year. I would really like to thank the teachers Mrs. Cook and Mrs. McKay whose classrooms I took over. I would also like to thank Mrs. Hearne, Mr. Railing, and Mr. Riddle for their support in setting up the program, and Ms. Dianna Vargo for her support and help in bringing these great programs to students who really can use it to better their lives.

Thanks to the kids for acting as a mirror into my past and teaching me that we really can attain our hopes and dreams if we stay clean and sober. Life gets better and better.

May Coalition Meeting

Coalition Members pictured here are: bottom row left: Cory Hickman, Kriten Kroflich, Sarah Borrell, top left: Sgt. Duwane Taylor, Carol Scheerbaum, Jill Eddy, Ken Boyle, Judy Kesterson, Russ Taylor, Marcia Allen, Lynne Stanley,Deb Allen. Present but not pictured Martha Polinsky.

The May coalition meeting took place May 21, 2008. A fabulous time as had by all. Great lunch! Kritsten Kroflich, Program Director and fearless leader, continued a dialogue on effective practices for community change. ONE-ON-ONE interviews are known to help build rapport and promote grassroots change and support. Members discussed different sectors of the community and named individuals from those sectors with whom we might contact and conduct one-on-one interviews. Members pledged to conduct interviews based on the time they had to contribute. All volunteers are welcome to participate!

The next grant cycle is October 1, 2008 - Septmeber 29, 2009. We discussed our focus for next year and ways to improve our leadership. We want our leadership to reflect the demographics of the community. We also want to look towards tangible support from other organizations or agencies in our community. The coalition also discussed the upcoming Fetal Alcohol Spectrums Disorder (FASD) campaign taking place in September 2008.

You Tube Video

What's Happening in May

Today I am working on lesson plans for our upcoming Keep a Clear Mind progam happening at Wheeling Park Day Camp. We have lots of fun activities planned like a talk show, writing and preforming a rap, rock or country song, cigarette garbage sculpture and choices obstacle course. The activities reinforce the Keep Clear Mind program. Keep a Clear Mind is research based and proven effective. Cory and I have collbaorated on this and we are both looking forward to implementing this sucessful program with our planned activities. We will be having the youth from "We Are the Future" helping out.

Kristen is hard at work analyzing data and preparing to write the grant for this year. It is quite a big job to undertake. Kristen even worked on Saturday. WOW! That is dedication.

At the next coalition meeting will be updating our membership list and taking a new picture to post on the blog. Hope to see you there!

Martha Polinsky

Town Hall Meeting - Held April 3 for Alcohol Awareness Month

I'm still catching up our readers on past events! We've done so much this year.

OCSAPC had speakers who offered messages of prevention and hope during Town Hall Meeting about underage alcohol consumption in Wheeling Thursday night.

About 75 people — nearly half of them teenagers — gathered at 6 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in Wheeling to listen to presentations by local drug and alcohol counselors and prevention specialists.

According to the coalition, youth alcohol use in Ohio County is third highest in the state, and a majority of Ohio County teens reported they see little or no harm in drinking alcohol.“It’s a big problem in this area,” said Ken Boyle, a drug and alcohol counselor for adolescents at Youth Services System in Wheeling.

On the other hand, 66 percent of Wheeling Park High School students reported they think it’s wrong for adults to host teen drinking parties, according to Kristen Kroflich (pictured above), coalition project director, citing a survey conducted by the law firm Gold, Khourey and Turak.“That’s a good number. We want people to know what these youth are saying. Youth can make a difference,” Kroflich said.

The Wheeling meeting kicked off with a digital video presentation created by members of We Are the Future, a nonprofit youth group dedicated to social change.

Ken Boyle spoke about his battle with alcohol addiction. “I saw firsthand the terrors of addiction", he said, noting he started using alcohol in high school. It seemed everyone was doing it, he said.“Young people, you don’t have to think that way. Adults, please don’t accept that when your kid is 15, 16 or 18, ‘Oh, they’re going to drink and there’s nothing we can do about it.’ ... The worst thing in the world is for a parent to have to bury a child. It can be prevented,” Boyle said.

Carole Scheerbaum of the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center gave statistics including the finding that Ohio County ranked sixth out of the 55 West Virginia counties in the need for a substance abuse prevention program. The factors include youth reporting there is some or no harm in using alcohol and that they have easy access to beer and liquor. “But I have hope. Why? Because the youth are getting involved. We saw tobacco use decline when the youth got involved, and the same thing will happen with alcohol,” Scheerbaum said.

Other speakers included Russ Taylor from HealthWays Inc./Miracles Happen, an inpatient treatment program for adult men, and Jim Braden, prevention officer at Wheeling Park High School.

Wheeling News Register Staff Writer Art Limann contributed to this report.

When OCSAP Coalition Began - Sept.5 2007

Ohio County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition’s campaign against youth alcohol use are coalition members, from left, Deborah Allen, chair; Carole Scheerbaum; Kristen Kroflich, project director; Jill Eddy; Cory Hickman; Russ Taylor; Sharon Parker; Debbie Wood and Judy Kesterson. Standing in the back is Greg Puckett of Mercer County Teen Court. - Photo by Betsy Bethel

A coalition is born.

Out of 55 counties in West Virginia, Ohio County has the third highest percentage of youth who drink alcohol, according to the West Virginia Prevention Resource Network.

In addition: - Half of teens find little harm in drinking beer, - Three-quarters find little harm in drinking wine coolers, and - Roughly two-thirds report easy access to both.

“We want to make sure people know there is a youth alcohol problem in Ohio County and that everyone knows there is something we can do about it,” said Kristen Kroflich, Ohio County project director for the federal Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant, which is helping to fund a campaign against youth alcohol abuse in the county.

The Ohio County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition launched the campaign at a luncheon Sept. 5 at Undo’s in Elm Grove, where Kroflich presented the facts, figures and goals. Attending the presentation were officials from various local agencies that make up the coalition, as well as media, law enforcement and prospective coalition members.

This was taken from an article in the Wheeling News Register.

Poster Contest Winners

As many of you know, I was able to bring Keep a Clear Mind curriculum to 5 area schools. The Coalition held a poster contest for Alcohol Awareness month. We recieved entries from from 4th Graders at 4 Ohio County Schools who took part in Keep a Clear Mind. These schools included Madison, Elm Grove, Ritchie, and Middle Creek. There were 9 classes altogether, and we had 3 winners (well actually all the children who took part in Keep a Clear Mind were winners).

The winning entries appeared on billboards around Wheeling during the month of April. The winners were Courtney Kekahuna from Elm Grove, Michelle Williams from Middle Creek, and Kierra Mitchell from Madison. There will be an award ceremony tonight at the Ohio County Schools Board of Education Meeting , which I will proudly be attending. Let's hear it for the great kids of Ohio County Schools.

Martha Polinsky, Prevention Educator