Kids reach kids - Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Project Conference

Food and Nutrition, Jan, 1988 by Marian Wig

Kids Reach Kids

Reaching kids through kids is the idea behind many successful educational activities. Here are two examples--the first, a state-sponsored conference aimed at building teen leaders; the second, a poster contest for children sponsored by the Food and Nutrition Service's Midwest region.

Building Teen Leaders Is Goal Of Virginia Conference

It's costly in terms of school days lost and the toll it takes on grades. And when the push comes, substance abuse can take a life.

People at the Virginia Department of Education think it's important for school staff and students to work together on preventing losses caused by substance abuse.

To help them do this, the Department sponsors what's called the Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Project (YADAPP) Conference. Held each of the past three summers, the conference brings together as many as 400 school personnel and students to focus on prevention strategies.

"Every high school in Virginia can nominate two students and one adult to attend the 2 1/2-day conference," says YADAPP director Marla Coleman. "We train representatives from 60 to 70 percent of the high schools in the state."

The highly popular "wellness" conference, which includes a workshop funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrition Education and Training (NET) Program, seeks to raise participants' awareness of substance abuse and help them develop leadership skills they can use in organizing or expanding drug prevention efforts.

Developing teen leaders a goal

Developing a student-based drug prevention organization requires teens who can form, manage, and promote peer groups. At this year's YADAPP conference, a presentation on assertive leadership, called "Organizing for Success," began the round of workshops for teens.

"The workshop identified the characteristics of good and poor leadership and the importance of distributing responsibility, which emotionally bonds others to the project," Coleman explains. "Young people don't necessarily have a feel for this."

Using worksheets, students identified a problem and worked together to reach a solution. They learned about support systems, organizational structures, and resources.

"Substance abuse prevention is a day-in, day-out effort," Mary Crozier of the Williamsburg Community Services Board told the teens. "Working together is the way to impact on peer pressure."

So that students would know they're not alone. Delores Delaney of the National Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth delivered a speech on the national youth movement to fight drug abuse.

"The kids were very excited to hear that even in their own state, there are others who are into drug prevention activities," Delaney says. "This is extremely important because it helps them feel good about themselves and what they're doing."

Teaching kids to choose good health

Health care professionals agree that self-esteem is vital to resisting drugs and alcohol.

"It doesn't matter if you know everything there is to know about saying 'no' to drugs and alcohol," says Hope Seward of the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.

"If you don't feel good about yourself, if you can't be assertive, if your communication skills are poor, when the time comes, you're not going to be able to say 'no.'"

At a workshop for teachers, Seward provided information about locating speakers, written materials, and funds for drug prevention activities.

As Seward and other speakers stressed, choosing to have a healthy lifestyle means having no time or need for drugs and alcohol.

A workshop called "Running for Wellness" focused on strategies to get students up and moving toward a "natural high" on life.

The nutrition and fitness session, sponsored by the Virginia Nutrition Education and Training Program, challenged educators to analyze their own lifestyles through self-check lists on diet, sleep habits, and other areas that affect physical fitness.

Jane Buch, teacher, author, marathon runner, and cross-country coach, also gave the teachers ideas for physical fitness and nutrition-related activities to use with youth groups.

Participants drew up action plans

The YADAPP conference requires something in return from the teachers and students who attend.

"After our training, the teams of participants draw up drug prevention action plans which list the tasks and implementation dates to accomplish their goals," says Coleman.

In plans developed following this year's conference, students and teachers pledged to organize "peer pressure resistance groups," have alcohol- and drug-free recreational events; sponsor drunk driving awareness week activities; and develop ways to increase community support.

Word of YADAPP's success has resulted in plans for similar conferences in other states. And, locally, the Norfolk City (Virginia) School District will conduct a spin-off conference for 20 of its students.

Results are worth the effort . . .

At last year's conference, Amherst (Virginia) High School received one of three Reader's Digest national scholarship awards for having an outstanding Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) chapter.