Pubdate: Sat, 17 Apr 2004
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2004, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Vivian Austin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM GENERATES SUPPORT AT GAUTIER MEETING

GAUTIER - A meeting Friday aimed at keeping kids away from drugs was deemed 
a success by participants. The meeting marked the beginning of the 
five-week Guiding Good Choices program. It is designed to teach parents and 
children communication, bonding, family cooperation, anger management, and 
guidelines for healthy behavior.

"Whether is it a success depends on how much involvement we can get from 
the people who are here," said Dr. Daryls Alford, associate professor of 
psychology at University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast. "If we get 
that it will be a success."

The so-called Community Planning Coalition meeting was held at the Singing 
River Services Mental Health office.

Joe Stallworth, SRS grant coordinator, said the coalition is a requirement 
of a three-year $300,000 grant from the Mississippi Alliance for 
Prevention, administered through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

Stallworth said the purpose of the coalition is to fill in gaps in the 
community where services are needed to keep children off drugs. Guiding 
Good Choices targets children ages 9 to 15, he said, because research shows 
that the middle school years are when youngsters usually start drug and 
alcohol use.

Alford, Singing River personnel, resident Mary McKinley, and Sally Davis 
with Mississippi Regional Housing Authority, had several ideas: form a PTO 
at Gautier Middle School, talk to parents involved in Dixie Youth leagues, 
send fliers to parents about GGC, and make efforts to bring the GCC to 
schools and public housing developments. They also suggested providing 
incentives to parents who have problems with drugs to attend GGC.

"It's very uplifting. The coalition approach is so important," McKinley 
said. "If parents can feel that they have the support of the community and 
schools and people helping them in a nonjudgmental manner, then we all benefit."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager