Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006
Source: Hillsdale Daily News, The (MI)
Copyright: 2006sThe Hillsdale Daily
Contact: http://www.hillsdale.net/contact/editor/
Website: http://www.hillsdale.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4324
Author: Jan Bellamy, Staff Writer

RESCUE MISSION

Conference Offers Tips to Those Who Work With Youth Dealing With 
Drug, Alcohol Abuse

Probate Court Judge Michael Nye sees good things happening in 
Hillsdale County, particularly to benefit the young and vulnerable 
facing issues of drug and alcohol abuse.

Nye, an innovator who brought the national program "Juvenile Drug 
Court" to Hillsdale, led off a two-day conference in Hillsdale Monday 
and Tuesday. He welcomed those who help youngsters meet their 
challenges and succeed to the best of their abilities.

"We're addressing the struggles of the bottom 20 percent of our 
youngsters," said Nye.

"Part of what Juvenile Drug Court does every Tuesday is help 
youngsters in trouble address problems with their drug use and 
truancy issues. We reward them for passing their drug tests, for 
staying in school.

"If you can help a child overcome a 41-percent absence rate from 
school, maybe they'll start feeling better about themselves."

The conference featured presentations by two people who specialize in 
targeting specific groups.

Dr. Mark A. Sloane of Kala-mazoo introduced the conference 
participants to a wider perspective on the impact of fetal alcohol 
syndrome on youth.

"Some of the expectant mothers who come into our clinic, the Center 
for Behavioral Pediatrics, show a blood-alcohol level of 0.28 in the 
daytime," said Sloane. "That's the level at which they function 'normally'."

The impact on their children shows up in various ways as they grow 
and begin to fail to develop as expected.

"Fetal alcohol syndrome can be present and affecting a child's growth 
and development without showing the facial expressions and other 
symptoms professionals are typically looking for," Sloane said during 
Monday's session.

On Tuesday morning, the topic turned to issues related to student 
attitudes and behaviors.

Dr. Richard Dolinski, of the Legacy Center for Students Success in 
Midland, took a look at the overall external and internal assets of 
young people. He further identified indicators for whether a child is 
operating at a deficit or may be thriving, in addition to risk-taking 
behaviors.

In the end, Dolinski said, "A community needs to start and continue a 
good discussion about what support struggling youngsters need and 
sometimes innovative approaches come out of that discussion."

Dolinski described one approach in Midland.

"We started a 'boot camp' for kindergartners," he said. "It's called 
'Jump into Kindergarten'.

"For several weeks before kindergarten actually starts, we took 150 
children into a five-day-a-week, five-hour-a-day program for several 
weeks and taught them the basic behaviors that will help them deal 
with kindergarten."

Dolinski said the skills taught to 4-year-olds include how to line 
up, how to use an "indoor voice versus an outdoor voice," and how to 
carry their lunch trays.

"We're following this group for four years against a cohort that 
didn't attend the boot camp," said Dolinski. "We will then be able to 
judge whether the approach helped. We'll also compare their MEAP 
scores at the third-grade mark."

In closing remarks, Nye expressed excitement that the conference and 
continuing Juvenile Drug Court program will prove a long-term asset 
to Hillsdale County.

"We are looking at all areas, helping directly as well as focussing 
on enhancing industrial and other job opportunities ultimately in 
Hillsdale County," he said. "We want to remove the roadblocks and 
encourage our youth to remain in and contribute positively to our community."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine