Pubdate: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 Source: Agassiz Harrison Observer (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Agassiz Observer Contact: http://www.agassizharrisonobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1344 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) CONFIDENT, CONNECTED, RESILIENT AND RESPECTED After 15 years as a school counsellor, Wendy Colman knows what incredible rewards there are to watching a youth get clean and stay clean. Those rewarding experiences are what she wants to share with every teacher in the Fraser Cascade School District through her comprehensive curriculum for drug and alcohol education. As co-ordinator, Colman has transformed a 'Healthy Promotion' grant for $20,000 and a Crystal Meth grant for $10,000, both from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, into a cradle-to-adulthood educational kit for each school within the Fraser Cascade School District. "Rather than recreate the wheel," says Colman, we joined forces with the Hope Crystal Meth Task force, reviewed programs of other school districts, and met monthly as a school district working group, to look at what programs we have available now," in respect to drug and alcohol education and "how we will fill in the gaps." The group, made up of educators, First Nations representatives, school trustees, Hope and Agassiz-Harrison Community Services, parents, and counsellors looked at how the education system can do a better job of getting kids to where they are less likely to be influenced into using drugs or alcohol, by tying together community resources in a tidy educational package. The group developed compete educational kits, as this new "framework of resources," including videos, access to on-line programs, lesson plans, which meet the Ministry of Education standards, and professional development opportunities for teachers. The kits are user friendly, bringing together all of the resources available to teachers and identifying which programs should be covered at which age group. The new educational kits for schools even include prenatal care, identifying programs and contact information for programs within the community, aimed at starting life on the right foot. From grade one to grade 12 age-appropriate programs, like 'I Can Be Responsible' from United Streaming, to school-based violent prevention programs offered by the Hope and Area Transition Society, and even ICBC's Road Sense, are all clearly identified for teachers, complete with learning resources and contact numbers included right in the kits. The new curriculum fits into the district's three stage drug and alcohol strategy: educating youth on the damaging effects of drugs, intervention where behavior has brought a student "up on the radar" of counsellors, and if needed, treatment, where a school-based care team works with the student, family, and health care professionals to make sure a youth gets the help they need. The first stage of education is hopefully the only stage most students will ever need. But whether you are rich or poor, come from a solid family or a family that is struggling, all youths can fall into the trap of addiction. And the keys to prevention and the basis to the new curriculum, says Colman, is helping youth in a respectful way to build connectiveness to family or a mentor, develop resilience to life's stresses, and grow in self esteem. Once away from the classroom and facing a world of 'club drugs,' youths will then have the skills needed to make the right lifestyle choices for themselves. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman