Pubdate: Wed, 01 Mar 2006
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Copyright: 2006 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Dawn Feddersen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

Q-C YOUNGSTERS LEARN ABOUT LIFE ISSUES DURING YOUTH CONFERENCE

Drug Free Youth in Touch, or D.F.Y.I.T., wants to show  its middle 
and high school-age members that there's  more to life than drugs.

That's why its eighth annual youth conference Friday  focused on four 
other important topics they wanted to  know more about.

"We wanted to give them the opportunity to learn more  things that 
they might not necessarily learn about in  school. We want them to be 
more aware of things that  are going on around them," said Katy 
Embree, a  prevention specialist at the Center for Alcohol and  Drug 
Services, and D.F.Y.I.T. coordinator.

In November, D.F.Y.I.T. had it's young members choose  what 
interested them most from a list of topics. Their  top choices were 
addressed at Friday's conference.

A representative of John Lewis Coffee Shop spoke to the  kids about 
youth homelessness. The group learned more  about gang violence and 
how it affects the Quad-Cities  from the Davenport Police Department. 
Iowa State  University Extension discussed relationships and  dating. 
And Family Resources Inc., told them how  stereotyping and racism can 
affect others.

Bettendorf Middle School seventh-grader Brooklyn Keegan  became 
involved in D.F.Y.I.T. in the sixth grade  because she said she had 
known people who were using  drugs and knew it wasn't something she 
wanted to do.  She came to Friday's conference eager to learn some new things.

"I want to know about how to have a better  relationship," she said.

Her friend, Katy Furkel, also a seventh-grader at  Bettendorf Middle, 
added, "It's the only time we really  get to learn about this stuff. 
In health class, they  always talk about dating like it's a bad 
thing," she  said.

Furkel also was interested in other topics being  presented. 
"Personally, I want to learn more about  gangs. I know there's lots 
around here. Even in school  you see things," she said.

Embree said that an important aspect for the kids at  Friday's 
conference, as well as D.F.Y.I.T.'s regular weekly activities, is 
that they can see other kids  their age interested in the same things.

"We get the kids together and they meet all kinds of  new people and 
they know that they're not the only one.  When they all get together, 
they can see that they're  not the only ones having to make these 
choices," she  said.

D.F.Y.I.T. is involved in 10 middle and high schools in  Scott 
County. For more information contact Embree at  (563) 332-9080.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman