Pubdate: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 Source: Fairview Post (CN AB) Copyright: 2007 Fairview Post Contact: http://www.fairviewpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3369 Author: Chris Zwick DRUG COALITION PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR The Fairview and Area Drug Coalition is working on a number of projects for next year it hopes will help the families of those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. The Coalition is responsible for bringing drug expert Steve Walton to Fairview last spring as well as 'Dare to Care' motivational speaker Duane Peace to FHS last fall, but are currently looking to act in an even more direct way by offering its own programs and educational resources to those who seek it out in Fairview. The group is entirely funded through grant money and is looking for new members to help find ways to spend its minimal budget wisely and effectively. The Coalition met last Tuesday in the NAIT boardroom for their monthly meeting. Facilitator training in Valleyview Coalition members discussed upcoming facilitator training on 'how to drug-proof your kids' in Valleyview. It was previously decided that coalition members Mary Bracken, Jasmine Adams and Ingrid Hillyard would be attending the training seminar. Much of the coalition's remaining administration budget will be used to send the three members for the training. The three will then be able to help train more people spot the signs of addiction locally. Coffee House Coalition members have been batting around the idea of an addictions awareness coffee house for a while now, and should have it up and running for at least a night a week sometime next year. Hillyard, who is also the LINK Youth Centre's coordinator offered the youth centre as a location for the coffee house. Coalition members discussed possible advertising for the venture which would be open to anyone who is either dealing with addiction in their family, or is just looking for some information. The coalition formed a sub committee to further explore the possibilities of such a venue. High School partnership in the works Mary Bracken gave coalition members an update on the youth focus group that was formed at FHS after a presentation and workshop by Duane Peace, of the 'Dare to Care' program in October. "It's going amazingly well," said Bracken. The student group has chosen a name and a number of priorities to focus on in the coming year. The group will be called 'Cobras Leading Together' and would like to address the issues of bullying, respect for peers and teachers, drugs and alcohol, and school spirit inside school walls. Bracken said there might be an opportunity for the Drug Coalition to mentor the student group, and have a student representative sit in on meetings. Coalition members also decided to try to bring Duane Peace back to Fairview for another session with the students as well as a parents' evening to help bridge the communication gap between parents and teenagers. The Fairview and Area Drug Coalition meets every month in the boardroom at NAIT and is actively seeking new members. The next meeting will be Jan. 8 at 2 pm. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin