Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2014
Source: Herald News (West Paterson, NJ)
Copyright: 2014 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.northjersey.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2911
Author: Grace Kwon, Staff Writer

PARENTS PROMOTE SUBSTANCE-FREE ENVIRONMENT

OLD TAPPAN - After a year-long debate on a proposed random drug
testing policy in the Northern Valley Regional High School district,
the Northern Valley community created a drug coalition to promote a
safe and substance-free environment for students in its seven towns.

The grassroots, community-based committee held its introductory
meeting on April 3 at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old
Tappan to lay out the organization's framework and discuss its objectives.

"Everybody has really wanted to do something, and this is an
opportunity where we can all come together and make a positive
difference in our community if we can all act as one," said Melissa
Driscoll, president of the NVRHS Old Tappan's Parent Teacher Student
Organization.

Some objectives for the coalition include reducing chronic substance
abuse and drinking, as well as creating positive prevention education
programs for parents and teenagers.

Many of the long-term goals are modeled on the successes of the
Hills-Valley Coalition, a 17-year joint venture between Pascack Hills
and Pascack Valley high schools.

"We're trying to use what they have to get a swift kick start," said
Driscoll.

The coalition, which will create sub-committees, hopes to draw
membership from parents, residents, community business leaders, law
enforcement, school officials, and most importantly, students,
Driscoll said.

"I can't emphasize enough how important it is for students to be
involved in this," said Driscoll. "They have the energy, they have the
drive and they're on the ground. They understand what's going on."

Driscoll added in order to create a successful program, it is
necessary to unify the communities by increasing communication and
networking. To this end, the coalition plans to create a newsletter
and a website to access information.

"One of the most important things about the Northern Valley Coalition
is the availability of information," she said. "Information is what we
all run on."

For its funding, Driscoll said the coalition can create municipal
alliances to gather money from town councils, parent organizations and
volunteer organizations like the Rotary Club and Lions Club.

Driscoll hopes to build a solid base, create internal committees and
work on funding before the coalition's official kick off in September
2014.

"Our towns all have a lot of wonderful volunteers and I think that we
can really make a difference for youth and for families," she said.
"This is something that is just starting. This is the very beginning."

[image caption]

Co-President Melissa Driscoll of the Northern Valley Coalition gives
several examples of how the Hills-Valley Coalition communicates with
parents and residents in its communities, such as this flyer, during
an introductory meeting to the coalition April 3. The coalition is
designed to function as a community-based organization to provide
effective substance awareness education.Northern Valley Coalition
Co-President Melissa Driscoll leads the presentation on the
newly-organized coalition. Driscoll pulled examples from the
Hills-Valley Coalition, which has been in existence for 17 years.
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