February-March 2023 Coalition Newsletter

Joining School, Family, and Community in a partnership to promote healthy, resilient, and drug free youth and to prevent youth suicide.

We have again been awarded the Prevention Network Coalition Capacity Building Grant!

The Coalition was first awarded this $50,000 state grant in 2022. It allowed us to provide leadership training for our Chippewa Valley and Dakota High School Coalition Teen Councils; training for adult Coalition members; and to create video and print materials in English and the 3 languages of some district parents (Spanish, Albanian, and Arabic). In addition, we were able to conduct focus groups with parents and students; implement an on-line survey of parents of district middle and high school students; and update the Life of an Athlete Chippewa Valley Schools website. The second grant award will help further our student, parent, staff and community education and training efforts and the ability to “grow” the Coalition.
The work of the Coalition goes on!

Visit the New Life of an Athlete Chippewa Valley Schools Website!
http://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/loa/

The Life of an Athlete Chippewa Valley School program website for student athletes, coaches, and parents, a collaboration of the district’s Athletic Departments and the Coalition, was recently launched. It contains information on leading a healthy lifestyle…one that supports athletic and academic excellence. The website provides the research of John Underwood, Life of an Athlete/Human Performance Project founder, Olympic trainer, and consultant to the Navy Seals and major league sports teams, on nutrition, sleep, training, and leadership. It also provides research-based information on the negative effects of the use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine and misuse of opioid medication on athletic performance. A survey for student athletes that tests their knowledge and educates them on important issues will be developed soon.

Coalition Online Survey of Chippewa Valley Schools’ Middle and High School Parents

Last January, the Coalition conducted an online survey to gain the perspectives of the parents of district middle and high school students about youth use of alcohol, marijuana and vape products, as well as related issues. Nearly 1,300 parents responded. Results were presented at the March 14th virtual Coalition Meeting. Select data follows:

• Parents perceived that vaping was the biggest youth use problem, followed by marijuana.
• Most high school parents thought billboards advertising marijuana sent a message to youth that use is safe.
• Most parents said they talked to their oldest child about the dangers of substance use at least monthly.
• Most parents said they would not and have not allowed their children to attend a party where alcohol was provided.
• Overall results suggested the need to provide parents with further information about the issues of youth use. Coalition committees will consider the results in planning future Coalition initiatives.

Drug Prevention/Resiliency Building Program
SMART Moves, a 9 session drug prevention program for 5th graders sponsored by the Coalition, recently ended at Cherokee, Erie, and Ottawa Elementary Schools. SMART Moves provides age-appropriate information about the health and other effects of the use of alcohol, marijuana, vape products and other drugs, addiction, refusal skills, and the influence of media. The program is provided by Coalition partners –
Clinton Township Police, Henry Ford Community Health Education, and CARE of SE Michigan,
as well as Chippewa Valley High Coalition Teen Council members.

Update of the Coalition website with additional resources!