REGISTER NOW!!!

May 10th - 11th, 2011

 Springfield, Illinois

Tuesday Night- Training on Advocacy 101, Large Group Activities, Mock Legislative Meetings and dinner with your peers

(Registration 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)

Wednesday- Capitol Tour and

Legislative Meetings at the Capitol 

Limited Space Available!!!!!

Registration is limited to 1 adult sponsor and 4 youth per school!!

Cost Per Student: $25

Per Adult(shared room): $35

Per Adult(private room): $70 

This is a great opportunity for students to learn about the legislative process first hand!  Students will be trained and given tools needed to complete successful visits with their Legislators!! 

Go to www.bestofidea.com for registration and information!

On February 28^th, 2011, I had the pleasure of being one of many high school students to participate in the Madison County Youth Forum.  Being one of these students meant that I was part of something very important.  The Forum gives the students of Madison County high schools the chance to speak out and try to better the high school experience for themselves, their fellow classmates, and classes in years to come.  All of the students got together around noon and, after listening to a speaker, broke off into groups.  These groups spent about two hours brainstorming ideas for solutions concerning a specific topic they were given, and after eating dinner they presented their ideas to a panel of adult judges, who gave feedback on putting the ideas into action.  The entire night brings together adults that are involved in Madison County and students who know what high schools need to improve.  It's a team movement as well as a chance for the youth of the county to speak out.  A very important group of teenagers help plan and cosponsor the event; the Madison County Youth Board. 

To read more about the Madison County Youth Forum click here. 

For U.S. teenagers who drink, hard liqor is the beverage of choice, according to a new study.  Almost 44% of 7,723 high-school studens in eight states who reported having at least one alcoholic drink in the previos 30 days preferred liquor.  Beer was a distant second, with 19.2% of teens citing it as a favorite; another 17.4% listed malt beverages as their favorite.  Wine and wine coolers were the preferences of only 3.7% and 3.4%, repectively, of those surveyed. 

Read more on Kansas Family Partnership's, Inc. website... 

It is evident that as humans move from childhood, through adolescence, and into adulthood, dramatic changes take place in their bodies and behavior. Many of the changes that occur during adolescence, such as an increased emphasis on social interactions with peers and a greater tendency to take risks and seek novel experiences, can be good things-helping teens gradually separate from their parents and eventually function as independent adults.

But these same changes can also increase the risk for harmful behaviors, including alcohol use. Until recently, what has been less evident is the extent of change in many parts of the brain that occurs during this period and how the process of brain maturation influences overall adolescent development.

Click here for the full report from the Underage Drinking Research Initiative

Drinking alcohol undoubtedly is a part of American culture, as are conversations between parents and children about its risks and potential benefits. However, information about alcohol can seem contradictory. Alcohol affects people differently at different stages of life-small amounts may have health benefits for certain adults, but for children and adolescents, alcohol can interfere with normal brain development.

Alcohol's differing effects and parents' changing role in their children's lives as they mature and seek greater independence can make talking about alcohol a challenge. Parents may have trouble setting concrete family policies for alcohol use. And they may find it difficult to communicate with children and adolescents about alcohol-related issues.

Click here for full article from the NIAAA