Vision
Racine County is a place where youth assets are increasing and all youth are healthy, involved and successful members of the community.
Mission
The Racine County Youth Coalition engages agencies, business partners, communities, families and schools, to promote and foster positive change in community practices, public policy, and youth programming in order to build assets and reduce risk behaviors including substance abuse among all Racine County young people.
Interested in joining the RCYC?
Contact Seth Kuranz at Focus on Community for more information.
(262) 632-6200
rcyc@focusracine.org
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In This Issue
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2010 "40 Developmental Assets" Data for Racine County Available Online
During the Spring of 2010, over 7,000 7-12th grade students from across Racine County completed the Search Institute Profile of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors Survey. This survey provides information on the 40 Developmental Assets and 24 Risk-taking Behaviors.
You can access the data and download the reports by clicking visiting: http://www.focusracine.org/content/asset.
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"Parents Who Host Lose the Most"
Underage drinking costs Wisconsin approximately $1.6 billion each year in:
- Youth violence: $570.8 million
- Youth traffic crashes: $302.2 million
- Youth injury as a result of alcohol: $59.7 million
- Youth property crime: $41.7 million*
Wisconsin's youth drink alcohol too young, too much and too often with tragic short and powerful long- term consequences. Social hosting encourages binge drinking, alcohol poisoning and unintentional injuries like falls or drowning. Simply taking away the keys is not the answer. The law is simple. If you purchase, pour or provide alcohol for underage drinkers you can be held liable for the resulting damages that youth incurs. Homeowners' insurance policies don't extend liability coverage for illegal activities. Don't put your financi al future at risk. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!
Parents, grandparents and other adults hosting parties for youth under age 21 should plan family and teenage events carefully to prevent underage alcohol use. Parents can protect themselves and their teens by following these simple guidelines when hosting parties that include teens:
- Host safe, alcohol-free activities and events for youth during prom and graduation season.
- Refuse to supply alcohol to underage drinkers or allow drinking in your home or on your property.
- Be at home when your teenager has a party.
- Make sure your teenager's friends do not bring alcohol into your home.If youth bring alcohol into your home, confiscate it immediately.
- Talk to other parents about alcohol-free youth events. Unity creates a tough, enforceable message.
- Report underage drinking to authorities promptly.
If you would like to be involved with Racine County's local "Parents Who Host" Campaign, please contact Megan Kroes at 262.632.6200.
*Underage Drinking in WI, prepared by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) October 2006.
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FTC to Review Alcohol Marketing Compliance, Seeks Public Comment
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will review the effectiveness of the alcohol industry's voluntary marketing guidelines, which are primarily intended to avoid advertising to youth under age 21, The New York Times reported March 8.
The review is the fourth in 12 years. The agency is expected to focus on how alcohol is marketed on social networks, which were much less dominant in June 2008, when the FTC's most recent review was completed. According to the FTC website, it will be requesting information from makers of beer, wine, and distilled spirits. Before it does so, it seeks public comment on its data requests by April 26 on the following topics:
- The companies' compliance with voluntary advertising placement provisions, sales, and marketing expenditures;
- The status of third-party review of complaints regarding compliance with voluntary advertising codes; and
- Alcohol industry data-collection practices.
The Times indicated that one of area of inquiry is likely to be how alcohol companies "avoid collecting data from those under the age of 21." One of the provisions of the industry's voluntary guidelines is that participating companies can advertise only in media outlets where 70 percent or more of the readers or viewers are of drinking age. In June 2008, the FTC concluded that 97 percent of alcohol ads met that goal.
According to Janet M. Evans of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection, the new review will likely cover "information collection and the credibility of age registrations" when it comes to alcohol marketing on social media. The websites of hard liquor brands usually require visitors to certify they are 21 or over, and Twitter sometimes requires users to do the same if they wish to follow certain alcohol brands on the site.
Marin Institute, an alcohol industry watchdog, is encouraging members of the public to submit comments to the FTC by the agency's April 26 deadline. In a 2008 report, "Why Big Alcohol Can't Police Itself: A Review of Self-Regulation in the Distilled Spirits Industry," Marin argued that an independent, third-party review board that includes public interest representatives should assess the industry's compliance with the guidelines.
Please click here to visit JoinTogether.org and read more.
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Trainings Available this Spring Hosted by Mentor Kenosha & Racine
Mentor Kenosha & Racine will be hosting three training this Spring.
Introduction to Mentoring: Thursday April 7, 2011 from 4-6p at UW-Parkside, Tallent Hall, Orchard Room
Download the flier here.
True Colors: Thursday April 21, 2011 from 5:30-7:30p at UW-Parkside, Tallent Hall, Room 201
Download the flier here.
h2 comnC8 W yth: How to Communicate with Youth across Cultures: Tuesday May 3, 2011 from 5:30-7:30p at UW-Parkside, Tallent Hall, Room 281
Download the flier here.
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Medicine Collection Day for Households:
A Prescription for Clean Water & Safe Kids
The Central Racine County Health Department, City of Racine Health Department, and Western Racine County Health Department will be hosting a medication collection day. The collection will take place:
SATURDAY, April 16, 2011 9:00am - 1:00pm
6200 21st Street
(North of former Sam's Club)
156 E. State Street
Racine Burlington
(Western Racine County Health Department)
For more information, you can download the flier here.
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Participate in a Focus Test for FACE's New Social Host Posters
Recently, FACE has begun to dig back into the social host issue; we have come up with two concept ideas. We are now at a point where we need to focus test the concepts to gain feedback so we can make changes as needed to be sure we deliver the best possible messages that will resonate with the target audience.
I am contacting you today to see if you would be interested in giving us your feedback. Below, you will find a link to a web page that contains the two concept ideas and a few questions for each. This will only take about 2-3 minutes of your time. Your input is a valuable part of this process. If you should choose to participate in this short process, we would love to send you one copy of each concept when they are finalized (be sure to fill in your name and address at the bottom of the web page before you submit your feedback).
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks so much for your time.
The link to the concepts and questions:
www.faceproject.org/newconcepts2.html
Regards,
Katie Bollman
FACE - Sales
888-822-3222
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Focus on Community Golf Outing Fundraiser
Please help prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse in our community by supporting our
10th Annual Golf and Dinner Event on Friday June 24, 2011.
Our youth encounter difficult situations on a daily basis. The need for prevention education has never been greater. Proceeds from our golf outing will allow Focus to continue to provide certified programs that address youth development and family strengthening.
Please take some time to look at how you can help make this event a success and give your business positive community exposure.
- Play in the golf outing. Have fun while helping your community! Anyone can participate in our scramble format. "On-course events" add to the fun.
- Become a Corporate Sponsor. Get the most exposure! Your company name/logo will be featured in all publications, advertisements, signage and media for the outing. Sponsorship levels include golf and cart, lunch, prizes, and dinner for four. Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000), Platinum ($1,500), and Event ($5,000) sponsorships are available.
- Promote your business by being a Hole Sponsor. Signage will be displayed on the course and at dinner. ($100) Signage is also available in memory or honor of someone special in your life.
- Sponsor a Table. Table tents will be displayed on a table at dinner with your name or name of business ($25). Signage is also available in memory or honor of someone special in your life.
- Donate items for the silent auction and raffle. Gift certificates/cards and sports items make excellent auction items.
- Give charitable cash donations. Your donation will help offer children in Racine County a brighter future
As Focus on Community celebrates 30 years of serving Racine County, we look forward to continuing to make a difference for future generations. We value your support. Together we can make a difference in the fight against substance abuse.
Sincerely,
The Focus Staff
Download a brochure here.
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Breast Cancer Rates Lower for Women in Smoke-Free Homes, Workplaces
A new analysis supports past studies showing that women who live and work in smoke-free environments are less likely to develop breast cancer, HealthDay News reported March 18.
Past studies have not yielded conclusive scientific agreement on the correlation between secondhand smoke and breast cancer. Researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute compared state breast cancer rates with the percentage of non-smoking homes and workplaces in each state. They found that breast cancer occurred in fewer women in states with higher numbers of non-smoking environments. The results were even more pronounced among younger, pre-menopausal women.
The researchers credited no-smoking policies for "about 20 percent of the change in breast-cancer death," HealthDay reported.
"While the evidence for secondhand smoke and breast cancer risk remains controversial, this study demonstrates a very strong inverse correlation," said Andrew Hyland, one of the study's authors. "States with higher percentages of women working and living in smoke-free spaces have lower breast cancer rates."
His colleague, K. Michael Cummings, said, "This study provides yet another reason for people to stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke exposure."
The study, " Prevalence of rules prohibiting home and workplace smoking correlates with state-specific breast cancer outcomes: an ecologic analysis," appeared online March 12, 2011 in Tobacco Control.
Please click here to visit JoinTogether.org and read more.
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National Public Health Week
Our Nation's Health is Dependent Upon All of Us
Today marks the beginning of National Public Health Week 2011,
and you can help make this year's theme a success:
"Safety is No Accident: Live Injury-Free."
Join APHA, 50,000 members, friends and other health partners as we help Americans live injury-free in all areas of life throughout the week whether it's at work, at home, at play, in your community and anywhere people are on the move.
Creating a healthier nation starts with creating a safer nation and that means taking steps big and small to protect neighbors, families and communities from harm and what better place to start then "Safety at Home." Here are some tips to get you started
Start small...
· Assess your home for potential hazards such as poor lighting and uneven surfaces to prevent falls.
· Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
· Establish a plan for how you would evacuate from your home in the event of an emergency.
· Store cleaning supplies and medicines in locked cabinets out of the reach of children.
Think big...
· Invite local firefighters to a community event to promote fire safety.
· Partner with your poison center to visit schools to talk about poison safety.
· Submit a letter to the editor of your local paper that stresses the importance of living injury-free during NPHW and beyond.
Get Involved
Follow us on @NPHW today and join the conversation starting at 1pm by using the hashtag #NPHW. Not on Twitter? Log on to our the NPHW site and follow along.
Spread the Word and Inspire Others
APHA needs your help to spread the message about injury and violence prevention. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and the NPHW Blog. Use our various interactive social media sites to retweet, like, post and comment to your networks and help us engage individuals in how they can help their communities along the path to a safer and injury free America.
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