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 Megan Kroes at Focus on Community for more information. (262) 632-6200 rcyc@focusracine.org Have information for the RCYC newsletter? Contact Erin Morey. (262) 632-6200 erin768@yahoo.com |
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RAMAC Announces Excellence in Education Award Winners
Community Education Leader
Mike Frontier has long made education his passion, particularly when lower-income and minority students are involved.
Frontier, a retired Unified principal, in the early 2000s founded San Juan Diego Middle School, a private school for inner city students, particularly low-income and Hispanic students. When the school closed in 2009 because of lack of funding, Frontier helped create the John XXIII Educational Center at the same site, 1101 Douglas Ave., for after-school programs and tutoring.
Frontier has also served on Unified committees, the Racine County Youth Coalition and the board of Mentor Kenosha Racine, according to RAMAC.
Congratulations to Mike Frontier, chairman of the Racine County Youth Coalition! Click here to read about the other award winners.
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Maureen Busalacchi: State needs to start taking alcohol culture seriously
Once again, Wisconsin is No. 1. But this time, we're No. 1 in binge drinking. This isn't just embarrassing, it borders on social pathology. And we need to act.
This week's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report included a nationwide study on binge drinking that placed Wisconsin as the nation's worst binge-drinking state - with a fourth of all adults reporting they were binge drinkers. That's 50 percent higher than the national average.
The fact is, we don't take binge drinking and the alcohol-related problems it creates seriously. It's cultural. Alcohol abuse and problems associated with alcohol have long been accepted or tolerated in this state.
Until this perception is changed, we can't solve the problem. We can't even have a serious discussion about it.
Click here to read the full article.
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Youth Drug Use: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Recently, I joined officials from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Department of Health and Human Services to announce the results of the largest annual survey on youth drug use in America. NIDA's annual "Monitoring the Future" study, which questions more than 46,000 teens in over 400 public and private schools across America, is a vital source of information about the types of substances young people are using, as well as their attitudes and perceptions regarding substance use -- including alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. This year's data revealed some troubling new trends, including startling new information showing an emerging threat of so-called "synthetic drugs," which have been marketed as "legal" alternatives to marijuana. According to the survey, one in nine high school seniors has used synthetic marijuana marketed as "K2" and "spice" in the past year. That means the use of these drugs now rank as the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors, second only to marijuana. The Obama administration has taken a comprehensive approach to the substance abuse problem, and science directs that effort. Research shows time and again that adult influencers are the most powerful force in the lives of young people. We will continue working with local communities to decrease substance use rates across the nation. In the meantime, we hope you will join us in making America healthier and safer. Click here to read the full article. |
Why Social Host Ordinances Are Important Pa. woman hosted 'kegger' before 3 teens crashed GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A prosecutor will seek a prison term for a western Pennsylvania woman who has pleaded guilty to serving a half-keg of beer to teen guests at her son's graduation party, before three of them were killed in a crash about a mile away. Susan Sanders-Watt, 60, of Greensburg, pleaded guilty Monday to four counts each of corruption of minors and reckless endangerment and 17 citations of serving alcohol to minors, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (http://bit.ly/A4aNSq) reported. Sanders-Watt wasn't charged with involuntary manslaughter, because prosecutors couldn't prove the beer she served caused the crash on June 26, 2010. That's because the driver, 19-year-old Michael Simpson, had been drinking at another location before the defendant's party. But Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said Sanders-Watt faces a maximum of 45 years in prison and, though she'll likely receive less under state sentencing guidelines, he will ask a judge to put her in jail or prison rather than letting her serve probation or house arrest. Her sentencing will be scheduled in about three months. Click here to read the full article. |
Podcast: Helping Your Kids Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
Research shows that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use. December's podcast, presented by CIGNA and The Partnership at Drugfree.org, presented practical advice on how to effectively communicate with your teens to help them avoid drugs and alcohol, including whether or not to bring up your own history with these substances.
Guests included Ameila Arria, PhD, Senior Scientist and adolescent and young-adult specialist at the Treatment Research Institute, and Director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at the University of Maryland, and Sandra Carcamo, mother of three and Parent Advisory Board (PAB) member of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. As a PAB member, Sandra provides firsthand knowledge and expertise to help review the usability and guide the development of our resources for parents.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Many Keep Smoking After Cancer Diagnosis
It took asthma, COPD, emphysema and finally, lung cancer to get Toni Manes, a retired cosmetologist, to try to quit smoking.
Unfortunately, the 58-year-old was so hooked, she couldn't kick the habit even after part of her left lung was removed.
"I remember my surgeon told me 'If you ever smoke again, your husband should break your fingers,'" says the Philadelphia resident, who was diagnosed and had surgery in 2010. "And I was like, 'Okay, I'm not going to smoke again.' But then I came home from surgery, recuperated for a few weeks and started up again. I couldn't help myself."
According to a new study in the American Cancer Society journal CANCER, Manes is just one of many patients who've found themselves smoking after diagnosis.
Click here to read the full article.
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An Asset a MonthSearch Institute has identified 40 positive experiences and qualities that all of us have the power to bring into the lives of children and youth, which are called Developmental Assets. For many people, the assets have become a source of ideas and inspiration in the face of frustration and even despair.
SUPPORTYoung people need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate and accept them.
1. Family Support - Family life provides high levels of love and support.
2. Positive Family Communication - Young person and his/her parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).
3. Other Adult Relationships - Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.4. Caring Neighborhood - Young person experiences caring neighbors.
5. Caring School Climate - School provides caring, encouraging environment.
6. Parent Involvement In Schooling - Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.
Looking closer at the Assets
Sometimes conversations with young people-especially your own children-can become confrontational. Learning to listen can help prevent slamming doors and, instead, open them. Though challenging, being available for frequent, in-depth conversations is an important role parents and other adult family members can play in children's lives-from the time they learn to talk all the way into adulthood. The goal is to promote and maintain an open-door policy. Ask open-ended questions and then listen, listen, listen.
Here are the Facts
Research shows that young people who experience positive communication with their parents are more likely to grow up healthy and are more willing to seek their parents' advice and counsel. About 24 percent of young people, ages 11-18, enjoy positive communication with their parents and are willing to seek their parents' counsel and advice, according to Racine County surveys. Practice consistently communicating-talking and listening to young people-with an open mind and heart. Tips for building this asset In your home and family: Make it easy for your child to spend time talking with you: Keep an extra stool or chair in the kitchen, den, home office, or workshop area. When you're in the car together is a great time to chat, too. In your neighborhood and community: Ask young people you know caring questions, such as: What was the best thing about school today? What was the best act in the talent show? Why? Listen to their answers and respond accordingly. In your school or youth program: During parent meetings, discuss the importance of positive communication between parents and children.
For more information on the 40 Developmental Assets, visit www.racinecountyyouthcoalition.org.
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RCYC Member Spotlight---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruth Barajas
Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency Head Start Program
In her own words:
I have been working at Head Start for 2 years and enjoy assisting our families in the program. I have been married to a wonderful man for 6 ½ years now and we are both waiting anxiously for the arrival of our firstborn. I spend a lot of time with my family and also invest my time helping out our youth at my local church. My hobbies usually consist of exercising and playing volleyball during the summer.
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Next Racine County Youth Coalition Meeting
Thursday, February 9, 2012 11:30-1:00 Mount Pleasant Municipal Building
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