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Reconnecting Youth (RY) is a school-based
prevention program for youth in grades nine through
twelve (14 to 18 years old) who are at risk for school
dropout. These youth may also exhibit multiple
behavior problems, such as substance abuse,
aggression, depression, or suicide risk behaviors.
Reconnecting Youth uses a partnership model
involving peers, school personnel, and parents to
deliver interventions that address the three central
program goals:
Decreased drug involvement
Increased school performance
Decreased emotional distress
Students work toward these goals by participating in
a semester-long high school class that involves skills
training in the context of a positive peer culture. RY
students learn, practice, and apply self-esteem
enhancement strategies, decision-making skills,
personal control strategies, and interpersonal
communication techniques.
OMOP has been fortunate enough to work with
Portland High and Deering High Schools to implement
Reconnecting Youth. Amanda has met with both RY
groups and the feedback is nothing but positive! The
students report looking forward to attending the RY
class as it's a very safe place to "get things off their
chests." The level of trust that has been built in
these groups is phenomenal.
While the groups are small (roughly 5-8 students),
the level of participation is high and the skills the
students are gaining are essential to their school life
as well as their home lives. The small group size has
actually been one of the defining factors for the
success of the program.
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OMOP collaborates with Portland's CMCA
(Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol)
whose
efforts are geared toward our community
environment and the impact it has on youth.
Read on for CMCA's updates and goals...
In the spring of 2006, two community groups, the
Portland CMCA Coalition and the One Maine One
Portland Coalition (OMOP), came together to develop
a plan to address the issue of youth substance
abuse in Portland. It is a problem with devastating
consequences for youth, their families, and the city
as a whole--including violence, crime, and academic
failure.
According to anonymous student survey
data collected by the Maine Office of Substance
Abuse, the #1 drug of choice among Portland youth
is alcohol, followed by marijuana and tobacco.
The Prevention Plan was created using data from
surveys and public meetings with participation from
more than 700 community members and 100 local
groups, as well as national and statewide information
about what works and what doesn't.
The Prevention Plan outlines priorities for action on
two important
levels:
I) Supporting Healthy Youth & Families
Work on this level will be led by OMOP. Priorities
include increasing opportunities for youth
involvement and leadership in positive activities;
increasing resources and collaboration for parent
education and skill-building in an environment that is
supportive and accessible to all cultures; and
providing more programs that involve parents and
youth together.
II) Building a Healthy Community Environment
Work on this level will be led by CMCA. Priorities
include reducing alcohol availability & accessibility to
youth; strengthening community norms, especially
adult attitudes, to support alcohol-free expectations
for underage youth; and strengthening enforcement
of underage drinking, furnishing, and hosting laws.
Our goal for 2010 is to reduce substance abuse
among youth and, over time, among adults by
addressing the factors in the Portland community
that increase the risk of substance abuse and
promoting the factors that minimize the risk of
substance abuse. Portland CMCA, and its partner
OMOP, will present the final draft of the 2010
Portland Prevention Plan to the City's newly
appointed Health and Recreation Committee in
December, with final presentation to the full City
Council in January. The draft plan is available for
review and comment by contacting CMCA.
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What we've been up to...
OMOP has been coordinating the "Community-wide
Prevention Plan" along with CMCA (see above article
on CMCA). The OMOP Steering Committee has
broken up into two 'subcommittees' in order to most
effectively address our plans for the Prevention Plan;
these groups are the "Parent Involvement
Subcommittee" and the "Individual/Peer Involvement
Subcommittee." FMI on the "Parent Involvement
Subcommitte," contact Amanda Edgar at 756-
8053. FMI on the "Individual/Peer Involvement
Subcommitte," contact Ronni Katz at 756-8116.
Other efforts...OMOP members have recently been
involved in attending the Youth
Alternatives "Parenting Support Collaborative"
meetings in an effort to connect service providers
who work with youth and parents (in any capacity);
the hope is to create an updated network that is
provides support for agencies as well as for parents
and youth.
More updates on this group will follow...
The United Way's "211" Resource database was
recently launched and OMOP hopes
to join with The United Way/211 in a
campaign to
highlight some of the great parenting resources (i.e.:
those that focus on youth, substance abuse and
parent involvement) that are already up and running
in Portland.
Additional details will be available soon...
Stay connected to OMOP's newsletter for
updates from our partnering agencies! Each month
we plan to highlight (and possibly interview) members
and their programs in the hopes of sharing their
ongoing efforts in our community. We are also
hoping to include an updated calendar with activities
and events for youth and families to get involved and
do together!
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In honor of September being "National Recovery
Month," the One Maine One Portland Coalition, along
with the City's Overdose Prevention Project (also
coordinated by Ronni Katz), held a "Recovery &
Wellness Resource Fair" at Preble Street
Resource
Center/Wayside Soup Kitchen. We consider this
even to have been a great success with over 65
community participants and 16 service providers.
Some highlights of our event:
*The City's Public Health's Health Promotion
Team
donated 4 $25 Hannaford gift cards for our 'raffle;'
*O'Naturals Restaurant also donated a $25
gift card;
*Flatbread Pizza donated 15, count 'em, 15
pizzas!
*We also were able to give away calling cards to
several participants.
The networking with the providers was great but
interaction with the participants from the community
was definitley the highlight!!
We'll be sure to keep you posted on any
upcoming
OMOP events!
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Our programs are based on the goal of empowering people to make choices that will ensure healthy and productive lives while providing options that help reduce the harm caused by drug use. Thank you for supporting the One Maine One Portland Coalition, it's members and those we serve.
Sincerely,
Amanda Edgar and Ronni Katz
The City of Portland's One Maine One Portland Coalition
email:
aedgar@portlandmaine.gov
phone:
Amanda - 756-8053 or Ronni - 756-8116
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