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"You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello"
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As of late July, two of our ever-loyal OMOP partners, Mike Clifford (Portland Schools) and Margaret Jones (Day One) left their long-held positions to pursue a very exciting new endeavor. We congratulate, thank, and wish Mike and Margaret well as they start their journey toward building on so much of the work they've already done in our communities. Even though we are technically saying goodbye to Mike and Margaret, this new initiative actually allows us to say hello to a new horizon for prevention and asset-building in Maine!
When it comes to Search Institute's Developmental Assets approach, Mike and Margaret have been trailblazers
and now they are officially getting the chance to bring these prevention efforts to Maine through a 5-year NIDA/RAND Corporation research grant that will fund the "...collaboration to implement and assess the impact on prevention coalitions, of the combination of two complimentary, community-based interventions:
- Getting to Outcomes (GTO), which enhances community capacity to complete critical program tasks (e.g., evaluation and quality improvement), and
- Developmental Assets, which supports community mobilization and collaboration to promote positive youth development." (From the GTO/Developmental Assets Project Description)
Portland has been named as one of the 12 communities that will be participating in the project. We look forward to working with the other prevention coalitions in the area to coordinate our efforts as we continue to embrace the asset-building strategies!
"If we can show this developmental assets approach is effective in
preventing substance abuse, it will open the door for communities all
over the country to receive funding for this work...research has shown a correlation between a high number of developmental
assets and positive, healthy behavior; we think this study will show
not only a correlation, but a direct positive impact on the reduction
of substance abuse."
--Susan Savell, Executive director of the Children's Cabinet and head of Communities for Youth and Children Read the Press Release from Maine.gov
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Local Programs: Highlights & Updates
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137th Annual Cumberland County Fair Sponsors "6th Grade Substance Abuse Awareness Days" 
On
September 22 & 23, close to 2,000 CumberlandCounty 6th graders will
be bussed in to the fairgrounds for a presentation by the Project Aware players as well as the world-renowned Royal Canadian Mounted Police in an effort to create awareness around substance abuse. Students will be sent home with follow-up information as well as a packet of resources for parents and local coalition contacts. If you would like more
information on the awareness program or the events for the 6th graders, contact Chanda Sinclair at csinclair@propeople.org
Baystock Music Festival 2008!
"Rock icon John Fogerty comes to Portland
for one night only! Headlining Baystock 2008, Fogerty will rock the
city with classic hits as well as songs from his most recent release 'Revival.'
Held on the Maine State Pier, Baystock 2008
continues a tradition of delivering great music for a great cause.
Proceeds benefit PROP - People'sRegional Opportunity Program - whose programs served more than 12,000 people last year. Food and beverages
will be available to purchase." FMI About Baystock 2008
Lewiston celebrates new youth and adult connections
"At last evening's YADA celebration at the Lewiston Public Library,
positive energy was felt throughout the room. The  award-winning YADA
stands for Youth + Adults + Dialogue = Action, and many positive connections andinitiatives have occurred since community generational
dialogue took place last fall. As the evening progressed, adults and youth alike shared their
appreciation of how generational partnerships have grown since the fall
2007 YADA dialogue. Connections referred to as "priceless" seemed to be
the reflection of all." (Pictured: Josh Gagne & Rep. Margaret Craven)
More From EverydayDemocracy.org
Save the date...
Friday, September 26, 2008 from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm.
Maine Kids-Kin will host the 3rd Maine Summit for Grandfamilies: The Law, Kinship and Children.
FMI about the Maine Summit for Grandfamilies contact Noreen at 1.866.298.0896 or email nnpeters@familiesandchildren.org
Boat Building Festival in Portland: Compass Project
 "The festival, which began Sunday, challenges teams to finish their
vessels in three days. It raises money for the Compass Project, a Portland-based nonprofit that holds boat-building courses for local
middle and high school students -- an effort to teach patience,
teamwork and woodworking skills to at-risk children."
More from the Portland Press Herald
YAI's "Parents as Partners"
 Parents as Partners is a collaborative group led by two mothers who were involved
with Child Protective Services and who have successfully reunified with their
children. This meeting is for both parents and professionals, and will provide
attendees with an overview of the work Parents as Partners is doing, including
two new support groups for parents who are currently involved with Child
Protective Services. If you would
like more information on Parents as Partners activities or groups, please feel
free to contact Deb Dunlap (Youth Alternatives Ingraham Parenting Education Coordinator) at 874-1175 ext. 6001 or Parents as Partners at 523-5079.
Parkside's Free Summer Lunch Program!
The program runs Monday through Friday at 12:00 and is open to all kids. If you are
interested or know of a family that might like to take advantage of this
great program, please pass on this information. Contact Sara @ PROP FMI
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National News & Publications
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Caffeine Behind 4,600 Calls To Poison Control
Doctors Point To Energy Drinks,
Caffeine Added To Unexpected Products
"A recently released report by University of Massachusetts Medical
School toxicologist Richard Church tracked 4,600 caffeine-related calls
to poison control nationwide in 2005, the most recent statistics
available. Half involved people under age 19." Read On.../ Watch the Boston TEAM 5 Video
Teacher ousted for banned book
"Freedom
Writer Teacher Connie Heerman, a 27-year veteran of Perry Township in Indiana, has been suspended for a year and a half for using The Freedom Writers Diary in her classroom." (FYI: Freedom Writers has been used in several Deering HS Reconnecting Youth classes and it always reveals amazing reactions from the RY students.)
Watch the CNN Video / Read more about Connie...
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Wanted: Youth Work
Principles in Schools
By Karen Pittman (Forum for Youth Investment), Youth Today
"Seven students recently joined me for breakfast in a windowless conference
room in Des Moines to talk about 'the high school dropout crisis.' They were
experts: Five had dropped out. Another had come very close...My goal was to get them to talk about "the problem" in their own words...from that conversation, is the youths' expanded list of the "Rs" for Education. Read on...
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"Not in My House"
"The Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) has joined with the Abbott pharmaceutical firm to sponsor a new campaign against teen prescription-drug misuse. The "Not in My House"
campaign aims to educate parents on how to limit teen access to
prescription medications that are ripe for abuse. PDFA and Abbott cited
studies showing that more than half of teens who reported abusing
prescription medications said they got the drugs at home, from a parent
or relative, or from a friend."
Click Here to View the Campaign
An overview of the issue"Does
your 'don't do drugs' talk include the ones in the medicine cabinet?
Gary and Jordan Neal, a family who lost a son to teen prescription drug
abuse, nationally-renown addiction specialist Dr. Kathleen Brady, noted
teen psychologist Dr. Anthony Wolf and founding member of Partnership
for a Drug-Free America Tom Hedrick explain the many facets of this
problem and what parents can do to help protect their children." Click Here to View the Video: Insights from Those in the Know |
If you are interested in joining one of our meetings or if you would like more information about OMOP, please contact Ronni Katz at 756-8116 or email Ronni
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Please
feel free to email us your program updates and/or events--we love sharing! Email Amanda
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