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June 2009

Our Mission
To foster nurturing and healthy relationships, environments and programs that encourage positive youth development and enable all young people in Greater Portland to live substance-free.
The 40 Developmental Assets
OMOP promotes & integrates Search Institute's Developmental Assets� approach in our programming to further positive youth development in Portland.
Asset Building Tip of the Month:
EMPOWERMENT
Community Values Youth
Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth

Youth as Resources

Young people are given useful roles in the community

Service to Others
Young person serves in the community one hour or more a week

Safety
Young person feels safe at home, school and in the community


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Supporting Healthy Youth: An Island Retreat for Youth Program Staff
Rippleffect's Cow Island June 2, 2009
Sponsored by the Cumberland County Healthy Maine Partnerships

Attendees from various youth-serving organizations participated in fun activities to gain tools, strategies and resources for incorporating healthy messages into their programs while working to learn best practices for helping youth make
healthy life choices involving tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, and substance abuse.
Visit Rippleffect.net
In addition
to the
learning opportunities, Rippleffect staff provided zip line and kayaking adventures and Local Sprouts Cooperative prepared an amazingly fresh lunch with tons of local ingredients!


Partnerss:Healthy Maine Partnerships, PROP/Communities Promoting Health Coalition, Healthy Portland, Healthy Casco Bay, Rippleffect, 21 Reasons, City of Portland PHD/HHSD, & Local Sprouts Cooperative
Thanks to the planning partners and all involved for making this such an exciting day!

Local & Upcoming Events
Boys to Men 3rd Annual Breakfast Honoring Fathers
All are welcome! Mothers and mentors, too!

Guest speaker
Lou Ureneck author of
Backcast: Fatherhood, Fly-Fishing, and a River Journey through the Heart of Alaska

fly fishing
When:
Friday, June 19
Where:
The Mariner's Church Banquet Center
Time:
7:00 am - 9:00 am

Visit www.boystomen.info or call (207) 774-9994
for more information.

Interactive Resources
Search Institute & Best Buy partner to bring you: @ 15
@ 15 was created to ensure opportunities for kids across four dimensions of early adolescence: education, life skills, leadership, and relationships.
Click Here FMI

Associated Press/
mtvU Poll: Financial Worries, Stress and Depression on College Campus
Select the indicator from the dropdown menu to see the results of the poll and to see videos of young adults talking about stress, happiness, dropout and mental health.
Click Here to Select Poll

Drugged, Drunk & Distracted Driving
A Quiz from Parents:
The Anti-Drug

Has your teen earned the keys to the car?  Take this short quiz to see if you and the teen driver in your family understand the risks associated with drugged, drunk, and distracted driving. 

Take the Quiz
Positive Tickets!
Coming this Summer to Portland Neighborhoods
On June 15, the Portland City Council will read our
Positive Tickets Proclamation!

After over two years of planning, the Positive Tickets Project is getting ready to launch sometime this summer.  We first heard about it when two OMOP members returned from the Search Institute Conference in Minnesota and after speaking with Richmond B.C. Police Department Superintendent Ward Clapham, the program developer, we knew that it was a perfect fit for Portland.

We intend to pilot it in the Parkside Neighborhood in Portland within the next two months.  On June 15th, we will be presenting a proclamation to the Portland City Council for their full support.  The next step is lining up additional sponsors for the "tickets." Got ideas? Email Amanda

Positive Tickets (1)

You may be asking, "What is Positive Tickets?" 
It is an evidence-based program that uses an environmental approach to help create positive changes in the relationships between youth and law enforcement officers and other figures of authority.  Young people are given positive "tickets" for doing things right.  The tickets can be redeemed for fun activities and prizes. 

Positive Ticketing explained Here at www.positivetickets.com:
Approach
Catching Kids Doing Things Right
Positive Tickets are issued to youth for staying out of trouble or performing good deeds. The ticket is the gateway to the relationship.

Asset Building
Positive Tickets is built within the framework called Asset Building, also known as Developmental Assets
This framework identifies 40 critical factors for young people's growth and development. When drawn together, the assets offer a set of benchmarks for positive child and adolescent development. The assets clearly show important roles that families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods, youth organizations, and others in communities play in shaping young people's lives. The Search Institute of Minneapolis, MN is the outright expert when it comes to this concept.

Results
It's Working! Youth Crime Going Down
The City of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada has experienced an amazing 41 % reduction in their youth crime during the past three years. Positive Tickets has been a major contributing factor.

Contact: Ronni Katz
City of Portland Public Health Division, H&HS Department

P: (207) 756-8116
E: [email protected]
Local Stuff = Good Stuff
Ronni Katz with Dr. Anne on WMPG's "Safe Space"
Listen as Portland Public Health's Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator shares her story, talks about addiction and Portland prevention programs
Local psychiatrist Dr. Anne Hallward conducts half- hour interviews on subjects that are uncomfortable, painful or shameful to talk about. The hope is that in making difficult subjects discussable, we are all freer to express ourselves more fully.
Click Here to Listen to the 5/20/09 Show

Fal
mouth Students
Help
Save Homeless Pets
Melanie Creamer, PPH, 5/20/09
"In January, a group of students from Falmouth High School participated in a service project in Hancock County, Miss., where they worked with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild a community devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  Now, Mainers will have a chance to adopt a dog from the Waveland Animal Shelter in Mississippi."
READ ON...

Social Worker Honored for Dropout Prevention Work
Portland Schools Blog
"Sophie Payson, a social worker for the Portland Public Schools, will receive a recognition award from Maine Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron for her work to meet the needs of at-risk youth. Gendron will present the award at a Blaine House ceremony on May 21." READ ON...

Videos from our Prevention Partners
21 Reasons Blog
WMTW Channel 8 reports on prom-season underage drinking prevention efforts in Portland. 
Click Here for the Video

"Liz Blackwell-Moore, Project Manager from the Communities Promoting Health Coalition at PROP, was on Channel 6...talking about their new youtube video and how to prevent underage drinking."
Click Here to See Liz on Channel 6 OR
Visit 21Reasons' blog

Exhibit Treads Path of
Domestic Violence
Deborah Sayer, PPH, 5/27/09
"Two local high schools have embarked on a project to change soles. Deering and South Portland high school students enrolled in the Jobs for Maine Graduates program have transformed used shoes into sculptures for a one-day display that raises domestic violence awareness.

"The exhibit, titled "Walking in Their Shoes," is intended to show the many faces of domestic violence, from victims to victors and those who offer help in making the transition." 
READ ON...

"Walking in Their Shoes," a one-day art exhibit created by Deering & South Portland High School students highlighting Domestic Violence Awareness Month
WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. June 5, 2009
WHERE: Hope.Gate.Way.|185 High Street|Portland
The exhibit is free and open to the public.


Attention Grows in Garden Plot
At-risk Portland High students say they enjoy working with their hands and helping the needy

Kelly Bouchard, PPH, 6/3/09
"Most days, it's a struggle for Hector Velasquez to make it to school.  A sophomore in Portland High School's alternative education program, he's not much interested in sitting at a desk for hours at a time listening to a teacher go on about one subject or another.

A new garden-based curriculum is giving Velasquez and his classmates a fresh reason to come to school, get their hands dirty and help provide food for needy people in the community." READ ON...
News You Can Use
Teens Who Think They're Overweight More Likely To Try Suicide
ScienceDaily (5/20/09)

Drink Labels Help Youth Find Strongest Drink at Lowest Cost, Study Says
Join Together (5/19/09)


Children Who are Depressed, Anxious or Aggressive in First Grade Risk Being Victimized Later On
Science Daily (5/18/09)

National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign Launches New Ad Campaign
Join Together (May 15, 2009)

Why Don't Scary Pictures and Stories Stop Dangerous ATOD Behavior? (Dr. Dennis Embry)
PAXTalk Blog (5/16/09)

Family Prevention Program Nurtures Genetically 'At-Risk' Teens
Join Together (5/27/09)

Texting May Be Taking a Toll
NY Times Health (5/26/09)

Latino Youth and the Failure of Justice
Reclaiming Futures (5/20/09)


Webinar: Treatments for Adolescents/Young Adults with Opioid Use Disorder
Reclaiming Futures (5/28/09)

Webinar: Understanding the Rise in Suicide Attempts in Latina Teens
The Center for Health & Health Care in Schools (5/21/09)
For program info, resources & archived e-newsletters
you can check us out on the web:

www.substanceabuse.portlandmaine.gov
City of Portland PHD    Click Here for OSA's Website
OMOP is supported by the City of Portland Public Health Division
Health & Human Services Department, the Healthy Maine Partnerships &
the Maine Office of Substance Abuse