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| Parent to Parent Newsletter |
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For the most up-to-date information, please like us on Facebook
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Here to Help!
Laura Widmann
"Your Choice" is proud to welcome Laura Widmann to "our family" as our new Office Manager/scheduler.
Laura is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Laura worked in the banking industry for nearly twenty years before joining Your Choice in our fight against drug and alcohol abuse in 2015. She is a graduate of Cardinal Stritch University and is also a certified bookkeeper and therefore fills many roles for us at "Your Choice".
Laura and her husband Eric (who is also a Your Choice Board Member) have supported our mission since it first began as volunteers. Laura also brings the added and very valuable perspective of having been through the pain and anguish of addiction and the stress it puts on families with a loved one who is now in recovery. It is that experience that makes her a welcome asset to Your Choice as she along with the Lyberts fully understand the issues of abuse and addiction and the harm it causes to families and loved ones and is here to help others in the fight against it.
Laura enjoys spending free time with her family, hiking, in her pool, reading and watching the Packers, Dateline and 20/20.
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Upcoming Your Choice Events
Tuesday, February 9th
Youth Presentations
8:30am to 11:30am
Stillman Valley High School
Monday, February 15th
Lybert Family will be speaking at the Greenfield Heroin Summit
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Whitnall HIgh School
Tuesday, February 16th
Health Class Presentations
All Day
Loyola Academy
Thursday, February 18th
Youth Presentations
2:30pm to 3:15pm
University School of Milwaukee
Saturday, February 20th & 21st
Detour
8:30am to 3:00pm
Your Choice Office
Tuesday, February 23rd
Health Class Presentation
All Day
Templeton Middle School
Thursday, February 25th
Health Class Presentation
6:45am to 1:37pmWatertown High School
Monday, February 29th
Lybert Family
1:55pm to 2:50pm
Luther High School
Monday, February 29th
Lybert Family
6:00pm to 8:00pm
La Crosse Community Forum
For more information about the presentations, please visit our "Upcoming Events" calendar.
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ACTION POINT: Not sure if a loved one is using drugs? Test them.
We have 10 panel urine drug screen tests available that test for:
- AMP-Amphetamines
- COC-Cocaine
- BZO-Benzodiazepines
- OPI-Opiates
- THC-Marijuana
- PCP-Phencyclidine
- BAR-Barbiturates
- MAMP-Methamphetamine
- MTD-Methadone
- MDMA-Ecstasy
These tests are simple, easy to use and results are instant. We are asking for a donation of $7.00 per test.
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DETOUR
Alcohol and Drug Awareness Lifestyle Risk Reduction Class
Parents - are you concerned that your child might be experimenting with alcohol and/or drugs?
To find out more about our program, please visit our website. |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the Your Choice monthly newsletter, Parent to Parent, written by parents for parents. Here you will find the latest information on what parents should know about drugs and alcohol as well as local resources.
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Stairway to Heroin Event Coming to Menomonee Falls 
6:00 - 6:30 PM Resource Fair
6:30 - 8:30 PM Program
Menomonee Falls High School
School Auditorium
W142 N 8101 Merrimac Drive Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Children increasingly are coming into contact with illegal drugs. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the average age of first time marijuana use is 14. The average age of first time alcohol use is 11 for boys and 13 for girls. By the time they graduate from high school 40% of all teens have used marijuana. We cannot assume that all children who smoke marijuana will become heroin addicts. However, the danger does exist, and research supports the progression of use. Parents are still the most powerful influence in their children's lives. Children who learn about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents are 50% less likely to use than those who don't. Please join us to learn how you can be part of the solution to this ever-growing concern in our community.
PROGRAM
- Corey Golla, Principal, Menomonee Falls H.S.
- Julie Berg, parent testimony
- Robert Beyer, MD, FACEP, Associate Medical and EMS Director, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin - Community Memorial Hospital
- Detective Chris Kohl, Waukesha County Metro Drug Unit
- Chris Gleason, MA, CAADC, MAATP, Director Rosecrance McHenry County
- Your Choice-A Family's Journey to Recovery
This is a free event available to the entire Community ages 12 and older.
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Tips for Teens:
"In the Mind of a Teenager"
In one of my classes, I asked students to write a letter to the addiction that is taking their friends away from them. Here is what two student wrote:
Dear Addiction,
I wish you would get out of my friends lives. You make them so distant, they don't even know they're pushing the good people away when we can help get rid of you. You make them need you while they say they're not with you, addicted. They can't get rid of you because you won't let them go get better.
Dear Addiction,
Why would you take the life of a perfectly fine person and completely change their life. Out of all the things that can happen in one's life, why would you choose to ruin the life. Todays generation has too many problems as it is and drugs are not making it any better. You claim that you cure that you cure depression yet you cause even more of it. You prey on the weak and lonely. Addiction, you have taken my life and others that I love, and completely transformed it into something we never wanted.
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 Question of the month: "How to prepare pre teen age girls, when it comes to drugs and alcohol, having three girls ages 12,10 and 7....I worry"
Answer by Deanna Marincic, MSW, LCSW - Clinic Director of Gals Institute
Your question is a very important one as we are learning that the age of first use among kids is now statically showing as 12 years old and dropping. Working with adolescents for over 15 years I have come across a common theme when working with girls. Girls struggle more with self-awareness and esteem issues than boys. It is very important to start healthy discussions not just about drugs and alcohol and how bad they are but discussions about peer pressure and self-esteem. Building up a girls sense of self and giving them a template how to confront situations will help when peers may start discussing substance use or opportunities to use is the key to the resiliency to acting out the behavior. Self-esteem in girls peak at age 9 so encouraging their healthy coping skills, helping them express their feelings and building their confidence to be a leader is essential. It is unfortunate but yet true that things are not like they use to be when we were a teen so education ourselves and gaining more tools to help our kids through struggles and stresses is also very important. A grounded parent produces a grounded adolescents. Please feel free to check out organizations such as Gals Institute, girls on the run or Dove Self Esteem project for great workshops, resources and ideas to help your young lady become a leader and resilient to substance use.
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DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS !
Date Safe Project: "Help! My Teen is Dating"
Tuesday, February 2nd
6:30pm to 8:00pm
Oconomowoc Arts Center
Award winning author and Date Safe Project founder, Mike Domitrz has become one of the most respected and prolific writers/producers of materials addressing healthy dating, consent, sexual decision-making, bystander intervention, sexual assault awareness and supporting sexual assault survivors. He will help parents discover the following skills for better preparing their sons and daughters for healthy dating:
- How to start the talk and get your teen to listen
- How to establish clear and reasonable boundaries
- How to determine if your son or daughter is ready to date
- The exact words to use when addressing intimacy
- Discussing the dangers from alcohol to sexual abuse
Dr. Brian Fidlin Presents "The Anatomy of the Adolescent Brain"
Wednesday, February 10th
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Cushing Elementary Activity Room - Delafield
Back by popular demand, this highly sought after speaker will present a straight forward discussion of pediatric brain development and the impact it has on decision making, emotions, and risk taking from childhood through the teenage years. This event is a must for parents, coaches, mentors, and educators of children of all ages!!
Heroin Not Just Our Neighbors' Problem
Monday, February 15th
5:00pm to 6:00pm - Resource Fair
6:00pm to 8:00pm - Speakers
Whitnall High School Auditorium
5000 S. 116th St, Greenfield, WI 53228
The Greenfield, Hales Corners, Franklin & Greendale Police Departments with cooperation from the Greendale, Greenfield and Whitnall Schools is presenting a very special heroin summit, designed to educate children and families
If you would like us to include your events in our monthly newsletter, please email Ashleigh at [email protected]
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Your Choice to Live recognizes the need for parents to be educated on topics such as drug and alcohol prevention in regard to their children. With that said, please let us know if you have any questions, comments or concerns or if you would like to read about a certain topic in the next newsletter, please email Ashleigh at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Sandi Lybert
Your Choice to Live Founder
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Your Choice to Live is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit group which provides an array of services that empower and support individuals, families, and communities to make informed choices regarding their use of alcohol or other drugs. Currently there is little or no funding in our school systems to provide drug and alcohol education to our students. We're asking you, today, to take a stand for drug and alcohol education in our school systems by making a simple donation. Your donation will help to educate our youth about the devastating effects drugs and alcohol can have on a person. To send your generous donation, please detach this coupon and mail along with your check to: Your Choice to Live
138 North Avenue
Hartland, WI 53029 Or make a donation using a debit or credit card | | |
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