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Lung cancer is the leading cause of deaths from cancer for both men and women. Tobacco use causes 87 percent of all deaths from lung cancer. Mid-Michigan Cancer Center is offering smoking cessation education.

If you are interested in learning more about the Lung Clinic, a free telephone screening is available by calling
 989-463-9307
 (press 2).

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September is here and with it brings a new school year!

For Child Advocacy, it means the start of new parenting classes and programs.  Each school year, we focus on new ways to educate parents and children to stay safe and live happy, healthy lives.  

Education is the foundation to our future.

Enjoy,

Child Advocacy Staff

Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.

Confronting Kids and Substance Abuse:  

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 66 percent of high school students and 33 percent of middle school students report that drugs are used or sold - or both - at their public school. Compared to those who attend private schools, public school kids are five times likelier to use marijuana, three times likelier to drink, and nearly five times likelier to have a friend or classmate who uses drugs like acid, ecstasy, coke or heroin.

It's bad enough that our kids are bombarded by unhealthy and unrealistic media portrayal of drug and alcohol use, from shows like Weeds and Gossip Girl to celebrity headlines on the news. Add to that the information they receive or overhear from their friends, enemies, teachers, neighbors, siblings, teammates, the guy at the pizza parlor...the list goes on. Unless a child is home-schooled in the wilderness, their daily life is a barrage of conflicting opinions about substance abuse and addiction.

So how can kids get a straight answer? It's as simple as having a conversation. Often, adolescents don't see the gray area between black and white: they take what they are given, and believe what they are told. Parents need to acknowledge the flimsiness of the media and process it along with their kids, teaching them to question and examine - and to take everything with a grain of salt.

Parents should sit down with their children and provide them with accurate information, while also asking questions and developing a family-specific substance abuse policy. It's important to "parent for prevention" by outlining appropriate behaviors and consequences, providing "easy outs" (excuses they can use when offered alcohol or drugs), and remaining aware of activities and whereabouts.

My advice for parents: making assumptions won't get you anywhere. On the one hand, don't assume that your child will inevitably become involved with drugs or alcohol. On the other hand, don't assume that they are immune to the problem. This balancing act is especially important if you or your partner has a history of substance abuse; statistically, the children of past or present drug users are at a high risk of developing a problem. Of course, you and your child should be aware of this - however, risk and heredity are not equivalent to destiny. Even though parents may have struggled with substance abuse, their children should not feel doomed to follow the same path.

If your son or daughter does experiment, or even develop a recurring drug/alcohol problem, it is vital to keep the parent-child lines of communication open. Discuss, ask questions, and listen. If this is a first incident, find out the circumstances surrounding your child's drug use, outline the consequences, and develop "easy outs" for the future. If substance abuse is an ongoing issue, get your child help - look into treatment programs, counseling, group therapy, etc. The better educated you are about substance abuse treatment and recovery, the better equipped you will be to respond to your child's needs.

 It's important to remember that, when it comes to kids and substance abuse, there is no one-size-fits-all method of prevention. What works for one child may not work for another, and parents need to encourage discussions and develop guidelines that are tailor-made for the individual needs and personalities of their children. What's the closest thing to one-size-fits-all? Family communication. Keep talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol, keep asking them about their worries and priorities, and most importantly, keep listening to what they have to say.  

Are You One With Courage?

By: Teresa Huizar, Executive Director, National Children's Alliance

Submitted by: Heather Gardner

Courage is a word we typically associate with soldiers, firefighters, policemen and women, and others fighting on the frontlines to keep all of us safe from harm. But courage can also be ascribed to those who push fear, stigma and discomfort aside to talk about that which society keeps in the shadows. These individuals are courageous because their actions -- combating secrecy by communicating openly -- protect us from harm, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Many researchers believe nearly five children die every day in America from abuse and neglect -- some 2,500 a year. Every year during the month April, communities across the country come together in support of this startling issue and focus on prevention and awareness raising to reduce the number of American children who sadly are victims of abuse.

A crime of secrecy, child abuse tragically breeds within our society because it is difficult to talk about. In an effort to break this silence, National Children's Alliance has coordinated the launch of the One With Courage campaign across the country. One With Courage is the first-ever national public awareness initiative centered on the courage it takes to talk about child abuse, learn the signs of abuse, and report abuse when it's suspected.

Why One With Courage? Because it takes tremendous courage for young victims to come forward and talk about the abuse they've experienced. It takes courage for adults to recognize the signs of abuse and report suspected abuse. And it will take courage for all of us to engage in an open dialogue about child abuse.

One With Courage also aims to highlight the unique role children's advocacy centers play in providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to child victims of abuse across the country. In 2011 alone, Children's Advocacy Centers across the country served over 279,000 child victims of abuse and their non-offending family members. Without the intervention services of a Children's Advocacy Center like ours, these child victims may never have been helped and statistics tell us the abuse would have likely continued.

As a leader in the child advocacy field, National Children's Alliance believes in the courage it takes to stand up for our children and protect them from abuse. While this issue is brought to the forefront during the month of April, we hope local communities will continue to be One With Courage year-round, and help us win the fight against child abuse and neglect that plagues every community across the country. It is only after we establish informed, empowered communities that we can eradicate child abuse.

Back to School Safety Tips

Staying Safe Online 

By: Richelle Davis

Prevention Educator

A new school year is upon us and is full of excitement and opportunities for children.  Along with the excitement and novelty of a new school year, children with smart phones, tablets, and classroom computers can be exposed to threats from online predators and bullies as they are being exposed to a wide world of learning and information.

Thankfully there are a few things parents can do at the start of a school year to keep children safe while allowing them the freedom to enjoy technology.  Taking a few back to school tech safety precautions is every bit as important as buying school supplies and new clothes, meeting teachers and doing all the necessary things to prepare a child for a successful school year.

Technology Safety Tips:

1. Monitor your children's online and social media behavior.  You can do this in a number of ways, such as: talking to your children, monitoring their apps, and by setting up internet usage rules.  You can install a safety app on your child's device to monitor your children's behavior on Facebook and Instagram, including when they make new friends, are tagged in posts, photos, or at locations.  Also, teach your child that if they wouldn't say something in person, you shouldn't say it on your social media.
2. Set up parental restrictions on their mobile devices.  iPhones and Android devices have great parental restriction settings to monitor age appropriate content, music, apps, and gives parent the opportunity to restrict in app purchasing, adding apps, or deleting apps.  Manufactures of other device types are anticipating a roll-out of new restriction operating systems.  Until then, check Google Play for other apps that will help with device restrictions.
3. Control internet use at home.  Place your children's computer in a public area so they can't isolate themselves when online.  Limit the amount of time to use the Internet, or simply disable WiFi certain times of the day to restrict internet access.  Set rules for mobile devices as well.  For example, charge phones overnight in a common area, not in their bedrooms at night.  Check up on their browser history on their phones for use of unacceptable content.
4. Be aware of your child's use at school.  Ask questions about your child's internet use at school.  Know your child's schools internet policy.  If you have questions or concerns about the policy, discuss them with your child's teacher or administrators.
5. Pay attention to warning signs.  Be aware of whether your child is spending an increased amount of time online or on their phones, or isolating themselves, appears withdrawn, or is exhibiting troubled behavior.  These could be signs that your child's safety is threatened.  Awareness is one of the best ways to keep your children safe with their mobile devices.

Source:  Mamabearapp.com-School Safety Tips