ROANOKE COUNTY PREVENTION
COUNCIL
Fostering the healthy development
of youth and over time the
community.
Empowering Families.
Encouraging Youth.
www.preventioncouncil4youth.org
Connecting to Promote Healthy
Communities
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Partnering with the Medical
Community
Four Strategic Teams: Underage
Alcohol Use/Marijuana
Use/Prescription Drug Use
Spreading the Seeds of the DFC
program to far southwest Virginia
Regional Training, Evaluation and
Networking
We are part of 22 Drug Free Community Coalitions
in the Commonwealth and over 750 in the nation.
Community Coalitions of Virginia
The Community Coalitions of Virginia (CCOVA) works collaboratively to
prevent and reduce substance abuse and related risk factors in Virginia
communities in ways that are measurable and that improve quality of
life.
Health Education Standards in
Virginia
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Act with skill and reason to demonstrate an
understanding of the concepts and behaviors that reduce
health risks and enhance the health of self and others.
Demonstrate the ability to access, evaluate, and use
health information, products, and services that influence
health and wellness in a positive manner.
Demonstrate the use of appropriate health practices and
behaviors to promote a safe and healthy community
when alone, with family, at school and in other group
settings.
Standards of Learning for
Health Education
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K – choices, effect of drugs, electronic media; seek
guidance from trusted adults
1-5 – health promoting decisions, effects of drugs,
media, healthy habits, consequences of substance use,
healthy choices, seeking assistance from trusted adults,
managing stress, addiction, academic performance,
value of community healthy and wellness
6-10 – self-image, risk-taking behaviors, positive role
model within family and community, implementing safe
and healthy practices and behaviors, practices with
healthy environments, personal standards of using
substances, community health programs for all ages,
consequences of drinking and driving, media
Our Teens’ World in
the Year 2011
Cristi Cousins, MADD o f Virginia
Nancy Hans, Prevention Council of Roanoke
County
What does your community look
like?
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Do you know of a community coalition in
your community? If so, are you active in
it?
Name 3 issues surrounding policies and/or
practices unique to your school or
community
What are 3 protective factors that you see
students have and 3 risk factors
WHOSE PROBLEM IS IT
ANYWAY?
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A SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A “____
PROBLEM”.
A “_______PROBLEM” IS A
COMMUNITY PROBLEM THAT IS
MANIFESTED IN SCHOOL AND OTHER
COMMUNITY LOCATIONS.
THE RESPONSE MUST COME FROM THE
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
Roanoke County Schools
Local School-Based YRBS
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6th – 12th grade students (8000+)
Anonymous, self-administered,
computer-scan answer sheet
Trend data: Conducted biennially
during the spring, since 2002
2 years of parent Online survey data
Analysis by Roanoke County Prevention
Council Data Committee, Virginia Tech,
Radford researchers
The Digital Divide: Internet Safety
and Bullying
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89.4% web presence for high school – an increase of 9%
since 2008.
68.7% for middle school – an increase of 21% since 2008.
32.3% of high schoolers and 23.7% of middle schoolers
report they have received threatening or intimidating
messages online or through cell phones.
24.1% of high schoolers and 16.5% of middle schoolers
report they have sent threatening or intimidating messages.
35.5% of high schoolers and 15.4% of middle schoolers
report sexually inappropriate pictures or messages using a cell
phone or computer.
33.4% of high schoolers report they have texted while driving
in the past 30 days.
Roanoke County Middle/High
School Youth report:
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17.0%/39.1% have tried cigarettes
9.7%/35.8% have tried marijuana
23.7%/62.0% have tried alcohol
20.8%/20.3% had their first drink before age
13
46.0%/77.0% say alcohol is very easy or fairly
easy to get
23.1% of high schoolers report having 5 or
more drinks in a row in the past 30 days (binge
drinking)
Brain Activity
Image from Susan Tapert, PhD, University of California, San Diego
Other Risky Behaviors
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12.5% of middle schoolers and 16.1% of high
schoolers have used inhalants to get high (93% of
those that continue beyond initial experimentation go
on to use illicit drugs)
3.6% of middle schoolers and 16.1% of high
schoolers have taken over the counter to get high
3.1% of middle schoolers and 18.9% of high
schoolers have taken prescription drugs to get high
For high schoolers OTC and prescription drugs are
the new high increasing over 3% in just 2 years.
Links for information
appear and can be
printed from Epic
Characteristics of a
Good Family Decision
All ideas are considered.
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The decision is clear.
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Everyone is committed to it.
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Teens are involved.
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Family bonds are strengthened.
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The decision reflects family
beliefs and standards.
Driving the Outcomes through
Prevention: What Works – Education,
Collaboration, Opportunities
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Action on Underage Drinking – collaboration with pediatricians
SAP in all middle and high schools
Digital Divide – Raise awareness of use of technology and youth
risk behavior
Parent Education - Roanoke County support of Guiding Good
Choices, Staying Connected with Your Teen and Internet Safety
Seminars
Promote Youth Raise Awareness of Health Risk - Surgeon General’s
Call to Leadership – YADAPP, school prevention clubs, community
support
Unique partnerships to implement environmental strategies: Health
Officials, ABC, StopIn Stores, WDBJ7, Hispanic community
SAMANTHA SPADY
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Sam’s number was .436
CONNECTING WITH OUR YOUTH
Community
Coalitions
of Virginia
Bringing the community together so all can be part of the solution.