Action Plans

Action Plans for PARENTS

Stay informed with accurate information. Ask that one PTA/PTO/Parent Advisory meeting be devoted to drug and violence prevention.
Be positive role models by drinking responsibly and in moderation.
Model peaceful conflict resolution; request skill trainings so that you are able to use the same techniques that students are being taught.
Model anger management.
Celebrate the fights that do NOT occur.
Educate on family histories of addiction.
Enforce "Zero Tolerance" ruled for minors. Share your expectations, honestly, with your children.
Be knowledgeable about available community resources when youth substance abuse is suspected.
Be clear and consistent that underage youth in your charge will not use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Let other parents know your views if your children will be guests in their homes. Create a supportive community environment.
Support legal consequences for underage use or youth violence. Convey these messages to your children.
Utilize teachable moments. Discuss alcohol and tobacco advertising and marketing with your youth.
Become actively involved in monitoring interned sites, music, movies and video games that glorify drugs, violence, hate and death. Establish expectations and rules for involvement.
Set reasonable, yet firm, limits on behavior and follow through with stated consequences.
Report the use of illegal substances and concerns about violence to school personnel or law enforcement. The district’s hotline number is 248-489-3337.

Action Plans for SCHOOLS

Clearly define roles and responsibilities within this initiative.
Permeate school climates with non-enabling attitudes.
Integrate safe and drug-free school programming within restructuring efforts.
Educate all staff to identify the signs and symptoms of alcohol/drug use, abuse or addiction to avoid enabling the progression of the disease of addiction.
Recognize the support that Student Assistance teams can offer to staffs and students.
Support conflict resolution/peer mediation programs.

Action Plans for STUDENTS

No longer tolerate inappropriate behaviors among your peers.
Set standards among student bodies so that each student feels safe and accepted.
Become involved with community planning.
Realize your importance as role models for younger children.
Student activities or clubs might adopt anti-drug/violence themes.
Support conflict resolution/peer mediation programs.
Become involved with Student Assistance teams.
Know your school’s code of conduct and model responsible behavior.
Do not tolerate teasing, bullying and intimidation.
Report any suspicious or worrisome behavior or talk by other students.
Realize that any threats, falsehoods, pranks or jokes may hurt or jeopardize safety within schools.
Remember that it is against the law to make any threats toward anyone.

Action Plans for COLLEGES and UNIVERSITIES

Raise awareness of the link between serious campus crime such as vandalism, date rape, academic failures, drop-outs and the abuse of alcohol.
Educate on the dangers of binge drinking.
Involve students and faculty in the development of firm policies.
Sponsor "drug-free" activities.
Train faculty to recognize and refer problems.
Integrate drug and violence prevention programs within existing curricula.
Encourage art, athletic and media departments to assist in the dissemination of prevention messages.
Develop aggressive media campaigns to encourage prevention programming.
Enforce campus rules and regulations with clearly stated consequences.

Action Plans for YOUTH SERVING GROUPS

Maintain safe havens for "kids". They are supremely appreciated.
Become familiar with prevention programs utilized in the schools to model consistent skills and language. Request same training; offer "booster" programming on site.
Address alcohol, tobacco, drug and violence issues to support community wide programming and to reinforce zero tolerance messages to our youth.
Weave prevention mottos throughout the environment.
Have older youth mentor younger.
Involve "seniors" with volunteer or mentoring services.
Continue community programming designed for and by our youth.
Communicate with families, schools or law enforcement if concerned about a child’s behavior, moods or attitude.

Action Plans for BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Insure that businesses are drug-free.
Monitor prevalent marketing materials that seem to target the use of alcohol and tobacco by our youth.
Display prevention messages in store fronts or in work areas.
Promote employee assistance programs. (EAP)
Develop community service projects; more are needed for our youth.
Promote events that promote positive youth development.
Educate employees on prevention issues and the role of the Coalition. (Newsletters, bulletins)

Action Plans for CITY GOVERNMENTS

Insure the saturation of non-use messages for youth throughout the community.
Monitor the accessibility/availability of drugs or weapons to our youth.
Pass resolutions to support "Zero Tolerance" initiatives throughout the community and update the public on community-wide initiatives, periodically, at city council meetings.
Continually update the public on local ordinances and legal consequences pertaining to juveniles and encourage the community to be vigilant and attuned to one another to maintain the health and safety of our children. Can communicate through city council, homeowners associations, Chamber of Commerce, schools, faith communities, newsletters or periodic press releases.
Use cable access resources to host programming that supports drug and violence prevention programming, i.e. Mayors interviewing Police Chief/Public Safety Director, Judges/Court Representatives or School Superintendent; interviews with organizational leaders on existing programs such as the Commission on Children, Youth and Families involvement with teen centers or community forums.
Advocate changes through the drafting and promotion of legislative initiatives that promote prevention.

Action Plans for SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS

Stay informed with updated alcohol, drug or prescribed medication issues.
Stay involved as role models for grandchildren.
Mentor a school building. Connect with kids and prevention programs within the designated building.
Volunteer to assist community sectors with the completion of "Action Plans".

Action Plans for LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUDICIARY AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS

Maintain ongoing "Zero Tolerance" enforcement.
Assist the public and our youth with a better understanding of local and legal consequences, i.e. speaking engagements, development of "judicially based" prevention programming to present to youth.
Realize that every contact with a juvenile is an opportunity to identify or intervene with a possible alcohol or drug problem.
Foster linkages between the community, the courts, and the juvenile justice system with interdisciplinary approaches. Maintain consequential messages with offenders coupled with education and treatment when necessary.
Continually update members of the professions on drug and violence research to include updated neurological research/brain chemistry and its relationship with youth crime and violence.
Provide resource services to the community on topics such as designer drugs, gun safety, gangs, troubled youth, etc.

Action Plans for RELIGIOUS/FAITH COMMUNITIES

Schedule periodic sermons on prevention issues.
Teach non-substance use as paths to spiritual comfort.
Establish policies that acknowledge the risks of underage use.
Host alcohol-free activities.
Host training workshops on prevention issues for parent and youth groups.
Include prevention articles in newsletters or bulletins.
Integrate within pre-marriage meetings or counseling sessions information on parenting in regards to drug use or anger management.
Educate on warning signs of alcoholism.
Host recovery or support group meetings for families in need of support.
Break the cycle of shame and denial if families should need help.

Action Plans for MEDIA

Shift paradigms and focus on regular success stories of youth. Include diverse success stories beyond academics or athletics, i.e. "Spotlight on Our Youth".
Commit to ongoing columns or articles to update the community on activities, trends, research, etc. regarding prevention initiatives.
Assist with the marketing of "Zero Tolerance" initiatives.
Have regular cable programming focused on drug and violence prevention hosted by local organizations and youth groups.
"Spotlight" Action Plans in progress or completed and insure connection with community goals toward "Zero Tolerance".

Action Plans for Medical/Mental Health Agencies

Create an environment of trust to support families in need; break cycle of shame by educating on the benefits of support services (guest columns in newspapers, general community awareness sessions).
Institute educational support groups for children and families on topics related to drug and domestic violence prevention.
Design additional treatment oriented support for families not able to afford private centers.
Educate the public on drug and domestic violence prevention issues at PTA/PTO functions, community forums, organizational meetings, etc. Topics may include: early prevention/warning signs, signs of abuse/addiction, depression, decision-making, parenting skills, neurological/brain chemistry issues as related to youth behavior, discipline, etc.