Action-Packed Summer

As fall has quickly made itself known here in the High Country, we have loved reflecting on the action-packed summer of the Western Youth Network.

Our summer programing was once again filled to capacity, both with participants and action. The long days of sunshine and near-perfect temperatures provided countless hiking adventures, biking trips, service projects and recreational activities. Even though this year’s summer programming has come to a close, WYN has not slowed down a bit! The school year began, and both WYN afterschool sites have been filled everyday with laughter and learning. Our mentoring program has extended its resources to Avery County, successfully completing five mentor/mentee matches. The prevention team has continued its impactful work in a 5-county region, while expanding the range of services offered. The local and regional accolades continue to pour in for the hard work being done by our prevention team!

The development team has two new exciting missions as well! WYN is honored to announce a partnership with Sonny and Bricca Sweet, establishing the Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund. This endowment fund will provide scholarships to High Country youth for participation in WYN programming, delivering life-altering opportunities to those in need. Additionally, Chetola Resort has graciously offered to host the inaugural Festival of Trees, December 3-6. Individuals and corporations can decorate a Christmas tree or wreath based on a theme, and these trees will be auctioned at the event. All proceeds from the Festival of Trees will go to support Western Youth Network. Decoration is open to all participants, so please click the link below for more information if you are interested!

While we are excited about the grown at WYN, we all know that our work is not complete. Currently, there are 45 youth in Watauga and Avery Counties on our mentor waitlist. Our afterschool programming department is now picking up youth from all eight elementary schools in Watauga County, leading to an increased demand for tutoring and continuing education. The education services of our prevention team are providing a higher success rate with local data showing a decline in underage drinking and prescription drug abuse; however, the battle is ever-continuing, growing, and requiring constant updated practices on substance abuse.

People ask everyday how they can help, and my response is always the same: GET INVOLVED! Help spread our message, donate, volunteer, be a mentor… The possibilities and opportunities are almost endless! Are you gifted administratively? We have work for you. Do you enjoy cleaning and organizing? We have work for you. Do you love kids? We have multiple connecting points for you. Think your financial gift is too small to matter? Let us show you the difference even ten dollars can make.

WYN is about investment. WYN is building youth of character and confidence in the High Country, and we need you in order to continue making this happen. 

 http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/wordpress/festival-of-trees

http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/wordpress/sonny-sweet-scholarship-fund

Celebrating a Legacy

Western Youth Network shares a 30th Anniversary with Dr. Janice Rienerth in 2015. On Thursday, April 30th at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, WYN celebrated the legacy of Dr. Janice Rienerth. Jan is one of the original Co-founding Board Members of WYN, and has served on the Board of Directors since the organization’s inception. 

WYN (then called “Watauga Youth Network”) was founded in 1985 in response to the community’s cry for more local services to youth. Jan recalls the humble beginnings of WYN during the late winter and early spring of 1985: “It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since a group of us sat at a table in the jury deliberation room of the courthouse and conceived the idea of the Watauga Youth Network.”  

Jan will be stepping down from WYN’s Board of Directors effective July 1, 2015, at which point she will transition to the Advisory Board. When asked about her decision to rotate off the Board, she simply replied, “It’s time.”

Jan currently serves as Secretary of the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge Board and is a volunteer for Guardian ad Litem program. She worked 40 years at Appalachian State University as a Sociology Professor and retired in 2013. Jan still teaches as an Adjunct Professor. 

“If I had only two words to describe Jan, they would be consistent and kind," said Jennifer Warren, Executive Director. "Jan is the one you can count on to come to every event. Like a loving parent, she shows up and shows her support of you no matter how small or insignificant the event may seem. I clearly remember her being one of the only people who came to a car wash fundraiser the Mentoring Program hosted many years ago. Jan is also one of the kindest persons you'll ever want to meet. She notices when someone needs something, and she is quick to put her financial resources (as well as her wise and compassionate words) towards that need.” 

A few of the highlights from the event at Chetola included a walk down history lane with Ken Suddreth (also Co-founding Board Member) and guest speaker Ron Redmon (former Board Chair). WYN honored Jan with a plaque for her dedication and service and presented her with a gift of a Katie Langley photograph. Guest Denise Presnell (School Social Worker) was surprised to receive the first ever "Jan Rienerth Superhero Award" which will now be presented annually to an individual, like Jan, who has gone above and beyond to make WYN thrive and to serve with unwavering dedication our community's youth. Flower centerpieces were designed and donated by The Wedding Resource Center and were purchased by guests with proceeds benefiting WYN. 

Guests and former Board Members also made contributions in Jan's honor to the WYN Legacy Fund - a permanent endowment fund established to help provide stability and security for the organization over the long term. As incentive to build The WYN Legacy Fund, an anonymous donor has offered to match in 2015 up to $4,000 of gifts made to The WYN Legacy Fund. Thus far, gifts made in Jan's honor total $3,755.

If you would like to make a contribution to The WYN Legacy Fund, please visit http://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/wordpress/the-wyn-legacy-fund

Alcohol Awareness Month

Western Youth Network encourages parents and guardians to observe Alcohol Awareness Month during the month of April. Since youth are 5 times more likely to be alcohol abusers if they use before the age of 21, and drinking during adolescence has been shown to cause permanent brain damage, it is important that parents and guardians begin the conversation about alcohol early in a child's life.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), parents and caregivers play a critical role in children’s decisions to experiment with alcohol. Studies have shown that parents have a significant influence on young people’s decisions about alcohol consumption, especially when parents create supportive and nurturing environments in which their children can make their own decisions. In fact, around 80 percent of children feel that parents should have a say in whether they drink alcohol.

SAMHSA's "Talk. They Hear You." campaign helps parents and caregivers start talking to their children early—as early as nine years old—about the dangers of alcohol. "Talk. They Hear You." aims to reduce underage drinking among youth by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources they need to start addressing the issue of alcohol with their children early. The Campaign focuses on:

·         Increasing parents’ awareness of the prevalence and risk of underage drinking;

·         Equipping parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent underage drinking; and

·         Increasing parents’ actions to prevent underage drinking.

If you're unsure of how to begin talking with your child, you can use SAMHSA's "Start the Talk" interactive tool to help you learn the do’s and don’ts of talking to your kids about underage drinking. Using avatars, you’ll practice bringing up the topic of alcohol with a teen; learn what questions to ask; and get ideas for keeping the conversation going long after the initial talk has ended.

You can learn more and utilize dozens of "Talk. They Hear You."  resources by visiting http://www.samhsa.gov/underagedrinking/

WYN Increases Community Health Initiatives

WESTERN YOUTH NETWORK INCREASES COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES

Boone, NC – Western Youth Network (WYN) received $5,000 in funding from the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant to begin implementing comprehensive health initiatives in the after school program. This funding has allowed WYN to offer healthy snacks and nutrition education for all of the students enrolled.

This program serves an average of 30 Watauga County students in grades 6-8 from all 9 elementary schools. These initiatives are a part of WYN’s holistic, preventative approach for this population. Evidence suggests that when youth are involved in an after school program that provides a variety of healthy activities and options, it increases their protective factors and helps prevent or delay the onset of drug and alcohol use.

In a time where healthy options are limited for low-income, rural populations, WYN believes that every member of the program deserves at least one healthy snack option per day. Fridays are the kids favorite snack day. They have the chance to build their own trail mix with options ranging from seeds, nuts, and dried fruits. After school leader, Deanne Wesemann, commented “I have been surprised that the kids have adapted so kindly to the healthy snacks. There are many days that they want seconds.”

Margie Mansure, from the NC Cooperative Extension, teaches a nutrition workshop for the youth once a month. She prepares food in front of the students to demonstrate healthy cooking and teaches them the importance of incorporating whole grains, vegetables, and fruits in their diet. After each workshop, each student is sent home with a nutrition packet to look over with their parents. Margie insists that, “the parent’s role is vital because they are the gate keepers of health.”

Western Youth Network has an ongoing partnership with Bare Essentials Natural Market. All of the snack ingredients have been bought at this local, natural grocery store. Most of the products are organic, which increases the nutritional density of the snacks. A group of students from WYN will take a field trip to Bare Essentials in April to tour the store and learn about the differences between conventional and organic food.

WYN intends to implement best practices in order to sustain the program and enact policy change. The program is modeled after a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and staff members have identified ways to continue offering healthy snacks and nutrition education for years to come. A youth enrolled at after school expressively commented on the impact of the program saying that, “the healthy snacks help me nourish my body better and help me build strong muscles.” WYN believes that the program will not only impact the youth immediately, but encourage them to change behaviors and continue making healthy food choices throughout their life.

Kickin' it for WYN!

CADCA's National Leadership Forum

WATAUGA SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION ATTENDS CADCA’S NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FORUM TO LEARN NEW SKILLS TO REDUCE YOUTH DRUG USE 

BOONE, NC – Representatives from Watauga Substance Abuse Prevention (WSAP) headed to the Washington, D.C. area to join more than 2,500 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 25^th Annual National Leadership Forum, held Feb. 2-5, 2015 at the Gaylord National Hotel.

“We are so thrilled to have spent several days with other similar organizations from across the country, learning and honing our prevention skills so our community can be a better place--one that doesn't suffer from the harms of drug and alcohol abuse,” says Coalition Director Hollie Storie Wilcox. “We hope to bring back new energy and strategies that will help tackle drug use in the High Country.”

CADCA’s Forum covered a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and heroin use to how to create tobacco-free environments and develop policies to reduce underage and excessive drinking.

Coalition representatives also visited U.S. representative Virginia Foxx’s office during Capitol Hill Day to share information about the importance of substance abuse prevention and the impact that coalitions are having in Watauga County.

As a result of community-based efforts, Watauga County underage drinking rates are trending downward at a significant rate.  WSAP implements evidence-based strategies to reduce underage drinking and focuses on reducing youth access to alcohol, both at home and in retail settings.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the premier and largest training event for community-based substance abuse prevention professionals, coalition leaders and prevention and addiction researchers. The Forum is a four-day event packed with opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known prevention experts, federal administrators and concerned policymakers. For details about the more than 70 training sessions and speakers, visit: http://forum.cadca.org/.

WSAP is a data driven, evidenced based, multi-sector coalition with a goal to reduce youth substance use and abuse in Watauga County. WSAP partners with the community to prevent and reduce the misuse of alcohol, marijuana, and prescription medication by youth through awareness, advocacy, and action. For more information visit: www.wsap.org 

# # #

North Carolina School Psychology Association Supports Local Youth

North Carolina School Psychology Association (NCSPA) hosted their Fall State Conference in Asheville, NC on Sunday, October 5, 2014 - Tuesday, October 7, 2014. The conference theme was “Advocating for the Needs of All Students.” There are a total of 360 school psychologist members in the Association, and the conference is a great opportunity for those professionals to gain knowledge and support in their field. Each year the conference selects a charity to support in the region dedicated to serving kids. This year’s selected charity was Western Youth Network (WYN).

The funds to support WYN were made possible through a raffle organized by the members for the Conference’s Presidential Reception. Jim Deni, a former WYN Board Member and long-time community advocate and Psychology Professor at Appalachian State University, helped to organize the event. Jim has been involved with NCSPA since its founding in 1976. "NCSPA and its membership donates money," said Deni, “to schools and organizations that are consistent with its mission of advocating and helping all children.”

“WYN is extremely grateful for NCSPA’s gift which will be used to purchase web-based software that will track and measure program outcomes,” said Jennifer Warren, WYN’s Executive Director. “WYN is committed to evaluating the effectiveness of its programs, so that the organization can continue to improve and grow, and so that our supporters feel confident that we are making a positive impact in our community.”