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 

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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.”

WYN Holiday Cards are Here!

What better way to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year than with the artwork of a WYN kid! 

All images on the front of the cards are the artwork of students who participate in Western Youth Network’s After School Program. The cards were created with materials from Brushes for Vincent -- "keeping the arts alive" (brushesforvincent.org). Photography of artwork is courtesy of Charlie Hill.

Each card costs $2 or you can purchase a pack of five cards for $8 or 10 cards for $15 (costs do not include shipping). All proceeds will benefit WYN's programs to provide youth with tools to succeed.

You can also send a gift to a friend or loved one by making a donation to WYN in that person's honor, and we will send one of the unique holiday cards to the recipient, highlighting that the gift is from you and in their honor. 

The most meaningful gift we can give this holiday season is a better future for our youth.

To purchase cards or to make a gift in someone's honor, please contact Faith Motter at motterf@westernyouthnetwork.org or call 828.264.5174.

Giving Tuesday: spending with a purpose

Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday are days dedicated towards holiday shopping -- Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated towards charitable giving.

Tuesday, December 2nd is a global day of giving that inspires community members to take action and support their local charities. Giving Tuesday reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday season is making the world a better place for all.

Western Youth Network would like to encourage you on December 2nd to consider making a financial gift to support our very important programs for youth in the High Country. 

You can make a donation and/or send a gift to a friend or loved one by making a donation to WYN in that person's honor. We will send a unique holiday card crafted by a WYN kid to the recipient, highlighting that the gift is from you and in their honor. 

The most meaningful gift we can give is a better future for our youth.

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