Monday, March 19, 2006

Town hall meeting about underage drinking aims to empower parents

Parents can make the difference in helping teens stay away from risky behavior. Research data supports the idea. And on March 28, CLEAN, Inc. will support parents and other members of the community with a special program, one that will help address the problem of underage drinking.

The Power to Create Change: Addressing Underage Drinking in our Community will consist of a town hall-style meeting – with plenty of opportunity for give-and-take among everyone in attendance. The event will be held at 7 p.m. at Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy in Winchester. 

Representatives from Winchester City Schools, Frederick and Clarke County Schools, Winchester and Frederick County PTOs, Powhatan School, Shenandoah University, Virginia ABC, Law Enforcement, and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Shenandoah Valley have all participated in organizing the event. 

The Town Meeting will include a presentation followed by an informative and interactive forum with a panel of community leaders with a range of expertise in the field.  This panel will include:  Elizabeth Kellas, Juvenile Justice;  Philip Pate, Winchester City Councilman and Adolescent Psychologist; Jay Hessler and Mark Gleason, Northwestern Community Service Board members; Sherrie Lattimore, parent representative; and Fernando Pantoja, ESL Department Chair, Handley High School. 

The program is one of several scheduled around the country that week, and is sponsored nationally by the Interagency Coordinating Committee for the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD). 

These local town hall meetings will provide an opportunity for people to gather in order to raise awareness about the dangers of underage alcohol use. The event will be coordinated with the national launch of Reach Out Now Teach-Ins. The teach-ins are targeting fifth and sixth graders all across the country, as well as parents, teachers and the community, about the dangers of underage alcohol abuse. Young people will be encouraged to always make healthy decisions. National Teach-In Week will occur April 3 – 7. 

The goal of the town hall event will also attempt to solidify resolve - to effectively address underage drinking, both on a local and national scale. The Shenandoah Valley event is sponsored by CLEAN, Inc. of Winchester. CLEAN’s mission is to provide leadership through education, advocacy, and networking for a safe, healthy and drug-free community. 

The program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The S.U. School of Pharmacy is located behind Winchester Medical Center. For directions or additional information, contact CLEAN at (540) 722-3589 or visit www.cleaninc.org.