Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Parent Project starts Jan. 10


Most  of us in the field, working with high-risk youth know that parent involvement is the key to behavior change with adolescents. Yet, effectively educating parents in basic behavioral strategies is time consuming and repetitive. The Parent Project® is a parent training program designed for parents of strong-willed adolescents.  Since 2003, nearly 250 parents and their adolescents have attended Parent Project in Wood County and they report that there is important information in Parent Project classes for parents of all teens.    

Topics include reducing family conflict and arguing, improving school performance and attendance, identifying and intervening with alcohol and other drug abuse, interceding with negative peer associations (including inappropriate dating relationships) and helping parents to set clear, consistent rules with enforceable consequences. Parents who attend the Parent Project® are more likely to see their child’s attendance at school improve, and to require less school-based disciplinary resources as parents find powerful interventions at home with which to bring about change in their children. The motto of the Parent Project® is “Parents are the answer … when they have the tools they need.”

Presented in an educational format, parents are trained for a low fee of $20 for the accompanying 180-page workbook. Youth ages 12-18 are also invited to attend a separate class at no additional cost.  If the entire course is completed and the parent has attended all of the required sessions, the $20 fee will be refunded. Parents attend 18 hours of instruction for a cost of less than one session of private counseling.



Here are some comments from a family that completed Parent Project in the fall of 2011:



The information we learned from the sessions is priceless!   Each session was full of information and techniques designed to help deal with a variety of issues and situations that we are faced with on a daily basis.  This class has empowered us to make positive changes in our family dynamics.  After the first session we were so excited to learn more.  We began to implement the techniques immediately and saw results right away. We continued to learn and use the tools given to us.  By the end of the last session we were feeling more confident that we were definitely on our way to becoming better parents, and raising respectful well adjusted teenagers!   Following the guidelines we were given has definitely resulted in a more positive and happy environment at our house.    Words could not express the appreciation we feel for the opportunity to have attended these classes.   We would highly recommend The Parent Project to all parents!  



The next session will be held Tuesday evenings from Jan. 10 through March 13 at the Rossford High School, 701 Superior St., Rossford. The first two classes will run from 6 to 9 p.m. The remainder of the classes run from at 6 to 8 p.m.


For more information or to register, contact Lorrie Lewandowski at 419-354-9010, ext. 113 or by e-mail at llewandowski@wcesc.org.



You also can find more information and register by visiting www.parentproject.com and click on “find a class in your area” in the top right-hand corner.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Lewandowski presents at Heroin lecture series

Lorrie Lewandowski, the coordinator/supervisor of the Wood County Educational Service Center's School and Community-Based ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) Prevention Program was the guest-speaker at a lecture series regarding the dangers of heroin at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, on Nov. 14, 2011. The presentation was part of the WLIO Lima television news report. View the report that aired below, or read the full report.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Second Place in Rossford Parade


Wood County JTI (Junior Teen Institute) and TI (Teen Institute) members walked in the Rossford Halloween parade on October 30th to send the message that “To be Drug and Alcohol-Free is The New Cool." 

The New Cool is a media campaign sponsored by the Reducing Alcohol Abuse in Secondary Schools (RAASS) grant through the Wood County Educational Service Center's School and Community-Based Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention Program, which targets the dangers of underage drinking, and encourages communities to take a stance to change the attitudes and beliefs about underage drinking.

Eleven junior high and high school students from Lake, along with two Penta students walked alongside parents and community members holding a sign explaining “The New Cool” campaign. Supporting their efforts were Lake Schools Prevention Specialist Jeanine Lindquist, and the Prevention Specialist at Penta, Linda Logue.  In addition, Lake TI and JTI students helped to create 2 “floats” out of grocery carts, and won 2nd place for their unique creation. 

Karris Pugh, a TI member at Lake, stated that "it’s easy to have fun without worrying about the dangers that occur when you including alcohol, and other drugs."

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Incredible Years starts Nov. 29

Parenting can be tough. So can being a kid.

The Children's Resource Center, Bowling Green, is offering two sessions of The Incredible Years training beginning in February. You can choose to attend sessions in either North Baltimore or Rossford.

At the Incredible Years parent training, parents of children ages 3 to 8 will learn how to:
Increase children's self-esteem and self-confidence. Strengthen children's social skills Discipline effectively Boost academic success The 14-week classes will be held each Tuesday beginning Nov. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Jordan Family Development Center, located on the campus of Bowling Green State University. To register for this session, contact Angie Patchen at Children's Resource Center by Feb. 3 at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS.

Classes are low-cost and space is limited. Child care is available. Light meals will be provided each week.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Dave Horger Report

Check out our program mentioned twice on The Dave Horger Report:

Dave Horger Report Oct. 27, 2011 - Radio segment about the Wood County prescription take-back that aired on the Dave Horger Report Oct. 27, 2011
Dave Horger Report 10/21/11 - Radio segment about Red Ribbon Week Kickoff that aired on the Dave Horger Report Oct. 21, 2011

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Vote for our Teen Institute PSA!!


You can now show your support for Wood County Teen Institute by voting for our Public Service Announcement! 
On Saturday, Sept. 24, 63 Wood County students attended the Teen Institute annual leadership retreat and learned about public service announcements (PSA) and then produced their own to enter into an Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS) PSA contest.

One of the seven PSAs that were produced - affectionately known in the office as "The Shufflin' Video" - was entered into the ODADAS PSA contest.
 You can now vote for that video on the ODADAS Facebook page. Simply scroll down until you find the video titled "Entry for the Youth PSA Contest submitted by the Wood County TI," and "Like" the video. If you do that, you have voted!! You don't even have to have a Facebook account to vote!

Share this information with your friends and tell them to vote as well.

The contest winner - a.k.a. the PSA with the most "likes" - will be announced and recognized at the 2011 Ohio Prevention and Education Conference (OPEC), which will be held Nov. 15-17 in Dublin, OH. If chosen, our group will work with the ODADAS Office of Communications to potentially have the winning PSA aired in their local market. It also will be featured on the ODADAS Web site, Facebook and YouTube pages.
Now get out there and vote!! Thanks for your support.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Retreat leads to creation of public service announcements

Wood County Teen Institute members at the Sept. 24 retreat at Splash Bay in Maumee, OH
Teens often express their concern and worry regarding peers and drug abuse. Recent statistics tell us that one in five teens abuse prescription drugs.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, Wood County teens took action to make a difference. Sixty-three Wood County students attended the Teen Institute annual leadership retreat and learned about public service announcements (PSA) and then produced their own to enter into an Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS) PSA contest.

Schools that were represented at the retreat included Bowling Green, Eastwood, Elmwood, Lake, North Baltimore, Otsego, Penta, Perrysburg and Rossford. Students also were introduced to prevention strategies that will be useful for the 2011-2012 school year. 

The students left the retreat energized, creative, and compelled to be role models and agents of change.Seven PSAs were created during the retreat. The winning video from those seven can be seen online at http://youtu.be/PwjSaOWeH0o

Once all of the video have been submitted statewide, we all will have an opportunity to vote for our favorite video. We will post details on how to vote on our Twitter account at http://twitter.com/#!/WCESCPrevention

The winner will be announced and recognized at the 2011 Ohio Prevention and Education Conference (OPEC), which will be held Nov. 15-17 in Dublin, OH. If chosen, our group will work with the ODADAS Office of Communications to potentially have the winning PSA aired in their local market. It also will be featured on the ODADAS Web site, Facebook and YouTube pages.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Play groups and The Incredible Years class offered

Parenting can be tough. So can being a kid.

The Children's Resource Center, Bowling Green, is offering The Incredible Years training beginning in September.

At the Incredible Years parent training, parents of children ages 3 to 8 will learn how to:
  • Increase children's self-esteem and self-confidence. 
  • Strengthen children's social skills 
  • Discipline effectively 
  • Boost academic success.
Also beginning in September, CRC will offer Parent-Child play groups.

These events will occur Thursday mornings Sept. 1 through Oct. 20, from 10-11:30 a.m. at CRC. It is intended for children ages 18 months to 4 years, and for their parents/guardians.

There, participants will:
  • Make friends with other families
  • Share experiences and ideas
  • Learn how your child grows and develops
  • Enjoy activities and play that is designed to promote your child's development
  • Nutritious snacks will be provided
For more information, or to register for either program, contact Kristin Nagel at Children's Resource Center at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Parent Project starts Sept. 20

Most of us in the field, working with high-risk youth know that parent involvement is the key to behavior change with difficult, behaviorally disordered adolescents. Yet, effectively educating parents in basic behavioral strategies is time consuming and repetitive. The Parent Project® is a parent training program designed for parents of strong-willed adolescents (those sometimes referred to as oppositional defiant, or conduct disorder). Since 2003, nearly 250 parents have attended Parent Project in Wood County and they report that there is important information for all  parents of teens.   

Topics include reducing family conflict and arguing, improving school performance and attendance, identifying and intervening with alcohol and other drug abuse, interceding with negative peer associations (including inappropriate dating relationships up to and including frank gang involvement) and helping parents to set effective applicable limits. Many parents attending Parent Project® have had difficulty identifying appropriate limits and enforcing consequences consistently. Parents who attend the Parent Project® are more likely to see their child’s attendance at school improve, and to require less school-based disciplinary resources as parents find powerful interventions at home with which to bring about change in their children. The motto of the Parent Project® is “Parents are the answer … when they have the tools they need.”

Presented in an educational format, parents are trained for a low fee of $20 for the accompanying 180-page workbook “A Parents’ Guide to Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior.” There is no cost for the training itself. If the entire course is completed and the parent has attended all of the required sessions, the $20 fee will be refunded. Parents attend 18 hours of instruction for a cost of less than one session of private counseling.

The next session will be held Tuesday evenings from Sept. 20 through Nov. 22 at the Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Dr., Bowling Green. The first two classes will run from 6 to 9 p.m. The remainder of the classes run from at 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information or to register, contact Lorrie Lewandowski, Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Dr., Bowling Green, OH, 43402. Phone: 419-354-9010, ext. 113. E-mail: llewandowski@wcesc.org.
 
You also can find more information and register by visiting www.parentproject.com and click on “find a class in your area” in the top right-hand corner.

The local Parent Project program was featured in a radio news segment that was broadcast Jan. 27, 2010 on the Morning Show hosted by Dave Horger on WBGU 88.1 FM. Listen to the segment on BG Gizmo by clicking here.

Registration will be limited to the first 30 people responding.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Wood County youth gather join others for statewide leadership training


Fifteen Wood County High School Students representing gathered at Kenyon College in Gambier, OH last week with teens from across Ohio. The training, held July 17-21, was part of Ohio Teen Institute, a leadership training program that focuses on development of resistance skills to peer pressure and drug and alcohol abuse.

Student leaders in Wood County meet several times per year to be trained, to train others in these leadership strategies, and to show them ways to have a good time without bringing drugs and alcohol into the picture. Each summer, key student leaders gather at Kenyon College to re-energize, learn more, and prepare for the upcoming year.

Surveys returned by Wood County students after the retreat reported the training made them a better leader.
The majority of students also reported that they would use what they learned to help recruit new members to Teen Institute and help spread the group’s message in their schools.

Students who attended were:

Bowling Green:
Emily Drake

Eastwood:
Carli Kehres

Lake:
Kandie King
Karris Pugh
Daniel Ingle
Breanna Reardon
Amber Studyvin

North Baltimore:
Becka Adkins
Ashley Baisden
Ashlee Quantic
Tessa Reinman

Northwood:
Andrea Howard

Penta:
Jeremy TenEyck
Dustin Bolton

Perrysburg:
Ali Kopp

Additionally, the following students were chosen to serve as youth staff at the Teen Institute event:
Bridget Cushard (Bowling Green High School graduate)
Kaylyn Haynes (Lake High School)

Jeanine Lindquist, a prevention specialist with the Wood County Educational Service Center’s School & Community-Based ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug) Prevention Program served as adult staff at the state retreat.

Registration fees for participants were paid by ODADAS (Ohio Department of Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services) and by the Wood County Educational Service Center through a grant from the Wood County ADAMHS (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services) Board.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Lots of online changes and updates

Hi all!!!

We recently underwent some major updates and changes in our online presence.

Find all of our links at about.me/WCESCPrevention.

Also, we have temporarily moved the School and Community-Based ATOD Prevention main site to http://wcescprevention.freehostingcloud.com/index.html#

The most exciting part is that the 2011/2012 Wood County Prevention Coalition Resource Guide is finally (FINALLY!!!!) online. This year's guide marks a huge step forward for the coalition. Not only can you download the PDF version of the guide, but you can also search out what you need in the interactive online version. Be sure to check it out at http://wcescprevention.freehostingcloud.com/Resources11-12.html.

If you prefer a printed version, please call Lorrie Lewandowski or Greg Van Vorhis at the Wood County Educational Service Center at (419) 354-9010.

If you have any ideas on how we might be able to improve our online presence even more, please let us know!!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sign the Pledge and Attend Prom Looking Good for Less

As part of the Wood County Educational Service Center's School and Community-Based ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) Prevention Program's Parents Who Host Lose the Most campaign this year, we have teamed with several area vendors to help you save money for Prom and graduation!

Simply click this link to download and/or print our flyer. Then, parents and students both must sign the pledge to be responsible during this upcoming season of celebration. Present the signed flyer to one of the listed participating vendors to receive your discount!

Have a fun and safe prom and graduation season!!!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Current teen leaders teach future teen leaders

Wood County JTI and TI members, and prevention specialist from the Wood County Educational Service Center gather outside Rossford Junior High School during the JTI retreat March 18.


Wood County Teen Institute members on Friday helped light and pass the torch of leadership during the Junior Teen Institute retreat held at Rossford Junior High School.

The event March 18 event, put on by the Wood County Educational Service Center’s School and Community-Based ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) prevention program.

Teen Institute groups exist to allow students to teach each other strategies to be leaders in their schools and to be a student advocate and role model for a drug, alcohol and tobacco-free lifestyle.

Approximately 70 youth from across Wood County in grades 6 through 12 attended the event, which began after school and continued into the late evening.

Teen Institute (TI) members used the leadership skills they learned in TI to lead, teach, excite and energize Junior Teen Institute members, who will continue on into TI.

Friday’s event included a cookout; a hands-on, experiential learning activities; and engaging youth in fun, educational and team-oriented activities to enforce the theme of leadership and a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Eventually, JTI members will learn these leadership skills and become leaders themselves during future JTI retreats, passing the torch to the next generation of youth committed to a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.
Emily Cohen, a senior at Rossford High School, competes in a Minute To Win It game against other family group members. More photos from the event can be found here.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Incredible Years class offered

Parenting can be tough. So can being a kid.

The Children's Resource Center, Bowling Green, is offering three sessions of The Incredible Years training beginning in March. You can choose to attend sessions in either Bowling Green, Perrysburg, or North Baltimore.

At the Incredible Years parent training, parents of children ages 3 to 8 will learn how to:
Increase children's self-esteem and self-confidence. Strengthen children's social skills Discipline effectively Boost academic success.

The 12-week classes will be held each Wednesday beginning March 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Jordan Family Center, 812 N. College Drive, Bowling Green. To register for this session, contact Kristin Nagel or Cindy Eckel at Children's Resource Center by March 16, at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS.

A second option is to attend the class at the Owens Community College Childcare Center, located at 30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg. That 12-week session will be held on Thursdays, beginning at 5:30. To register for this session, call Deb Goldberg or Bonnie McCourt at Children's Resource Center by March 17 at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS.

Alternatively, you can register for the session that will be held at Church of the Good Shepherd, 119 W Broadway, North Baltimore. That 12-week session will be held each Monday beginning March 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Register for this session by March 18 by calling Angie Patchen at Children's Resource Center at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS.

Classes are low-cost and space is limited. Child care is available. Light meals will be provided each week.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

ADAPAO Medical Marijuana Position Paper Online

The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Ohio has issued a position paper regarding medical marijuana. You can read the paper about this hot topic here.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Incredible Years class offered

Parenting can be tough. So can being a kid.

The Children's Resource Center, Bowling Green, is offering two sessions of The Incredible Years training beginning in February. You can choose to attend sessions in either North Baltimore or Rossford.

At the Incredible Years parent training, parents of children ages 3 to 8 will learn how to:
Increase children's self-esteem and self-confidence. Strengthen children's social skills Discipline effectively Boost academic success The 12-week classes will be held each Wednesday beginning Feb. 9, from 1:00 to 3 p.m. at Rossford WSOS/Rossford United Methodist Church, located at 270 Dixie Highway, Rossford. To register for this session, contact Bonnie McCourt or Cindy Eckel at Children's Resource Center by Feb. 3 at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS.

Alternatively, you can register for the session that will be held at Church of the Good Shepherd, 119 W Broadway, North Baltimore. That 12-week session will be held each Tuesday beginning Feb. 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Register for this session by Feb. 11 by calling Angie Patchen at Children's Resource Center at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS.

Classes are low-cost and space is limited. Child care is available. Light meals will be provided each week.