Parent Project starts Jan. 8 - Register NOW!!

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, more than 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 positive behavior changes as parents understand and practice  powerful Parent Project interventions at home. 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. 8 through March 10 at the Glenwood Elementary School, 8950 Avenue Rd., Perrysburg, OH, 43551. 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.

The New Cool Contest starts Oct. 1

Do you want to win some cool prizes, like an iPod Touch, a digital camera package, or free movie tickets?

Here is your chance. Next week, students in Wood County will be able to participate in The New Cool contest. Here are the details and all of the official rules:

• The 5-day Contest will run October 1^st -5^th.
• Students between the ages of 12 and 18 who lives in Wood County or attends a school district in Wood County are eligible for the contest.
• Each day, participating students will be required to provide their first and last name, school district, grade, age, email and cell phone number for winner notification. To make sure the winner attends a Wood County school we will verify enrollment of each winner.
• Each day of the contest, a question will be posted between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. The questions will require the student to search the website to find the answer. The answer(s) to all of the questions can be found somewhere on www.thenewcool.info Web site. Once the question is posted, students have until 7 a.m. the following morning to answer it. A new question will be posted  each day of the contest. The correct answers will be posted on the The New Cool Web site on Monday, October 8.
• Only one correct answer per student per day will be entered in the drawing, allowing students to have as many as 5 entries for the week. Names of the five winners will be chosen at the Red Ribbon Kick-off luncheon on October 19. Winners will be notified by phone, or by e-mail. One prize per contestant. Once a prize is awarded, it cannot be traded for a different prize. If a student’s name is chosen a second time, a new winning name will be chosen for the next available prize.
• Prizes will consist of: an Apple iPod Touch, a digital camera package, four general admission tickets to a BGSU hockey, football or basketball game of your choice (up to $80 total value, not valid on “premium” games), a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart, and two passes to the Levis Commons Movie Theater. An additional 50 New Cool bookbags will also be given away.
• Winners whose names are chosen will be awarded prizes in the order in which the names are chosen, matched with the order in which the prizes are listed above. If for any reason a student is found to be ineligible, a replacement winner will be chosen from the remaining names.
• Winners will be required to claim their prize from the Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Dr., Bowling Green, OH, during regular business hours by October 31, unless other arrangements are made. Winners will be required to sign a form indicating they received the prize.
• Family members of ATOD staff will not be allowed to participate.
• Prizes are subject to change at the discretion of ESC staff.

For more information, or to participate, visit www.thenewcool.info.

Incredible Years starts Oct. 2

Parenting can be tough. So can being a kid.

The Children's Resource Center, Bowling Green, The Incredible Years training beginning October 2, at First United Methodist Church, 1506 E. Wooster St., Bowling Green.

At the Incredible Years parent training:

• Promotes positive parenting strategies
• Supports children's development
• Provide strategies in managing children's behavior

All parent participants will receive on-site child care, a light meal, completion certificates, and an extended support network.

The 14-week classes will be held each Tuesday beginning Oct. 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. To register for this session, contact Angie Patchen at Children's Resource Center at (419) 352-7588 or 1-888-466-KIDS. Register soon, as space is limited.

Parent Project starts Sept. 18

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 can be both time-consuming and repetitive. This is not the case with the Parent Project®, 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’s behavior. 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 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 Sept. 18 through Nov. 20 at the Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Dr. Bowling Green. The first two classes are held from 6 to 9 pm with the remaining sessions taking place from 6 to 8 pm.

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.

Lorrie Lewandowski honored

Lorrie Lewandowski, coordinator/supervisor of the School and Community-Based ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) Prevention Program, was honored by ADAPAO (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Ohio) during their annual meeting May 2.

She was presented with the Member of the Year Award, which is presented to an ADAPAO member for exemplary contributions to ADAPAO and its membership through service to or on behalf of the association.

Lewandowski is the immediate past-president of ADAPAO, and her long tenure on the board of directors ended last June. Since her board “retirement,” Lorrie has represented ADAPAO in several formal settings, as well as provided behind-the-scenes support to the association.

She has continued to serve on ADAPAO’s Education & Training Committee and over the last year, also served as ADAPAO’s official representative on state committees, and was also part of an ADAPAO team that met with ODADAS Director Orman Hall in November to discuss prevention. 

Also awarded during the event were Thomas Kelechi, Rick Oliver, Karen Pierce, and Robin Seymour-Hicks.

“We are extremely proud to showcase the tremendous efforts and achievements of these five individuals,” said Andrea Hoff, president of ADAPAO. “Their commitment to prevention is helping create healthier communities for all Ohioans.”

Hoff noted that the ADAPAO Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious honors within Ohio’s alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention arena. ADAPAO began presenting the awards in 1988. The recipients have included professionals within the prevention field as well as educators, community members, and government officials.

ADAPAO is a membership association of Ohioans championing the advancement of alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention. The association serves as “the voice of prevention” in the state, advocating on behalf of prevention to the Ohio Legislature, state agencies, and the general public. The association also provides education and training opportunities in prevention, and networks prevention advocates throughout the state to increase communication and idea exchange.

ADAPAO’s signature event is its annual one-day conference, which also serves as the setting for the awards presentation. This year’s conference, held May 2 at The River Club at Confluence Park in Columbus, focused on issues ranging from the prevention of opiate abuse and addiction and synthetic drugs to advocating an FDA approach to the issue of marijuana as medicine. Nearly 125 prevention professionals, advocates and supporters from around the state attended the annual conference

2012 ADAMHS Youth Survey results released

The 2012 ADAMHS Youth Survey results have been released. Please click here to view the report. If you have any questions, please contact Lorrie Lewandowski at (419) 354-9010, or e-mail Bill Ivoska, who assembled the report at ivoska@bex.net.

ESC participates in safety fair

The Wood County Safety Fair was put on by the Wood County Hospital. A 5-K race was also included in the day. There where numerous display tables covering such topics as water safety, nature & wildlife, electricity, nutrition, and physical activity. 

Chloe Keaton

The Wood County Educational Service Center's School and Community-Based ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) Prevention Program also had an information booth highlighting their programming and The New Cool media campaign.


A gift basket offered as a raffle prize during the event was won by Chloe Keaton, of Bowling Green. The basket included healthy cracker snacks, stress balls, Frisbees, make-your-own flowerpot, and a $20.00 gift certificate to Wal-Mart. 

Each child that walked through the fair received a raffle ticket for a chance to win a variety of prizes.

Parent Project class starts July 5

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 Thursday evenings from July 5 through Sept. 6, 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 at 419-354-9010, ext. 113 or by e-mail at llewandowski@wcesc.org.

Results of 2012 Wood County Youth Survey to be released

Overall, drug use among students is down in Wood County since 2010, according to Dr. William J. Ivoska, author of the Biennial Student Survey.

In February, 2012, students in grades 5 through 12 in public and parochial schools throughout Wood County, were surveyed on drug use-related topics, mental health indicators and bullying.

The results of the Wood County Youth Survey have been analyzed by Dr. Ivoska. He will present a summary of the report during a press conference Friday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The press conference will be held at the Wood County Educational Service Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Highlights of the report on Friday will include:

·       15.2 percent of high school seniors report smoking cigarettes, which is an all-time low in Wood County.

·       Annual and monthly alcohol use has continued to decline in all grades, except for a slight increase among high school seniors. Binge drinking rates are declining.

·       Annual alcohol rates for 2012 are lower for all grades, except seniors, when compared to 2010.  When comparing 2012 rates with 2008 rates, then there are significant decreases for all grades including seniors. The same is true for monthly use.  There are significant decreases in all grade levels between 2008 and 2012.

·       Following a national trend, marijuana use is increasing among Wood County teens. For the first time, monthly marijuana use is more prevalent than cigarette use in grades 9 through 12.

These results and other topics examined in the 2012 youth survey, including bullying, will be discussed at the press conference.

The survey was completed through the efforts and support of the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative and the Wood County ADAMHS Board, in collaboration with the Wood County Educational Service Center.

Wood County Cultural Competence Training April 18

A Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Training

Program Description: This highly interactive training takes a deeper dive into the issues of diversity, cultural competence, and integrity when implementing SPF or any 

community-wide service initiative. We will provide participants with insight, tools and strategies 

on addressing the unique needs, behaviors, cultures and habits of diverse clients and 

communities.

Date: April 18th, 2012
Time: 10am to 4pm
Cost:  FREE
Location: Wood County Educational Service Center Location
Address: 1867 North Research Dr., Bowling Green, OH 43402
Room Number: Conference Rooms 106-­107
Contact Name: Lorrie Lewandowski
Contact Number: 419-­‐354-­‐9010 ext. 113
Sponsoring Organization:  Wood County Educational Service Center

Additional Information: Participants will be responsible for their own lunch. ODADAS and 

Global Insight are the sponsors for RCH and CEU credits for Chemical Dependency and  Social Work professionals. RCHs and CEUs have been applied for with a total of 4.5 hours. 

The building is accessible and can accommodate up to 60 participants.

To Register: http://aboutglobalinsight.com/training.html

Download a brochure with a list of restaurants.

Sign a pledge, save some money for prom

Check this out.

It's time for prom and graduation...two times in the career of high school students where the pressures to drink can be pretty intense.

Whether you have a party at your house, or your friends have a party at their house, you need to be aware of the laws. It is illegal in Ohio for anyone who is under the age of 21 to drink. It is illegal for adults to serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Both you and the adults can end up spending hefty fines, as well as some time in jail if you break these laws.

We encourage you to make informed, wise, and safe decisions this prom and graduation season.

For that reason, we are offering some coupons. All you have to do is fill out the pledge located on this brochure, or on this brochure, and take the completed pledge into any of the listed participating businesses. Once you turn in the pledge, you will receive the listed discount and/or savings.

Your parents have to sign the pledge too!!!

Have fun, but please be safe out there!

We need your input!

I invite you to check out The New Cool Web site (www.thenewcool.info) and see what you think. We are talking about adding ideas, changing some things, and basically revising the site. So....we want your ideas. 

What do you like about the site? What DON’T you like about the site? What would you do to make it a fun site to visit over and over and over again? Be as creative as you want to be, but I can’t promise we will make all of the changes.

Instead of e-mailing us your ideas, post them on our Facebook page. And while you are there, be sure to “like” us!

And heck, since you are on the Internet doing all of this anyway, why don’t you follow us on Twitter, too, at https://twitter.com/#!/WCESCPrevention

All of our Web sites can be found at http://about.me/WCESCPrevention

Thanks for all of your help!!

Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol Meetings Set

The Wood County Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol Task Force will meet April 19, and June 11, 2012.

This task force works to reduce accessibility of alcohol to minors through education and prevention. This is the group that has been responsible for the creation of The New Cool campaign, which has spread through all Wood County school districts, and now is making its way into the Wood County community at large.

The New Cool billboard currently can be seen at the intersection of East Wooster Street and Dunbridge Road in Bowling Green.

These next meetings will be held to discuss where we have come so far with the program, and where we plan to take the campaign in the near and extended future.

They will be held at the Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Dr., Bowling Green, OH, 43402.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings. For more information, contact Lorrie Lewandowski at (419) 354-9010, ext. 113.

Register for Wood County JTI Retreat now!!

The registration form for the 2012 Junior Teen Institute retreat is now available!!!

The event will be held March 23, from 4 to 10 p.m. at Rossford Junior High School. It is open for Wood County Teen Institute members only. Registration forms are available from your TI/JTI Adviser, or online HERE.

Fill it out and return it to your adviser by March 29.

We have a fun night planned for you. Join the excitement!