RED HOOK PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS STAY OFF DRUGS

RED HOOK -- A new program at Red Hook High School aims to make it easier
for kids to say "no" to drugs.

A new program known as Law Enforcement Educational Partnership, or LEEP, is
giving students things to do while teaching them skills to resist peer
pressure.

The program is being paid by up to $60,000 in federal funds and is one of
only 15 such grants in the state, said Jessica Cummings-van Haren, student
assistance counselor at the school.

Though it only began this fall, it is already reaching out to students at
all grade levels, from elementary to high school.

The school, the sheriff's office and the Dutchess County Council on
Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Inc. all are partners in the project.

Cigarette and drug use have been on the minds of a number of parents this
year. Representatives of the Parent Teacher Student Association recently
asked the Red Hook School Board to consider instituting a task force to
address drug use.

Richard Brenner, the school resource officer, has been valuable in helping
with the problem, Principal Roy Paisley has said.

Program Stepped Up

But the school also is taking it a step further with the LEEP program.

"We hear a lot, 'there's nothing to do,' " Brenner said. "If we can keep
them busy, we can keep them out of trouble."

The program begins after school, when about 25 high school students are
trained in life skills, such as handling decision-making and peer pressure.
They're also preparing age-appropriate skits for elementary and middle
school students using life-sized puppets.

"Hearing it from your peers can be much more powerful than hearing it in a
classroom," Cummings-van Haren said.

Approximately 50 students each week attend an activities night Wednesdays
at the high school, which offers games and snacks for students of all ages.

The group began with about 18 students and has since grown to 50. Publicity
about the program has primarily been through word of mouth, Cummings-van
Haren said.

Parents also get involved. Another piece of the program, known as Parents
Who Care, offers five-week parent workshop sessions where techniques for
dealing with 12- to 17-year-olds are discussed.

Cathy Rubsam of Red Hook has found the parent workshops "very beneficial."

She appreciates "any kind of insight I can get to raise my children in a
better way. I think it's great," Rubsam said.

What isn't clear is whether the program will continue next year, since
grant funding covers only 14 months of activities. Cummings-van Haren said
they will look for alternative funding sources.

"We do want to keep this running," she said.