HELPING DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN

Drug Response Task Force Provides Assistance to Family And Youth

The Camrose Canadian -- Keeping a firm grip on drugs in our
community has been one focus of the Battle River Drug Response Task Force.

Co-chairperson Yvonne Allen said the group has been working on three
main initiatives covering a range of topics including assistance to
family and youth as well as providing education to community agencies
and front line workers.

The Parents Connecting Support group was started in February and
continues this fall. The group is aimed at parents whose children are
involved in drug and alcohol abuse. It offers them a place to learn,
discuss and listen to what others are coping with.

"It isn't about trying to find treatment programs for kids, it's not
about fixing the kids, it's about helping the parents be stronger and
healthier while they're going through this," she explained.

The group evolved from an information meeting where 57 parents
attended. From that 19 parents started the support group. Today,
eight parents have been regularly attending the bi-monthly meetings
and more parents are always welcome.

For the first six weeks in the spring, the Camrose Police Service
assisted in the education sessions on drugs and drug paraphernalia.

As well, AADAC and Allen herself conducted a few sessions.

"One of the sessions was called getting off the roller coaster, how
you continue and keep a relatively normal household and life and not
get so caught up in what the child is doing. Interestingly, there
were a number of parents there whose children were in there 30s. We
often think of teens... some of these drug situations go on for a long time."

The group meets the first and third Monday of every month in room 230
at the Community Centre from 7 to 9 p.m.

Buddy Up Program

As well the Buddy Up program through the Boys and Girls Club is
starting up again. Students in Grade 11 and Grade 6 were paired up to
learn from each other. Acting as mentors, the Grade 11 students
offered their young counterparts an opportunity to grow and learn.

An evaluation completed last year, indicated a positive result so the
program will remain.

"They are continuing that this year. The students that were matched
last year, some of them are keeping those matches even though they're
Grade 12 and Grade 7."

Workshop

Giving frontline staff the latest on drugs and the effect on children
will be the featured topic during a specialized workshop, Nov. 17.

Staff working directly with children exposed to drug use are being
invited to take part in the workshop.

The morning session will focus on the local picture and what police
and frontline staff are finding.

"Are there grow-ops where kids are involved or are there drug houses
where there are children, are there meth labs... where children might
be exposed to it?"

Dr. Kitty Freier, an expert in the effects of drug activity on
children, has been invited as the guest speaker. Freier was invited
to Edmonton in May to speak with the provincial Methamphetamine Task Force.

"She is very passionate about her work and is very moving. She's has
lots of experience and really feels for these kids and how we can
make the best outcome for them." The workshop is being held at the
Moose Hall. Registration is being taken at CDSS.

A session will be held for the public Nov. 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
at the Moose Hall.

The registration fee for the event is $10.

In School

The AADAC worker and school liaison officer are both making
presentations in school.

"One of the other key things is we developed is a manual on how to
work with kids in a community recognizing drug use doesn't just
affect the individual that's using, it affects them, it affects the
family and it affects the overall community. That's how the response
has to be. It can't be just providing service to the child, you have
to work with the family and have support of the community if we're
going to successfully rebuild these kids lives."