RESCUE MISSION

Conference Offers Tips to Those Who Work With Youth Dealing With
Drug, Alcohol Abuse

Probate Court Judge Michael Nye sees good things happening in
Hillsdale County, particularly to benefit the young and vulnerable
facing issues of drug and alcohol abuse.

Nye, an innovator who brought the national program "Juvenile Drug
Court" to Hillsdale, led off a two-day conference in Hillsdale Monday
and Tuesday. He welcomed those who help youngsters meet their
challenges and succeed to the best of their abilities.

"We're addressing the struggles of the bottom 20 percent of our
youngsters," said Nye.

"Part of what Juvenile Drug Court does every Tuesday is help
youngsters in trouble address problems with their drug use and
truancy issues. We reward them for passing their drug tests, for
staying in school.

"If you can help a child overcome a 41-percent absence rate from
school, maybe they'll start feeling better about themselves."

The conference featured presentations by two people who specialize in
targeting specific groups.

Dr. Mark A. Sloane of Kala-mazoo introduced the conference
participants to a wider perspective on the impact of fetal alcohol
syndrome on youth.

"Some of the expectant mothers who come into our clinic, the Center
for Behavioral Pediatrics, show a blood-alcohol level of 0.28 in the
daytime," said Sloane. "That's the level at which they function 'normally'."

The impact on their children shows up in various ways as they grow
and begin to fail to develop as expected.

"Fetal alcohol syndrome can be present and affecting a child's growth
and development without showing the facial expressions and other
symptoms professionals are typically looking for," Sloane said during
Monday's session.

On Tuesday morning, the topic turned to issues related to student
attitudes and behaviors.

Dr. Richard Dolinski, of the Legacy Center for Students Success in
Midland, took a look at the overall external and internal assets of
young people. He further identified indicators for whether a child is
operating at a deficit or may be thriving, in addition to risk-taking
behaviors.

In the end, Dolinski said, "A community needs to start and continue a
good discussion about what support struggling youngsters need and
sometimes innovative approaches come out of that discussion."

Dolinski described one approach in Midland.

"We started a 'boot camp' for kindergartners," he said. "It's called
'Jump into Kindergarten'.

"For several weeks before kindergarten actually starts, we took 150
children into a five-day-a-week, five-hour-a-day program for several
weeks and taught them the basic behaviors that will help them deal
with kindergarten."

Dolinski said the skills taught to 4-year-olds include how to line
up, how to use an "indoor voice versus an outdoor voice," and how to
carry their lunch trays.

"We're following this group for four years against a cohort that
didn't attend the boot camp," said Dolinski. "We will then be able to
judge whether the approach helped. We'll also compare their MEAP
scores at the third-grade mark."

In closing remarks, Nye expressed excitement that the conference and
continuing Juvenile Drug Court program will prove a long-term asset
to Hillsdale County.

"We are looking at all areas, helping directly as well as focussing
on enhancing industrial and other job opportunities ultimately in
Hillsdale County," he said. "We want to remove the roadblocks and
encourage our youth to remain in and contribute positively to our community."