PORTER-STARKE HOPES TO CREATE DRUG RESISTANCE

Porter County: New Effort Would Work With Adolescents

Pathway Family Center isn't the only one seeking support from the
Porter County Community Action Drug Coalition for a program to treat
adolescents with drug and alcohol problems.

At the same meeting last week at which the CADC voted to provide
$100,000 in seed money for Indianapolis-based Pathway to open a
center in Porter County, the coalition heard a presentation from Bob
Franko, Porter-Starke Services development director, for support of a
program dubbed C.R.E.A.T.E., which also would treat adolescents.
C.R.E.A.T.E. stands for Community, Resources, Encouragement, Action,
Teamwork and Enhance. The goal is to develop a treatment program that
is based on existing, successful treatment programs in the area, and
maybe tweak them into something new that will make them better.

"We aren't looking to replace or discourage anyone's efforts made to
this point," Franko told the coalition. "In fact, we would like to
strengthen them through a strong network of resources and partners."

A recent Roosevelt University study showed Porter County ranks third
in the nation in the number of deaths per capita from heroin. It's a
problem those in the treatment community have been aware of for some
time, but the rest of the community is finally learning, he said.

"There were warning sign all along and people who tried to tell us it
was coming, but, like so many ills in society, it got washed over
until it grew into an epidemic," Franko told the board. "We feel that
to effect a measurable improvement in terms of our community's drug
problem the key is in prevention and education.

Franko said the CREATE idea came out of a conversation with David
Kasarda, Portage YMCA director, following another drug arrest at
Portage High School. More than 50 students were arrested at the high
school during the past year on drug and alcohol charges.

"Somebody said, 'Somebody should do something.' We want to look at
what is available, what can be replicated and what we can do that is
new. I believe the solutions are right here in the community. There
are a lot of things people are doing well. ... We just need somebody
to volunteer to pull all this together."

Franko cited the Portage Y's Afternoons R.O.C.K. (for Recreation,
Object lessons, Culture and values, and Knowledge) drug prevention
program for youths 10 to 14 as an example of a successful program
that could be tapped as part of CREATE.

Porter-Starke is negotiating with Roosevelt University, which would
pull all the information together, including coordinating focus
groups with students, families and educators to hear what they think
might work, and draw up a program. The cost of the university's
participation also is being discussed.

"We want to start working with the schools as soon as they open on
the focus groups," Franko said. "We haven't decided how big we want
to make the study, but I think it would be best to work with several
schools. The cost could easily be in the thousands."

He said it would be ideal if each school system had a drug and
alcohol counselor to work with students, but he hasn't had a chance
to talk to schools yet. He hopes to have a program devised by the end
of the year.