KIDS AND DRUGS PROGRAM LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER WORKSHOPS

GRANDE PRAIRIE -Grande Prairie Crime Prevention's community-involved
approach is moving to the next step.

The group is organizing training of community members to counsel the
rest of the community on how to open up a conversation about drug and
alcohol abuse with their kids.

Partnering for this endeavor are the RCMP and Alberta Health
Services.

"Back in 2008 there were six pilot sites across Canada that had an
opportunity to try out this Kids and Drugs program," said Karen
Gariepy, Crime Prevention program manager.

"Grande Prairie was one of the sites selected.

"This program was evaluated through the University of Alberta ... then
that year, during National Addictions Awareness Week, it was launched
provincially ... and (later) it was launched nationally."

Gariepy said getting started is as simple as calling Crime
Prevention.

That said, there is some screening and commitment required.

Crime Prevention wants those who take the training to agree to aid the
group, delivering these workshops to parents in the New Year.

The training sessions are Dec. 2 and 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each
day.

Deadline to register is Nov. 19 "" call Angela Mah at Crime
Prevention at 780-830-5773.

Training topics will include the power of parents, talking with your
kids, helping them make good decisions and understanding drugs and
alcohol, as well as creating a personal action plan.

Training is free of charge.

Gariepy noted the workshops in the New Year are not interventions and
are not meant to replace counseling for existing drug and alcohol issues.

They are meant to be a pro-active approach, helping parents and
children discuss openly.