IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE: EDUCATION BEGINS AT HOME

WALKERTON -- When it comes to drug addiction, Public Health, based in
Walkerton, is focussed on prevention. Public health nurse Linda Yenssen was
a panelist at the June information meeting on methamphetamine in Hanover,
and addressed things that parents can do to help prevent their children
from falling victim to addiction.

"It takes parents, community and schools to help make young people healthy
and help them build their lives," Yenssen says. "It really does take a
village to raise a child."

In response to the public meeting in June, Yenssen has had three
invitations to speak to local groups.

Her research in prevention through parenting is based on The 40
Developmental Assets, as developed by Search Institute, an independent
nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge
and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities. "At the
heart of the institute's work," it says on the web site, at
www.search-institute.org, "is the framework of 40 Developmental Assets,
which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people
need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible."

Since 1989, Yenssen says, Search Institute has measured developmental
assets in more than 1 million youths from Grade 6-12, in over 600
communities across the United States.

Originally, the study consisted of 30 assets, but in 1996 the asset
framework was revised to include 40 developmental assets. To date, there
have been more than 2 million youths surveyed in the U.S. and Canada.

"The more assets a young person has, the better they will do," Yenssen
says. She points out that studies show that the more assets students report
having, the less likely they are to also report having problems with
alcohol, illicit drug use, sexual activity and violence.

In addition, research shows that the more assets students report having,
the more likely they are to also report leadership skills, maintaining good
health, valuing diversity and having success in school.

"The list of activities that can severely disrupt a teenager's life
includes heavy drinking, use of illicit drugs, early sexual activity,
depression, attempted suicide, vandalism, fighting, theft, truancy and
driving after drinking," Yenssen says in her presentation.

There are essentials in laying the groundwork in the prevention of drug
use, Yenssen explains. They include: setting a positive example and getting
involved in the child's life; getting involved in their activities, knowing
their friends and knowing where they are going and what they are doing;
creating clear, consistent expectations and enforcing them; talking early
and often about drugs; discussing the consequences of drug use; showing you
care about the choices your children make about drugs; and networking with
other parents, because parents have no stronger allies in their fight
against drug abuse than each other.

As Yenssen points out, children take on the values that we demonstrate, so
it is important to be consistent in our values.

As parents, there are many things we can do, not just for our own children
but for other youths in the community. Yenssen says adults in the community
can offer simple gestures to support youths. "Next time your are grocery
shopping, say 'hi' to the young person bagging your groceries or say
'hello' to the young person walking down the street," she says.

"Remember, a teenager is just a young person learning how to be an adult."

She adds, "Too many teenagers don't have enough meaningful adults in their
lives, and have no meaningful role in the community. They feel disconnected
from their families and their community."

The 40 Developmental Assets give teens what they need to succeed. In fact,
the assets start with a list for babies and move up through each stage, to
the teenage years.

The 40 Developmental Assets can be found at www.MVParents.com.

"I suggest that parents take a look at the 40 Developmental Assets and see
how they can development them throughout a year, perhaps focussing on one
each week," Yenssen says.

She points to the Assets as a useful tool for parents, to remember what is
important in raising children. "Parents are busy, we need two incomes in a
family, and that means parents aren't around as much as they were in past
generations," she says. "But parents are an important influence."

Yenssen adds, "Kids have less chance of getting involved with alcohol,
drugs and promiscuity if they have the 40 Developmental Assets. I'm not
saying it won't happen, but they have a better chance."

Yenssen says awareness is key for parents and teens alike.

"In all my years of working in prevention, I'm now seeing parents shifting
in their thinking and becoming more concerned about drug use," Yenssen
says. "The turnout at the public meeting in Hanover was a step in the right
direction. We wouldn't have seen this seven years ago."