LEARNING TO SAY 'NO'

Special After-School Program Educates Children To Stay Alchohol, Drug Free

Students participating in the extended day program at Matthews Elementary
are getting a little extra encouragement to stay drug and alcohol-free.

For the past three years, Matthews Elementary and Partnership for a Drug
Free West Alabama, a division of Community Service Programs of West Alabama
Inc., have collaborated in a special after-school program that educates
children on the hazards of drug and alcohol use.

The program links the usual extended day program activities with activities
designed by Partnership for a Drug Free West Alabama. About 30 children
ages 5-12 participate in the program, which is funded through a highway
safety grant.

The students participate in activities ranging from role play to
mathematics bingo. The goal of the program is to educate youth about the
dangers of substance abuse while addressing issues that may indicate a risk
for involvement of substance abuse.

Cathy Jones, project coordinator for Partnership for a Drug Free West
Alabama, said one benefit of the program is that it utilizes the school
environment to teach prevention, intervention and social skills.

"We try to make it fun and interactive, but we also want the children to
gain some valuable information," she said.

The program is not all fun and games. The importance of education is
stressed and is exhibited through the individual tutoring that is available
to students. Jones said one of the first things done in the afternoons is
academic tutoring.

"Whatever the homework or curriculum from the classroom setting is on that
day, there is time for the kids to have one-on-one tutoring," Jones said.

The feedback the organizers have received about the joint effort is
indicativeof its success. Jones said parents and teachers acknowledge
seeing a positive change in the students' grades and attitudes.

Annie Pearl Brown, extended day director for Matthews Elementary is one of
those people who have seen the changes. She said when the program initially
began, it was difficult to see progress.

"You think there isn't any progress being made, but then you see the
difference in their behavior. They talk about what they shouldn't be
involved in and encourage each other. These are things they didn't do
before we had the program," she said.

Brown said the collaborative effort has been a big help to the extended day
program. She said the students aren't the only ones reaping the benefits of
the program. The program recently held a parent's day that gave parenting
tips and information to the parents on how to prevent substance abuse.

"The parents thoroughly enjoyed it because they said sometimes they just
don't know what to do with their children at home. The program gave them
some tips they could use at home," Brown said.

Partnership for a Drug Free West Alabama has several other programs under
its umbrella including JOIN or Juvenile Options and Intervention Network.
JOIN provides intervention programs for those youth already involved in the
justice system. JOIN helps those youth examine their behavior and apply the
intervention techniques learned through the program to various situations
in their lives.

The primary focus of all of the programs offered through Partnership for
Drug Free West Alabama is to provide substance abuse education, prevention
and intervention curriculum.