ALSO FEATURE: CULTIVATE HOPE GROW RESILIENCE Fall 2022 | www.mcsapcoalition.com BROUGHT TO YOU BY » Legal Does Not Mean Okay » Self-Care Activities for Kids of All Ages » Strategic Instruction Opens Doors to Learning for Your Child
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www.mcsapcoalition.com | YC MAGAZINE | Fall 2022 1 INSIDE FALL 2022 2 From the Director 5 Confessions from the Kitchen Table 10 Faces in the Crowd 11 40 Developmental Assets 12 Assets in Action 18 Q&A / By the Numbers 6 Cultivate Hope; Grow Resilience 14 Legal Does Not Mean Okay 16 Self-Care Activities for Kids of All Ages 20 Strategic Instruction Opens Doors to Learning for Your Child 23 Caffeine: Friend or Foe? FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE TO ADVERTISE CONTRIBUTE,ORPLEASECALL (507) 236-4118 DESIGNMAGAZINEBYBROUGHT TO YOU BY PRODUCED IN CONJUNCTION WITH
One way students can be surrounded by positivity is by joining an Empower group at school. Empower’s mission statement is “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Leaders. Creating Change for Healthy Communities.” It’s open to 7-12th grade students in Martin County who are dedicated to preventing underage drinking, vaping, and drug misuse among their peers. It is so exciting to see the ideas that are coming out of this group.
STEPH JOHNSON Project Coordinator, Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition steph@mcsapcoalition.com
On the Cover: Shelly Larsen (left), newly hired project coordinator for the Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, and Jordan Lamoureaux, Fairmont High School Empower youth leader, attended CADCA’s Mid-Year conference in Orlando in July.
In July, five students and three adults from Martin County attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America MidYear Institute in Orlando with 2,500 other people and learned about what is being done across the country in prevention. Then eight local students participated in a regional Youth Leadership Summit at Minnesota State University, Mankato. It was a full day of learning and high ropes challenges to strengthen communication, problem solving, and risk management skills. Our students identified their own reasons for volunteering with substance misuse prevention and developed skills on safely intervening in social situations instead of being a bystander.
ABOUT MCSAP
an you feel the excitement in the air as we head into fall? This is going to be an awesome year for our schools and community!
Director
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Above: The conference covered a wide range of substance misuse prevention and leadership topics. Eight people from Martin County attended. They are, from left: Elizabeth Lowry, Tiffany Lowry, Lamoureaux, Dakota Madias, Larsen, Samantha Urban, Jim Utermarck, Griffin Studer. “I look forward to seeing how our students use what they’ve learned to make a positive impact,” Larsen said.
ON THE COVER
Students are excited about these summer experiences and are looking forward to implementing their ideas in Martin County. We have a lot to be excited about this fall!
Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention (MCSAP) Coalition is a non-profit organization led by a diverse group of Martin County residents who have a passion for helping youth make healthy choices. Formed in 2011, MCSAP functions as a hub of information and resources to help coordinate and support the efforts of substance abuse prevention and the mental and physical well-being of youth. Coalition members include school teachers, police officers, volunteers, nurses, pastors, lay ministers, grandparents, parents, youth, and many others who care about the youth in our communities.
P.O. Box 287 • Fairmont, MN 56031
THE
This magazine was developed under a grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) DFC Support Program, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the ONDCP, HHS, or CDC. FROM
The youth coalition is comprised of students in grades 7-12 at each Martin County high school. Members encourage fellow students to say no to tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and prescriptions that were not prescribed to them. Student members reach their peers through positive messaging in personal notes, posters, and flyers; training opportunities; distribution of educational information at community events; and coordination of safe and fun activities, among other outreaches. If you are interested in learning more about the youth coalition activities at your school, contact the following advisors: Jim Utermarck, Cairne Eytcheson, Truman; Kate Kallenbach, Fairmont; Brenda Millmann, Karen Weets, Granada Huntley East Chain; Kari McGregor, Laura Ebeling, Martin County West; or Lisa Kube, Martin Luther. If you are interested in joining MCSAP or being kept up-to-date on our activities, join our mailing list by emailing director@mcsapcoalition.com. You can also learn more about who we are and what we do through our social media pages. On Facebook and Twitter, we are MCSAPCoalition, and on Instagram, we are under EmpowerMartinCounty. To receive your free subscription to our quarterly Youth Connections Magazine , sign up at https://mcsapcoalition.com/youth-connections/.
• (507) 236-4118
I am so excited to have Shelly Larsen come on board with us; she is an awesome addition to our staff! Her past work experience is going to be so helpful as we work upstream to prevent underage substance abuse. Our newest positive community norm campaign says, “Life is better with friends who EMPOWER you!” This is so true! Being around people who bring out the best version of you is one of the best protective factors in life. There are a lot of great people in our community doing amazing things; let’s focus on promoting that and build on that momentum! Positivity is contagious! Let’s see how we can find it in our schools and communities and help it grow.
www.mcsapcoalition.com | YC MAGAZINE | Fall 2022 3 Join the Fairmont Foods Family Únase a la familia de alimentos Fairmont Full-time and Part-time positions available Posiciones de tiempo completo y medio tiempo disponibles Apply online at www.FairmontFoods.com 905 East Fourth Street, Fairmont, MN 56031 Phone 507-238-9001 FAIRMONT, MN 56031 KIDSFUN Want To KIDSFUN Want To KIDSFUN Want To HAVEKIDSFUN Just Want To HAVEKIDSFUN Just Want To Contact us P.O. Box 705 Fairmont, MN kidsfairmont@gmail.com56031 Son • Nephew • Grandson When: Saturday, October 15th 2022 Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm Suggested Donation: $25/Family (at door) • Games • Face Painting • Bounce Houses • Fun • Pizza IndoorPlayground Open during mall hoursFREE | Great for rainy days! Located by Aquatic Park | FREE Our new idea is a Bike Share program.Very beginning stages of gathering informationInvolves premium trail bikes with smart locks, a docking station, free smartphone App andtechnical support.• It works with bikes that are docked to the rack using a battery-powered, Bluetooth-operatedlock. Riders download a free App to check-outand return bikes. The App unlocks the bike fromthe rack, and whenthe rider is done,they dock the bikeback to the rack andwalk away
4 Fall 2022 | YC MAGAZINE | www.mcsapcoalition.com FAIRMONT AREA SCHOOLS FAIRMONT ELEMENTARY FAIRMONT JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL - All Day Every Day Kindergarten Tech Devices Provided To Students - Expanded Preschool Program Advanced Placement Classes - Free Breakfast For All Students 21 College Courses - Fit & Well Program For K 6 Vocational Programs - Reading & Math Support Band, Choir, Orchestra, & Art - STEM And Art Programming For K 48 Extracurricular Activities - Grades 5-6 Band, Choir & Orchestra STEM Programming Comprehensive School District for All Students Fall Festival PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS FROMPATCHTHE LOCALLYFRESH,GROWN APPLESAPPLE TREATS& SNACKS
It was helpful to learn how all this technology was affecting his brain development, albeit frightening. A study found that teens who excessively play video or internet games have brains structurally different than those who don’t play, which may cause developmental delays, difficulty processing information, and problems maintaining relationships. I was definitely concerned about his schoolwork. In addition, the brain chemicals that control moods and feelings are chemically different. I was beginning to have some “ah-ha” moments. Maybe his moods weren’t just teenage angst but were from his excessive use of technology. Equally disturbing was finding out that these structural changes in his brain can also lead to difficulty dealing with social conflict, being more susceptible to addiction, higher rates of depression and suicide, and riskier behaviors. The authors said technology use can change how kids’ brains develop and can impact judgement. I had noticed that he didn’t seem to know when to stop a potentially risky behavior, like when he was doing tricks on his bike. I just thought it was him being a tween, although his friends didn’t seem to exhibit the same disinhibitions.
I found signs very helpful in identifying if my kids needed help:
• Increased need of technology – the more they played, the more they needed to • Loss of interest in previous activities
I learned that technology overuse isn’t my son’s desire to use, or even frequency, but how he responds to restrictions and his ability to impose his own limits. This was a huge red flag. My daughter liked playing games but didn’t have a crisis when limits were set. Her brother’s behavior was the polar opposite.
• Mood swings • Depression/anxiety • Excessive anger • Alienation from friends
I was excited to find some actual pointers on what to do to try and gain control again. Removing ‘intermittent reinforcement’ was one of those tips. Messages from social media in the form of ‘likes’ or ‘mentions’ reward kids randomly and, because they see no tangible negative consequences, they become hooked (similar to a gambler in Las Vegas). Every time I gave in to allow more TV or computer
One extremely helpful tool from the book was access to the Technology Use Continuum. It helped us assess whether we might be headed for trouble. It’s available at https://technologywellnesscenter. com/screening-tuc-survey/. If answers show there may be a problem, a more in-depth assessment is available to address physical, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal areas. This and other resources on the site were extremely helpful.
The physical symptoms we learned to look for were:
UNPLUGGING: OUR
CAN
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CONFESSIONS FROM THE KITCHEN TABLE I
YOU SUBMIT YOUR STORY AT: steph@mcsapcoalition.com
time, I was inadvertently using the most effective reward system. UGH. I won’t be doing that anymore. By removing intermittent reinforcement, providing consistent (notice it’s not constant) oversight, and continuing to be an active and present role model, I was starting to gain control. Whew!
For many of us the kitchen table represents the typical family experience. We have laughed while having family game night. We have cried over our children’s choices. We have blown out the candles on many cakes. We have argued our way out of doing the dishes. We have struggled through those “three more bites.” We have learned hard lessons and celebrated many deserved successes. One thing is for sure though—if our kitchen tables could talk, there would be plenty of stories! So often it is in relating to others’ stories that we realize there isn’t always one answer, or even a right answer. Parenting is hard work! If you have a story of lessons learned, we invite you to share it with our readers. Sometimes, knowing we aren’t the only ones struggling to find the answer is all the help we need. was concerned about how much time my kids were spending on technology. We had tried to set limits, but it got to be more and more of an uphill battle. I knew I needed to address it ASAP as my 12-year-old son was living on one form of technology or another. I found the book Unplug: Raising Kids in a Technology Addicted World by Drs. Lisa Strohman and Melissa Westendorf. It was a lifesaver, full of information on technology addiction, signs of overuse, and tips to deal with it. We were lucky enough to not need professional help. Yes, some kids need professional help to deal with a technology addiction. I learned that addiction has two components. The first is the behavior that causes a problem. For us it was playing video games. The second part is the persistence of the behavior. When someone continues the behavior or thinks about it despite negative consequences, AKA getting grounded, it can be considered an addictive disorder. That was definitely where we were with my son. Yikes, how did we get to this point?
• Amount of time spent on technology
• Lower grades • School attendance • Increased conflict at home • Refusing to turn the device off
To increase our awareness of our kids’ wellbeing, we started being more purposeful in our daily contact. Every day we have a 10 minute debrief about our days. We’ve even started Sunday Family Nights with tacos and games. Yes, they balked at first, but we were persistent, and now they actually enjoy it. Reducing the use of technology for the entire family wasn’t the easiest, but it has been worth it! ■ FAMILY’S STORY
GROW RESILIENCE cultivate hope
Of course, sometimes their dreams are outlandish — think about the little kid who wants a farm filled with unicorns. Sometimes their dreams are unrealistic — the kid who wants to become a YouTube star, never hold a job, and live at the beach with all their friends when they grow up. Dreaming, it turns out, is more than just a sweet thing kids do when they’re young — it becomes a critical part of overall wellbeing. Hope, as defined by the researchers at Alliance for Hope, is “the belief that your future can be brighter than your past and you play a role in making it happen”.
hope; Y
YC MAGAZINE | Fall 2022 7 continued on page 9
Hope is a simple concept to understand, especially when you consider the opposite: hopelessness.Youknowabout hopelessness, right? It’s the feeling you get on Sunday afternoon when you know you’re going to spend most of your week in pointless meetings that you can’t get out of. It’s the feeling you get about your health when you don’t stick to your plans to exercise more and eat healthier foods. Hopelessness translates into a desire for escape. It’s too uncomfortable to feel hopeless, and the emotions of regret, shame, disappointment, sadness, and anger can drive people to activities that will numb their pain.
RESILIENCE
Feeling hopeless is a miserable experience. Whether you’re feeling hopeless about your relationship status, friendships, career path, or your health, most people would say it’s one of the worst experiences of being human.
The good news is that hope is like a muscle — it can be exercised and strengthened. You’re not born with a fixed amount of hope. It’s not given out in limited quantities, and it doesn’t evaporate over time.
By NATURAL HIGH STAFF
Kids who are hopeful about their future will do better in school, have stronger relationships, make the transition to adulthood more efficiently, and make healthier choices along the way.
In other words, when you’re feeling hopeful, you are confident that tomorrow will be better than today. Feeling hopeful makes whatever you’re going through today more tolerable, and the anticipation you feel for the future enables you to endure whatever challenge gets in your way.
The encouraging news is that hope is something that we can cultivate and encourage. It acts as a protective factor against harmful substance use and is a key indicator for wellbeing and academic success.
oung kids are notorious for having big dreams and ambitions. Whether it’s for a new hamster, a trip to Disneyland, or a kickflip on a skateboard, kids spend a lot of time imagining and planning for their future.
HOW TO CULTIVATE HOPE
8 Fall 2022 | YC MAGAZINE | www.mcsapcoalition.com Culligan® Water We support Martin County youth Locations in Fairmont • Jackson • Madelia • Mankato • Marshall Redwood Falls • Slayton • Sleepy Eye • Tracy • Windom www.culliganmn.com • (507) 238-4451 SERVICES WE OFFER Water softeners • Installation and repairs • Softener salt delivery Vended water • Bottled water delivery • Drinking water systems Whole house iron filters 907FAIRMONTHY-VEESouthStateStreetFairmont,MN(507)238-4323 • Hy-Vee Choice Reserve is trimmed with only one quarter inch of fat. • Only an average of 6 out of 100 cattle meet our tight specifications for Hy-Vee Choice Reserve and Hy-Vee Prime Reserve Beef. • You’re getting the highest quality beef raised on family farms right here in the heartland. • The best restaurants serve prime beef - the same as our Prime Reserve beef. You can get 5-star beef right in your own backyard at Hy-Vee. 7735_FairmontMeatSale_8_5x5_5bleed.indd 1 4/9/21 9:24 AM Fairmont BankMidwest.com507.235.3327 BankMidwest.com n Member FDIC
lead people to make unhealthy and unwise choices.People with high hope, though, respond differently to setbacks and challenges. They understand roadblocks as a part of the process, not the end of the story.
When it comes to making a positive impact in a kid’s life, there’s nothing more effective than what you model and demonstrate. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done! You’ve heard the phrase a thousand times before, “It’s not what’s taught — it’s what’s caught that counts.” Kids watch and learn from adults, for better and for worse. In fact, if you’re going to err on one side, the evidence points towards emphasizing the example you give rather than the words and concepts you teach.
One of the most important examples you can offer is how you respond to setbacks and challenges. If you’re truly filled with hope, and you’ve anticipated multiple setbacks and routes to achieve your goals, then you should have no problem talking about them when they arise. When kids can see adults push through setbacks with creativity and resolve, then they’ll be more encouraged to face their own challenges in similar ways.
2. Divulge Your Setbacks
CULTIVATING HOPE
Hope Agency Hope agency is about seeing yourself as a critical piece and driver towards your desired future. In other words, believing that you have the power and ability to make the steps and changes necessary. It’s saying to yourself, “I can do it — I have what it takes.”
1. Share Your Hope Make sure you’re sharing about what you’re striving towards. Most of the time, kids aren’t going to care to ask you about your personal ambitions and goals. No surprise there —kids are more used to receiving than engaging. They also probably don’t care about you because they’re more focused on their own lives. That’s why it’s important for you to take the initiative to share with them the goals you’re working towards. Don’t assume they know. Trust that it matters. If you’re working on an academic goal, maybe a graduate degree or a professional certificate — tell them about it and the work you’re doing to achieve it. If you’re working on a personal goal, perhaps around your desire to give back to the community or a character trait— let them know what you’re working on and what you’re doing.
So, when it comes to working with kids, we can lead them to think through what they want, what they will do to get what they want, and alternative routes to getting what theyTheywant.will be clearer about their future, and they will see themselves as key actors in the story that’s unfolding, strengthening their motivation and resolve along the way.
By opening your life and sharing what you’re going through, you’ll make it normal for kids to see engaged, healthy adults who are moving forward on dreams and ambitions rather than accepting whatever life hands them. Your life will be an encouragement to do the same; to pursue worthy goals, make progress each day, confront setbacks with tenacity, and celebrate the milestones to get there.
Having a hope-filled life isn’t just about crossing the finish line of your goals and ambitions, it’s about recognizing the importance of all the little steps along the way. If you have a goal to publish a book someday, then celebrate writing a paragraph. Each paragraph is progress and a sign that you have what it takes to keep going. Let the kids in your life know what you’re feeling proud of and grateful for. They will see behind the scenes what accomplishing a goal really looks like, and your enthusiasm to keep after it will be contagious.
Although some people are born with a more optimistic outlook than others, anyone can become a hopeful person. Charles Snyder was one of the key figures in developing pop psychology in the 1970s and 1980s. He developed what’s known today as Snyder’s Hope Theory which includes a framework for understanding and cultivating hope, as well as measuring how much hope someone carries within themselves. He distinguishes different parts of hope and explains the thinking that underlies each one:
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When it comes to cultivating hope, Snyder’s theory creates the foundation for proper goal setting. It’s one thing to ask people to come up with things they want in life, but too often their desires are left as wishful thinking that lacks any real benefit. To help someone cultivate hope, guide them to describe the type of future they want, and help them design the path to get there by creating specific activities they can engage in to make Here’sprogress.anactivity to help kids with goal-setting called Designing Your andthanexperiencepartachieveWhentomoreways,moreregularly,improvedchoicestheysomeonehealthier,health:uploads/2021/11/Designing-Your-Future.pdf.https://www.naturalhigh.org/wp-content/Future:Usetheexampleofimprovingyourit’sonethingtosetagoaltobecomebutit’smorepowerfultohelpthinkthroughthedifferentpathscantakeinordertomakehealthieroverall.Therearemanyfactorsthatleadtohealthincludingexercisingmoreeatingahealthierdiet,gettingsleep,processingfeelingsinproductiveandspendingmoretimeoutdoors,etc.That’sadifferentprocess,anditleadstoresiliencewhichisakeymeasurementunderstandingsomeone’slevelofhope.someonecanonlyseeonewaytotheirgoalorfeelsliketheyhavenotoplayinmovingforward,thentheiroflifebecomesmorelikeavictimaparticipant.Victimsfeelsmall,insignificant,forgotten,helpless.Thoseinternalstatesoften
HERE ARE THREE SPECIFIC WAYS YOU CAN MODEL A HOPE-FILLED LIFE FOR THE KIDS IN YOUR WORLD:
By opening your life and sharing what you’re going through, you’ll make it normal for kids to see engaged, healthy adults who are moving forward on dreams and ambitions rather than accepting whatever life hands them. Your life will be an encouragement to do the same: to pursue worthy goals, make progress each day, confront setbacks with tenacity, and celebrate the milestones to get there. ■
HOW TO MODEL A HOPE-FILLED LIFE FOR KIDS
Hope Pathways Hope pathways are about seeing multiple pathways to achieve your desired future. In other words, believing deep down that your goal is possible and achievable.
3. Celebrate Progress
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Eden Dunker FAIRMONT HIGH SCHOOL, SENIOR Eden Dunker recently completed her Gold Award project, which benefited the hospice patients and families served by the Mayo Clinic Health System and United Hospital District hospice programs. Eden began planning for this project in mid-2021, then spent several months writing a grant, soliciting donations of needed items, and purchasing additional items. With a team of volunteers, she assembled 96 “care kits” containing items such as a journal, playing cards, and small toiletries. Each program received 48 boxes along with a large bin full of additional items such as fingerprint kits, slippers, and items for children.
Riley Ebeling is a farmer in the making and has started with a leg up as a recipient of the BELLE grant. The grant from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation—known officially as the Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience— provides $500 to large animal livestock exhibitors or $250 to small animal competitors and a mentorship to youth who apply and are first-time exhibitors at the Minnesota State Fair. There were only 16 recipients state-wide, and Riley was the only one in Martin County. Not surprisingly, Riley also is involved in 4-H as a club treasurer, county ambassador, and officer-at-large for the federation, and a member of MCW Future Farmers of America.
Please email steph@mcsapcoalition.com and tell us why this individual has stood out in your crowd.
Londyn Bowers TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL, 9TH GRADE Londyn Bowers “is a very positive person who has excelled at both academics and athletics,” said Jim Utermarck, a teacher at Truman. She is a “great student, [a] great friend” who stands out because “she carries herself the right way.” Londyn is a leader, a role she is intentional about “because I feel like some people need to see it,” she said. Londyn loves going outside which pairs well with her love for hanging out with friends and playing sports. She plays varsity for volleyball and softball and is on the B squad for basketball during winter. She also is class president and volunteers with the substance misuse prevention group at school and the backpack program which provides weekend food for food insecure students.
We are excited to introduce you to Shelly Larsen, our project coordinator working on opioid and methamphetamine misuse prevention. She also will be assisting Steph Johnson with our drug-free communities grant, which focuses more on alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana misuse. Shelly has been working on substance misuse intervention and prevention for several years through her work with Martin County intervention and prevention and Celebrating Families. “I have always been passionate about reaching out to youth and youth advocacy! I love being a wife and a mom of two daughters; however, my favorite title is Grandma!” she said. Shelly started with MCSAP on July 17 by attending a four-day prevention leadership conference in Orlando, Fla., with Empower students and advisors.
IS THERE SOMEONE YOU’D LIKE TO NOMINATE?
Check out who’s standing out in our community.
Shelly Larsen MARTIN COUNTY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION
Riley Ebeling MARTIN COUNTY WEST, 9TH GRADE
Bel Lutterman and Kendra Blomster FAIRMONT HIGH SCHOOL, 9TH GRADE
Bel Lutterman and Kendra Blomster coordinated the planting, care and harvest of produce grown in the Fairmont Community Hospital Foundation Well-Being Garden at Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont this summer for their Girl Scout silver awards. The produce is placed in a cooler in the clinic lobby. “Providing produce has allowed people to add healthy foods into their diet at zero cost to them,” Bel said. “It’s available to anyone in the community.” The girls and FCH Foundation have an adopt-a-garden bed program to ensure the program’s sustainability. “Our organization cannot say thank you enough to these young ladies,” said Darla Nelson-Philipp, community relations officer at Mayo Clinic Health System. “And the support of their parents deserves recognition.”
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It’s that simple: if we want to empower and protect our children, building the 40 Assets in our youth is a great way to start. Look over the list of Assets on the following page and think about what Assets may be lacking in our community and what Assets you can help build in our young people. Do what you can do with the knowledge that even through helping build one asset in one child, you are increasing the chances that child will grow up safe and successful. Through our combined efforts, we will continue to be a place where Great Kids Make Great Communities. 40 Developmental Assets®
ASSETSDEVELOPMENTAL40 Turn the page to learn more! The
may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only. Copyright © 1997 Search Institute®, 615 First Avenue NE, Suite 125, Minneapolis, MN 55413; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved. w w w f f m b a n k c o m C H E C K I N G | S A V I N G S | L O A N S | M O B I L E & O N L I N E B A N K I N G Host your Birthday Party At Bowlmor Lanes Let us make your party the best ever! Reserve now by going https://booking.cojilio.com/bowlmorlanesto or call 507-235-5719. Party includes: • 1 hour of bowling on 2 lanes • shoe rental • pizza • lightweight balls • optional bumpers • party table • plates, napkins, and cups All for $78! 617 S State St, Fairmont, MN
40 Developmental Assets are essential qualities of life that help young people thrive, do well in school, and avoid risky behavior. Youth Connections utilizes the 40 Developmental Assets Framework to guide the work we do in promoting positive youth development. The 40 Assets model was developed by the Minneapolis-based Search Institute based on extensive research. Just as we are coached to diversify our financial assets so that all our eggs are not in one basket, the strength that the 40 Assets model can build in our youth comes through diversity. In a nutshell, the more of the 40 Assets youth possess, the more likely they are to exhibit positive behaviors and attitudes (such as good health and school success) and the less likely they are to exhibit risky behaviors (such as drug use and promiscuity).
17. Creative activities: Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts. Youth programs: Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in the community. Religious community: Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution. Time at home: Young person is out with friends “with nothing special to do” two or fewer nights per week.
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11. Family boundaries: Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors the young person’s whereabouts. School boundaries: School provides clear rules and consequences. Neighborhood boundaries: Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people’s behavior. Adult role models: Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior. Positive peer influence: Young person’s best friends model responsible behavior. High expectations: Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.
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EMPOWERMENT 7. Community values youth: Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth. Youth as resources: Young people are given useful roles in the community. Service to others: Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week. Safety: Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
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Audrina Suckow attends a student leadership training and high ropes challenge day
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12 Fall 2022 | YC MAGAZINE | www.mcsapcoalition.com 814 3 East Chain Evangelical Free Church youth attend a spring faith retreat 19 SUPPORT 1. Family support: Family life provides high levels of love and support. 2. Positive family communication: Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s). 3. Other adult relationships: Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults. 4. Caring neighborhood: Young person experiences caring neighbors. 5. Caring school climate: School provides a caring, encouraging environment. 6. Parent involvement in school: Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.
Makenzie Gerhardt, coached by Andy Sodersten, competes at weightlifting nationals in Vegas Danielle Grotzinger and son Finnick enjoy cornhole at the FHS activity fair
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POSITIVE VALUES Caring: Young person places high value on helping other people. Equality and social justice: Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty. Integrity: Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs. Honesty: Young person “tells the truth even when it is not easy.” Responsibility: Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility. Restraint: Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.
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www.mcsapcoalition.com | YC MAGAZINE | Fall 2022 13 Camden Johnson, third at state championships, is realizing his golf dreams early 35 26 4022 COMMITMENT TO LEARNING 21. Achievement motivation: Young person is motivated to do well in school. 22. School engagement: Young person is actively engaged in learning. 23. Homework: Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day. 24. Bonding to school: Young person cares about her or his school. 25. Reading for pleasure: Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
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SOCIAL COMPETENCIES Planning and decision making: Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices. Interpersonal competence: Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills. Cultural competence: Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds. Resistance skills: Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations. Peaceful conflict resolution: Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently. IDENTITY Personal power: Young person feels he or she has control over “things that happen to me.” Self-esteem: Young person reports having a high self-esteem. Sense of purpose: Young person reports that “my life has a purpose.” Positive view of personal future: Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future. for Emma Sailor’s cake-for-a-year brought at Martin Luther’s auction Henry Hugoson named Martin County 4-H junior champion for his poultry interview
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Martin County West Empower members share how to resist negative peer pressure
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Given all these statistics and the research, it’s important that we as parents relay the facts to youth so misinformation does not lead them to make poor decisions. Our conversation needs to include the dangers of drugs on the developing brain and why just because it’s legal for adults, it’s not okay for kids.Here are some pointers from “Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change,” William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnicon, on how to have that conversation:
legal does not
PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS When taken as prescribed, prescription and over the counter medications can be effective ways to treat pain or cold/flu. If taken without symptoms or in higher quantities, it can affect the brain in similar ways illegal drugs can and may lead to addiction.
• Be positive. Approaching the subject with anger, scare tactics or disappointment will be counter productive. Pay attention and be respectful and understanding. Telling them that we appreciate their honesty will go a long way.
■ By LINDA COLLINS, Prevention Specialist
MEAN OKAY T
Alcohol is the mostly widely used substance of abuse by America’s youth. When teens drink alcohol it affects their brain in the short-term, but repeated use can impact long-term brain development. It can affect both functionstructure.and
• Ask open-ended questions. For example, say, “Tell me more about…” Then sum up and ask questions. It’s important with all the messaging on marijuana and the messages we send youth about alcohol and even medications, they understand just because it’s legal, does not make it safe for them to use. Their brains are still developing, so for their health and safety, and to reach their full potential, they must stay substance-free.
here have been a lot of changes recently across the country regarding the legalization of marijuana. Alcohol is legal for adults over the age of 21. Prescription pills are legal if prescribed by a physician. No matter how we as adults feel about substance use, research has proven that the use of any substance is harmful for youth and the developing brain. Just because a substance has been legalized for adult- or medicinaluse by adults, does not make it okay for youth use. The following is information taken from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
• Be clear about our goals. Try writing them down and review them later to make sure we got our points across.
• Keep an open mind. When a child feels judged or condemned, she is less likely to be receptive to the message.
ALCOHOL Alcohol is the mostly widely used substance of abuse by America’s youth. When teens drink alcohol it affects their brain in the short-term, but repeated use can impact long-term brain development. It can affect both function and structure. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, youth who being drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to meet the criteria of alcohol dependence at some point in their life. Drinking can lead to poor decisions by youth about engaging in risky behavior, like drinking and driving, sexual activity (such as unprotected sex), and aggressive or violent behavior. In fact, underage youth who drink are more likely to carry out or be the victim of a physical or sexual assault after drinking than others their age who do not drink.
• Don’t lecture. (It didn’t work when our parents did it!) Just saying, ‘you shouldn’t use because I’m the parent and I said so’ will not work. Offer empathy and compassion, showing them that we get what they’re saying.
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• We need to put ourselves in their shoes. Consider how we would like to be spoken to about a difficult subject. Try to think back what it was like when we were teens. Ask if it’s okay talking about this and if it’s okay if we give some advice.
• Be calm. If we start when we’re angry or anxious, it will be harder to achieve our goal.
MARIJUANA Of the more than 500 chemicals in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, is responsible for many of the drug’s mind-altering effects. Marijuana disrupts the brain’s normal functioning and can lead to problems studying, learning new things, and recalling recent events. These skills are obviously needed to be successful in school. In fact, youth who use marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school. THC affects the areas of the brain that control balance and coordination, as well as helps control movement. These influence performance in sports, driving, and even video gaming. It interferes with alertness, concentration, coordination, and reaction time. (This comes in handy if a baseball is coming at our face at 60 mph). High school seniors who use marijuana are twice as likely to receive a traffic ticket and 65% more likely to get into a car crash than those who don’t use. THC affects areas of the brain involved in decision making. Using marijuana can make youth more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as unprotected sex or getting in a car with someone who’s impaired. Research suggests that people who use marijuana regularly for a long time are less satisfied with their lives and have more problems with friends and family compared to people who do not use marijuana. Being a teenager is hard enough to maneuver without adding the burden of problems with friends and family. Whether we want to believe it or not, marijuana can be addicting. Approximately 10 percent of users will develop marijuana use disorder. Youth who begin using before the age of 18 are 4–7 times more likely than adults to develop a marijuana use disorder.
Exercising Blank Children’s Hospital shares several alarming statistics about childhood health, including the fact that only two percent of kids in the U.S. eat a healthy diet, and around a quarter of all kids don’t engage in physical activity. Give your children a healthy head start by helping them exercise. This could be anything from playing soccer in the backyard to hiking on the weekends. You can also encourage your kids to partake in other forms of physical activity, such as swimming, jogging, or signing up for martial arts classes. Letting them find what they enjoy will make them more likely to stick with it for the long term. At the end of the day, anything that gets them up and moving will encourage other healthy choices, such as sticking to a healthy diet.
Spending Time Away from Technology
BE THE EXAMPLE
Personal hygiene is more than just taking a bath and brushing your hair. Helping your children learn to keep themselves clean and well-maintained can improve their self-esteem, confidence, and selfimage. Just as importantly, great hygiene reduces children’s chances of becoming sick. Personal hygiene also includes keeping their bodies healthy through getting enough sleep. Even when you have a kiddo that wakes before the sun comes up, the youngest members of your family need 10 or more hours of sleep every night. If you think your child has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, try a noise machine or talk to your pediatrician for advice. You can also create a relaxing bedtime routine that will help them get their minds and bodies ready for sleep. And last but not least, make sure your kids turn off their phones, tablets, and computers at least an hour before bedtime and remove them from the bedroom.
FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES
While there are many different reasons for children’s stagnant lifestyles, one is, without question, their access to technology. In a world where most children have their own smart devices—88 percent of teenagers own a smartphone—kids have more distractions and don’t get outside as much. Introduce moderation into their lives by getting them to step away from tech for a little bit. Encourage your kids to play basketball with their friends in real life instead of talking through their headset during their next Fortnite battle. Make sure they have ample opportunities for socialization, including play dates and participation in afterschool activities.
ocal coalitions and partners work tirelessly to reduce substance abuse, bullying, and violence for youth. Part of this means teaching children how to care for their mental and physical health from an early age, which includes everything from finding a hobby to maintaining their physical appearance.
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There are few activities that are both relaxing and mentally stimulating at the same time. But reading is one of these, and as Reading Rockets explains, starting early gives your children a leg up in the classroom. Read to your children and encourage them to find a story they love to enjoy on their own. Thirty minutes each night with a good book can help them wind down while stimulating their imagination and getting their brain ready for all the learning they’ll do throughout their years in school. You can further encourage your child to read by taking them to the library and getting them a library card. Although you can easily read books on phones or tablets, you’ll truly introduce them to the joys of reading by allowing them to pick out physical copies of the books that interest them. A library card is a wonderful gateway to the joys of reading.
It’s not hard to role model healthy habits, especially knowing how badly parental stress affects children. Show your kids that it’s not selfish to practice self-care by easing up on your perfectionist tendencies, fueling your body with healthy foods, adding physical activity, and looking for ways to reduce stress when you come home from a hard day at work. Anything you can do to shake up your routine and give yourself a mental or physical break will go a long way toward teaching your little ones to do the same.
self-care activities
SELF-CARE FOR KIDS Reading
Today, we showcase a few self-care activities for kids that can help them maintain a clear mind so that they can avoid toxic habits in adulthood.
Maintaining Personal Hygiene
By CATHERINE WORKMAN
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Blank Children’s Hospital shares several alarming statistics about childhood health, including the fact that only two percent of kids in the U.S. eat a healthy diet, and around a quarter of all kids don’t engage in physical activity. Give your children a healthy head start by helping them exercise. This could be anything from playing soccer in the backyard to hiking on the weekends.
Before your kids can engage in self-care, they have to see you do the same — after all, they are quick to mirror your behavior.
Kids learn by watching, and if they are watching you let yourself go, they’ll do the same. Model healthy habits and make sure you give your kids plenty of opportunities to take better care of themselves. From personal hygiene to putting the phone away, healthy habits today can result in healthier, happier adults tomorrow. ■
TIME: Children need sufficient time for schoolwork, playing, resting, and eating. If time for these things is already tight, limit yourselves to one extracurricular activity per kid.
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The height in feet of the largest sand castle. HAVE A steph@mcsapcoalition.comQUESTION?
PARENT INTEREST: How do you feel about drop-offs and pick-ups, events and games? What does your work/life balance realistically allow? If you, the caregiver, are less than enthusiastic about an over-committed extracurricular schedule, it will take its toll on everyone in the family. Your child will benefit from extracurricular activities, but by keeping the above guidelines in mind, you will be able to keep the whole family happy and healthy.
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FAMILY PRIORITIES: What do you value most as a family? Fitness? Teamwork? Music? Family dinners? Whatever they are, make choices that reinforce those priorities.
AGE: In general, younger children need fewer organized activities and more unstructured play time. As kids get older, it sometimes makes sense to add in more sports, classes, or clubs. High schoolers looking into higher education should keep in mind that colleges and universities like to see applicants with a robust resume of extracurriculars.
MONEY: Extracurriculars can be costly. Uniform fees, tuition, and travel can add up. Be realistic about what your family can afford.
My daughter’s best friend has a practice, club, or class every night of the week. I want my child to be involved in extracurricular activities, but how much is too much?
FAMILY SIZE: The number of caregivers in your home will affect how much you can realistically schedule. Furthermore, if you have five children it is going to be harder to coordinate schedules than if you have one or two. If need be, have the kids take turns participating in after-school experiences.
The length in feet of the world’s longest wedding veil. 400
The social pressure to sign your child up for ‘all the things’ is very real, and extracurricular activities are important. Numerous studies show that participating in extracurricular activities help improve academic achievement, build self-esteem, and encourage supportive friendships. However, over-commitment is a genuine concern and can be harmful to a child’s wellbeing, not to mention stressful for you. Here are factors families should consider when considering after-school activities:
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We cannot guarantee all questions will be published; however, we will do our best to respond to all questions submitted.
The number of fish a puffin is recorded to have carried in its mouth. 23,000
NUMBERS
CHILD INTEREST: Is your child excited about each activity you are considering? Are they a kiddo that needs down time or do they prefer having places to go and things to do? Let the answers to these questions guide your choices.
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Continue verbalizing all the steps as you complete them: read the passage, then go back to each word in bold, re-read that sentence, use the context cues to decide on a definition and write down the definition (Presentation Phase). After doing it once in full as a model, begin giving some of the steps to your child. Allow your child to take on more and more of the verbalizing and directing of the task until they are doing it fully on their own for you (Enlist Engagement). Then, before you end, review the critical steps and talk about when else they can use this skill (Post Organizer).
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I
By TRISH SCHREIBER, SIM Professional Developer and JOCELYN WASHBURN, Director of Professional Development, University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning
STRATEGIC
t’s hard to know how best to support your child or teenager at home with their nightly homework. You’ve probably wondered where the line is drawn between doing it for them and simply helping. Most homework assignments are meant for students to practice the skills they are learning in class. But many students, and perhaps this applies to your child, are not yet ready to practice on their own. This creates a problem. You want your child to be independent, and at the same time, you want their homework to be meaningful. And, you want them to practice the skill in a way that is strategic, efficient andEducationworthwhile.researchers at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning (KUCRL) design teaching methods to help students become strategic learners. These methods are called Learning Strategies and are part of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM). Each Learning Strategy uses eight stages of instruction that have proven time and again to help students of all levels succeed on academic tasks or assignments. To teach your child to be strategic, you can use the same eight stages of instruction. The stages are Pretest, Describe, Model, Verbal Practice, Controlled Practice and Feedback, Advanced Practice and Feedback, Posttest, and Generalization. Of these eight stages, modeling is the heart of the strategy instruction and is easy to do at home. Modeling is a demonstration of a skill by thinking aloud while doing it and then gradually involving your child until they take over the task. Of course, finding out what your child knows and doesn’t know is essential. No matter how much modeling you do, if your child is missing important knowledge that is needed before moving on, you must clarify that first. Once you know where to begin, model the desired skill you would like your child to First,use.preview your child’s assignment and determine what steps are needed to complete it successfully. A solid model always starts with a statement of purpose known as an Advance Organizer. Then, it moves onto the Presentation Phase when you complete the task in full while saying your thoughts aloud while your child watches you. The third stage of modeling is when you Enlist Engagement from your child. This is a time when you are both working together until you successfully complete the work. At this point, you are acting as a support net to make sure the task is completed as planned and all the steps are verbalized. Repeat these first three steps as many times as needed to finish the homework, giving your child more and more of the responsibility to verbalize and complete the steps while you affirm their progress and correct when necessary. Eventually you turn the assignment over to your child when they model successful completion of the task for you. Lastly, once your child has finished the whole assignment, provide a Post Organizer, a review of all that you did. At this point, you’ll highlight the critical steps you both did, personalize the steps, predict when to do this again, and state expectations for next time they have this type of assignment or one that is similar. A model might sound and look like this: “The directions say to use context clues to write a definition for each bold word in the passage. This means we will do a close reading of the passage to determine the meaning of the vocabulary words by using clues in the context of the passage (Advanced Organizer). So, I’m going to start by just reading the passage once in full to become familiar with it, knowing that we’re going to have to go back and read it a few times to focus on the sentences with the target words to complete the assignment. I also see that there are six words in bold print, so we’ll be going back to the reading at least six times, probably more, because even if we think we know the meaning of the word, we also know that word meanings can change significantly, depending on how the author uses it. So, we must consider the words around each word to complete the close reading accurately.”
INSTRUCTION
Completing work in this way allows your child or teenager to gain confidence in knowing how to approach, manage and complete tasks. The use of self-talk helps many students both remember and make sense of what they are doing as well as identify and isolate questions if they are confused. Modeling allows students to see and hear the physical behaviors and thought processes that those who are proficient with an assignment use. Last but not least, the four phases of modeling increase the likelihood that your child will be able to complete future assignments independently. ■
opens doors to learning for your child
Modeling is the heart of the whileskillhome.instructionstrategyandiseasytodoatModelingisademonstrationofabythinkingalouddoingitandthengraduallyinvolvingyourchilduntiltheytakeoverthetask.
www.MCSAPcoalition.com RX If you don’t properly dispose of your unused prescriptions in your home they may find a new one... Parents are the #1 influence in a child's decision NOT to drink alcohol, smoke marijuana or do drugs
Focus on the positive: MOST Martin County teens are making healthy choices MCSAPcoalition.com
Safe Use • Safe Storage • Safe Disposal
A permanent prescription disposal box is available as a service to the public in the lobby of the Martin County Law Enforcement Center – 201 Lake Avenue, Fairmont, MN.
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MCSAP
For your convenience, there are drop boxes at the law enforcement center and Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 907 South State Street, Fairmont.
Keep our Youth and Pets Safe
A permanent prescription disposal box is available as a service to the public in the lobby of the Martin County Law Enforcement Center – 201 Lake Avenue, Fairmont, MN. For your convenience, there are drop boxes at the law enforcement center and Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 907 South State Street, Fairmont. If you don’t properly dispose of your unused prescriptions in your home they may find a new one... are the #1 's decision NOT to drink alcohol, smoke marijuana or do
ABUSE PREVENTION
drugs
FAMILY-ORIENTEDMAGAZINEA FAMILY-ORIENTED MAGAZINE
Safely dispose of your unused prescriptions for free at: Hy-Vee Pharmacy — 907 South State Street, Fairmont Martin County Law Enforcement Center — 201 Lake Avenue, Fairmont
Take It To THE BOX
Talk to your kids about the dangers of taking someone else’s prescriptions.
Keep prescriptions out of reach and safely dispose of them
Talk to your kids about the dangers of taking someone else’s prescriptions.
Talk to your kids about the dangers of taking someone else’s prescriptions.
Keep our young people safe Take It To THE BOX
MCSAPcoalition.com Talk to your kids about the dangers of taking someone else’s prescriptions. Safely dispose of unused prescriptions at: Hy-Vee Pharmacy or in the lobby of the Martin County Law Enforcement Center 201 Lake Ave, Fairmont A
Safe Use • Safe Storage • Safe Disposal
Talk to your kids about the dangers of taking someone else’s prescriptions. Safely dispose of unused prescriptions at: Hy-Vee Pharmacy or in the lobby of the Martin County Law Enforcement Center 201 Lake Ave, Fairmont tin County students of alcohol & d ugs. MARTIN COUNTY SUBSTANCE
Safe Use • Safe Storage • Safe Disposal
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MCSAP MARTIN COUNTY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
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Focus on the positive: MOST Martin County teens are making healthy choices NOT to drink alcohol, smoke marijuana and do drugs!
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Parents
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Most of us would probably not give our children illegal stimulants, so we should rethink their use of legal stimulants. ■ By STAFF
In addition to caffeine, these drinks have a lot of sugar. One can of Rockstar contains 60 grams of sugar, which is the equivalent to about 1/3 cup. Now times that by three, and they’re consuming almost a cup of sugar per day. In addition to weight gain from the sugar, there are negative side effects of caffeine. Consuming too much caffeine can cause nervousness, irritability, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, and increased blood pressure—none of which are good for kids. Side effects also include nausea and diarrhea. Kids with medical conditions may be at even greater risk. Caffeine in high doses becomes toxic. There have been increased calls to poison control and even reported deaths of teens from Withdrawaloverdose.symptoms include headache, fatigue, decreased alertness (which then makes them want to consume more caffeine), difficulty concentrating, flu-like symptoms, irritability, depressed mood, muscle pain or stiffness, and nausea and/or vomiting. None of these make it optimal for learning and may lower their academic performance.Teenshave started drinking energy drinks at a record pace. Sometimes it is to stay up to study, but a lot of times it just for the “high” they get from the caffeine. It’s time we share the dangers of too much caffeine and energy drinks with our kids. Caffeine is a stimulant like cocaine, nicotine, meth and amphetamines. It is a drug and it is addictive.
One can of Rockstar has 160mg of caffeine. A caffè mocha has 174 mg. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents get no more than 100 mg per day. In one can or cup, they’re consuming more than one and a half times the recommended amount. If they’re drinking three per day, that adds up to around five times the recommended amount. Some youth report that friends drink four of five energy drinks a day.
CAFFEINE: friend or foe?
I
t’s a common occurrence to see youth walking around with a can of Rockstar or Monster. But have we thought about what they’re actually consuming in the form of caffeine? And it’s not just the energy drinks, but those coffee drinks as well.
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Call 507-618-5795 to schedule an appointment.
MCSAP Coalition P.O. Box Fairmont,287MN 56031
Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont remains committed to providing the care you and your family need. Whether you are seeking routine or preventive care, or treatment for a serious or complex condition, Mayo Clinic Health System has convenient and safe options available, including virtual or in-person appointments.
Care when you need it in Fairmont.
