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________________________________________________________
ONLINE
PREVENTION NEWS
Information from the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources
________________________________________________________
Volume 2,
Issue #1
January 2, 2004
::::::::::::::::::::::::Table
of Contents::::::::::::::::::::::::
BREAKING
NEWS
Wisconsin Statewide Prevention Conference
RESEARCH
UPDATES
Alcohol consumers have smaller brains than non-drinkers according
to research
RESOURCES/MATERIALS
Ulifeline Website
Child Trends 2003 Facts At A Glance
Limit drinking and driving after holiday celebrations
HEADS
UP!
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
National Mentoring Month
Blue Ribbons for KIDS Campaign
FUNDING
ALERTS
Mental Health Association in Milwaukee County suicide prevention
grants
American Youth Policy Forum Fellowships
Do Something Brick Awards
Fine arts program grants
WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES
Strongest Links Conference
Alcohol Advertising: Is What You See, What You Get?
Youth Crime Prevention Conference
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*BREAKING NEWS*
WISCONSIN STATEWIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE
The Wisconsin Statewide Prevention Conference will be held August
10-12, 2004 at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids and is titled,
"Weaving a Tapestry of Health: Collaborations Among Substance
Abuse Prevention, Mental Health Promotion and Tobacco Control."
The conference is targeted for mental health professionals, substance
abuse prevention professionals, and tobacco control professionals.
We will also offer a Native American-specific track, given the high
number of sovereign Nations in Wisconsin and the significant level
of expressed interest by tribal members. The conference will focus
on professional development regarding the application of research-based
knowledge, best practices, and real-world applications of model
programs. There will also be an unveiling of the State Incentive
Grant's "State Prevention Plan." Stay tuned for more information
on this upcoming conference.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*RESEARCH UPDATES*
ALCOHOL
CONSUMERS HAVE SMALLER BRAINS THAN NON-DRINKERS ACCORDING TO RESEARCH
New research indicates that people who consume moderate amounts
of alcohol have smaller brains than non-drinkers, the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel reported. For the study, researchers at
Johns Hopkins University used magnetic resonance imaging to examine
the brains of 1,909 individuals in their mid-50s. The participants
were categorized in groups according to their drinking habits, which
ranged from non-drinkers to moderate (having one to six alcoholic
drinks a week) to heavy (seven or more drinks weekly). Although
previous studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption may
be beneficial for the heart, this study found that it did not protect
against stroke and may be linked to brain atrophy. Researchers speculated
that brain atrophy was a result of brain-cell death. The study's
findings are published in Stroke,
a journal of the American Heart Association.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*RESOURCES/MATERIALS*
ULIFELINE
WEBSITE
Colleges and universities are growing more aware of the issue of
suicide on their campuses and are offering suicide-prevention resources.
Nationally, 120 colleges offer suicide-prevention resources such
as Ulifeline,
a free website that provides students with confidential help and
a list of mental-health centers in their area. The website was started
three years ago by the Jed Foundation, which was formed by Donna
and Phillip Satow, whose son, Jed, committed suicide during his
sophomore year in college. The Jed Foundation is also working with
colleges, among them Columbia, Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, to develop suicide-prevention programs
on campuses. According to psychologists, the pressure to excel,
combined with problems like depression, bipolar disorder, and drug
misuse, often contribute to suicidal tendencies. "The good
sign is that students are driven, they're motivated, and they're
highly conscientious," said Connie Horton, director of counseling
and consultation services at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.
"But the downside is that they can be really hard on themselves,
and normal failures can be viewed as disasters." For more information
see www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/11/21/campus.suicides.ap/index.html.
To view the suicide-prevention website from the Jed Foundation go
to www.ulifeline.com/
CHILD TRENDS 2003 FACTS AT A GLANCE
The percentage of teens having sex continues to decline, as does
the teen birth rate according to Child Trends and their expanded
2003 Facts At A Glance. A few highlights of the new data include:
the percentage of high school students having sex has declined from
54 percent of all teens in 1991 to 46 percent in 2001; the percentage
of sexually active teens who reported using drugs or alcohol before
their last sexual encounter increased from 22 percent in 1991 to
26 percent in 2001; the national teen birth rate fell 31 percent
between 1991 and 2002; and an estimated 18 percent of girls who
are currently 15 years old will have a baby before age 20. These
and other statistics on teen childbearing, sexual activity, and
contraceptive use appear in 2003 Facts At A Glance, Child Trends'
annual newsletter on teen childbearing and related issues, available
at www.childtrends.org/n_faag1103.asp
LIMIT
DRINKING AND DRIVING AFTER HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
The U.S. Department of Labor has created a special page
on its website that provides employers with suggestions
on how to control drinking and driving after holiday celebrations.
The site offers tips to minimize the consequences of alcohol consumption,
as well as information on impaired-driving prevention initiatives
for the holiday season. Alcohol traffic-safety facts, myths and
facts about alcohol and driving, and driving under the influence
laws for each state are also available on the site. The department's
Working Partners initiative developed the webpage.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*HEADS UP!*
NATIONAL
DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING PREVENTION MONTH
The number of people who drink and drive greatly increases during
December and January, when many people travel and consume alcohol
as part of their holiday celebrations. December has been designated
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month to raise awareness
of the risks associated with driving while impaired. Visit http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/seasonal/3d/3dprev.aspx
for more information and tips on how to prevent impaired driving
in your community. For drugged driving statistics by gender, race/ethnicity,
geographic location, and other factors, refer to the National Survey
on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Drugged Driving 2002 Update available
from SAMHSA's NCADI. Access this publication online at http://www.samhsa.gov/oas/2k3/DrugDriving/DrugDriving.pdf
or request a free printed copy by visiting http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/order.aspx?ID=16661.
To order by phone, call 800-729-6686 and ask for inventory number
PHD1033.
NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH
MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership and the Harvard Mentoring
Project of the Harvard School of Public Health are leading the third
installment of National Mentoring Month in January 2004. The annual
initiative is intended to recruit mentors to work with youth who
are in need of supportive, caring adults in their lives. Guided
by this year's theme, "Who mentored you? Thank them...and pass
it on!" the month will be highlighted by Thank Your Mentor
Day on January 15, 2004. Event sponsors are using this day to encourage
people to remember and thank those adults who have impacted their
lives and shaped who they are today. In addition to thanking their
own mentors, individuals are encouraged to volunteer to mentor a
young person in their community. For more information on National
Mentoring Month 2004, visit www.whomentoredyou.org
BLUE
RIBBONS FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN
Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin, Child Abuse Prevention Fund, and
Children's Trust Fund are proud to sponsor the 2004 Blue Ribbons
for KIDS Campaign in Wisconsin. This campaign offers a number of
activities and materials that can be used to educate children, families,
and communities about ways to prevent child abuse and neglect. To
access a brochure that describes the entire campaign, visit http://wctf.state.wi.us.
Resources that are available include: The 2004 Child Abuse Prevention
Community Awareness Packet, based on the theme, "Children need
everyday heroes--they need you!" The packet includes a wide
variety of reproducible materials to use in the community in order
to raise awareness of the need for child abuse prevention. Download
the packet at www.preventchildabusewi.org/packet/page1.htm.
Also available is the 2004 Family Fun Calendar. This year's calendar
is based around the theme "Peace Begins with You." This
reproducible calendar includes activities that children and adults
can do together every day of the year. The calendar can be found
at www.preventchildabusewi.org/packet/2004FamilyFunCalendar.pdf.
To receive either of these resources in print, call 1-800-CHILDREN
or e-mail Andrea at alitzau@preventchildabusewi.org.
Blue ribbon pins and information cards are also available for distribution,
visit www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/5706/router.asp
to order.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*FUNDING ALERTS*
MENTAL
HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANTS
The Mental Health Association in Milwaukee County (MHA) is making
available one-time mini-grants of up to $5,000 to be used in collaboration
with community partners for implementing or expanding suicide prevention
activities in Wisconsin schools. It is anticipated that up to $30,000
will be distributed, but actual amounts will depend upon the quality
of RFPs received and the total funds available for distribution.
Eligible grant applicants are public schools, private schools, or
school districts in Wisconsin (including tribal schools); consortia
of public or private schools/school districts; or Cooperative Education
Service Agencies (CESAs). The applicant must have participated in
or be scheduled to participate in a training on suicide prevention
offered through the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) or document
that project staff have participated in other trainings on suicide
prevention that provide the theoretical background for the proposed
project. Proposals must be received by January 9, 2004. For more
information see www.mhamilw.org/pei/minigrants/index.htm
AMERICAN
YOUTH POLICY FORUM FELLOWSHIPS
Professionals who work on youth policy issues at the national, state,
and local levels are invited to apply for fellowships through the
American Youth
Policy Forum (AYPF). The AYPF, based in Washington, D.C.,
is a nonprofit professional-development organization that provides
nonpartisan learning opportunities for individuals working on youth-policy
issues. Its Harold Howe II Fellowships are awarded each year to
promising young scholars or practitioners. Fellows work on a self-designed
project addressing significant issues in youth policy, practice,
research, or program evaluation, focusing particularly on disadvantaged
youth. Fellows will receive a stipend of $25,000 and join the AYPF
staff for 12 months. The application deadline is January 9, 2004.
Application information is available at www.aypf.org/whatsnew.htm
DO
SOMETHING BRICK AWARDS
The youth-leadership group Do
Something is seeking applicants for its annual Brick Awards,
which honor youth under 18 years old for their work in the areas
of community building, health, and the environment. Each 2004 Do
Something Brick Award winner will receive a $5,000 higher-education
grant, a $5,000 award to continue their community work, and other
support. Six winners will be selected. The deadline to submit applications
is January 31, 2004. For an application or more information, see
www.dosomething.org/brick-awards.htm
FINE ARTS PROGRAM GRANTS
The National
Education Association (NEA) is accepting applications for
grants to enable art teachers to create and implement fine arts
programs that promote learning among at-risk and disadvantaged students.
Ten $2,000 grants will be awarded. Local NEA affiliates should apply
on behalf of the arts teacher. These nominees must be a member of
the NEA and employed at a U.S. public secondary school with a high
percentage of students who are at risk of academic failure. Funds
may not be used to pay indirect costs, grant administration fees,
salaries, or for lobbying or religious purposes. The deadline to
submit an application is February 2, 2004. For additional information,
call 202-822-7840, fax 202-822-7779, or visit www.nfie.org/programs/finearts.htm
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES*
STRONGEST
LINKS CONFERENCE
Plan to attend the Strongest Links Conference, "Investment
in Early Childhood: Making It Work; Making It Count," on January
12-13, 2004 at the Concourse Hotel in Madison, WI. The collaborative
event is designed to link community agencies, business leaders,
policy makers, and consumers in the active commitment to improving
the lives of young children and families in Wisconsin. For the first
day, conference planners are extending special invitations to the
business community. The keynote speaker is from the Federal Reserve
Bank, and there will also be a panel of Wisconsin business and economic
development leaders. The second day of the conference will feature
topical workshops and focus on supporting local collaboration and
partnership building. The deadline for registration is January 6,
2003. Visit www.collaboratingpartners.com/stronglinks.html
for more detailed information about the conference.
ALCOHOL
ADVERTISING: IS WHAT YOU SEE, WHAT YOU GET?
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is sponsoring
an audio conference, "Alcohol Advertising: Is What You See,
What You Get?" on February 14, 2004 from 3:00-4:15 Eastern
Time. Alcohol prevention messages tell youth, "NO!" But
billboards, television, radio, and magazine ads scream, "YES!"
Speakers will discuss the role of alcohol advertising and sponsorship,
and provide examples of successful local initiatives to manage alcohol
sponsorship and advertising toward youth. To register go to www.udetc.org/Registration.asp
or call 877-335-1287, ex 230.
YOUTH
CRIME PREVENTION CONFERENCE
The National Crime Prevention Council and Youth Crime Watch of America
will hold the Youth Crime Prevention Conference and International
Forum "Youth Raising the Standard" on February 14-17,
2004 in Arlington, VA. Challenging and motivating youth to make
their communities and schools safer places is an effective strategy
to reduce delinquency and youth victimization. The Youth Crime Prevention
Conference and International Forum recognizes the valuable role
that youth can play in crime prevention. The conference is designed
to enable youth and adults who work with and for youth, including
community program practitioners, law enforcement, school resource
officers, and teachers and school administrators, to maximize youth's
contributions to that end. To obtain further information about the
conference or to register online, visit either www.ncpc.org/youthconference
or www.ycwa.org/youthcon
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This
update has been brought to you by the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for
Prevention Resources.
Online
Prevention News welcomes potential submissions of information, but
the list owners reserve the right to make decisions regarding the
information that is chosen. Submissions that are judged to fall
outside the mission and scope of this update may be refused or edited
based on content, relevance, and/or clarity.
Online
Prevention News may direct users to resources and websites maintained
by institutions over which the Wisconsin Clearinghouse has no control.
WCH makes no representation that the information contained on such
sites is accurate or current. Information provided on third-party
web sites does not reflect any official policy or position of WCH.
Web site links are provided as a convenience, and not as an endorsement
by the Wisconsin Clearinghouse.
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