Resources - Online Prevention News E-Newsletter - Volume 4, Issue 6, March 31, 2006

2006 Wisconsin State Prevention Conference
SAVE THE DATE! Wisconsin Prevention 2006: Tools to Build a Prevention Framework will be held July 18-19, 2006, at the new Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Stevens Point. Complete workshop descriptions, presenter information, and updates on conference planning will soon be available online at: http://wch.uhs.wisc.edu/12-PrevConf/12-PrevConf-Main.html. Conference registration is $150 per person. This low fee includes access to all conference sessions, as well as breakfast and lunch on July 18 and 19. A general meal package may also be purchased for traveling companions. See the registration form for more information when it is available.

General Sessions include:

Tuesday morning plenary speaker – Glynn Birch became MADD's first male and minority President during their 25th Anniversary, with a goal of reducing alcohol-related traffic deaths by 25% in three years. Mr. Birch has reenergized MADD's grassroots with his vision and reengaged political leaders in the fight against impaired drivers.

Tuesday lunch speaker – Judy Cushing: "Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility" – This report was the turning point in the prevention of underage drinking. Judy Cushing, a member of the 12-person group of medical, legal, and prevention professionals appointed by the National Academies of Science, Institute of Medicine, will discuss the report's recommendations and its roadmap for action.

Wednesday morning plenary speaker – Julie Battle: "Common Sense for Community Change" – Julie Battle blends research, data, and informant interviews in seeking that compelling "gold nugget." Her new book outlines three radical truths and seven simple steps that can make all of us change agents.

Wednesday lunch speaker – Jesse Brown: "Passion + Power = Prevention" – Jesse Brown put that equation to work in Philadelphia by stopping the test marketing of Uptown cigarettes to youth, and fighting back the marketing of PowerMaster malt liquor to Philadelphia's African American youth. In 2004, he led the successful effort to ban alcohol advertising from all city-owned property, including bus shelters. Mr. Brown will describe how he harnessed the passion of local activists and the power of elected leaders to bring about community change.
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Wisconsin Coalitions Connect
SAVE THE DATE! July 19th at 3pm through July 20th, plan on being a part of Wisconsin Coalitions Connect. This event will be held immediately following the 2006 Wisconsin State Prevention Conference at the Stevens Point Holiday Inn and Convention Center. You will have an opportunity to talk together about challenges, concerns, funding streams, best practices, and much more, in a structured and proactive environment. An online survey will be provided by the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth to gather preferences for topics, issues, and a format for coalition connection and support. Watch for the survey and more information on this event on the Alliance website and through the ONLINE PREVENTION NEWS as soon as they become available.
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**RESEARCH UPDATES**

Most Dropouts Leave School Due to Boredom, Lack of Encouragement, Study Finds
Most students who drop out of high school say they could have succeeded with more challenging course work, engaging classroom experiences, and access to extra help, a new report from Civic Enterprises finds. Commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the report, The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts, found that nearly 50 percent of 470 dropouts surveyed said they left school because their classes were boring and not relevant to their lives or career aspirations. A majority indicated schools did not motivate them to work hard, and more than half dropped out with just two years or less to complete their high school education. In addition, two-thirds of those surveyed indicated they would have worked harder to graduate if their schools had demanded more of them and provided the necessary academic and personal supports to help them succeed. Others said as they grew older, having more freedom and other distractions draw them away from school. According to the report, approximately one million students drop out every year, while nearly half of all African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans fail to graduate. Dropouts are more likely than high school graduates to be unemployed; in poor health; live in poverty, prison, or on public assistance; and their children, in turn, are more likely to drop out. To read the complete report, visit www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/thesilentepidemic3-06.pdf.
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Rethinking the Juvenile in Juvenile Justice
Rethinking the Juvenile in Juvenile Justice, a publication co-written by Wendy Henderson and Nan Brien, is now available from the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. The report includes an in-depth look at recent research on adolescent brain development and juvenile justice, and recommends policy changes to ensure effective treatment of juveniles in the justice system. The report points out that adult facilities are not required or able to provide developmentally-appropriate rehabilitation and education to younger inmates. By contrast, juvenile penal systems are designed, funded, and staffed for community protection, accountability, and treatment that will reduce the likelihood of future crime. See the following pages for more information: Press Release, Executive Summary, and Full Report. Contact Wendy Henderson at whenderson@wccf.org with additional questions.
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Youth who own alcohol-branded items more likely to drink
A study of 2,000 middle-school students concluded that adolescents who owned alcohol-branded t-shirts and other items were more likely to drink than those who didn't own such merchandise. Dartmouth Medical School researchers said the study was the first to examine the relationship between alcohol merchandise and drinking. "Our research found that students who owned an alcohol-branded item were significantly more likely to have initiated alcohol use than students who did not own one," said lead researcher Dr. Auden McClure. "We recommend that parents discourage their children from wearing these products and that schools limit the display of alcohol-branded items among students." The study, which involved students ages 10 to 14, was published in the April 2006 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. [McClure, A. C., Dal Cin, S., Gibson, J., and Sargent, J. D. (2006) Ownership of Alcohol-Branded Merchandise and Initiation of Teen Drinking. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 30(4): 277-283.]
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**RESOURCES/MATERIALS**

New Journal Addresses Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy (SATPP) is an open access, peer-reviewed international journal of original research and scholarship that focuses on policy issues in the treatment and prevention of substance use disorders. Separate and often disparate public systems deal with substance use problems as well as provide treatment and prevention. This journal will provide an environment for the exchange of ideas, new research, consensus papers, and critical reviews that bridge fields sharing a common goal of reducing the problems caused by drugs and alcohol. The agenda is simple; a new forum for integrating thoughts, issues, and developments. Guidelines for article submissions to Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy can be found at www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/1/1/1.
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Helping Youth Succeed Through Out-of-School Time
The American Youth Policy Forum has published Helping Youth Succeed Through Out-of-School Time. The National Institute on Out-of-School Time defines "out-of-school time" as encompassing "a wide range of program offerings for young people that take place before school, after school, on weekends, and during the summer and other school breaks." The report reviews current research and literature on out-of-school time programs, explores a range of such programs and activities, considers their capacity to meet the needs of young people, and provides policy guidance on how to support and sustain high-quality out-of-school time programs. The publication is available at www.aypf.org/publications/HelpingYouthOST2006.pdf.
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It's a Guy Thing: Boys, Young Men, and Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Although girls have traditionally been the major focus of efforts to prevent teen pregnancy, the importance of targeting teen boys and young men is increasingly apparent to researchers, practitioners, parents, and others who work with youth. One of the many reasons for this new focus is the substantial reductions in teen pregnancy and birth rates in recent years can be attributed, in part, to dramatic shifts in the sexual behavior of boys. A new three-part report from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, It's a Guy Thing: Boys, Young Men, and Teen Pregnancy Prevention, provides an in-depth exploration of teen boys' sexual behavior, programs that have been successful in changing their sexual behavior, and advice from those who work with teen boys and young men. The 170-page report offers several key insights regarding boys' contributions to recent declines in teen pregnancy and birth rates, as well as pertinent implications for those working with teen boys and young adult men. The report was produced as part of the National Campaign's CDC-funded "Putting What Works to Work Project." To order a bound copy of the publication, click here. To view the report online in its entirety or by chapter, click here.
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**HEADS UP!**

Alcohol Awareness Month: April
Each April since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month to encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. This April, NCADD will be highlighting the important issue of underage drinking, a problem with devastating consequences. Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous, both to them and to society at large, and is associated with traffic fatalities, violence, unsafe sex, suicide, educational failure, and other problem behaviors. Reducing underage drinking is critical to securing a healthy future for America's youth and requires a cooperative effort from parents, schools, community organizations, business leaders, government agencies, alcohol manufacturers and retailers, the entertainment industry, and young people themselves. This year's theme for Alcohol Awareness Month is A Call to Action and it highlights the need for working together to create comprehensive education, prevention, intervention, and treatment resources. An integral part of Alcohol Awareness Month is Alcohol-Free Weekend (April 7-9, 2006), which is designed to raise public awareness about the inappropriate use of alcohol and how it may be affecting individuals, families, and the community. During this seventy-two-hour period, NCADD extends an open invitation to all Americans, young and old, to participate in three alcohol-free days and to use this time to contact local NCADD Affiliates and other alcoholism agencies to learn more about alcoholism and its early symptoms. For more information about underage drinking, Alcohol Awareness Month, and Alcohol-Free Weekend, visit www.ncadd.org.
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**FUNDING ALERTS**

Louis R. Cappelli Foundation
The Louis R. Cappelli Foundation invites grant applications from programs assisting at-risk children and youth in the areas of education and health and fitness. Programs in the area of education should focus on collaboration between agencies, school districts, and parents to address issues for at-risk youth and develop innovative educational solutions, while programs in the area of health and fitness should promote wellness through creative health programs or organized sports. The foundation will fund grants of up to $25,000. The deadline for application is June 30; eligibility is restricted to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. More information on the program and an application is available at www.cappelli-inc.com/application.shtml or by phone at (914) 769-6500, ext. 117.
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McKenzie Foundation
The McKenzie Foundation believes assisting families is one of the most effective and lasting ways to strengthen communities. Its grantmaking focuses on four initiatives: early childhood development; education that enriches learning for all ages; the environment; and arts and culture. The foundation looks for creative projects or programs that can serve as catalysts in their fields, and which will have an impact upon the completion of the project. Letters of inquiry are requested. Applicants can complete an online proposal form. Grants range from $3,000 to $20,000. For more information, contact McKenzie Foundation, Program Contact, 114 John Street, Greenwich, CT 06831; 203-869-8474; fax: 203-861-7526; or see www.mckenziefoundation.us/grants.php.
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**TRAININGS/WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES**

Core Competencies that Lead to Successful and Sustainable Coalitions
CADCA´s National Coalition Institute will offer no-cost regional trainings, Core Competencies that Lead to Successful and Sustainable Coalitions, on April 20-21, 2006, in Charleston, SC, and June 8-9, 2006, in Minneapolis, MN. These trainings are made available through a grant to CADCA from the Community Capacity Development Office of the U.S. Department of Justice. The trainings are open to all coalitions, but communities that receive funding through the Weed and Seed and/or Drug-Free Communities grant programs are particularly encouraged to attend. There is no cost for the training or related materials, however, coalitions are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. The two-day regional trainings are a repeat of last year's popular regional training series. The training will teach essential skills community members need to make a difference, and includes seven sessions: The Strategic Prevention Framework; Identifying community needs and resources/Naming and framing identified issues; Analyzing problems and goals/Identifying root causes; Logic models; Creating and selecting interventions; Evaluation Basics; and Sustainability. To register, go to http://cadca.org/WSApplication/. For more information, contact the CADCA National Coalition Institute's Training Department at training@cadca.org or 1-800-542-2322.
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference
The Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH) will hold the 2006 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference on April 30 – May 2, 2006, in Duluth, Minnesota. MACMH's statewide conference gives parents, caregivers, and professionals a forum to share new information, state-of-the-art techniques, and strategies that have been proven successful when working with children who have mental health needs and their families. The conference addresses children's mental health, with some sessions specific to infancy and early childhood. This conference is the largest of its kind in the nation, includes more than 70 breakout sessions, and features nationally recognized keynote speakers. For more information, go to www.macmh.org/programs_services/education/conference/conference.php or contact MACMH at (651) 644-7333.
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The ABCs of Advocacy for Prevention
"The ABCs of Advocacy for Prevention" workshop is being held on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Madison. Featured are Sue Thau, Public Policy Consultant representing Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA); and Martha Cranley, Kids Count Coordinator, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. This workshop is being provided as a service to members of the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth, Wisconsin Prevention Network, WATODEN, and others who wish to advocate for prevention and positive youth development in Wisconsin. The cost of the workshop is only $15 per person, which includes lunch. Space is limited, so participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Registration deadline is April 26, 2006. You may register by mail or by email. Get more information on registration, including a copy of the workshop brochure that can be viewed, downloaded, and printed, and a simple registration form which you can save/print and send in by mail or email, online at: http://wch.uhs.wisc.edu/04-News/04-ABCs2006.htm or www.allianceforwisconsinyouth.org/. Have questions? Please contact Susan Allen at The Alliance for Wisconsin Youth at 608-296-9960 or susanrallen@verizon.net. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the difference between advocacy and lobbying; tools for advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels; how to communicate with elected officials, policymakers, and staff more effectively; and more.
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America's Families: We All Play a Supporting Role
Prevent Child Abuse America presents the only national-level conference devoted to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. "America's Families: We All Play a Supporting Role" will be held in San Diego, California on May 21-24, 2006. The conference theme will be brought to life by nationally-renowned keynote speakers, as well as 90+ workshops on a wide range of topics. Attracting participants from the fields of child abuse prevention, home visitation, child development, family support, violence prevention, and more, this conference promises to be an outstanding opportunity to learn the latest practical techniques for supporting the families you work with, expanding your horizons, and learning from your peers. For more information and to register, go to www.preventchildabuse.org/ConferenceEvents/conference.html.
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