Intoxicant-free local communities - project

1. Intoxicant-free local communities - project Suomen Vanhempainliitto (Finnish Parents’ Union)

2. Necessity of the project • A development project for the use of the unions own working methods in the field of pre-emptive work concerning intoxicants. • New networks provided by new resources, being able to utilize the working patterns of others and the possibility to try new methods. • The possibility for parents’ associations to do pre-emptive work against intoxicants and harnessing this resource.

3. The projects’ goalsin the piloting city in 2007 • To start an over-18’s campaign in Järvenpää • To get networked with the local active workers • To start doing well-being plans in piloting classes • Designing meaningful intoxicant-free activities together with the local workers and youth

4. The projects’ goalson a national level • To give parents’ associations a working pattern for pre-emptive work against intoxicants • To challenge the parents’ associations to do pre-emptive work in their own areas

5. Duties for the projects’guidance group • Continual assessment and guidance of the whole project • To direct the project as a whole and deciding about content • Keeping the project on the right tracks • Getting ideas, designing, following progress

6. Parents and parents’ associations can raise discussions about the meaning of pre-emptive work against intoxicants in their own towns. Building a safe environment for the children and youth of today to develop is a common cause. The Finnish Parents’ union’s Intoxicant-free local communities –project’s goal is to bring down the amount of young people’s alcohol experimentation and use. The main objectives of the project are intoxicant-free communities where, with the help of adults, the distribution and selling of alcohol- or tobacco-products to underage children is prevented. At the same time providing children and young people with a safe environment to grow up in, to have meaningful activities and positive role models. Started in Järvenpää The piloting city is Järvenpää. The project is underway with the co-operation of local divisions of organizations like Nuori Suomi RY (Young Finland Association), Elämä on parasta huumetta RY (Life Tastes Better Without Drugs NGO), Aseman lapset RY (Children of the Station), Saunakallio sauna association, the schools of Koivusaari and Kyrölä, the youth work service of Järvenpää and the parish youth work service. National during this yearThe project that started as a pilot in Järvenpää is spreading nationwide this year and many parents’ associations from all over the country are being invited to start discussions about the state of pre-emptive work and the practical efforts that are being done in their local municipalities. The Finnish parents’ union is a part of pre-emptive works forums like “Give a child a sober Christmas”, “Sober Summer” and national week for pre-emptive work against intoxicants. Co-operation with the Life Tastes Better Without Drugs project for school working, Hubu, has been started. Local associations can easily start taking action in their own areas by being a part of these campaigns – by for example organizing drug-free events for school-leaving day. Over-18 as an option One possible pattern for action is provided by the model developed in Iisalmi and used also in Järvenpää, which is the Over-18 campaign that wants to decrease the attempts made by underage people to buy tobacco or alcohol. The idea of this campaign is to agree with local parents’ associations’ folks and the local sellers of tobacco- and alcohol-products that each young person is asked for ID when trying to make a purchase. The campaign is solidified with stickers that are attached to the doors and registers of the stores and kiosks. The Intoxicant-free local communities-project is a part of the Finnish parents’ union’s alcohol program and realization of a partnership-deal. The partnership-deal is the “Intoxicant programmes for organizations”, which is co-ordinated by the Finnish Centre for Health Promotion. It includes central subjects and forms of action for organizations to help them in their work against the detrimental effects of intoxicants.

7. Well-being plans in schools Well-being plans in schools as a form of pre-emptive work against intoxicants The plan can be a written contract, a functional series of events or a single event. Can be incorporated into the “Give a child a sober christmas” or “Sober Summer” –projects The national week for pre-emptive work against intoxicants is week 45

8. National week for pre-emptive work against intoxicants, week 45 • Co-ordinated by the Finnish Centre for Health Promotion • Nation-wide • The object being to get the pre-emptive work to the spotlight in different cities and counties One way of getting publicity could be the parents’ associations over-18’s campaign

9. Tips • Arranging panel discussions • Starting class-specific well-being plans • A youths magazine in co-operation with the school • An intoxicant-free school-leaving event • There are printable cards with tips for various actions on the parents unions’ web-site.