Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation (MCYAF)

1. Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation (MCYAF) Working toward a healthy community for our YOUTH

2. What We Do Mission of MCYAF As a community coalition, our mission is to increase overall community capacity for advocacy, education, guidance and resources for families in order to promote drug and alcohol free youth.

3. Who We Are MCYAF is comprised of 50+ community partners within Maine Township (primarily Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Niles) including: Police departments Middle schools and high schools Youth service providers and local government Park districts and libraries Churches and community organizations Community residents like YOU!

4. Howdowe work to reduce youth alcohol and other drug use in Maine Township? In the Schools Social Norms Marketing Campaigns in the 3 high schools (Maine East, Maine South and Maine West) spread the message that most Maine Township teens don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. Prevention Programs target 6th- 10th grade students to reinforce that most teens do not use, and alcohol and drug use is harmful. Through Parents Social Marketing Campaign educate adults that according to our students, parents are the most believable source of information about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. In the Community We work to limit and eliminate youth access to alcohol and cigarettes through various activities and initiatives such as: Sticker Shock, Parents Who Host Campaign, Parent Patrol, local Social Host Ordinances, anonymous text tips line, and compliance checks. Ease of accessibility & sources of alcohol

5. One way we monitor our success is to survey our students using the Illinois Youth Survey. Percent of students who said they drank alcohol during the past 30 days Outcome: High school student alcohol use rate is DOWN overall by 7.6% from 2009 to 2010.

6. The Good News…Over 62% of Maine Township High School Students choose NOT to drink alcohol.

7. District 207 vs. National Percentage of students who drank alcohol in the last 30 days Outcome: While we are making progress, 2010 data tells us that our youth drink alcohol more than their peers nationally. There is still work to do.

8. Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) Questions Percent of Maine Township students who said they drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes or smoked marijuana during the past 30 days OUTCOME: Alcohol is the most widely used substance among Maine Township High School students.

9. Our primary focus is to prevent students from drinking alcohol.

10. The teen brain develops into a person’s mid-20’s Why is underage drinking a problem? It seems OK for older teens to drink alcohol. What happens when teens drink? The areas of the teen brain that control decision-making, impulse control, risk-taking and memory are not fully developed. Teen drinking leads to making poor decisions, taking more risks, being more impulsive and the possibility of blackouts.

11. Alcohol can damage 2 key areas of the developing brain. Pre-frontal Area: Responsible for thinking, planning, judgment, decision-making and impulse control. This area undergoes the most change during adolescence. Damage from alcohol at this time can be long-term and irreversible. Hippocampus: Involved in learning & memory; suffers the worst alcohol-related brain damage in teens. Short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than adults.

12. Long-Term: Starting drinking early is very risky and has an impact later in life.

13. How does society promote or enable underage drinking? How does society promote or enable underage drinking? • Alcohol advertising and sponsorships • Alcohol that is easily accessible to youth • Unsupervised and/or unmonitored teen gatherings • Community events • Turning a deaf ear to teen parties • Selling products that conceal alcohol

14. Underage drinking is an ADULT problem. Anywhere there is a child drinking there MUST be an adult involved…either selling, providing, allowing or simply looking away!

15. Messages Teens See Decorated alcohol flasks sold at Icing Stores by Claire’s, marketed to 17-27 year old young women Wine coolers, promoting fruity flavors marketed to young people The messages that teens currently see are clear

16. 1 ounce keychain flask Products that promote underage drinking 3 ounce flask that looks like a cell phone with leather case

17. Alcohol Advertising sends a message to youth that drinking is the societal norm and necessary to have fun, relax, etc.

18. Alcohol Messages at Community Events

19. MCYAF’s message to teens: Social Norms Marketing Because of the influence society has on young people, most teens think that many more of their peers use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs (ATOD) than actually do. Perception of ATOD use is higher than actual use. This misperception can put pressure on teens to use ATOD. When the facts are presented to youth that most of their peers do not use ATOD, they are more likely to choose not to use.

20. What percent of students at your school do you think drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes or marijuana in the past 30 days? Perception vs. RealityData behind the Social Norms Marketing Campaign… 56 43 50 42 38 38 25 11 18 11 18

21. Campaign Messages to Maine Township teens at school

22. TALK EARLY. TALK OFTEN. Messages to parents and adults: Social Marketing Campaign Purpose of the campaign is to communicate messages to parents and adults that teen drinking is NOT OK. Parents are the #1 source of information about ATOD. Set clear NO-USE rules and follow through with consequences. Communicate disapproval of teen ATOD use TALK EARLY. TALK OFTEN. THEY ARE LISTENING. Parents have the power to influence. Be clear that alcohol and other drug use is dangerous and not OK. Set clear rules and consequences and follow through.

23. Data behind the Social Marketing Campaign “Talk Early. Talk Often.” Illinois Youth Survey 2010 Percent of students who said in the past year their parents/guardians talked to them about not using alcohol

24. Since last year, nearly 230 more Maine Township High School parents talked to their child about not drinking alcohol.

25. Data behind the Social Marketing Campaign “Talk Early. Talk Often.” Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) Question: Believability  Considering the [various] sources of information about ATOD, which three do you consider the most believable? Outcome: Out of 5473 youth, PARENTS were considered the most believable source of information about ATOD.

26. Illinois Youth Survey 2010: Parental Disapproval of Student Alcohol Use vs. Student Alcohol Use Data behind the Social Marketing Campaign “Talk Early. Talk Often.” 18 Outcome: As perception of parental disapproval decreased by grade level, report of alcohol consumption in the last 30 days increased by grade level.

27. Parents Who Host Campaign, Parent Patrol, Social Host Ordinance, text tips, compliance checks, Sticker Shock All of the strategies above are in place to limit or eliminate teen access to alcohol. Underage drinking is an ADULT PROBLEM: anywhere there is a child drinking there MUST be an adult involved... either selling, providing, allowing or simply looking away! UNDERAGE DRINKING is ILLEGAL, UNHEALTHY and DANGEROUS.

28. Providing alcohol to teens is illegal and dangerous. Underage drinking is not a “rite of passage” or something that is inevitable. Adults who want to keep their kids “safe” when they provide a place for youth to drink at their home and take away the car keys send the wrong message to teens.

29. Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) Question: “During the past year, how often did you get alcohol from the following sources? Party/Friends Family/Adults Self Establishments Outcome: Among those who got alcohol, youth reported that parties and friends are most often the source for alcohol.

30. 2010 Outcomes MCYAF Strategies Social Norms Marketing – Who Knew? Social Marketing Campaign – Talk Early, Talk Often Strategies to Restrict Access to Alcohol TALK EARLY. TALK OFTEN. THEY ARE LISTENING. Parents have the power to influence. Be clear that alcohol and other drug use is dangerous and not OK. Set clear rules and consequences and follow through. Includes: Parents Who Host Campaign, Parent Patrol, Social Host Ordinance, Text Tips Line, Compliance Checks, Sticker Shock Outcome Student use of alcohol and cigarettes is down Outcome Over 62% of students DO NOT drink alcohol; however, perception is that almost 2/3 of their peers drink alcohol Outcome Parents, health professionals and teachers/coaches are the most believable sources of info on ATOD Outcome Most common source of alcohol for youth is a party / friend

31. How Can We Reduce Underage Drinking in Our Community? Step Up! Take a Stand. As a community, let’s send the message that we want a healthy environment for our youth.

32. Take a Stand! • Underage drinking is a community problem and it will take all of us working together to make a difference. • Be a positive role model. • Educate people and groups you associate with and encourage them to advocate for local, state and federal alcohol and drug prevention policies. • Attend a MCYAF meeting.

33. STEP UP by Speaking Up! • Send a clear message to your friends and family that underage alcohol use is not OK. • Get the facts. Remember that MOST youth are making healthy choices. Share that information with friends, neighbors, relatives, etc. • Encourage and support youth when they make healthy choices.

34. MCYAF Meeting Schedule 2010-11 Monthly Meeting Dates August 26 January 27 September 23 February 24 October 28 March 24 November 18 April 28 December 16 May 26 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Location: District 207 Board Room at Maine South High School 1131 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL  60068

35. Board of Directors Rose Garlasco, President James Prandini, Vice President Leo Spreitzer, Treasurer Vickie Poklop, Secretary Ed Dubowski, Trustee

36. MCYAF Staff Director Margaret Polovchak Grant Coordinator Kim Radoy Prevention Coordinator Tricia Williams Social Norms Coordinator Nathan Bylsma Communications Coordinator Cheryll DeYoung

37. Cities of Des Plaines and Park Ridge Cook County Dept of Public Health DEA Chicago Task Force Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce Des Plaines Ministerial Association Des Plaines Park District Des Plaines Police Department Des Plaines Public Library Grazie! Restaurant & Banquets Lutheran General Hospital Maine Center Inc. Maine Township Northwest Community Hospital Notre Dame College Prep High School MCYAF Partners Omni Youth Services Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce Park Ridge Fire Department Park Ridge Ministerial Association Park Ridge Police Department Park Ridge Public Library Park Ridge Recreation & Park District Rep. Rosemary Mulligan School Districts 62, 63, 64, 207  Sen. Dan Kotowski St. Mary’s Church/Heart of Mary U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky Skokie Court House The Youth Campus

38. Working Toward a Healthy Community for our YOUTH Contact Us: info@mcyaf.com (847) 858-7090 www.mcyaf.com