| ----------------------- Youth Empowerment Network (Y.E.N.) The Youth Empowerment Network, (YEN) is a multi-level Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug prevention program aimed at empowering youth and the adults in their lives. The program is currently completing it’s third year and is offered in Bergenfield, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Englewood, Garfield, Hackensack, Leonia, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Saddle Brook, Teaneck, and Wallington.
Seventh grade students with learning disabilities, a recognized high-risk population, are provided with a Life Skills Training Program that focuses on peer pressure, decision-making, stress management, communication skills, alcohol, tobacco & other drug use. Additionally, parents, school staff and community groups are offered training and technical assistance to help support the development of asset-rich families, schools and communities.
Many schools and communities have already begun to develop asset-building projects. The Edgewater community includes asset-building ideas in their community newsletters and has an established youth leadership program at their community center. The Wallington schools and community is developing a Saturday Morning Enrichment Program that provides youth with more opportunities for becoming involved with constructive activities.
Back to Top ----------------------- Communities Against Tobacco (C.A.T.) The Bergen County Communities Against Tobacco (CAT) Coalition is a grassroots, community-based coalition dedicated to establishing community norms around tobacco use. It is supported by funds from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Tobacco Control Program, awarded through the Master Settlement Agreement. The CAT Coalition has two roles: planning and implementing countywide tobacco prevention activities and awarding mini-grants to local groups that wish to implement specific activities within their own communities.
The coalition meets on a monthly basis and is comprised of volunteers representing various community groups: hospitals, schools, law enforcement and other volunteer organizations. All CAT activities are decided upon, planned and implemented by coalition members and address at least one of the four goals of the CAT Coalition:
In August 2000, the CAT Coalition sponsored a Smoke-Free Bowling Day in six bowling centers. Over 900 Bergen County residents attended this event and were provided tobacco prevention literature and promotional items. In September, the CAT Coalition sponsored the Bergen County CAT Youth Summit 2000-2001, where 27 schools (150 people) were in attendance. From September through February, the CAT Coalition has participated in four health fairs and has awarded six mini-grants to community groups for tobacco prevention activities.
Individuals interested in joining the CAT Coalition can contact Jaimie Taylor Tomko, CAT Coordinator, at (201) 488-8680 or bergencat@aol.com.
Back to Top ----------------------- Rebel REBEL – Reaching Everyone By Exposing Lies – is a grassroots, anti-tobacco movement developed by and for New Jersey teens to reduce and prevent tobacco use.
Bergen County’s chapter was created in November and is comprised of high school and middle school students throughout Bergen County. REBEL meets monthly to create and implement fun, educational events and activities that teach about the lies and manipulation of Big Tobacco. REBEL also strives to provide safe, smoke-free environments for teens to get together and learn about tobacco prevention.
Currently, REBEL is planning a Smoke-Free Dance Party for middle school and high school students as well as helping to raise money for a Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake smoke-free fundraiser. Past REBEL activities include a smoke-free roller skating night and a tobacco prevention poster display at Bergen Mall in Paramus. Two members of REBEL also spent a few weeks of their summer traveling to various summer camps in Bergen County to talk to middle school students about tobacco prevention. In addition, members of REBEL led a workshop at Bergen County’s Communities Against Tobacco Youth Summit 2000-2001 in March 2001.
For more information about Bergen County REBEL or to get involved, call REBEL Coordinator Pam Melyan-Bratton at (201) 488-8680 or email bergenrebel@aol.com.
Back to Top ----------------------- Forest Friends An asset building primary prevention program designed to help elementary school children learn skills in feelings, communication, respect, self-esteem, decision-making, and diversity. Back to Top ----------------------- Community Education - Giving Teens a Voice With a grant from the Bergen County Office of Alcohol and Drug Dependency’s LACADA (Local Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse), the Council is giving the teens of Bergen County a voice on the issues that directly affect them. The Council is working with communities and schools to set up Community Dialogue Nights. These programs allow teens to interact with and be heard by the adults that work with them—parents, teachers, administrators, law enforcement, and more. In a casual atmosphere, designed to foster openness and communication, teens and adults address issues such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and abuse, parent/teen relationships, the transition from middle school to high school, diversity and bias, and any other issues that shape their communities. Each of these nights is customized to fit the needs of the particular community and its population. The hope is that each town that hosts a Dialogue Night will make them a regular part of its community practice—thereby making teens participants in the decisions that involve them.
For more information, contact Mark Easteadt at (201) 488-8680.
Back to Top ----------------------- Student Assistance Counselors Staffed by Masters level counselors, this school based program provides assessment, referral, and intervention services for students and families.
Also available are information and educational resources for the entire school community on issues related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Back to Top ----------------------- Disability Awareness Project Through the development of a county coalition on disabilities, this program is designed to increase access to substance abuse prevention and treatment services for people with disabilities. Back to Top ----------------------- Wellness Initiative with Senior Educators (W.I.S.E.) Senior citizens provide educational programs on alcohol and drugs including prescription and over-the-counter medications, to senior groups throughout the county. Back to Top ----------------------- Creating Healthy Attitudes in Teens (C.H.A.T.) A psycho-educational program for first-time alcohol/drug abuse-related juvenile offenders that addresses alcohol and drug misuse and the difficulties that can result from it. Back to Top ----------------------- Resource Center The Resource Center provides a wide variety of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) information and referral resources throughout the county to the general public, legislators, law enforcement, schools, community and civic organizations, municipal alliances, and employers. Referrals to services include AA, NA, AL-ANON, NAR-ANON, GA, therapists, support groups, intervention assistance, and treatment facilities. A lending library of educational and training materials offers video tapes, prevention curricula, and fatal vision goggles. Also available are literature, such as pamphlets, brochures, fact sheets, charts, booklets, and visual aids such as posters.
The resource center prepares materials for and often provides a presence at health fairs, community awareness days, and other presentations. The Council also maintains a speakers bureau.
Integrated into the resource center activities are two statewide initiatives which focus on reducing the number of young people under 21 years of age who are using and/or abusing alcohol. “We Check for 21” promotes and builds a positive relationship among local law enforcement, licensed alcohol establishments, and the community-at-large regarding the laws, private practices, and issues of underage drinking. Licensed sellers are encouraged to pledge to (continue to) check for proof of legal age to purchase alcohol before selling or serving alcohol to young adults. “We Check for 21” promotional materials (decals, posters, server/clerk badges, coasters, napkins, etc.) are displayed to heighten awareness of patrons and residents. “We Check for 21, Too” encourages parents to sign on and pledge not to allow under-21 drinking at home and not to host nor permit the premises to be used for underage drinking parties.
Each year, in late Spring, the Council hosts an annual legislative breakfast for significant elected Bergen County public officials and other prominent county/municipal dignitaries. This event calls particular attention to an ATOD-related topic which is both timely and connected to the well-being of county residents. The two most recent legislative breakfasts highlighted the “We Check for 21” initiatives (June 1999), and the need for the Governor of NJ to sign into law a statute which enables a municipality to enact an ordinance which addresses penalties for the underage drinker who possesses, consumes, and/or provides alcohol on private property (June 2000). Such legislation was signed into law on June 28, 2000.
The Council has taken on a leadership role in assisting municipalities to develop a local ordinance regarding consequences for the underage drinker on private property. In those towns which have already enacted this ordinance, community dialogue evenings are being planned to broaden community awareness of and appreciation for this effort.
Back to Top ----------------------- "We Check for 21" Licensed alcohol establishments are encouraged to pledge to “check for 21” before selling or serving alcohol to young adults. Back to Top ----------------------- "We Check for 21, Too" This project asks parents to sign on and pledge not to allow under-21 drinking at home and not to host underage drinking parties. Back to Top |