Spring 2006 GuidelinesSpring 2006 Guidelines

News Headlines:
SPF SIG Grant to Reduce Underage Drinking
LifeSkills Drug and Violence Prevention Program
Finney County Helpdesk Now Available
It's Everybody's Business Synar Compliance Program
The Faces of Meth
Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project and History
Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Program
History of Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking

Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) to Reduce Underage Drinking

Kansas is part of the third cohort of states to receive SPF-SIG Grants from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services Addiction and Prevention Services (SRS-AAPS) Division of Strategic Development recently sub-granted fourteen planning grants to communities statewide, including the Community Health Coalition in Garden City, KS and Liberal Area Coalition for Families in Liberal, KS. Grants were awarded based on the prevalence of underage drinking in the area and on assessments of each coalitions' capacity to engage in a comprehensive planning process to then implement evidence-based strategies to reduce underage drinking. Individual community plans are to be submitted to SRS-AAPS in September, 2008. If approved, these coalitions will then receive additional grants over the next three years to implement their plan and to evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts. The goals of the SPF-SIG include:

• Building Capacity and infrastructure at the state and local level to sustain effective substance abuse prevention strategies.
• Delaying the onset and preventing the progression of substance abuse, including childhood and underage drinking.
• Reducing substance abuse and related problems in targeted communities.
• Building a sustainable statewide framework for effective prevention to enhance prevention programs, policies, and practices statewide.
• Implementing a process for infusing data across all SPF steps (needs, resource, and readiness assessments, capacity building, comprehensive strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation) for improved decision making, cultural competence, and sustainability.

LifeSkills Drug and Violence Prevention Program

LifeSkills Training (LST) is a research-validated substance abuse prevention program proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors. This comprehensive and exciting program provides adolescents and young teens with the confidence and skills necessary to successfully handle challenging situations. Developed by Dr. Gilbert J. Botvin, a leading prevention expert, LifeSkills Training is backed by over 20 scientific studies and is recognized as a Model or Exemplary program by an array of government agencies including the U.S. Department of Education and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Rather than merely teaching information about the dangers of drug abuse, LifeSkills Training promotes healthy alternatives to risky behavior through activities designed to:

	Teach students the necessary skills to resist social (peer) pressures to smoke, drink, and use drugs
	Help students to develop greater self-esteem and self-confidence
	Enable students to effectively cope with anxiety
	Increase their knowledge of the immediate consequences of substance abuse
	Enhance cognitive and behavioral competency to reduce and prevent a variety of health risk behaviors

LifeSkills Training has been incorporated into Health classes in Holcomb, Pratt, Larned, and Satanta schools and in the Talent Search Program at Garden City Community College. Daily or weekly LifeSkills classes have been a positive experience for teachers and students alike.The program has also been used successfully in youth leadership programs, after-school programs, and other supplemental programs.

We're pleased to be able to offer teacher trainings at no cost to those who work with children in grades three through nine. To view and print a registration flyer for upcoming LifeSkills Presenter Workshops, click here. To schedule a LifeSkills presentation or a teacher training workshop in your area, contact Becky Thomas at (620) 276-9648 or e-mail becky.thomas@gcccks.edu. For more information on the LifeSkills Program, go to their website, http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/index.php,

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Finney County Helpdesk Now Available

Information about services, organizations and events in Finney County is now available at www.finneycountyhelpdesk.org.

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Protecting Kansas Youth Against Tobacco Use...It's Everybody's Business

The Synar law prohibits the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to youth under 18 years of age. As of December 1, 2004, the penalty for selling of any tobacco products to underage youth will result in a civil fine of $200 to the clerk and $1,000 to the employer, in addition to, or in lieu of, any other civil or criminal penalty provided by law. No mitigating circumstance will be considered to reduce the amount of the fine.

Tobacco Retailer Training

To make it as easy as possible for tobacco retailers and their clerks to understand and comply with this law, a training program for retailers and their employees is available online at http://itseverybodysbusiness.org. Training on VHS tapes or DVDs is available by contacting Steve Woolaway at Kansas Family Partnership ( 800-206-7231). For information, contact Becky Thomas at (620) 276-9648. Click this link: http://rewardandreminder.com/kansas/ and then click on Scoreboard to see Synar compliance rates by county and for the entire state of Kansas.

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The Faces of Meth

This website is the result of a project of the Multnomah County Sherrif's Office. Deputy Bret King of the Corrections Division Classification Unit shares dramatic stories and photos of men and women in custody to show the effect of methamphetamine use on our people and our communities.

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Methamphetamine Prevention Seminar in Ulysses Well Attended
Labs, Laws, Effects, Enforcement Prosecution, Cleanup and Drug Endangered Children
Saturday, October 14, 2006

Presentations included:
METH 101 - Verla King, KBI Crime Analyst/HIDTA State Crime Analyst
Meth Lab Cleanup - Brian Carroll, KBI SR Special Agent
The Psyche of a Meth User - Margaret Myers, LSCSW Regional Director
Meth Labs in Our Town - Alan Olson, Chief of Police of Ulysess, KS
Kansas Law & Meth Crimes - Robin Hathaway, J.D.
Meth Users - Medical Effects of the Drug - Trpr. William Polland
Drug Endangered Children - Lois Limes, SWKRPC Consultant/Fi Co Coord. DEC Task Force

View photos from the Seminar here

Article from The Garden City Telegram

Area teens also help stress the importance of meth prevention. (See the Article from the Garden City Telegram)

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2005 KS Alliance for Drug Endangered Children State Conference

This conference was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Hays, KS on October 13-14, 2005. It benefits community members interested in starting Drug Endangered Children programs, as well as those involved in existing DEC programs. Community members who should be active in DEC efforts include law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, medical professionals, first responders, child protective service workers, and social service providers. To view or print a brochure for this conference, click here. For more information on the conference, contact Lois Limes at (620) 276-9649.

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Finney County Drug Endangered Children Team Moves Forward

To view the Garden City Telegram article published April 23, 2005, click here: www.gctelegram.com/news/2005/april/23/story5.html.To view the Finney County DEC Protocol, click here.

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KS Senate Bill 27 Becomes Law

To view the Garden City Telegram article published April 23, 2005, click here:
www.gctelegram.com/news/2005/april/23/story2.html

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Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project

Kansas was one of six states in the United States to receive funding to develop a statewide infrastructure to fight the methamphetamine problem. Kansas is still in the top five states in the United States for number of methamphetamine labs seized. Kansas was chosen due to the large number of meth lab seizures in 2000 and 2001 (846 in 2001); the increasing number of residents seeking treatment for meth addiction (81.2% increase from 1997 to 2002); the spending on law enforcement, incarceration, environmental clean-ups, and treatment directly related to meth; the presence of a model methamphetamine prevention project in Shawnee County, Kansas; and the participation from key agencies including:

• Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services Kansas Regional Prevention CentersK-State Research and ExtensionKansas Department of Health and Environment Kansas Bureau of InvestigationKansas National GuardPrevention and Recovery Services
• Local agencies

Signs of a meth lab may include:

• Unusual, strong odors Unusual number of chemical containersPresence of bottles, jars & jugsWindows covered or blacked outPeople smoking outside Paranoid or odd behaviorLots of traffic, especially at night
• Secretive and protective of area

If you suspect a meth lab, contact your local law enforcement agency or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (1-800-KS-CRIME or online at Kansas Bureau of Investigation.)For more information, contact:
Southwest Kansas Regional Prevention Center
801 Campus Drive
Garden City, KS 67846
Phone: 620-276-9624


Additional information is also available from:
Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project
Cristi Cain, Director
Phone: 785-266-8666
Prevention & Recovery Services
Kansas Meth Prevention Project
Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment

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Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Program

A Drug Endangered Children Team has been formed in Finney County, Kansas. To view the Finney County DEC Protocol, click here. The mission of the DEC Team is to identify and protect drug endangered children, with the goal of improving outcomes for these children through the collaboration of the criminal justice system, law enforcement, child welfare, and other community agencies.One aspect of the initiative includes agencies working cooperatively to facilitate a coordinated response to families involved in drug manufacturing, drug sales, and posession of drugs when children are expected to be present or are found in the home.Member agencies include: Finney County Attorney's Office; Social and Rehabilation Services; Garden City Police Dept.; Garden City Fire Dept.; Finney County EMS; Finney County Sheriff's Office; Spirit of the Plains CASA; St. Francis Academy; Russell Child Development Center; St. Catherine Hospital; and Southwest Kansas Regional Prevention Center.For more information on the DEC Team call Lois Limes of SWKRPC: 620-276-9624.

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Kansas Methampthetamine Border Initiative

The Kansas Meth Border Initiative held Town Hall Meetings in Liberal, Hugoton, Meade, Protection, Elkhart, and Anthony, located in Kansas counties that border the Oklahoma line. The purpose of the meetings was to make the public aware of the problems in southwest Kansas caused by the devastating effects of methamphetamine. These town meetings will be followed by regional methamphetamine prevention training of local participants AND the availability of grant funding for local methamphetamine initiatives. This free training will provide an overview of methamphetamine and information about Retailer Meth Watch and other successful strategies to address the meth problem at the community level. Training participants will be eligible to apply for minigrant funding for meth prevention initiatives. These minigrants will award approximately $2000 to targeted counties. All participants will receive a Meth Prevention Initiative manual and Retailer Meth Watch packet. The first training was held on March 8, 2004 at Seward Co. Community College in Liberal, with 37 area residents in attendance.

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Methamphetamine: Meth Labs in Southwest Kansas & Our Drug Endangered Children

"Methamphetamine in Southwest Kansas & Our Drug Endangered Children" was presented in Dodge City on October 23, 2003. The workshop was sponsored jointly by SWKRPC and CASA-Children Worth Saving, Inc. of Dodge City, KS. An evening session for the general public was offered as well. A total of 100 people from 17 southwest Kansas counties attended. Certificates for 3.5 contact hours were issued for the afternoon session. Presenters were: Cristi Cain, Coordinator, Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project; Sandra Charbonneau, Assistant District Attorney, Sedgwick County; Chris Ibarra, Drug Enforcement Administration Agent; and Detective Tim McClure, Dodge City Police Department. A former meth addict and dealer also told of his experiences over a 12 year period, which eventually led to his arrest and which continue to affect both his life and his health.According to an article published in the October 24, 2003 issue of the Hutchinson News, "9.1% of Ford County 12th-graders have tried meth at least once compared to the statewide figure of 6.5%. Also, 5.6% of 12th-graders reported having used the drug in the 30 days before being asked, compared to 2.4% of high school seniors statewide. By comparison, 3.7% of Finney County seniors have tried the drug at least once, and 2.4% used it within 30 days of being asked. In Seward County, the numbers, were 6.4% and 2.8%. . . As for treatment, 49 Ford County residents enrolled in programs for (treatment of) meth addiction in fiscal year 2002-03 compared to 15 in Finney County and five in Seward County." In the same article, Cain is quoted as saying "98% of those who use the drug become addicted compared to around 10% of drinkers."On August 6, 2003, over 140 participants attended the same workshop on the Garden City Community College campus. Presenters were: Cristi Cain, Coordinator, Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project; Sandra Charbonneau, Sedgwick County Assistant District Attorney; David E. Smith, Clab Lab Certified Site Safety Officer; and Detective Larry Watson, Garden City/ Finney County Drug Task Force Team. Topics covered were the history of the meth problem, symptoms and effects of meth usage, statistics, how to spot a meth lab, methods and materials used in the production of meth, lab cleanup procedures, law enforcement professionals' perspective of the meth problem, the importance of participation by retail stores and rural areas in the meth prevention effort, and Drug Endangered Children (DEC) issues and programs.

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Panel Tackles Teen Drinking

Dozens of area residents met at Buffalo Jones Elementary School on Thursday, September 7, 2006 to discuss teen drinking and its effects on the community. Local residents, including a handful of high school students, law enforcement officials, and USD 457 employees offered insight on teen drinking and possible methods of prevention. To read the Garden City Telegram article click here.

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Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking

To view The Garden City Telegram article published on March 30, 2006 click here. Approximately 130 people gathered on the GCCC Campus on March 29th to address underage drinking problems in our community. John P. Wheeler, Jr. served as moderator to a panel of professionals with representatives from prevention, schools, law enforcement, Youth Services, Finney Co Jail, and alcohol and drug assessment services. Issues covered were consequences of underage drinking that range from effects on the brain and body, to peer pressure, monetary costs, personal consequences such as sexual assault and violence, the importance of parental influence and involvement, and legal ramifications. They also addressed possible solutions, and resources that will help families deal with the problems associated with underage drinking such as the Youth Services Family Impact Team 271-6250. After the meeting, participants enjoyed a free "Picnic in the Portico". If you are interested in becoming involved in underage drinking prevention efforts and follow-up on the town hall meeting, call 620-276-9624. The event was sponsored by Finney Co Health Coalition.

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