Community Meeting
The next meeting of the Safe Community Coalition will take place on Thursday, June 4th at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Avenue. Please join us as we plan programs and strategies for the 2009-2010 school year.
SCC Elects New Board of Directors
The new SCC Board of Directors was elected at the annual meeting. Click here for more information.
Countywide Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors support the Fairfax Countywide Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking (CIRUD) as prom and graduation season approaches.
Click here for the Press Release.
SCC’s Project Safe Prom addresses Serious Local and National Problem: Underage Drinking
The Safe Community Coalition (SCC) with the support of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County Public School proudly announces Project Safe Prom . Click here for the Press Release.
"Parents Who Host, Lose the Most"
Amy Reif, Administrative Director and Lynette Planto, SCC member, represented the Safe Community Coalition as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declared May to be “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” month. The Safe Community Coalition’s “Project Safe Prom” press release has also been sent to local media outlets.
Project Safe Prom (formerly Project Hospitality) aims to promote a safe prom season for high school seniors and juniors by educating the community, including local restaurants, hotels and limo companies about Virginia Underage Drinking laws. Click here for important information you should know.
“What did our kids have to tell us?”
Over 100 parents, school administrators, health professionals, faith workers and other community members attended our April 20 program on the Langley-McLean School pyramid results from the 2008 Fairfax County Youth Survey. The results are alarming. We learned that while across the board substance use has continued a downward trend for all substances since 2001, in our community, 10th and 12 grade surveyed students continue to drink and use marijuana at a higher rate than their peers countywide.
- 36% of surveyed 10th grade students used alcohol within the last 30 days
- 56% of surveyed 12th grade students used alcohol within the last 30 days
- 35% of surveyed 12th grade students engaged in binge drinking (5 or more drinks in the previous 2 weeks)
- 32% of surveyed 12th grade students have driven a vehicle after drinking
- 26% of surveyed 12th grade students have used marijuana in the last 30 days
- Many of our 12th grade students do not think their parents disapprove of their drinking
All of these statistics are higher than the countywide results. So, what do we do now that we have this information?
At the Safe Community Coalition annual meeting on Thursday, May 14th at 7:30 pm at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., we will begin planning programs to address these concerns. Please join with us as we work towards building a comprehensive approach to prevention in our community. If you have any ideas, please send them to amy.reif@safecommunitycoalition.net.
SCC Welcomes New Partners
The SCC is pleased to announce new partnerships with the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) and INOVA Regional Trauma Center, two of the premiere prevention organizations in our area. Our new partners will assist SCC in providing additional services to our community, including parent education on youth issues (including alcohol and substance abuse prevention, stress and depression, and communicating with your teen) as well as coordinating services with our schools and offering prevention and treatment resources for families. We will be updating our website on a regular basis to keep you informed of programs and resources for our community.
New Law to take Effect!
Virginia HB 1782, legislation requiring a 90 minute parent/student program as part of the teen driving process passed both the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate on Saturday, Feb. 28, the last day of the General Assembly. The bill is awaiting signature by Governor Tim Kaine. The legislation will become effective in January 2010 and will require an additional minimum 90-minute parent/student driver education component, as part of the in-classroom portion of the driver education curriculum, requiring the participation of the student's parent or guardian and emphasizing parental responsibilities regarding juvenile driver behavior, juvenile driving restrictions pursuant to the Code of Virginia, and the dangers of driving while intoxicated and underage consumption of alcohol. While the legislation only affects parts of Northern Virginia it is a great start to keeping our children safer on the roads. Special thanks to State Senator Janet Howell, Del. Margie Vanderhye and Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust for their support of this legislation.
JUMPSTART COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR TEEN
Looking for a new and fun way to stimulate conversation with your teen? Chatterbox Cards, created by the Safe Community Coalition’s Mental and Physical Health Task Force, are a great place to start. These cards contain conversation openers to jumpstart communication between teens and parents as well as techniques to encourage reciprocal, nonjudgmental dialogue. “Which is more important: intelligence or common sense” is just one example of the thought-provoking questions presented. Cards can be purchased for only $2.00/set by e-mailing Laura Zoll.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are the backbone of the Safe Community Coalition. We cannot succeed without your support. We have many volunteer opportunities; both large and small, and will be happy to tailor a job to your schedule and interests. If you can help us, please contact Betsy Shomaker or click here for more information.
