by David Flint
During the tough budget talks last month, Berlin Interim Schools Superintendent Brian Howard pushed to use fund balance money to restore some of the proposed cuts. One of those was Jill Augustine’s position of Student Assistance Counselor, also known as the Substance Abuse Counselor. Howard alluded to surveys that found Berlin Central School to have, “a very significant, the most pronounced, the most severe problem with drug and alcohol abuse of the rural schools…in fact it may be even the highest of the urban schools of the county.” In the end, the School Board did restore some of the cuts, including JV sports and Augustine’s position.
The surveys Howard alluded to were the Communities That Care and the Prevention Needs Assessment surveys conducted every two years nationally and in Berlin as well since 2004. The surveys are given to students in grades six, eight, ten and twelve. The students respond to a series of questions intended to determine at how much at risk they are of alcohol and substance abuse and also the extent of conditions in their environment that would protect them from that risk.
Results from the earlier surveys showed that Berlin students had considerably higher rates of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use than was reported county-wide. The dismal results inspired a group of concerned citizens in Petersburgh, Grafton, Berlin and Stephentown to form a coalition known as TRACS (Together Reducing Alcohol and Drugs in Our Communities) to counteract the problem, much as was done by the Hoosick Area Partnership for Parents and Youth which later merged with the Hoosick Youth Center to become the Hoosick Area Youth Center & Community Coalition (HAYC3).
The 2010 Survey shows some ups and downs but there are no clear trends to indicate that things in general are either improving or getting worse. In general, at all grades the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, along with anti-social behavior, is, as reported by students, higher than County-wide and higher than an eight state norm reflecting the situation nationally.
Worst Rating In The County
Margaret Brennan, who was the County Community Prevention Coordinator but has recently retired, analyzed the 2010 results across grade levels county-wide and found that Berlin rated worst in the county in a number of areas. These included students’ recent use (in the last 30 days) of both alcohol and cigarettes. Berlin also rated worst on risk factors such as the students’ perceptions of laws and norms and parental attitudes favorable to drug use, low commitment to school and early initiation of drug use. On protective factors such as school opportunities and rewards for prosocial involvement Berlin ranked lowest in the County.
The 2010 Survey does show some improvement from previous surveys in middle school and tenth grade students’ recent use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana and in heavy use (binge drinking) but shows no improvement in twelfth grade.
In general, some improvement is also seen in all grade levels on the risk and protective factor profiles, but in most cases the risk factors are still higher, and the protective factors lower, than both the county-wide levels and the eight state norm.
Some believe the students may be exaggerating the extent of the problem, but, if so, students in other districts would presumably also be exaggerating, and Berlin still suffers in the comparison. Moreover, TRACS has conducted its own community survey, using a tool that had been successfully used by other coalitions, and Jill Augustine has spoken with teens and teachers. Information from both of these initiatives confirm much of the student survey information, for example, that a good majority of students believe that drinking and smoking are acceptable for adults and teens, that parents do not monitor their youth’s behavior, that most students think that underage drinking is a problem in the community, that it is easy for them to obtain alcohol, usually from home, and that peer pressure is an important factor
The Response
So what has TRACS been up to in response to this? The Coalition has met monthly since the spring of 2008. Sue Brisette-Cass of Stephentown, one of the instigators and still an active leader in TRACS, said that their main activities in the past two years have been getting organized, collecting data and providing some education to the community about the problem. More recently grant writing has taken up a good bit of time. A federal mentoring grant of $75,000 was secured last fall. This money can be used only for training and organizing purposes, but it
put the Coalition in a good position to apply for a federal Drug-Free Communities grant that would provide $125,000 a year for five years, renewable for another five years. Brisette-Cass said they had applied earlier this year for a state grant but did not get it. They learned a lot from the process, however, and that knowledge guided their application for the Drug-Free Communities grant, which they now feel they have a better chance of receiving. Money from this grant would help to pay for a professional coordinator and for such things as a newsletter and compensation for an after-hours custodian so that people from the community can use the school’s recently installed fitness center.
But it has not been all just organizing and fund seeking. Brisette-Cass said one of their major accomplishments so far has been working together with the school on the sports code of conduct. The school established a mandatory code of conduct in 2009 for students who want to participate in sports. TRACS organized a mandatory meeting for parents and students at which they would be required to sign the code of conduct. That meeting was poorly organized and was not well received. Learning from their mistakes, TRACS organized a second meeting the following year at which John Underwood, President and founder of the American Athletic Institute, gave an attention grabbing talk on why young athletes should want to avoid alcohol and drugs. Evaluations this time were mostly positive and a follow-up survey six months later showed that students had been impressed and had learned and retained a lot from Underwood’s talk.
TRACS hosted a breakfast meeting with community leaders last year featuring a SADD student presentation and again with John Underwood speaking. At his recommendation they later sent a letter out to all parents of teens at Prom and Graduation time outlining the risks and penalties for hosting parties with alcohol for teens. The letter was signed by the NYS Police, the County Sheriff, the County Executive and the Superintendent of Schools.
TRACS is currently engaged in working with SADD students to conduct a “sticker shock” campaign. Stickers with catchy slogans will be placed on items in the snack cart at the High School. Just another way to create awareness, recognition and conversation about TRACS and its message. TRACS will also be participating in a county-wide initiative called “Join the Crowd,” with posters showing the number of youth reporting that they are NOT USING alcohol and other substances. Along these same lines, the TRACS message will also soon be seen around the community on billboards. This can be paid for with mentoring grant funds because it is considered education.
Character Education Picnic June 2
On June 2 TRACS will be participating in the Character Education Picnic at Berlin Elementary School. TRACS will provide the paper plates, cups and utensils in a handy plastic bag that will also include information on healthy living for parents and students.
Brisette-Cass said that TRACS has a lot of ideas for programs and projects that they believe can help to change attitudes and combat youth substance abuse. They need involvement of people in the community, but they also need money. For that reason they are very hopeful for success in receiving the Drug-Free Communities grant.
Berlin High School Principal Dr. Cathie Allain did not gloss over the situation. She said she was “doggedly determined” to make sure that school staff are mindful of the fact that alcohol and drug abuse is definitely a problem here, not just in the school but in the community at large. Therefore it requires that the school and the community work together to correct the situation. TRACS, she said, is the perfect avenue to accomplish that. Allain said that both she and Jill Augustine are active members of the TRACS committee attending meetings and participating in training sessions.
Allain listed a number of steps and initiatives that the school has taken. Last spring the Middle School held a day long Drug Prevention Day at which young performers from Troy High School and from Hope House in Albany, some of them in recovery, gave presentations aimed at encouraging youngsters to make better choices that avoid drugs and alcohol. There have been periodic presentations since then that included State Troopers speaking also about the possible hazards associated with social networking. In addition, the school has changed its practices on how it goes about determining if a student needs help dealing with substance abuse problems, using more of a health response that may include a health exam as well as counseling. A new program has been instituted called Positive Behavior Instructional Support, an approach that, while not ignoring problems, tries to look at positive things and encourage students when doing the right thing.
Along these lines, Allain said that she and Middle School Principal Jason Breh have been consciously taking care to acknowledge and celebrate students who make the Honor Roll. They are also actively engaged in finding new and better ways to acknowledge, as well, those students who are struggling but also making small improvements. Often Allain said they will write a note on a report card or in some other way send a congratulatory note home to parents. These are small things, she said, but it’s recognition that the kids are doing the right thing.
The school again this year conducted the Prom Promise program. Guest speakers were County Executive Kathleen Jimino, Amy Plantz, a mother of a teen killed by a drunk driver, and Rob Pryer, a speaker who is wheel chair bound due to alcohol abuse. Students will be asked to sign an agreement not to use drink or drugs. After the Prom, to be held this year at the Crooked Lake House, students will take a bus back to the school for a post-Prom party followed by a trip the next day to Six Flags.
The school, Allain said, always strives to provide ample sports and other extracurricular activities. Next year, she said, the Code of Conduct will be extended to all students. At an assembly or assemblies next September, coordinated with TRACS, all students and their parents will be asked to sign a pledge that the students will not use illegal drugs, including tobacco, smokeless tobacco and alcohol, or abuse legal drugs. The details on this new Code of Conduct are still being worked out.
Allain said that while much of the emphasis is on encouraging healthy behavior, the school has also taken steps to discourage or prevent the presence of drugs or alcohol on school grounds. For example, lockers must be secured at all times and backpacks are to be kept in lockers and not carried around the school. Allain said that in the past there have been some incidences of drugs or alcohol at the school, but she emphasized that it has been a very small number.
Counseling
Allain said she was very pleased that Jill Augustine’s position was restored in the budget. When a student is struggling with a substance abuse problem, either their own or a family member’s or a friend’s, Augustine is there to give support and guidance or make a referral to get the help they need. Especially now, working with TRACS, she is able to gain a greater understanding of the mood of the community.
Augustine outlined the two major approaches she uses. At the beginning of sixth grade there is Project Alert, eleven sessions with the new Middle School kids working on substance abuse resistance skills. These kids have been through the DARE program and know the basics but now need help in dealing with more stress, establishing healthy social connections and some advice on what to do for fun that doesn’t involve drugs, tobacco and alcohol.
Project Success is for the beginning ninth-graders who may already have been exposed to drugs and alcohol and may have more complicated and stressful family situations and other relationships. Augustine meets with them four times in class so they know who she is and that they can depend on her as a resource. It also gives her some idea as to which students may need some follow-up attention. Thereafter she will meet with them both individually and in small groups. Referrals are made, if needed, for further counseling or treatment. Augustine said she tries to keep her approach positive. “Prevention isn’t just don’t do drugs and alcohol,” she said. “It’s also taking care of yourself, have good mental health, get exercise and take care of your friends.”
Allain said the school will continue to work with TRACS and to seek ways to positively reinforce students in making healthy choices while caring for the needs of those students who need support to get away from substance abuse. She would definitely like to see more parent concern about the problem and more parent involvement in addressing it. “A problem like this doesn’t occur over night,” Allain said, “It’s a process to work together with the community and the school to solve the issues. It will take time.”
Margaret Brennan said that while the 2010 Survey had a lot of bad news in it, she also saw signs that change is definitely beginning to happen since 2008. And TRACS, she said, is absolutely on the right track. She pointed out that change has happened in other communities, notably just up the road in Hoosick Falls, and the Berlin School District, she said, is not all that different. She hoped to see more encouragement of the “tons of kids in Berlin [School District] who are doing good things” but don’t get enough recognition. TRACS is doing a great job, she said, but they need more people to join in and get involved.