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Students are often told "you don't want to become a statistic" when it comes to drugs, and alcohol. Perhaps that's not always the case, like in Sumner County where the statistics about kids who don't drink are improving.
The Sumner County Community Drug Action Team (SCCDAT) was one of the patrons recognized at the USD 353 Board of Education Meeting last Thursday. SCCDAT's staff Marcia Bartelson and Dusti Fansler along with four students from Wellington High School had a chance to talk to the B.O.E. They outlined the path that SCCDAT has taken to get to this point, just in time for Red Ribbon Week this week.
Before the team started working with students, the County was ranked number six in the State for "past thirty-day use in underaged drinking."
"Over the period of three and a half years of implementation, with media awareness being raised, and evidence based program work in our school districts, we have seen an improvement," Bartelson told the Board. Now the County is ranked 63rd in the State. Bartelson said she is humbled by all of the hard work that's been done.
"That has taken a lot of hard work by a lot of people across the County," Bartelson continued. "It's taken parents saying 'no...'" The County is now below the state average for binge drinking as well for the first time since the 90's. The complete set of SCCDAT's numbers are highlighted in the annual report the group has produced.
"It's a picture of communities in a County changing a little bit at a time- the way they think, and what they say to their young people," Bartelson mentioned. "And then what young people do." The students that were at the Board meeting were very pleased with the numbers.
"I'm glad to see an improvement," said junior Austin Lloyd, "...I'm just glad to see it's actually working." All four of the students at the Board meeting were juniors.
"We started work with them in Crusader Way class when they were freshmen," Bartelson said. "Now they're juniors, and they gave up and volunteered their time." Now SCCDAT is adding to their arsenal by adding the Botvin Life Skills class.
Students are often told "you don't want to become a statistic" when it comes to drugs, and alcohol. Perhaps that's not always the case, like in Sumner County where the statistics about kids who don't drink are improving.
The Sumner County Community Drug Action Team (SCCDAT) was one of the patrons recognized at the USD 353 Board of Education Meeting last Thursday. SCCDAT's staff Marcia Bartelson and Dusti Fansler along with four students from Wellington High School had a chance to talk to the B.O.E. They outlined the path that SCCDAT has taken to get to this point, just in time for Red Ribbon Week this week.
Before the team started working with students, the County was ranked number six in the State for "past thirty-day use in underaged drinking."
"Over the period of three and a half years of implementation, with media awareness being raised, and evidence based program work in our school districts, we have seen an improvement," Bartelson told the Board. Now the County is ranked 63rd in the State. Bartelson said she is humbled by all of the hard work that's been done.
"That has taken a lot of hard work by a lot of people across the County," Bartelson continued. "It's taken parents saying 'no...'" The County is now below the state average for binge drinking as well for the first time since the 90's. The complete set of SCCDAT's numbers are highlighted in the annual report the group has produced.
"It's a picture of communities in a County changing a little bit at a time- the way they think, and what they say to their young people," Bartelson mentioned. "And then what young people do." The students that were at the Board meeting were very pleased with the numbers.
"I'm glad to see an improvement," said junior Austin Lloyd, "...I'm just glad to see it's actually working." All four of the students at the Board meeting were juniors.
"We started work with them in Crusader Way class when they were freshmen," Bartelson said. "Now they're juniors, and they gave up and volunteered their time." Now SCCDAT is adding to their arsenal by adding the Botvin Life Skills class.
"It's the number one prevention program in the nation," Bartelson explained. The program shows students a better understanding of the risk of underage drinking, and more. SCCDAT is happy with the new numbers that have been released, yet they know the road ahead is still a long one.
"To say that we've solved everything would be not true, there's much work to be done, but this is the best kind of work" Bartelson told the Board. "When you have a really great message, it's pretty easy to spread."
For more information on SCCDAT, contact Wellington High School, 620-326-4310..
