Keeping Teens Drug & Alcohol Free in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood & Riverwoods |
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In this Issue: Social Media Summer Safety | Help is a Text, Chat or Call Away | Power of Community | Talk, Monitor & Secure | Volunteer Spotlights
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For Elementary School, Middle School & High School Families |
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Tips to Keep Kids Safe Over Summer Break
Summer is here which means kids have more time and opportunities to be on devices. The internet can be wonderful for enhancing kids' education, but if children don’t learn how to properly navigate and communicate in this digital age, they can walk into trouble.
My role as Director of Safety and Security for Districts 106, 109 and 112 is to keep our kids safe. I emphasize teaching students how to become digital citizens, equipping families with the skills and knowledge to monitor what their children are doing on their devices, and having tough conversations about the appropriateness of content when needed. Whether your child is curious about what you're doing on your phone/tablet or trying to convince you everyone but them has a smartphone, it's never too early or too often to have age-appropriate conversations.
- What is the appropriate age for kids to have a smartphone?
- What is Roblox and what does it do?
- What are the best tools to monitor your child's online activity?
Let's work together as a community to steer our children away from inappropriate content and make responsible decisions in this highly digital world.
Solveig Jurmu
Director of Safety & Security
School Districts 106, 109, & 112
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For Elementary School, Middle School & High School Families |
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Help is a Text, Chat or Call Away
Even During Summer
Students who are struggling or worried about a friend are encouraged to talk to a counselor, parent, or other trusted adult. When they aren't available, or it just doesn't feel right for the situation:
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For All Community Members |
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Power of Community
- Cut teen alcohol use in half (52%)
- Reduce teen marijuana use by a quarter (28%)
- Ensure a strong, successful future for our youth
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For Elementary School, Middle School & High School Families |
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Talk, Monitor & Secure:
Help Your Child Stay Drug-Free
For students, summer is a welcome break from school work and schedules but not necessarily from social pressures. The start of summer is a great time to set clear, no-use expectations with ongoing age-appropriate conversations.
Help make the drug-free choice the easier choice for your kids with the following:
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TALK about healthy ways to cope with stress while enjoying a fun activity.
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MONITOR supplies of alcohol, marijuana and/or prescription medications in your home. Check inventory and consider marking a line on bottles: not to "catch them" or their friends, but to deter them.
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SECURE alcohol and other drugs in a locked space or file cabinet to reduce temptation and to protect friends visiting your child.
- Reach out to parents of your child's friends. Over 92% of DHS & HPHS parents are NOT okay with teen drinking.*
*Source: CTAD Parent Survey, 2022
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It's not one 60-minute conversation.
It's 60 one-minute conversations.
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2023-2024 Programming for All Parents/Guardians
Check out Glenbard Parent Series for weekly free webinars on relevant topics presented by high-profile authors, educators and clinicians.
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For All Community Members |
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Volunteer Spotlights:
Lilly Brandt & Rheanna Hall
We celebrate Dr. Lilly Brandt as she retires from her position as DHS assistant principal and as Co-Vice-President of CTAD. As part of CTAD’s Executive Board since our launch in 2015, Dr. Brandt helped build CTAD from the ground up. She has been integral in helping CTAD and Delta students implement drug prevention activities at DHS and District 113.
Hats off to Deerfield Police Officer and former DHS School Resource Officer (SRO) Rheanna Hall for her passion and commitment to CTAD. As SRO, she assisted CTAD staff with enforcement questions, collaborated with DHS health teachers on prevention strategies, and created social media trainings for youth and adults to help keep youth safe.
Pictured: Officer Hall and Dr. Brandt provide parents with vaping information at Deerfield Public Library back in 2018. Their collaboration is a great example of the power of community in drug prevention.
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We celebrate all of our extraordinary volunteers!
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Be a part of our amazing CTAD team. Will you consider contributing your time, creativity, unique skills, or a donation? Learn how to make a difference by joining one of our committees!
Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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Text-a-Tip: 24/7 anonymous support for students who need help for themselves or a friend. To connect with a trained counselor, text the code "224HELP" or "224AYUDAME" to 844-823-LEAD (5323).
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Community - The Anti-Drug (CTAD) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN 451631475). Our coalition of volunteers and community organizations strive to reduce alcohol, marijuana and other drug use among youth in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood and Riverwoods, Illinois. Funding is generously provided by the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park, other foundations/organizations, individual donors and a Drug Free Communities grant from the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views, opinions and content of this publication are those of the authors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect our funders' views, opinions or policies.
Parents/guardians of youth in High School District 113: You opted in to receive these monthly newsletters during school registration and may unsubscribe any time.
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