ED’s Safe and Supportive Schools News

Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 VOLUME 6, NUMBER 40

In This Issue

1. U.S. ED Publications on Disability Information

2. U.S. ED Announces latest Issue of “Touching Base”, the Quarterly Newsletter in Support of Quality Education for Military Dependent Children

3. Federal Agencies Announce Second Annual National Drug Facts Week, Oct. 31st Through Nov. 6—Teens and Drug Experts will Connect in Nationwide Community Events

4. HHS’ NIH’s NIMH is Sponsoring a Panel Discussion: Suicide in the US: Finding Pathways to Prevention—Available Through Live Videocast on September 7th, 2011-- 2pm – 3:30 pm, EDT

5. The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll of Adults on Children's Health finds Drug Abuse now Equals Childhood Obesity as Top Health Concern for Kids

6. National Youth Anti-Drug Update--New School Year, New Opportunities--Engaging Teens with “Above the Influence”

7. National Association of School Psychologists Announces 9/11 Anniversary web page with Resources for School Staff and Families--Including Handouts Translated into Spanish and Arabic

The opinions expressed herein may not always reflect the views of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools or the US Department of Education, nor do they imply an endorsement. We hope that you find this information to be useful.

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Editor

U.S. ED Publications on Disability Information

In recognition of the value and importance of providing access to information related to disabilities, the Department of Education has over the past several years produced a variety of free publications in the area of students with disabilities, employment and civil rights, which we hope will be of interest to you. These publications are currently available to order from the ED Pubs website at http://www.edpubs.gov/ or by calling toll free, 1-877-4-ED-PUBS (1-877-433-7827), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET)

-ED005200B USDE: The IDEA: Provisions Related to Children w/Disabilities Enrolled by their Parents in Private Schools: March 2011

-ED005196P Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators: March 2011

-ED002493H Disability Employment 101 For Your Business

-ED005114P How to File a Discrimination Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights [September 2010]

-ED005121B Student Placement in Elem & Second Schools & Section 504 of the Rehab Act & Title II of the ADA

SOURCE: Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools Center for School Preparedness Team

U.S. ED Announces latest Issue of “Touching Base”, the Quarterly Newsletter in Support of Quality Education for Military Dependent Children

The U.S. Department of Education is proud to announce the latest edition of “Touching Base” quarterly newsletter supporting quality education for military dependent children.

Topics in this issue:

Features

- U.S. Secretary of Education Highlights Academic Success as a National Security Issue

- Michelle Obama Speaks at High School Graduation

- Joining Forces Initiative Launched

- Jill Biden Holds Military Summit

ED and DoD

- Deputy Secretary Speaks at Military Child Education Coalition Conference

- Department Representative Moderates Panel on Military Children

- Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Commissioner Participates in Career Summit

- Department Representative Hosts Panel to Discuss Charter Schools on Military Installations

- Department Exhibits at Joint Services Open House

ED Employees

- Regional News

For Your Information

- Data on Progress of Military Children Could Lead to More Targeted Services

- Substance Abuse and Mental Disorders information Now Available for Military Families: Access to Care for Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, Veterans, Their Families, and Those Close to Them

- Children of Military Service Members Resource Guide Now Available Online

To view the new “Touching Base” newsletter, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/touchingbase/

Federal Agencies Announce Second Annual National Drug Facts Week, Oct. 31st Through Nov. 6—Teens and Drug Experts will Connect in Nationwide Community Events

Teens and drug experts will connect for the second annual National Drug Facts Week, held Oct. 31 through Nov. 6. This week-long observance will bring together teens and scientific experts in community events across the country to discuss scientific facts about drug abuse. It is sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)[http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html] a component of the National Institutes of Health.

"This week-long observance is designed to counteract the many drug abuse myths that bombard today's youth," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "We have learned that teens are craving factual information about drug risks and dangers to help them make smart choices."

National Drug Facts Week encourages community-based question and answer sessions between teens and scientists. Events can be sponsored by a variety of organizations, including schools, community groups, sports clubs, book clubs, and local hospitals. NIDA provides an online toolkit that advises teens and their sponsoring organizations on to how create an event, how to publicize it, how to find a scientific expert, and where to find scientific information on drugs. NIDA will support event holders by offering its popular teen booklet, Drugs: Shatter the Myths (http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php), free of charge as well as a new online National Drug IQ Challenge (http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/IQchallenge.php), a 10-question multiple choice quiz that teens and adults can take to test their knowledge about drugs.

"We expect to build on the success of our 2010 National Drug Facts Week, which garnered more than 100 events in communities around the country," stated Volkow. "NIDA is actively working with federal, regional and local partners to build events that will expose teens to the science behind drug abuse."

National Drug Facts Week is being supported by multiple federal agencies that share an interest in preventing teen drug abuse. They are:

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy(ONDCP) [http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/], the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx) at NIH, the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (http://www.ed.gov/) in the U.S. Department of Education, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (http://www.samhsa.gov/) at HHS and The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) [http://www.justice.gov/dea/] in the U.S. Department of Justice. Each of these agencies will post National Drug Facts Week information on their websites and will encourage the development of special events linking scientists to teens.

"Knowledge is the most powerful tool we can provide our teens to help them make responsible and healthy decisions," said ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske. "Science plays a vital role in helping teens think critically about drug use and its consequences and can help ensure that every new generation of young people in America can live up to their full potential."

The Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools in the Department of Education will reach out to schools across America to encourage activities during National Drug Facts Week. "We can't expect to reach our education goals unless we can convince youth that use of alcohol and other drugs will hinder their ability to learn," said Bill Modzeleski, acting assistant deputy secretary of Education.

Also during National Drug Facts Week, NIDA will announce the results of its MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation Teen Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest (http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/contest.php). Information on the contest, the quiz, the booklet and other National Drug Facts Week educational tools can be found at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/. In addition, NIDA's annual Drug Facts Chat Day will be held Tuesday, Nov. 1. Registration information about this popular Web chat can be found at www.drugabuse.gov/chat/.

Organizations wishing to hold events during National Drug Facts Week can visit: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/planyourevent.php or email: [log in to unmask].

HHS’ NIH’s NIMH is Sponsoring a Panel Discussion: Suicide in the US: Finding Pathways to Prevention—Available Through Live Videocast on September 7th, 2011-- 2pm – 3:30 pm, EDT

As part of Suicide Prevention Week, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is sponsoring a panel discussion of suicide prevention experts on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 2:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The event will be available through live videocast. This videocast is a research symposium on suicide prevention. Those who live in the Washington, D.C. area are welcome to be part of the live audience at the address below. Seating is limited. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from experts.

Featured Speakers:

Sherry Davis Molock,Ph.D., M.Div, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at George Washington University

Dan Reidenberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)

Jerry Reed, Ph.D., M.S.W., Director of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Richard McKeon, Ph.D., M.P.H., Chief of the Suicide Prevention Branch at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Moderated by Jane Pearson, Ph.D., Chair of the NIMH Suicide Research Consortium

If you are going to attend, the event will take place at the National Institute of Mental Health, 6001 Executive Blvd, Conference Room C, Rockville, MD 20852

To view the Videocast--After registering you will receive an email with instructions and a link to the videocast.

To Register to attend or view the panel discussion, please visit:

http://www.cvent.com/events/suicide-in-the-u-s-finding-pathways-to-prevention/event-summary-0b7a27aa01fe4efe824e9c6e0d390543.aspx

SOURCE: Suicide Prevention Resource Center - The Weekly Spark - August 26, 2011

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll of Adults on Children's Health finds Drug Abuse now Equals Childhood Obesity as Top Health Concern for Kids

Adults rate drug abuse and childhood obesity as the top health concerns for kids in their communities, according to the fifth annual survey of the top 10 health concerns for kids conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health. In May 2011, the Poll asked adults to rate 23 different health concerns for children living in their communities.

Most of the top 10 health concerns pertain to long-recognized risky behaviors for youth: drug, alcohol and tobacco use, as well as teen pregnancy. The top health concerns this year also include new risks associated with children's use of technology, including internet safety and sexting.

This is the first time that drug abuse is at the top of the list of biggest health problems as measured in the Poll. Since 2007, childhood obesity, drug abuse and smoking have consistently been rated as the top three health problems for kids from the point of view of adults across the united States.

Drug abuse and childhood obesity are the top health concerns for kids, rated by 33% of adults as big problems. The perception of drug abuse as a big problem is consistent with recent national data showing increasing use of marijuana and other drugs by U.S. teens.

Top health concerns for kids are dramatically different in the eyes of white, black and Hispanic adults. Although drug abuse was rated as a big problem for children by more Hispanic and black adults than white adults, national data indicate that use of illicit drugs is indeed higher among blacks and Hispanics than whites in 8th grade, but is similar across race/ethnicity groups by 12th grade.

Obesity remains at the top of the list of child health concerns for the fourth straight year, with one-third of adults rating it as a big problem. However, the level of public concern has declined over the last few years. This is consistent with data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showing that increases in children’s obesity rates over the last two decades have leveled off.

A substantial number of adults feel technology-associated issues rate as “big problems” for children’s health. Internet safety is viewed as a big problem by nearly a quarter of U.S. adults. Aspects of internet safety range from online predators to “cyber-bullying” among peers.

Other child health concerns include: child abuse and neglect (20%), sexually transmitted infections (17%), not enough opportunities for exercise (16%), depression (16%), unsafe neighborhoods (15%), gun-related injuries (14%), chemicals in the environment (13%), asthma (11%), autusm (10%), suicide (9), and sleep difficulties (8%).

Each year, the National Poll on Children’s Health takes the public ‘pulse’ regarding child health issues, as a way to help set program priorities in medicine and public health and help officials see whether messages about specific health risks for children are reaching the public.

Recent Reports

-Most parents unaware of medical research opportunities for their kids-- http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/reports/researchopp.htm

-Few parents enforce shower before pool rules that prevent illness from water parks-- http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/reports/watersafety.htm

Bariatric surgery for teens? Most parents say no-- http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/reports/bariatric.htm

To read the full report, please visit: http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/081511toptenreport.pdf

National Youth Anti-Drug Update--New School Year, New Opportunities--Engaging Teens with “Above the Influence”

In the past and next few weeks, nearly 15 million teenagers will head back to school, carrying excitement, trepidation, and expectations of a successful academic year. The start of a new school year presents a multitude of opportunities to engage the teens in your community and help them get the school year started on the right foot.

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign offers the “Above the Influence” (ATI) Activity Toolkit to help community group leaders engage teens in a dialogue about the negative effects of substance use and other risky behaviors. The ATI Activity Toolkit is a free, user-friendly resource with activities and discussion guides that will help build teens’ understanding of influence and ways to stay above it. The toolkit and supporting activity materials are available for download at www.TheAntiDrug.com/Resources/youth_resources.aspx .

Youth serving organizations across the country – including Drug Free Community coalitions, Boys & Girls Clubs, SADD Chapters, Y’s, and others – have embraced the ATI Activity Toolkit resources and activities, which work well with their existing programming. The activities outlined in the toolkit make it easy for community leaders to apply ATI messages in the work they are already doing to provide teens the foundation they need to stay safe and succeed.

The toolkit activities include:

-Influence Discussion. After viewing the ATI influence videos, teens engage in a discussion about the influences in their lives – positive and negative, healthy and unhealthy. The discussion guide challenges them to think critically about the adverse effects of drug use and the potential negative influences surrounding them in their social and media environments.

-“Tag It.” This activity increases teens’ awareness of the negative influences in their environment by asking them to identify (or “tag”) the negative influence they are above.

-Teen Expressions Art Project. This activity asks teens to pull from inspirations in their own lives to create visual expressions of the Above the Influence symbol using the Above the Influence logo template (included in the toolkit).

The ATI Activity Toolkit also provides ways to keep teens, stakeholders and the wider community engaged beyond the activities, and examples from partners who have successfully implemented ATI.

An independent evaluation of these ATI youth activities, which has been underway since the Fall of 2010, found that 91 percent of teen participants favorably rate the ATI activities and teens’ perceptions of the risks associated with drug and alcohol use also increased after participating in ATI activities. Community leaders are invited to use these resources as designed or as a guide for developing their own strategies and tactics in addressing issues of influence, peer pressure, and risky behaviors. Youth-serving organizations may also want to help teens build on their leadership skills and abilities to be positive influences for each other by allowing them to lead groups of teens through the activities.

To bring “Above the Influence” to your community, feel free to access the Campaign’s toolkit resources and activities as a guide for developing your own strategies and tactics in addressing issues of influence, peer pressure, and risky behaviors. To download the ATI toolkit, please visit: www.TheAntiDrug.com/resources/youth_resources.aspx.

For additional questions regarding the toolkit, please e-mail [log in to unmask].

The Media Campaign also offers a variety of resources - including FREE customizable ads, brochures, and CD-ROMs - to help community groups and parents address the abuse of drugs and alcohol and other risky behaviors with any of their teens. Please visit www.TheAntiDrug.com/Resources to download materials or place your order.

For more information on the ONDCP National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, visit http://www.mediacampaign.org/.

SOURCE: The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, August 22, 2011

National Association of School Psychologists Announces 9/11 Anniversary web page with Resources for School Staff and Families--Including Handouts Translated into Spanish and Arabic

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) offers the brief information below to support parents, educators, and other caregivers helping children understand the many facets of the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.

It is important to remember those who died, honor those who keep the country safe, and reflect on the country’s resilience. Some children and adolescents may experience or re-experience strong feelings related to the attacks because of their personal circumstances. Adults can help them process their reactions in a healthy way.

You can also take this opportunity to foster children’s resilience and coping skills, and to help them see themselves as a positive force in their world, despite adversity.