Geauga Mental Health Association
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  Teen Institute
 

 

Ohio Teen Institute is the oldest positive peer prevention program in the United States. With support from dedicated alcohol and drug professionals and educators across the state, Ohio’s Teen Institute program has touched thousands of young lives here in Ohio. Over 300 students per year are involved with Teen Institute groups in 15 high schools in Lake and Geauga Counties. The following Geauga schools host Teen Institute groups:

 

  • Berkshire
  • Chardon
  • Cardinal
  • Kenston
  • Chagrin Falls
  • Ledgemont
  • West Geauga
.

Teen Institute (TI) for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse is a teen peer-prevention program. In this program, teens are taught about drug and alcohol abuse and how to do prevention projects in their schools and the community. Ohio Teen Institute is the oldest and largest peer-prevention program in the country. In 1982, TI was established in all seven public high schools in Geauga County.

TI has a clear and strong no use message for its members. Many of the TI trainings and projects are done on a countywide basis with students from all over the county participating. The TI year kicks off with a face painting booth at the Great Geauga County Fair. The TI students paint faces, pass out literature about substance abuse, and explain to kids and parents why they are involved in Teen Institute.

The big training for new TI members occurs for three days in November at Camp Burton. The first evening is spent in team building. The second day is learning about substance abuse and its effects on the individual, family and society. The third day is involved in learning how to do prevention projects in schools and community.

Other TI events include a dance and social event that demonstrate to the students that it is possible to have fun without the use of drugs and alcohol. A spring training provides additional training for those involved in Teen Institute. TI students serve as drug free role models and youth staff for an education program for seventh graders called Challenges and Decisions.

Some prevention projects completed by Teen Institute students include performing skits, talking to elementary students, helping run Red Ribbon Week activities, and participating in Prom Promise activities. Based on research, peer education is a promising approach in substance abuse prevention. Research suggests that well-trained peer educators may be more effective than classroom teachers and other adults in delivering prevention messages.

For over twenty years Teen Institute has been spreading the message that it is OK to be drug and alcohol free and doing prevention activities in the schools and community.


Chardon Community Action Team Report - April 2008

28 high school and middle school students picked up cigarette butts around the middle school, high school and football stadium on April 2nd. It was the Teen Institute project for Kick Butts Day, a national youth advocacy campaign. They presented a huge trash bag filled with these butts to the Chardon School Board at their April meeting. They requested that Board revise the tobacco policy to include no smoking on the entire campus, not just in the buildings. Superintendent Bergant was supportive and asked the students to return in May.

Ten 7th grad Teen Institute students attended the annual multi-county Challenges and decision program April 9th and 10th, and five 8th grad Teen Institute students participated in the Golden Ticket to Life program, April 10th and 11th. The 14 students learned a lot they will share with other Teen Institute members and with all the Chardon middle school students. Chardon High School members are planning a multi-county spring retreat which will be held at Chardon High School April 25th and 26th. They are also going to teach the American Cancer Society's STAMP curriculum to Hambden 5th graders in may.

Teen Institute members face painted at Maple School's Carnival, April 12th and will be face painting at the annual KidsFest on April 26th.

Tobacco Coalition

The Coalition will be holding a Legislative Breakfast, Friday morning May 2nd. Although the Lake Geauga Ashtabula Counties Tobacco Prevention Coalition received grant funding for fiscal year 2009, Governor Strickland wants to divert most of the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation's funds to other area and the future funding for Coalition's is in doubt.

Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall Meeting

CCAT's Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall Meeting was held Mar 18th. Approximately 50 participants heard an excellent panel discuss the issue of underage drinking. GTV taped the presentation. We are waiting for the results of the Communities That Care Survey taken by 6th through 12th graders in all Geauga County School. Since the same survey was given in 2006, we have a benchmark to compare it to. The future direction of some of our efforts may depend on these results.

Teen Institute members were instrumental in raising awareness for the recent "Harvest for Hunger" food drive at their school. With Teen Institute's encouragement, fellow students donated more thatn 700 pounds of food to the local food pantry.


 
 

Teen Institute
Geauga Educational Service Center
470 Center Street
Building 2
Chardon, Ohio 44024
(440)440-279-1706
FAX (440)286-7106

Hours

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


Wally Waldbauer, Coordinator