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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:
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- Berkshire
- Chardon
- Cardinal
- Kenston
- Chagrin
Falls
- Ledgemont
- West
Geauga
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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
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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.
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