Marquette, MI - News Detail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact Information:
Project W.E.A.V.E.
2111 Co. Rd. 554
Marquette, Michigan
(906) 226 – 2150
projectweaveglrc@hotmail.com

Youth Advisory Committee Creates Influential Placemats

According to the National Institute for Alcohol Addiction, children who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop problems with drinking compared to those who begin at 21. Project WEAVE's Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) are a group of teen leaders who help to create awareness and education about substance-abuse concerns and offer alternative activities for area teens. The YAC recently received a $2,500 mini-grant provided by the Prevention Network, which is funded through the Michigan Department of Community Health/Office of Drug Control Policy and Michigan State Police, Office of Highway Safety Planning. The teens used the funds to develop placemats that were circulated around area restaurants including Bonanza, Sherri's, Vangos and Walstroms.

The placemats focus on the issue of underage drinking and include local and national statistics that will assist with informing local residents, parents and teens alike, about the problems our community faces with underage drinking. "In researching information we learned that underage alcohol abuse is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined" says Mara, a Marquette youth member. The best approach is just to be open with teens about drugs and alcohol. "It's statistically proven that talking to your kids every once in a while about drugs and alcohol will help prevent them from substance abuse in the future", states Chace, an Ishpeming youth member. The placemat has fun facts and entertaining word games as well as a powerful message written by a teen from their personal experience with alcohol. These alcohol awareness placemats also include contact information for parents and teens seeking help.

Liz Smith, Project WEAVE Director, is so proud of the efforts of the youth members. "It takes everyone's skills and abilities to brainstorm ideas to address youth substance use, prepare a grant proposal, coordinate activities with community members, evaluate the effectiveness of the project and keep our youth motivated, excited and encouraged. At one meeting, we had two youth on the telephone contacting area restaurants requesting permission to use our placements, two youth designing the layout and graphics, one youth researching local and state statistics about underage drinking and two youth working on the grant proposal. It really was a team effort. There is also a brief survey to help the YAC evaluate the content of the underage drinking placemat.

Reclaiming Futures, Project W.E.A.V.E. (Willingness to Explore Alternatives that Validate and Embrace Youth) is a national demonstrate site of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Project WEAVE assists agencies in developing and enhancing expeditious referral and treatment options for juvenile justice youth with substance abuse issues. We are partnering with the courts, treatment facilities, schools, law enforcement agencies and community to meet the urgent needs of these young people in our juvenile justice system. Project WEAVE helps to expand and improve substance abuse treatment services through mentoring, job coaching and enhanced public service that engages local residents and leaders and builds on the strengths of youth and families.

To get involved or learn more, please call, Project WEAVE at (906) 226-2150.

Click here to see a PDF of the placemat.