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School Programs to have ambivalent ideas about what is acceptable chemical use and many citizens avoid seeing problems School-Community Cooperation they do not know how to solve. The discussion that can be generated by information may begin to break The distribution of information about v:hemical use the conspiracy of silence surrounding alcohol. abuse. and abuse is an important step in the education and St. Anthony's unique metropolitan location and small size is conducive to this kind of cooperation and increased awareness that can be the impetus for communication. Hopefully some of these ideas may be prevention, intervention, treatment and aftercare. adaptable to your own school and community. Cooperation between schools and the surrounding community can increase the scope of our professional Evelyn Holthus. CCDP outreach into many areas. Chemical Use/Abuse Coordinator Counselor Approximately six years ago in St. Anthony Village, St. Anthony a group of citizens, in reaction to a situation that included adolescents and chemical use, went to the School Board and the City Council asking for "someone to do something!" The City Council responded by forming a task force consisting of representatives from varied aspects of village life to define the Across the State problem and offer any solutions. The task force was diligent with its assignment and the St. Anthony Schools in Minnesota are alive and well. Many, like Chemical Abuse Information Committee was formed. Detroit Lakes. are taking another look at policies that were developed to minimize drug use problems Since the school was the logical place to reach the and revising them. Periodic reviews and revisions of adolescent population the committee was influential policies and procedures means that they are being used in beginning Teen Age Health Consultants, a peer and are functional. Many school districts across the counseling and referral group. Funding was shared by state are working on prevention curriculum development. . the school and the city along with other community Places like Buffalo, Osseo, Spring Grove, Anoka and service organizations. The schools also responded Robinsdale. just to mention a few of the many. Student to the state's request for a chemical use policy and assistance programs and employee assistance programs many of the typical prevention, intervelftion, and are in place in many of the schools. Peer training support systems were implemented. and programs are springing up all over from Fairmont to Monticello to North Branch and beyond. A variety The. cooperation has continued between the St. Anthony of groups offered to students are happening in Schools and city government. The St. Anthony Chemical elementary and secondary schools in places like Wayzata, *buse Information Committee has evolved into an St. Anthony, Minneapolis, Moundsview. and Red Wing appointed committee (four appointees by the School again to mention just a few of the many. Board and four by the Citv Council), with the School District Chemical Use/Abuse Coordinator and the Chief Cooperation between community agencies and schools is of Police as liaisons to the respective gove ming continuing to happen in places like Bemidji, Roseville, bodies. Minutes are distributed to the City Council, and Moundsview. the School Board and administrators, and to the school parent groups. The Committee communicating Parents, community and schools will be working even with all of the above can act as an outreach into the more cooperatively as a result of the Chemical People: community so the problems being addressed are being Minnesota. As part of this effort the results of a addressed from several directions. The City Council statewide survey of student drug use in Minnesota will provides budgeted funding and the School Board be shared. provides professional assistance from the coordinator. The COMMitLee is an action-oriented committee; it The state aid program will be continued this year. not only generates ideas but implements them as well. The 1983-84 amount is $1.05 per student or $1,050.00 minimum per district. An increase in the amount In the past three years the Committee has worked with during a time of cutback indicates the continued all of the local service organizations, offering support for the excellent programs that have developed programming and pamphlets on chemical use issues. It in Minnesota's schools. has enlisted the aid of the' librarv, the Apache Plaza merchants. the churches. League of Women Voters, It is important for all of us working in schools to Community Services and the police to distribute keep current and share with each other what is �pamphlets, books and cards with the phone numbers of working. One way to do that sharing is to attend the helping agencies. The health professional offices in, 9th Annual Program Sharing Workshop, Nov. 30 and the community have been supplied with reading Dec. 1, 1983 at St. Cloud State University. The material about alcoholism and pamphlets on AA, Alanon, workshop is sponsored by the Department of Education, and Alateen. A brochure was developed for the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center and St. Cloud distribution in the municipal liquor stores entitled. State University. For more information, call "Enjoy, Have a Safe and Sane Party". The brechure (612) 297-3913. contains ideas on responsible hosting and use allong With laws about drinking and driving. Much has been and is being done, so that young people can make choices regarding their chemical use and Wer the vears it has become evident that far more non-use and thereby move closer to living satisfying, eople cari be reached if the program or information product'ive and rewarding lives. is Laken to already formed prouos or p.laces where persons vcu want to ieach generaliv congregate. Jean Funk Pruvertion is an illusiv� cvimmoditv but it caa bcgin Drug Education Specialist WiLh 0,:r ,u;�;ir-. W(. secrr MN State Department of Educat,on