07/29/19: Parents and youth came together to participate in a Community Event, which was planned by families who have completed the EYFP program during cohort 2 and cohort 3. The event featured a welcome by our County Extension Director, Molly Alexi, a Proclamation for the Town of Troy delivered by Mayor Sherri Allgood, comments by Sheriff Chris Watkins and educational sessions for youth and adults from the Poe Health Education Center.
Helping parents and youth learn the risks of substance abuse, how to identify warning signs, and adopt skills to resist harmful behavior were the goals for the event, which was held at Sweet Tee Grille. Following the program, families were able to enjoy pizza and family pool time to increase family bonding, which research shows is a protective factor against substance misuse.
One parent stated, “Wow. Things sure have changed since I was a teen. This really opened my eyes to some warning signs. I know things to look for now that I didn’t know before – that’s for sure!”.
One youth stated, “There are kids at my school who do things every day that teachers don’t know about. There’s a lot of pressure at school. I think what I learned will help me when I go back in a couple weeks”.
