PROTECTING OUR KIDS...INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE

PROTECTING OUR KIDS.....INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE

Like many organizations in this economy, our grant funding is disappearing....please support this vital work by donating!

Donations of any amount are tax deductible and much appreciated.

You can mail or drop off a check, payable to the City of Melrose, to Jen Kelly at the Health Dept (address above).

Please don't hesitate to contact Jen if you have any questions!

UPCOMING MEETINGS - ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Coalition meets monthly, 1st Thursday, 8:30am-9:30am, Superintendent's Conference Room at Melrose High School (360 Lynnfells Parkway, Melrose, MA).  All are encouraged to attend so mark your calendars!

• March 7
• April 4
• May 2
• June 6
• Want to become a member?  Or want to browse meeting agendas, minutes, or Action Team information? Visit the Coalition Members' page.

CURRENT HAPPENINGS

DON'T FORGET TO CLEAN OUT YOUR MEDICINE CABINET
National Medication Take-Back Day - April 28th, 2012,                                               Turn your unused or expired medication for safe disposal 24 hours a day 7 days a week!  Collection site at Melrose Police Department (56 West Foster St).

• Click here for Take Back Q+A.

ARE YOU RAISING A CHILD BETWEEN THE AGES OF 9-14?  If so, Guiding Good Choices is for you!  For more information, CLICK HERE!

• Interested in signing up this Spring 2012?  5 workshop series begins soon!  Contact mripley@cityofmelrose.org or 781-979-4130, to register.
• ~250 Melrose families have been serviced by this workshop series.
• Thanks to Eastern Bank for the $500 Community Grant we've received once again to continue running this program.

SOCIAL HOST LIABILITY ....what is it?

• Click here to view this local ordinance
• This law gives our Police Department one of the tools they need to hold private homeowners, who are providing alcohol to underage kids, civilly responsible for doing so.
• Click here to access brochure that is being used for outreach to parents and other homeowners!
• Safe Homes

HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE MELROSE POLICE DEPT TIP LINE?

• You are the eyes and ears of your community!!
• Call and report any tips or suspicious activity....Melrose Police Anonymous Tip Line....(781) 665-TIPS (8477)
• **NEW**  anonymous text line. To send a tip, text the word MELROSE and your tip, to 847411 (TIP411).Click here if you're not sure what to report.....

SCREENING, BRIEF INTERVENTION, AND REFERRAL TO TREATMENT (SBIRT)

• In 2007, the Coalition ’s grant funding paid for Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Psychiatric and Emergency department staff to be trained and equipped with the SBIRT tools to address behaviors such as high-risk or dependent drinking and drug use and overcome patients’ resistance to change.A Dec 2008-March 2009 pilot was conducted in the ER.  Currently, the Coalition is collaborating with Hallmark Health to institutionalize this early intervention program.
• For more info on SBIRT, visit http://sbirt.samhsa.gov and www.ed.bmc.org/sbirt.  

PARENTAL PERCEPTION OF YOUTH BEHAVIOR

• The 3rd administration of the Pride survey to Melrose parents and faculty/staff of 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students is complete.
• Results are being compiled and will be posted soon!

2009 YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY (YRBS) RESULTS ARE IN

• 2009 data was presented by the Northeast Center for Healthy Communities and the School Health Advisory Committee to the School Committee in October 2009.  Visit Melrose Public Schools website for the presentation.
• Melrose High School 2009 YRBS results-Executive Summary
• Melrose Middle School 2009 YRBS results-Executive Summary

MARIJUANA HAS BEEN DECRIMINALIZED IN MASSACHUSETTS

• Click here to get more information on what this means.
• Once the Police Department gets their local policies in place, the Coalition will work with them to get the information out to all Melrose residents.

MUST-SEE WEBSITES

For Parents:

www.theantidrug.com

www.jointogether.org

www.stopalcoholabuse.gov

www.why21.org

www.sph.unc.edu/familymatters

www.nida.nih.gov/parent-teacher.html

For Youth:

www.abovetheinfluence.com

www.melrosedrawstheline.com 

www.thecoolspot.gov