Description:
Work with school personnel, high school students and concerned community members to promote a safe and chemical-free community.

Duties:
Various -- Work with kids to help them implement safe and affordable activities that THEY want. Work with school personnel and police to review consequences for chemical violations (most parents want them to be more strigent). Be on a grant writing committee. Parent Information and Support -- organize informal parent meetings in homes to discuss the topics that are your current concerns i.e. curfew, dating, driving, smoking, alcohol, parties, marijuana use. Plan more formal parent meetings at school for parents of kids going into middle school and high school. Arrange for speakers that parents would be interested in hearing. Promote parent networking and communication by having a Parent Communication Directory, which is not just a phone directory, but also a listing of parents who agree to actively supervise parties in their homes and who promise not to allow chemicals at parties. Pick what interests you and go for it!

Time needed:
It's up to you. Just go to monthly meetings to give your opinions and insight or start a newsletter for parents about parenting topics.

Characteristics/skills needed:
Computer skills--Can use a computer to organize a project.
Creativity--Ability to develop new and interesting ideas.
Dependability--Can be counted on to complete tasks.
Flexibility--Can work with all kinds of people and adjust to changes in a plan.
Organization--Can make a logical order out of many competing interests.
Resourcefulness--Finds inventive ways to complete a project.
Secretarial skills--Keeps track of records, events, and meetings.

Helpful tools:
When doing a newsletter, knowing someone that does desk-top publishing is a must!

Lifespan of committee:
Ongoing

Personal benefits:
Rich rewards of knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of your kids and all teens in your community.

Involving the kids:
Essential for the coalition. You need their input and ideas. They know better than we do about what kids want. They are also a wealth of information about prevelance of drug use at school, etc.

Other comments or suggestions:
This effort is very much needed in every school district. Most parents are in denial about the fact that their children will probably at some point be involved in tobacco, alcohol, other drugs and sex!