Moultonborough Taking Action (MTA) Initiatives
Community
· Spring Into Action - is usually held in May at Moultonborough Academy’s sports fields. MTA and Moultonborough Police Department collaborate to hold a fun, informative and successful Spring Into Action event to highlight and promote the making of healthy choices for the entire community.Participants enjoy a free barbecue while browsing informational tables and exhibits (by Moultonborough Academy students). The Moultonborough PD K-9 Unit is on hand to provide demonstrations of K-9commands and usage, the PD also provide Fatal Vision Goggles, which simulate alcohol impairment. Students have an
opportunity to drive a golf cart and/or attempt a sobriety test while wearing the goggles. Also present is the New Hampshire DUI Mobile Command Center Vehicle, Moultonborough Fire Department who demonstrate the Jaws of Life, and in the past the “Convincer” was on hand for community members who wanted to feel first hand what a head on car impact may be like. New Hampshire DEA agent Lisa Remick is on hand to share information with parents and youth about substance abuse and prevention efforts in New Hampshire. Moultonborough Police Department and the MTA Coalition also sponsor a highly successful Bike Rodeo for students in grades 3 – 6, with the assistance of MCCycle of Laconia. Activities include a bike obstacle course, free bike safety checks, demonstration bikes and helmets awarded to young bicycle enthusiasts who were in need of that important safety gear. All of the athletes (including the visiting teams) were treated to a great afternoon of music, food and community.
· Project Monitor - Any community member can call the Project Monitor anonymous tipline (476-5528) to report in advance a party at which alcohol or drugs will be served to minors. Project Monitor is designed to prevent underage drinking and illegal use of drugs by being proactive before an event actually occurs. The Coalition assists in the promoting of this ongoing program with the Police Department.
· Chem-Free Events - As part of the ongoing mission to provide healthy choices and provide a safe environment MTA sponsors a variety of chem free events. These events encourage healthy choices, foster a peer norm that includes fun without use of alcohol or drugs and provides youth and adults alike with support of a caring and involved community.
MTA is currently making plans for upcoming prevention activities, which may include launching a student youth to youth program, youth leadership trainings, lock-ins, parent nights, dodgeball tournament, community barbeques along with our after-prom event, and Spring Into Action.
Parent
- Parent Forums - MTA in collaboration with Moultonborough Police Department began hosting parent forums this year. The effort of the parent forums was designed to make sure participating parents are informed and ready to effectively communicate with their children about everyday issues their children are facing. These dynamic and informative presentations allow parents to not only learn about different issues but they also get detailed facts or statistics about issue, they have opportunities to ask questions and gain some helpful tips for when they are ready to talk with their child. The more educated and informed parents are about particular issues the more empowered they become when addressing touchy issues with their teens. We are hopeful to hold parent forums on drugs and alcohol, bullying, sexting and hosting
underage drinking parties.
· Lock It Up! - Lock it up! is a campaign Moultonborough Taking Action (MTA) is beginning this year, this campaign encourages parents to be pro-active in denying youth access to alcohol and prescriptive drugs in the home. Substance abuse is one of the most pressing issues in communities across America. It is important to raise awareness about this problem that continues to affect our nation’s youth.
The Lock it Up! Campaign is a two-part campaign that encourages community members to discuss underage drinking with young people and secure and/or monitor amounts of their alcohol in an effort to prevent easy access to it. The No. 1 source of alcohol for underage drinkers is their family members and friends. Denying access to both, regardless ofsource, is critical to reducing unhealthy or dangerous use.
Parents should talk to their children early and often about use of alcohol and other drugs, setting clear, firm and consistent expectations.
· Safe Homes - In a continued effort to maintain dependable, safe locations for our youth to spend their time free from drugs and alcohol, and to give parents the peace of mind that they need when they send their children out the door, the MTA coalition provides the Safe Homes network program. When parents agree to the SafeHomes pledge they are stating that they will actively supervise all gatherings of youth in their home or on their property. Signing the Safe Homes pledge provides parents with an excellent tool and opportunity to discuss theirf amily’s views and attitudes towards underage
drinking, substance use and other safe behaviors with their children. SafeHomes provides resources to parents/guardians to help send a clear message to all youth that there will be no use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by youth in the community. Currently, 80 Moultonborough families are participating in this program with additional pledges trickling in all thetime. This program has shown proven effectiveness and is used nationwide.
Students
· After-Prom - We know from experience that chem-free events provide a safe, alcohol and drug free alternative for discretionary time for youth. Research shows that more than one-third of youth under the age of 21 killed in alcohol-related fatalities died during the months of April, May and June - prom and graduation season - according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA). Heightened focus on fighting underage drinking, particularly at
prom-graduation time, is critical. That is why MTA considers our Chem-FreeAfter Prom Party one of the more important events it hosts.
MTA has planned and implemented three successful After-Prom parties following the Junior/Senior Prom in May 2008,2009, 2010. MTA has been hosting this event in an effort to provide MA students with a safe, fun and chem.-free end to an already memorable night.
· Lock Ins - Boredom is the number one answer given by youth when asked why they decide to drink or use drugs. Chem-free events provide a safe, alcohol and drug free alternative for discretionary time for youth. In an effort to bring awareness and alternative activities to the students and parents of Moultonborough, MTA teams up with the Moultonborough Police Dept. and Moultonborough Recreation Dept. for an annual Lock-In.
The Lock-In provides numerous activities for students to participate in throughout the night, allowing them to socialize, play and help to engage them in the ideat hat chem-free events are a viable alternative when it comes to prom andgraduation. Previous Lock-Ins co-sponsored by MTA and the Recreation Dept. have been very successful in building student participation in the After-Prom parties.
· Red Ribbon Week - During the last week in October, Moultonborough Taking Action (MTA) helps Moultonborough Academy (MA) celebrate Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America. In the past, to help celebrate this week, MTA has hosted student luncheons,
brought in special anti-drug/anti-alcohol speaker/performers, hosted assemblies and organized a red ribbon formation for the students.
Also, for Red Ribbon Week, Stephens Landscaping assist MTA in planting over 150 tulip bulbs in front of MA for the “Plant the Promise”campaign. “Plant the Promise” is one of the nationwide themes for Red Ribbon Week, it is a promise to abstain from alcohol and drugs. The tulips will bloom in April, which is Alcohol Awareness Month.The tulips will act as a reminder for our students to not make destructive decisions, be kind to people, be proactive with your time, and to see the beauty of life when it is drug free.”
· Youth Risk Behavior Survey - MTA Coalition coordinates the bi-annual administration of the Youth Risk Survey (YRBS) and follow up dissemination of results. The NH Department of Educationand NH Division of Public Health sponsor this research. The research survey is completely anonymous and has been proven to be an effective tool in measuring youth attitudes about health and their healthy behaviors. The purpose of the YRBS data collection is
threefold: 1) to focus statewide and local efforts on behaviors that are causing the most important health problems for youth; 2) to assess how risk behaviors change over time and track the efficacy of prevention, intervention and treatment programs targeting behaviors; and 3) to provide really useful and comparable data. The data assists the Coalition in seeking funding and directing its’ efforts where most needed. This survey was last taken Spring 2011.
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