PARKS OFFICIALS LEARN HOW TO HELP KEEP KIDS OFF DRUGS
ARDY FRIEDBERG, Education WriterSUN-SENTINEL
Plantation is one of 20 cities chosen from 41 applicants statewide for a drug prevention program sponsored by the Florida Recreation and Park Association.
A dozen city recreation workers attended a one-day, state-sponsored seminar last week to discuss ways sports programs can be used to discourage drug and alcohol abuse among young people.
"I was impressed with the way the information was handled and feel the program has great potential," Parks and Recreation Director Vaughn Black said. "It's good to know that people recognize what we've found over and over, that kids are open and receptive to information when they're relaxed and having a good time."
North Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Wilton Manors and Miramar, and the Broward County Parks and Recreation Department also were selected for the program.
In North Lauderdale, 28 members of the recreation staff and two police officers attended.
"The state has done a lot of research on drug problems and new ways to promote our activities for children," said Mimi Mannion, North Lauderdale's assistant recreation director. "The idea is to give kids something positive to do in their free time."
Fran Mainella, executive director of the park association, said Florida is the only state offering this type of program. If it proves successful, it could be used nationally, she said.
"Parks and recreation can play a major role working with the total child," Mainella said. "We work with young people's well-being, teaching them the skills necessary not to be involved in drugs."
The seminar, conducted by Rosemary Prince of the park association, reviewed the kinds of drugs available on the street and the physical and emotional reactions children have to them, Black said.
"We talked about the symptoms of drug use, about how kids withdraw from old friends and join up with new groups, and how to work with parents whose kids may be involved with drugs," he said.
The city's recreation programs serve about 1,500 young people ages 5 to 17 each year, Black said. Summer recreation programs attract about 800 youngsters.
"It's hard to assess the extent of the problem here," Black said. "We probably end up seeing kids who don't need the help. We want to try to get youngsters involved in our programs who aren't involved now."
But drug and alcohol treatment programs for youngsters are not the responsibility of the city, Black said.
"We certainly want people to understand that we aren't in the business of handling psychological and mental problems, but we are in the position to give guidance to youngsters and parents on where to find help."
Black said he and his staff discussed ways to include drug awareness in their current programs.
"It wasn't new programs but redirection, the use of subtle means to get kids to recognize the problem, and talk to them when they need the help," he said.
"Out of fear or embarrassment, they may want information but are afraid to ask for it. We're looking for ways to encourage them to come to us for help so we can refer them to an appropriate program or refer the program to the youngster."