We have received much positive feedback by Washtenaw County
residents regarding the prevention billboard posted off I94W. The billboard was
seen by a great number of drivers heading westbound on I94 before the Rawsonville
Exit during the months of August and parts of September. The billboards artwork
was created by Cindy Wegryn and her team from U of M’s C.S. Mott Children’s
Hospital, Pediatric Trauma Program. We are working to secure the health and
safety of our children by joining the national efforts to reduce underage
drinking.
Originally designed as a poster for the 2009 Safe Prom
Initiative, the poster caught the eye of many youth, parents and high school
faculty members. One of Huron High school counselors, Brain Williams, thought that
poster would make a great freeway billboard for locals to see during the
summer.
Given we love a challenge and a great idea, we looked
further into the possibilities. Faced with the challenge of shrinking
prevention dollars, the director of Clean Teens, Justin Bishop, contacted Adams
Outdoor Advertising to see if they could help make this idea a reality. Bottom
line, they wanted to help, and their help made it happen. The company
representative, Kimberly VanDeCreek, worked hard to finalize the finished
product.
It seems when prevention creates an effective positive
health and safety BUZZ in the community, the alcohol industry has the means to compensate
with their deep pockets. We bring this up because a beer company, we would
rather not name, bought the billboard sign immediately after the sign above was
removed.
Washtenaw County Community Partnership
is a nonprofit, state licensed, substance abuse prevention organization, that has served youth, parents, schools and neighborhoods with comprehensive substance abuse prevention/intervention programs and activities.
Since 2001, Clean Teens programs have helped strengthen many families while collaborating efforts to promote safe and healthy neighborhoods.
The organizations mission is to delay, deter, and/or eliminate adolescent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use/abuse and problematic behavior in the context of educational and intervention programming.
You can teach an adolescent a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.
We hope that our web site can serve as a resource to support your prevention and intervention needs at home, your child's school and in your community. We furthermore hope that our web site can increase attention to the great need for substance abuse prevention programs and activities in our community.
Each page contains links to helpful information resources and details on the substance abuse prevention and intervention services we provide for youth, parents, and high schools. If you should not find the information you seek, please email your questions/comments to cleanteens@aol.com
My Strong Willed Out of Control Teen
How much longer will you tolerate the dishonesty & disrespect?
How many more arguments will you endure?
Have you wasted a lot of time & energy trying to make your child change?
If yes, We may be of serivce to you - Click here for more information.
Federal initiative urges parents to "Start Talking before They Start Drinking”
Information on the town hall meetings and the Start Talking Before They Start Drinking initiative is available at or call 1-800-729-6686. To learn more or to get information about the short and long-term consequences of underage drinking, including tips for parents on initiating conversations about alcohol, visit or call 1-800-729-6686. The Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act
Nearly 1,200 town hall meetings convened around the nation in 2006 as part of a national campaign to prevent underage drinking. Town hall meetings were to increase community dialog as part of a national strategy spearheaded by a Federal Inter agency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, chaired by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with state and local agencies and organizations. Meetings were held in all 50 states, four territories, and the District of Columbia.
Clean Teens received a federal grant from SAHMSA to join this national effort and to spearhead a local response with a team of community organizations and decision makers from Washtenaw County. Over 20 nonprofit organizations and a number of local volunteers helped to increase their communities awareness of the concerning increase underage drinking. The collaborative team of nonprofits, students and parents hosted a series of 6 Town Hall Meetings with a panel of experts from each community. Over 180
Information on the town hall meetings and the Start Talking Before They Start Drinking initiative is available at www.stopalcoholabuse.gov or call 1-800-729-6686. To learn more or to get information about the short and long-term consequences of underage drinking, including tips for parents on initiating conversations about alcohol, visit www.stopalcohlabuse.gov or call 1-800-729-6686.
The Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act was introduced in the House and Senate on July 21 and 22, 2006. The principal sponsors of the House bill are Congresswomen Lucille Roybal Allard and Rosa DeLauro and Congressmen Tom Osborne, Zach Wamp and Frank Wolf. The principal sponsors of the Senate bill are Senators Mike DeWine and Christopher Dodd. These bills are a bi-cameral, bi-partisan effort that represents an important step in our nations efforts to combat underage alcohol use and abuse. For more information click here.
