Ways YOU can get involved
Many Rice County community members want to know how they can get involved to help make a difference in reducing youth substance use in the community.
There are many efforts underway that could really use your help! Most do not take a lot of time, don’t require money, and don’t need special skills. You CAN make a difference. Here are a couple suggestions…
- Talk with your child or adolescent. And then, listen, without interrupting, to what they have to say to you (Some parents have found that one of the best times to have a good conversation with an adolescent is when riding together in a car in the evening. Maybe it’s something about the lack of interruptions, not needing to make eye contact, the hum of the road…).
- Parents, talk to the parents or guardians of your child’s friends. Get to know them. Check out their expectations for their child or for other kids visiting their home. Go ahead, make the call. It’s a good thing for parents to talk with each other.
- Set up an opportunity for parents/youth service providers/others to learn more about identifying and responding to youth substance use. Local drug and alcohol counselors and law enforcement are willing to come talk to groups. Contact the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition at 507-664-3524 (Northfield) or at 507-333-6813 (Faribault) for more information.
- Volunteer to help drive youth to outpatient treatment/aftercare. Throughout the community, transportation problems can become a huge barrier in to the treatment process. Contact the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition at 507-333-6813 for more information.
- Be a good example for youth by modeling appropriate behavior. Remember that kids learn how to be responsible adults and citizens by watching those around them. Let’s show our young people how to be the best they can be.
- Consider applying to become a member of the Northfield Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol & Drug Use. Click HERE for more information or to access an application.
- Volunteer with the Coalition’s court monitoring program, which focuses on cases where adults are charged with providing alcohol to minors (the ZAP program) and cases where drugs have been sold. Contact 507-664-3524 or 507-333-6813 for more information.
- Share what you know and love – mentor a child or youth. Sign up through the Mentoring Coalition - there are youth waiting for mentors through each of the local mentoring programs. Mentoring is a research-based best practice found to reduce the likelihood of a young person becoming involved in drug and alcohol use.
- Volunteer with a faith community youth group
- Become Girl Scout or Boy Scout volunteer
- Help out with other youth organizations in the community
- Become a mentor or buddy for another family or for other parents. Many of us have benefited from some good advice and a helping hand from someone who’s walked a bit in our shoes and understands that all families face struggles from time to time. Now may be your opportunity to give back and help support another family as you have been helped before.
- Open the door to a relationship with kids in your neighborhood. Get to know their names. Recognize them and say hello when you meet. Let them know that you see the positive things that they do and that you appreciate them as good neighbors and community members.
- Need help at your business or in just cleaning out the garage? Consider hiring a young person. Our community has very few employment opportunities for the high numbers of adolescents who really want to work- both to learn, to have something to do and to make a little money.
- Find opportunities to meet and get to know your child’s friends.
- Get involved with one of the Chemical Health Coalition Action Teams or with one of the partners. Call 507-333-6813 or 507-664-3524.
- For additional Northfield-specific opportunities, call Northfield Healthy Community Initiative at 645-4477 for more information or click on this link http://northfieldhci.org/partners/drugtf/get-involved/
