FREEHOLD – In just one hour – and in the comfort of their own homes – parents can gain an understanding of current drug-use trends and have the tools to develop personalized, practical action plans to keep their children safe from drugs. 

Free, one-hour Webinar sessions at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on March 24 are designed to help parents with awareness of juvenile drug use and provide them with resources if they find themselves in need of support.  Additionally, a team of county’s Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services staff will be on-hand to respond to online questions from participants. 

Registration in advance of the event must be completed with the Webinar facilitator at www.parentingwpurpose.net

“I understand the challenges of busy schedules and working to meet the demands of home, work and family,” Freeholder Amy Mallet, liaison to the county’s Department of Human Services and the parent of two young adults said. “It is often difficult to juggle all those demands and attend workshops that provide quality information about raising children.  This Webinar eliminates travel time to a meeting, provides a learning environment and allows parents to be at home.”

“Our staff has witnessed a trend of decreasing attendance at parents’ nights and community events,” said James A. Wallace Jr., county Municipal Alliance Coordinator of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. “County staff have also heard parents express the need for solid, practical advice on the drug abuse issues directly from experts.

“This Webinar event meets community needs, and the county’s objective is to engage community members with powerful strategies to keep our children drug free,” Wallace said.  “The Internet is one more tool in the county’s outreach efforts.” 

Fact: By 12th grade almost 50 percent of children will have tried some form of an illicit drug with more than 22 percent reporting to have used an illicit drug in the last month (NIDA 2008, Monitoring the Future report).

The Webinar will include keynote speaker Fran Miceli, a recognized expert in alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment. Miceli will share a practical action plan with parents that appropriately address the tough situations when talking may not be enough. 

“Parents often assume it is not their child or hope an issue may take care of itself,” Miceli said. “But, the No. 1 job of parenting is safety, and having an action plan in place is critical. If a parent is interested in practical guidance regarding substance abuse we hope they join. It just may be the best investment of time they make all year.”

The opportunity for parents to get this information in the privacy and convenience of their home or office makes this event worth attending.

For more information, contact Debra Stone at dstone@parentingwpurpose.net  or log on to www.parentingwpurpose.net 

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