November is Military Family Appreciation Month

On October 8, 1919, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation.” The observance of Veterans Day is an opportunity to celebrate America’s veterans for their patriotism, willingness to serve, love of their country, and sacrifice for the common good.¹

In conjunction with Veterans Day, November is also known as Military Family Appreciation Month. Each year the President signs a proclamation marking the beginning of a month-long celebration of the Military Family and the sacrifices and commitment made by the families of the nation’s servicemen and service women.² Community businesses, leaders, and military bases work together to recognizes military families through various events, such as family fun nights, fun runs, community dinners, etc.

This year, there are ways that the Putnam County community is helping Veterans and military families.  The Putnam County Veterans Taskforce is hosting the 2^nd Annual Veterans Legislative Forum on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Bureau of Emergency Service Auditorium located at 112 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY from 9:00 A.M to 12:00 P.M. This is an ideal opportunity to speak to your elected officials or hear about issues facing Veterans such as military sexual trauma, Veteran suicide, Veterans Affairs benefits/healthcare systems, and several more. For more information, please contact Karl Rohde, Director of Putnam County Veterans Service Agency, at 845-808-1620 ext. 46019 or by email at karl.rohde@putnamcountyny.gov.

Additionally, the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity is looking for a military family (or any Putnam County family) to own the third home recently built that is located in Putnam Valley, NY. The applicant(s) must either work or live in Putnam County, be a legal resident of the United States, currently living in substandard housing, willing to provide 500 hours of ‘sweat equity,’ and have a gross annual income of $50, 000 to $70, 000. If you and your family would like to participate in this program, please contact the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity by phone at 845-230-8022 or by email at info@habitatiputnam.org.

The VetCorps Program and the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition would like to thank all Veterans for their dedicated service and all military families for their support and sacrifice for their uniformed service member. If you have any questions or would like more information about the VetCorps Program  or the events discussed above, please contact the Prevention Coordinator, Chauntel Wright, at putnamvetcorp@gmail.com or VetCorps Supervisor, Elaine Santos, at putnamdfcgrantee@gmail.com. Both can be reached by phone at 845-225-4646.

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References

¹ http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

² http://www.military.com/military-family-appreciation-month

The Importance of Family Dinners

Teens that have infrequent family dinners are likelier to smoke, drink, and use marijuana according to the The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia). CASA has been surveying teens for eighteen years.

“Family Day is a national movement to encourage parents to frequently eat dinner with their kids and be involved in their children’s lives. Family Day will be celebrated nationwide this year on Monday, Sept. 22^nd”^, stated Joseph DeMarzo, Coalition Co-Chairperson. According to CASAColumbia’s report The Importance of Family Dinners VII, compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are:  

•          Almost four times likelier to use tobacco

•           More than twice as likely to use alcohol

•          Two-and-a-half times likelier to use marijuana

The report also found that teens that have frequent family dinners are likelier to get better grades in school and to say they have an excellent relationship with their parents.

The CASA Columbia family dinners report reveals that 58 percent of teens report having dinner with their families at least five times a week, a proportion that has remained consistent over the past decade. Having frequent family dinners also encourages healthy family relationships. According to the report, teens that have dinner with their families consistently are:

• One-and-a-half times likelier to report having an excellent relationship with their mother;

• More than twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their father; and
• Almost twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their sibling(s).

“Family meals are the perfect time to have a conversation with your teen. It affords you the opportunity to spend time with your child, talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Parental engagement is the key, as this study proves.” stated Joseph DeMarzo, Coalition Co-Chairperson.

The study also states that teens that have infrequent family dinners have more access to alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs (to get high) than teens who have consistent family dinners with their parents and siblings.

“Having meals, even if they are on the go, with your child gives parents the opportunity to answer questions and recognize that they (the parent) have the power to help keep their children substance free. This is a very powerful study, and the best thing about it is that family dinners are an actionable goal for parents and teens to achieve. It’s not always easy because of busy schedules, but it is doable”, stated Elaine Santos, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Coordinator.

For a FREE Family Dinner Kit please visit: http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/tools-you-can-use/family-dinner-kit/

Members of the Putnam County CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646.

Know! Your Family History and Share it

Most families are well aware and proud to point out the talents and passions that have been passed on from generation to generation (athletic ability, musical gifts, artistic skills, etc.). Most are also well aware of specific health issues that run in the family (cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.), and many are conscientious o not only share such information with their children, but to encourage by example, healthy behavioral choices to avoid them. But how often do people talk about their family’s history of alcohol dependency? And how many of those with family history are aware of the increased risk of younger generations also developing alcohol problems?

While there are a number of factors that determine a person’s risk associated with alcoholism, there is strong evidence that genetics play a role. Does that mean that the child of an alcohol dependent parent is destined to be an alcoholic? Absolutely not; but it does mean that child’s risk for developing a problematic relationship with alcohol is increased.

The biological child of an alcoholic is between four to nine times more likely to develop an alcohol addiction at some point in his/her life. Whether the child is then raised by the alcohol dependent biological parent, an adoptive parent or other caregiver, his/her risk for alcoholism remains nearly the same, with about one in four children of alcoholics
also developing the disease. In cases where the child’s biological family history includes multiple relatives with alcoholism, the risk increases even further.

PARENTS: For children whose family history includes alcohol addiction, there are proactive steps you can take to help reduce their risk of also developing the disease:

Fill them in: Make sure they are aware that alcoholism or problems with alcohol is a part of their family’s health history, just like other diseases that run in families. Let them know that due to the nature of alcoholism and the fact that it is partially genetic, they are at increased risk of developing the disease.

Set the record straight: Children with a family history of alcohol problems need to know that while they may be at increased risk, they are not predestined. In the end, it comes down to the lifestyle choices they make now and down the road.

Empower them: Talk with them about ways they can reduce their risk, like delaying the onset of first use until at least age 21. Youth who chose to drink before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives. For children with a family history of alcoholism, the risk increases even further. For some however, alcohol at any age or in any amount may never be a good option.

Share expectations: Just like children without a family history of alcoholism, children with such family history need to know exactly where their parents stand on the issue of underage drinking and that it is not taken lightly. It should also be shared that just because a parent or relative has or has had issues with alcohol, it does not give a child an excuse or permission to drink.

For additional support and resources visit: National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA)and/or Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA).

Sources: NIAAA: COGA (the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism), NIAAA: Alcohol Alert Underage Drinking, The Alcoholism Guide, National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA),  Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA).

Family Day on September 23rd- Study Highlights the Importance of Family Dinners

Teens that have infrequent family dinners are likelier to smoke, drink, and use marijuana according to the The National Center  on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia). CASA has been surveying teens for eighteen years. 

“Family Day is a national movement to encourage parents to frequently eat dinner with their kids and be involved in their children’s lives. Family Day will be celebrated nationwide this year on Monday, Sept. 23rd”, stated Joseph DeMarzo, Coalition Co-Chairperson. According to CASAColumbia’s report The Importance of Family Dinners VII, compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are:   

• Almost four times likelier to use tobacco  

•  More than twice as likely to use alcohol  

• Two-and-a-half times likelier to use marijuana  

The report also found that teens that have frequent family dinners are likelier to get better grades in school and to say they have an excellent relationship with their parents.  

The CASA Columbia family dinners report reveals that 58 percent of teens report having dinner with their families at least five times a week, a proportion that has remained consistent over the past decade. Having frequent family dinners also encourages healthy family relationships. According to the report, teens that have dinner with their families consistently are: 

One-and-a-half times likelier to report having an excellent relationship with their mother;  More than twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their father; and almost twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their sibling(s). 

“Family meals are the perfect time to have a conversation with your teen. It affords you the opportunity to spend time with your child, talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Parental engagement is the key, as this study proves.” stated Joseph DeMarzo, Coalition Co-Chairperson.

The study also states that teens that have infrequent family dinners have more access to alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs (to get high) than teens who have consistent family dinners with their parents and siblings. 

“Having meals, even if they are on the go, with your child gives parents the opportunity to answer questions and recognize that they (the parent) have the power to help keep their children substance free. This is a very powerful study, and the best thing about it is that family dinners are an actionable goal for parents and teens to achieve. It’s not always easy because of busy schedules, but it is doable”, stated Elaine Santos, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Coordinator. 

For a FREE Family Dinner Kit please visit: http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/tools-you-can-use/family-dinner-kit/ 

Members of the Putnam County CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225- 

4646. 

Know! To Connect With Your Kids This Summer

 

It’s July, which means many of us parents are hearing that all too familiar complaint from our kids, “I’m bored.”
While we tend to want to shake our heads and groan at the uttering of this typical tween/teen phrase, we should actually consider it an opportunity to connect. Next time you hear it, try this (you’ll take them by surprise):
“You know, I’m bored too. Let’s go   grab some ice cream  .“
Of course you can’t always just drop what you’re doing, but sometimes you can and sometimes you should. If your schedule permits, try taking a day off work, put social commitments on hold, forget the laundry that needs folded and lawn that needs mowed and set aside a full day to be present with your child.
Family experts say that the most well-adjusted children, and those less likely to fall to negative peer pressure (like alcohol and other drug use), are the ones whose parents are warm and supportive, moderate on discipline and expectations of maturity and high in communication.
  Knowing this, we should take full advantage of any opportunity to connect, communicate and strengthen the bond with our children. Contrary to popular belief, our tweens/teens actually want and need our time and attention, and what we say and do deeply influences their present and future choices and behaviors.
So before the summer break gets away from us, and it’s back to the non-stop action that the school year brings, let’s connect!
     •   Create a Family Summer Bucket List: Sit down with your children to come up with
         some activities they would like to do as a family this summer. It can be as simple as
         taking a family bike ride or heading to the movies together, or something that
         requires a little more planning like a weekend camping trip or heading out of town to
         catch a sporting event.     
     •   Include Their Friends in the Fun: Summer is a great time to get to know your
         children’s friends. Arrange to take a group of them to an amusement park or a
         summer concert of their choice. Even if they head off in a different direction once you
         arrive, you’ll have that precious time during the car ride there – talk and listen to your
         captive audience!
     •   Additional Summer Activities for Parent/Child Togetherness: Pack a picnic and head
         to the park, grab some popcorn and enjoy an outdoor movie, choose a book for a
         family reading club, create a fun meal together, host a cookout with friends, take a
         canoe or boating adventure, go for a long walk, hike, volunteer at your favorite
         charity organization, plant a family garden, take a how-to class, work on a home
         improvement project, help a neighbor.
The possibilities are endless. Whether you choose a cooking class or a long stroll through the neighborhood, the important piece is that you are giving your child what they critically need to navigate successfully through the teen years, YOU. Enjoy the summer together.

Source: The Drug Free Action Alliance and The Fountain Magazine: Parenting Styles and How They Affect Children, 2001.

Family Day is September 24th!

Check out our brochure below for information on Family Day and suggestions for families! (Click to make larger)

Dinner Makes a Difference - Family Day is September 24th!

Teens that have infrequent family dinners are likelier to smoke, drink, and use marijuana according to the The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia). CASA has been surveying teens for eighteen years.

Family Day is a national movement to encourage parents to frequently eat dinner with their kids and be involved in their children’s lives. Family Day will be celebrated nationwide this year on Monday, Sept. 24th. According to CASAColumbia’s report The Importance of Family Dinners VII, compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are:  

•          Almost four times likelier to use tobacco

•           More than twice as likely to use alcohol

•          Two-and-a-half times likelier to use marijuana

The report also found that teens that have frequent family dinners are likelier to get better grades in school and to say they have an excellent relationship with their parents.

The CASA Columbia family dinners report reveals that 58 percent of teens report having dinner with their families at least five times a week, a proportion that has remained consistent over the past decade. Having frequent family dinners also encourages healthy family relationships. According to the report, teens that have dinner with their families consistently are:

• One-and-a-half times likelier to report having an excellent relationship with their mother;
• More than twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their father; and
• Almost twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their sibling(s).

“Family meals are the perfect time to have a conversation with your teen. It affords you the opportunity to spend time with your child, talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Parental engagement is the key, as this study proves.” stated Kristin McConnell, Executive Director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies/Putnam.

The study also states that teens that have infrequent family dinners have more access to alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs (to get high) than teens who have consistent family dinners with their parents and siblings.

“Having meals, even if they are on the go, with your child gives parents the opportunity to answer questions and recognize that they (the parent) have the power to help keep their children substance free. This is a very powerful study, and the best thing about it is that family dinners are an actionable goal for parents and teens to achieve. It’s not always easy because of busy schedules, but it is doable”, stated Elaine Santos, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Coordinator.

For a FREE Family Dinner Kit please visit: http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/tools-you-can-use/family-dinner-kit/

Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646.

Study Highlights The Importance of Family Dinners

Teens that have infrequent family dinners are likelier to smoke, drink, and use marijuana according to the The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia). CASA has been surveying teens for seventeen years.

The new report, released on September 22, 2011, states that “Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are almost four times likelier to use tobacco; more than twice as likely to use alcohol; two-and-a-half times likelier to use marijuana; and almost four times likelier to say they expect to try drugs in the future.”

The CASA Columbia family dinners report reveals that 58 percent of teens report having dinner with their families at least five times a week, a proportion that has remained consistent over the past decade. Having frequent family dinners also encourages healthy family relationships. According to the report, teens that have dinner with their families consistently are:

• One-and-a-half times likelier to report having an excellent relationship with their mother;
• More than twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their father; and
• Almost twice as likely to report having an excellent relationship with their sibling(s).

“Family meals are the perfect time to have a conversation with your teen. It affords you the opportunity to spend time with your child, talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Parental engagement is the key, as this study proves.” stated Kristin McConnell, Executive Director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies/Putnam.

The study also states that teens that have infrequent family dinners have more access to alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs (to get high) than teens who have consistent family dinners with their parents and siblings.

“Having meals, even if they are on the go, with your child gives parents the opportunity to answer questions and recognize that they (the parent) has the power to help keep their children substance free. This is a very powerful study, and the best thing about it is that family dinners are an actionable goal for parents and teens to achieve. It’s not always easy because of busy schedules, but it is doable”, stated Elaine Santos, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Coordination.

Members of the Putnam CTC are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646.