Pubdate: Wed, 08 Oct 2003 Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) Copyright: 2003 Columbia Daily Tribune Contact: http://www.showmenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91 Note: Prints the street address of LTE writers. Author: Cory De Vera EDUCATIONAL DRUG SEMINAR TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN In a 2002 survey of public-school freshman and juniors in Columbia, a third of those surveyed admitted to drinking alcohol at least once in the past 30 days and 15 percent admitted using marijuana. Not all will get caught and have to face the legal system, but if they do, Columbia school resource officers and school counselors want to let parents know what their kids will face. Tonight at 7 p.m. in the Hickman media center, two officers will present "Just the Facts, Jack," the first of a series of educational seminars for parents. The seminars are sponsored by a group called Bridges. "We'll talk about what parents can expect from the legal system and the juvenile justice system," said Officer John Warner, the resource officer from West Junior High, "who they will meet, who they will talk to, contacting a lawyer. If their child is an adult - a 17-year-old - we'll talk about how that system is different." Bridges started at Rock Bridge High School last year after a parent approached counselor Ann Baker and suggested the school play a bigger role in letting parents know what resources are available to help them deal with teen problems. In addition to printing brochures about area resources, the group began holding monthly meetings for parents, Baker said. "It allowed parents to talk with other parents," Baker said. "Enough said, 'If you want to give my name out to parents who are going through the same thing, that's OK.' " While Hickman also has held seminars for parents, this year counselors at all three schools decided to make Bridges a district-wide group. Part of the reason was that budget cuts reduced Baker to half-time and she needed other counselors to help with some of the organizing. But, she said, it was also logical to cut down on duplication of efforts. Bridges is also forming a task force of students who this year will be drawn from all three high schools. Baker said organizers try to bring students from different social cliques together, allowing them to stage fun, drug-free events that would appeal to classmates. Last year a rap contest at Rock Bridge was so popular it drew entrants from outside the state. Warner stressed that tonight's presentation is for any parent, whether they think their children might be involved with drugs or not. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom