Pubdate: Wed, 03 May 2006
Source: Taber Times, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 The Taber Times
Contact:  http://www.mysouthernalberta.com/ttimes/home/index.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2262
Author: Jennifer Elves
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

TCAD LOOKING TO LOCAL TEENS

Youth in the community who are not big into playing sports have an 
opportunity to be part of a different type of a team.

At its meeting on Friday, Taber Community Against Drugs (TCAD) decided the 
education and prevention subcommittee will look to recruit individuals for 
a youth group. Members of the group would do things to improve the 
community, provide other youth with things to do in town and eventually 
report back to TCAD with input on what youth in town need and are 
interested in.

"What we want them to do is to look at the community of Taber and think 
about where they could contribute and then plan to do something," said 
Terri Wilson, who heads the education and prevention subcommittee of TCAD 
and is a teen specialist with Family Community and Support Services.

She added the group would likely assist with some community events already 
happening and create new activities for youth as well.

Wilson and other members of TCAD will mostly be looking for Grade 9 and 
Grade 10 students and will be going to W.R. Myers, St. Mary's and Ace Place 
schools to do some of the recruiting. Wilson added they are also wanting to 
attract people between 20 to 30 years old to help head the youth group.

Along with what they do to help other youth in the community, the group 
would meet at least once a week to do something fun and get acquainted with 
each other.

TCAD includes a Youth Action Panel (YAP), which is made up of six students 
from W.R. Myers. A couple girls on YAP did a presentation on addictions to 
Grade 4 and Grade 5 students in town recently.

Those students are invited to assist in the development of the youth group 
TCAD's education and prevention subcommittee is working on establishing for 
the 2007/2007 school year.

"We're building on it (the YAP program). We are not stopping anything. We 
are just transitioning into something a little different," said Wilson.

At TCAD's meeting Friday, Taber Police Service Insp. Graham Abela 
emphasized Taber is unique in how it has a lot of youth involvement when it 
comes to drug education and prevention initiatives.

Kerry Milder, a member of education and prevention, added provincial 
funding is available for youth-driven initiatives.

"The Health Canada Drug Strategy Fund wants to promote anything where youth 
are involved in drug prevention," she said.

TCAD applied for a $3,000 grant through AADAC and Wilson said if the 
application is approved, the group will use the funds to develop the youth 
group and for initiatives the youth choose to do.

TCAD expects to hear back in the middle of this month if it is receiving 
the grant.

An information meeting on the youth group will be held at the end of this 
month, so youth and leaders of the group could start meeting at the 
beginning of June.

Anyone interested, or wanting more information, can call Wilson at 
223-4403, extension 237. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D