L.I.T.E. LIVING IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT   Saint Clair Area School District Team Members Mrs. Lisa Gasper Mrs. Kathleen Blasser Mrs. Melissa Carr Mrs. Sandee Mickonis Mr. Thomas Muldowney     Youth at Risk Screening Questionnaire     This links you to a page created by the Mentor Research Institute and describes a list of behaviors that are associated with youths at risk.  This link is not a replacement or substitution for professional consultation, but may serve as one tool in determining if a youth is at risk and needs some type of intervention services.  Actual questions can be submitted at the end of the questionnaire.    http://www.oregoncounseling.org/Tests/YouthAtRiskScreen.htm ______________________________________________________________ Is your son or daughter using drugs? Physical Symptoms:  pinpoint pupils or dilated pupils Sudden Changes in Behavior:  Dramatic changes in normal attitude, changing friends, avoiding family events, not introducing family to new friends, frequent trips to the bathroom. Verbally Abusive Outbursts:  Parents feel they no longer have control over their child. Other Signs to Watch for:  smoking, short-term memory loss, injury in high-risk behavior, sexually active, fail gym class, money and valuables begin to be missing from home, trouble with the law. My Child's Addicted, Now What??? Talk to your child. Get the school to help. Have a professional evaluation. Be tough! ______________________________________________________________________ What is the Student Assistance Program (L.I.T.E.)? Student Assistance Programs (SAP) have been operating in Pennsylvania since 1984 and are mandated by the state.  SAP was originally intended to address student drug and alcohol issues but has evolved to include any problem that may interfere with the development of the child. The Saint Clair Area School District is committed to academic excellence and to addressing the social and emotional needs of our young people.   The school district recognizes that support systems must be available to assist any student troubled by physical, emotional, social, legal, sexual, medical, familial, or substance abuse problems. The St. Clair Area Student Assistance Team (L.I.T.E.) began operating in the fall of 1989.  Since then five administrators and eleven teachers have been trained as core team members.  Student Assistance training involves fifty hours of intense training in the areas of intervention, referral, and support techniques. The student assistance team cooperates with the various human service agencies to identify students who may be having problems of one sort or another in school and to refer them for help. Who refers the student to the L.I.T.E. Team? What about confidentiality? The team receives referrals from administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and students.  The program is a confidential relationship between students and  core team members.  The philosophy of the program is one of care and concern for students, friends, and family members. Is the Student Assistance Program a treatment program? Members of the team are trained to identify changes in performance and behavior.  If it is determined that a problem exists, an appropriate referral is made. Places to call  for help:   (any agency that is underlined may be visited on the web by clicking on the name)   Turning Point    628-5234 / 1-800-344-8094      Emergency (after hours) 628-4731 Catholic Social Agency   366-1403 Mental Health Emergency Service 993-4357   Crisis Intervention              1-877-9we-help A.C.C.E.S.S.             628-4731                             1-800-344-8094 Women in Crisis    622-6220 / 1-800-282-0634 Teen Line        622-6222 / 1-800-722-5385 Good Samaritan Medical Center       621-4000 Pottsville Hospital                     621-5000 Schuylkill Mountain Crisis Center                   1-888-462-9600 / 462-2688 Childline 1-800-932-0313 Children and Youth Services of Schuylkill County                   1-800-722-8341                            628-1050 The Schuylkill Wellness Center 622-3980 Good Samaritan Medical Center D&A Clinic  622-5898 Alcoholics Anonymous (Al-Non)  628-4550  Family Services Agency  622-2515 / 668-6688 Pottsville Emergency Services        622-2911 Schuylkill County MH/MR 628-1180 /                                 1-877-216-5035 Drug and Alcohol Commission 621-2890 /                  1-800-665-5872             Who can seek help? Students who are experiencing personal problems associated with adolescence and school life. Students whose use of alcohol and/or other substances is becoming a problem in any area of their lives. Students who are concerned about a close friend or family member's use of alcohol and/or other substances. When to seek help: * Change in mood or behavior; loss of interest in regular activities. * Lower grades; general lack of interest in school; truancy. * Sudden weight loss or change in eating habits. * Unable to concentrate or finish things. * Feeling angry in general; defensive; elusive; withdrawn. * Obvious change in friends. * Secretiveness and dishonesty. * Easily angered; moody; uncooperative; unnecessarily sensitive. * Overreaction to criticism. * Withdrawal from family life. * Change in personal appearance. Being referred to the program does not mean a student is labeled in any way. Other sites of interest: Pennsylvania Department of Education                    Nemours Foundation Kids' Health Organization   What you can do ... If a parent suspects a party is taking place with underage drinkers it is suggested that they call 911 and ask to speak to an officer, but not over the air. The caller can remain anonymous, but should have good, reliable facts, which will assist the officers in obtaining a search warrant. A young person who is charged with under-age drinking is taken into custody and released to their parent or guardian. The first offense penalty is a fine and mandatory alcohol classes. They also lose their license for 3 months. If they do not have a license at the current time, their application is suspended for 3 months when they do apply. A second offense penalty is a one-year suspension of driving privileges, and a third offense penalty is two years suspension. If the arrested individual drives with a suspended license, they lose their driving privileges for two more years. In Pennsylvania it is illegal for a minor to: o purchase alcohol o attempt to purchase alcohol or consume alcohol o possess alcohol o transport alcohol In Pennsylvania it is illegal for anyone to: o appear in a public place under the influence of alcohol o provide alcoholic beverages to a minor o misrepresent a minor to be 21 years of age o ask a minor to purchase alcoholic beverages o make, alter, sell, or attempt to sell false identification o consume alcoholic beverages while driving 0 drive under the influence of alcohol (with BAC of . 1 0%) o permit someone to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol o cause serious bodily injury or death while driving under the influence of alcohol   This information is from the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement _________________________________________________ Alternate Activities for Your Children  St. Clair Area Boys and Girls Basketball  CYO Girls and Boys Basketball  Hospital Volunteers  Pottsville Gymnastic Center  YWCA Gymnastics Center  Little League Softball and Baseball  Music Lessons (Terrace Music Center)  DaLinda Dance Studio  St. Clair Midget Football St. Clair Cheerleading  Swimming Lessons  Pottsville Youth Wrestling Program  Bowling Leagues (Plaza) Boy Scouts Girl Scouts SPCA Volunteers _________________________________________________________ DUI AND ZERO TOLERANCE Did You Know .. A driver is considered legally intoxicated in Pennsylvania if he or she is: *under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a combination of both, to a degree which makes the person incapable of safe driving; or *when his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0. 1 0 or greater and he/she is age 21 or older or BAC is 0.02 and he/she is 20 years of age or younger. _________________________________________________________________ Services of Assistance Related to Drug or Alcohol Abuse Good Samaritan Medical Center Drug and Alcohol Clinic........................ 622-5898 Alcoholics Anonymous (Al-Non) .........................................................628-4550 Family Services Agency ..................................................................... 622-2515 __________________________________________________________________________ Prevention begins at home......     Set boundaries for your child. Tell them exactly what you expect and why.  State the immediate consequences and be prepared to follow through.     Set a good example.   Demonstrate positive ways to handle stress.  Do not let them see you intoxicated or ask them to get you a beer from the refrigerator.    Get help for chemical dependency.  Call any of the agencies listed at the top of the page.     Tell your child how and when to say no. Practicing a reply helps to make the response more natural.   Remind your child not to ride in a vehicle with an intoxicated driver.  Start talking to your children when they are young.