Prevention through Connection
March 2017
NEW Student Club Encourages Healthy Living
Student-Athlete Leadership Team Approved for 2017-18!
 
Over the past year, Manhasset CASA, Manhasset Public Schools and the Manhasset Athletic Advisory Committee have met to discuss the development of a new high school athletic club called the Student Athlete Leadership Team to encourage healthy living and role models for Manhasset students. The Club 
will strengthen high school student leadership skills, increase interaction with pro-social peers and decrease attitudes favorable to drug use. Manhasset's club will join hundreds of high school athletes from over 30 Long Island school districts learning the Athletes Helping Athletes training curriculum at Molloy College in November, January, and March.  These student-leaders will develop skills for processing important decisions relating to bullying, sportsmanship, and substance misuse.  This training will enable them to engage and manage sixth grade classroom discussions through "ice-breaker" exercises and story-telling to deliver valuable lessons.  Their examples of sportsmanship and making healthy decisions will improve performance on the field and help them stand out to college admissions teams.
 
Membership to the Student-Athlete Leadership Team will be selective and based upon motivation to be mentors, exhibition of exemplary behavior on and off the playing field, and good academic standing.  Students will be required to submit a formal application and undergo a competitive interview process to be considered  for  membership .  
 
We thank Charlie Cardillo, Dr. Dean Schlanger, Dr. Jean Kendall, Robert Geczik, Jim Amen, Chris Keen, the Board of Education, and the MAAC committee for supporting this innovative effort to help our teens make healthy decisions during adolescence. We greatly appreciate all the teachers and coaches who have given their time to evaluating the program and have offered to assist with selection and implementation of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team. With the Student-Athlete Leadership Team, we hope to  promote what our youth can become rather than what they should avoid. T he club will help reinforce exceptional sportsmanship, life-skills and healthy living values for our youth so they can grow up to be the best that they can be.  We will have a spring parent/teen meeting to discuss the program, selection process, membership and participatory contract. We will post date/time information in the coming weeks. 
 
Manhasset CASA Executive Board
Health on the Plate
Serving Up the School - Home Connection!

8th Grade Health
The 8th grade health classes are learning about the effects of tobacco, marijuana and alcohol. Lessons and objectives are to 
  • help students understand the dangers of drug use
  • value reasons to say no and resist peer pressure, and
  • analyze and deconstruct peer, family, community influence along with advertising messages that bombard our society. 
Middle School is often a time when many children may feel pressure to use tobacco, alcohol and marijuana, and some begin experimenting with these drugs.  Sharing your desire for your child to be drug free and not experiment with any kind of drug is an invaluable conversation. For more information on current drug information and trends visit  teens.drugabuse.gov/parents.
 
According to Manhasset High School's 2017 Bach Harrison Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, while only 2.2% of 8th grade students self report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, this number dramatically increases to 46.6% by 10th grade [ 2017 Bach Harrison Prevention Needs Assessment Survey Results (2017BHPNA)] .  The 2017 increase overrides the steady decreases students had self reported in 10th grade since 2009. Manhasset CASA strongly encourages parents to continue talking with your children throughout high school about the dangers of underage drinking and drug use.  Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are 4 times more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives
10th Grade Health
The 10th grade health classes are currently learning about the many ways depression can manifest itself. Depression is an increasing concern during adolescence.  A study of national trends in depression among adolescents and young adults published in the journal Pediatrics (11.14.16) found that the prevalence of teens who reported a major depressive episode increased by 37% since 2005.  Students are researching several different types of depressions such as Postpartum Depression , Seasonal Affective Disorder and Dysthymia and creating presentations to educate their classmates.

While Manhasset's students had shown steady declines in depressive symptoms from 2009 to 2015 along with steady increases in protective factors (factors that protect teens from substance misuse), 22.4% of 8th grade students, 29.3% of 10th grade students and 22.6% of 12th grade students felt depressed or sad MOST days (even if they felt okay sometimes) during the past year  ( 2017BHPNA ). For more information about childhood depression, click here for the American Academy of Pediatrics article, Childhood Depression: What Parents Can Do to Help.

Thank you to Manhasset Secondary School Health Teachers Jasmine Ostrom (Grade 8) and Lauren Sadeh (Grade 10) for your dedication to reinforce the school-home connection!
Keeping Teens Safe Before, During & AFTER Prom
Social Hosting Is Not All That

Manhasset Public Schools continues to provide a safe and secure pre-prom and prom experience for our teens.  Teen safety must also continue AFTER the prom is over as many Manhasset teens head off to "after parties" to continue their celebration.

Parents should be aware that 41.6% of Manhasset 12th grade students self report binge drinking or consuming 5 or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks. Even more troubling is of the teens who report underage drinking, 65% of them drink alcohol in someone else's home with the other  parent's permission (2017BHPNA).  
 
Earlier this month, several teens  were  reported  being hospitalized during an underage drinking party in Long Beach, NY, and a 19 year old was charged with violating Long Beach's  Social Host Law.  In Nassau County,  it is unlawful to allow the consumption of alcohol by any minor . W e urge  parents to learn more about the health risks associated with underage and binge drinking as social hosting puts our teens and young adults in danger. 
 
According to the clinical report Binge Drinking in the  American Academy of Pediatrics Journal (Pediatrics September 2015, VOLUME 136 / ISSUE 3) , a dolescents who binge drink are more likely to exhibit poor judgment and engage in drunk driving, riding in the car with an impaired driver, and other risky behavior. Teen alcohol  use is also associated with the leading causes of death and serious injury at this age (motor vehicle accidents, homicides, and suicides). The AAP report also notes that among youth who drink,  the proportion who drink heavily is higher than among adult drinkers, b inge drinking can be associated with early sexual activity and higher rates of teen pregnancy, and a  third of all fatal auto crashes involving alcohol happen among 15- to 20-year-olds.
 
In addition to these life-threatening consequences, the AAP cites recent studies indicating how alcohol use during this period of adolescent growth may interrupt key processes of brain development, possibly leading to cognitive impairment and an elevated risk of developing a chronic alcohol use disorder.
Please continue keeping our teens safe AFTER prom and prevent underage and binge drinking throughout adolescence.   Their health and future is a collective responsibility and they depend on us to ensure their safety!
Dewey's Teen Brain Presentation on PATV
January Program Recorded by PATV!
 
 
Dr. Stephen Dewey's Power of Parenting Presentation  Alcohol, Drugs and the Teen Brain is now available to  
watch on YouTube through PATV. The program is part of Manhasset CASA's Prevention through Connection Series and also features  Sara Wong, Vice President of Manhasset High School's CASA Youth Committee Club. Sara  began the evening with a brief overview of CASA's Generation Rx Initiative and why safe medicine practices are so important for families and the entire community. 
 
PATV will also air this program in CASA's Prevention through Connection series slots on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. on channels 20 (Optimum) and 37 (Verizon Fios). It will also air Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. (EDT) through April 11, 2017 and stream at patv.org/livestream.  
 
Special thanks to Rebecca Farina and our friends at  Public Access Television (PATV) for making the recording possible and  available to the community.  You can also access CASA's past Prevention through Connection education programs on our website. 
Stress and Screens
Advice about our 24/7 Techno World & Family Communication

Parents, caregivers and residents are invited to Manhasset CASA's final Power of Parenting Presentation,  Stress and Screens: How to Thrive Not Just Survive  at the Manhasset Public Library on Thursday, April 6th at 7:30 p.m.  The program, featuring best selling NY Times author, Edward Hallowell, M.D., will provide groundbreaking advice
about how parents can deal with today's 24/7 techno world.

Edward Hallowell, M.D., is a child and adult psychiatrist, leading authority in the field of ADHD and co-author of the best-seller, Driven to Distraction.  He has been frequently featured on Oprah, 60 Minutes, 20/20, PBS, the BCC, CNN, Dateline, Good Morning America, the Today Show, Dr. Phil, NPR, as well as in Newsweek and the New York Times any many local news programs.
 
The Stress and Screens program is sponsored by the Honorable Jack M. Martins, Manhasset Public Library, Manhasset SEPTA and Manhasset CASA.  Mandarin Translation is available during this presentation.  Space is limited and registration is required on CASA's SignUp Genius link CLICK HERE. You can learn more about Dr. Hallowell at www.hallowellcenter.org or  www.drhallowell.com.

Positive Alternatives in Manhasset
Flag, Community Service & Stay Tuned for More Paddle!!
 
Friday Night Flag Football with Fundamental Sports 
 
Spring season is here and registration is available for both girls and boys from ages 9-18. The program meets on Friday nights at Manhasset Valley Park or Harbor Links Field Number 4 in Port Washington. For more information about registration, click here  or go to fundamental-sports.com or email [email protected] or call (516) 900-2FUN.  
 
Teen Volunteers Needed at Manhasset Public Library
Manhasset Public Library Community Room
 
Teen Volunteers Grades 8 and up  are needed to assist with STEM Storytime. Volunteers will assist with set up/clean up and help children with STEM related experiments and activities.  1.5 community service hours will be awarded.
Contact: Erin 516-627-2300 ext 312 or email:[email protected]

Stay Tuned for Paddle at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club!
Manhasset CASA recently hosted an 8th grade Paddle night that was sold out! We plan to host additional paddle nights in the coming months! If you are interested in spearheading a particular Friday night, please email CASA at [email protected] to coordinate!

Special thanks to The Women's Club of Flower Hill for sponsoring our refreshments!
Senior Prom Fundraiser
Plandome Road Biz Support CASA/SCA 

CASA Executive Director, Jen DeSena & SCA Executive President, Lisa Grygiel, join Young Kim from The Flower Shop to raise funds to help kids make healthy decisions. 
Two Plandome Road merchants are teaming up with Manhasset CASA and the Manhasset SCA to help us help our kids make healthy decisions! 

If you are shopping for a corsage or boutonniere for the Senior Prom, this Saturday, April 1st, The Flower Shop, Inc. at 61 Plandome Road will donate 20% of your purchase to CASA and the SCA.  Please mention this offer when you place your order at 516-869-0098.  

If you're planning hair or make-up services on Senior Prom Day, Blow Beauty Bars at 397 Plandome Road  will donate 20% of the service price to CASA and the SCA.   Please call 516-365-1111 to schedule your appointment and please mention this offer. 

HEALTHY LIVING FUNDRAISER
Tuesday, April 25th at 11:30 a.m. at local Manhasset Home! 

Join friends and residents for Manhasset CASA's spring fundraiser and celebrate healthy living and cooking on Tuesday, April 25th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Arda Hartunian's home 21 Middle Drive, Plandome.  Nancy Ferraris, Manhasset Nutritionist & Parent will demonstrate how healthy living recipes & cooking can be easy, fast & fun! 

Come and sample a wide array of healthy, easy-to-prepare snacks and meals for use any time of the day or night! Learn how small changes can impact the quality of your family's life, make healthy eating easy and fun AND increase your energy and enthusiasm for cooking again. Bring your appetite and your questions - and get ready to enjoy warm hospitality, relaxed conversation with neighbors and friends and a fun introduction to a new way of thinking about food! 

Tickets are $40.00/person .   Click here to complete our registration flyer which can be mailed with your check to Manhasset CASA, Inc., PO Box 392, Manhasset, NY 11030.  We will have fabulous raffle prizes too (4 tickets for $10; 10 tickets for $20)!  Tickets and raffles will also be sold day of event.  For more information, please call Arda Haratunian at (516) 627- 0235. 
Free Family Education Series at Seafield 
Open to all Residents 
 
Seafield Center's Family Education Series continues for residents who are impacted by addiction. The free family program provides information regarding various aspects of addiction, treatment, therapy and codependency and enabling behaviors.  Click here for their flyer.
 
Thursday, March 30th, at 7:15 p.m.
Alcohol/Drug Addiction/Recovery Process and its impact on the family
Facilitated by Merrit Hartblay, MSW, CASAC

Wednesday, April 12th, at 7:15 p.m.
Family Support Group Session
Facilitated by Merrit Hartblay, MSW, CASAC

Wednesday, April 26th, at 7:15 p.m.
Alcohol/Drug Addiction/Recovery Process and its impact on the family
Facilitated by Merrit Hartblay, MSW, CASAC

Wednesday, May 10th, at 7:15 p.m.
Family Support Group Session
Facilitated by Merrit Hartblay, MSW, CASAC

All residents are invited to attend the series held at 585 Plandome Road, Manhasset. For more information, Meagan Segal, LCSW, Clinical Director at (516) 812-9944 extension 1705. 
Manhasset Community 
Coalition Against Substance Abuse (CASA), Inc. 
P.O. Box 392
Manhasset, NY 11030
(516) 267-7548
  
Manhasset CASA exists as a resource to reduce the illegal, underage use of alcohol, tobacco, & other drugs among its youth, before they are in trouble, by connecting parents, schools and the community as partners in the common goal.  In 2013, CASA was honored to receive its second five year Drug Free Communities Support Grant (DFC) by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).  Our goals are to reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults; and to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies, and federal, state, and local governments to support the efforts of our community coalition to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth.