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Seven Progressive Steps to Protect
Children
from the Harmful Effects of Media
By Peter DeBenedittis
The most important thing you can
do to protect your kids from harmful media is to set
strong limits and enforce them consistently. Remember,
each step is a little bit harder. Take only the ones
you feel comfortable with.
- For children less than two years
old: no passive screens (TV, videos, computers,
electronic games, etc.). Kids aged three to seven:
no more than an hour or two of electronic media.
- Cut your own media usage in
half. Spend the extra time talking to or playing with
your kids. Reading to them is excellent! It helps
them develop imagination, rather than just memory
skills.
- Set up a no-media zone and media
free times in your home, such as at dinner-time,
before school, etc.
- Screen the media your children
use to ensure they support your value system. DO NOT
allow media that violates your values into your home.
This should be non-negotiable no matter how much your
child begs and pleads he or she needs to have it.
- Watch and listen to media with
your children. Visit web-sites with them, and play
their video/computer games together. This allows you
to discuss the messages the media is sending. Try
taping all TV programs you watch together and skip the
commercials.
- Remove all electronic media from
your bedrooms. Place them in public areas where usage
can be monitored.
- Stop consuming media for long
periods of time. Create opportunities to learn life
skills or physical activities instead. Turn off
electronics and send your kids outside to play, join a
sports team, or simply teach them to ANALYZE or CREATE
media rather than just passively consume it.
Visit
http://medialiteracy.net to download a Free
Book on parenting around media.
Youth Recovery Launches
Film Project
Youth Recovery
Documentary (YRD), a non profit entity, announced that
funds have been raised for a special film documentary
designed to educate young people and their families on
the successful recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
Funds have been raised through Communities Foundation of
Oklahoma (CFO).
Filming will begin in the summer 2006 and will focus on
the real life experiences of young people sharing their
stories of addiction and recovery. Assisting in the
film’s direction and production are: Fritz Kiersch as
Director, Mike Priest as Camera/Editor, Michel
Negroponte as Co-Producer, Jack Sinclair as Executive
Director, and Lynda Tony Bahr as Advisor. Advisory
Committee Directors are: Jack V. Sinclair, Blake Wade,
and Lawrence Schniter, IV.
Numerous individuals and foundations have demonstrated
support for this important project by making tax
deductible donations to CFO. The Oklahoma Department of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has committed
significant funds for this project and endorsed the
educational video for distribution within their system.
Release of the documentary is anticipated for late 2006
or early 2007. For more information or to become a part
of this important project, contact Jack Sinclair at
Youth_Recovery@yahoo.com.
Newsletter:
November
2007
Trouble viewing the newsletter? Download the
latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader at
www.adobe.com.
To begin receiving our newsletter by e-mail, please send
your e-mail address to:
swageck@achancetochange.org.
The
Dangerous Frontiers of Substance Abuse: A Look at
Alcohol and Drug Use Trends.
View the webcast at the National Clearinghouse for
Alcohol and Drug Information.
Helping Families Recover
2007 ANNUAL REPORT
A
non-profit agency founded in 1979, provides a chance
to change to those whose lives have been affected by
chemical dependency and related behavioral disorders.
The following programs were provided in 2007:
Community
Education Series
This free, ongoing six-part program teaches sessions
about the disease of chemical dependency,
codependency, enabling, intervention and treatment,
family roles, and behavioral addictions. The series
has a special significance for people who are
concerned about the addiction of a family member, a
friend, or themselves.
MPACT 21st
Century Learning Centers
A Chance to Change is a partner with Putnam City
Schools in providing an after-school program to Apollo
and Overholser Schools. This program uses arts,
technology, and interactive curriculum to improve
learning, while teaching prevention curriculum to
students.
A Chance to Succeed
(Pilot program)
This pro-active program with schools provides free
education for faculty and parents about substance
abuse and other issues affecting students. Students
are offered free drug and alcohol screenings,
education and follow up interventions when needed.
Counseling Services
Experienced counselors
offer individual and group counseling for adolescents,
children and adults. Counseling is provided for
substance abuse, codependency, family and marital
issues, grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other
issues.
Employee Assistance Program
Substance abuse, family
problems and other mental health issues can affect job
performance. Many employers have chosen the Employee
Assistance Program to provide confidential counseling
to help employees deal with their problems at home and
at work.
Family Assistance
Program
As a United Way partner, A Chance to Change provides
substance abuse and family counseling for adolescents,
adults and families with low incomes.
Problem Gambling
Treatment
A Chance to Change is a certified counseling program
for problem gamblers and their families. Experience
counselors provide outpatient counseling in individual
and group settings.
Last year A Chance to
Change provided prevention and education programs to
approximately 6,000 participants and counseling to 844
people.
A Chance to Change is
funded by through the Oklahoma Department of
Education, United Way of Central Oklahoma, the
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services, fees and insurance reimbursement, and
generous donations from individuals,
corporations, and private foundations.
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