Making a Difference in Youth

As we begin our New Year, I would like to talk about resiliency in youth. Resiliency is frequently defined as having the skills to bounce back despite difficult times. The research has found that more than 50% of youth living in high risk environments will grow up to be successful and happy adults (Bonnie Benard, Emmy Werner and Ruth Smith, Wolin and Wolin) IF they live in an environment that provides these three factors: 1) They are surrounded by people with high expectations 2) There are at least three caring adults in their life 3) They have multiple opportunities to participate

We all have the opportunity to make a difference in the future of the lives of each and every child we encounter. As the months pass by, please think about this and how you can make a difference in the life of a youth.

Youth's Brains Still Developing till age 26

If you ever believed that casual drinking did not have long term affects, think again.  Here is an interview with the producer of Smashed a documentary on the affects of Alcohol on the developing brain.

City of Lodi Passes Resolution

The City of Lodi passed Resolution 11-06 A Resolution In Support Of The Lodi Community Action Team last Tuesday February 15th.  The resolution proposed by Council President Paul Fisk provides that the City of Lodi will support LCAT in its quest for Federal Funding which will enable the community to create a drug and alcohol free environment for the youth of Lodi. You can read the full resolution here.  Resolution

Saving our youth

The Lodi Enterprise has an article on the K.I.D.S. town hall meeting.   Several of our members are included in the article and it is a very good representation of what we hope to get.

"I want parents to know that this is not a meeting to say 'parents, you should not be drinking yourselves,' or 'parents you've been doing a bad job', that's not what this is about," Persike said. "This is just a bunch of people getting together and saying here are some questions we have as a community. Where can we improve, where can we focus our time and energy and funds?"

Follow the link for the complete story.