In the process students develop an appreciation and feelings of civic empowerment.

Transcription

1 Project Citizen is a program of the Center for Civic Education, funded by Congressional appropriation, administered in New Jersey through the New Jersey Center for Civic and Law Related Education with the assistance of Congressional district coordinators for each Congressional district in the state. The Project Citizen curriculum focuses on the role of the state and local governments. It is a project based civic education program and involves middle and high school students in cooperative leaning activities that are guided by their teachers. Students learn how to interact with government agencies to effect change by following the following steps: Identifying a problem in their community that requires a public policy solution Gathering and evaluating information on the problem Examining and evaluating alternative solutions Developing a proposed public policy to address the problem Developing an action plan to get their policy adopted by government Students' work is displayed in a class portfolio containing a display section and a simulated hearing. In the process students develop an appreciation and feelings of civic empowerment.

2 Social Norms: Underage Drinking and Substance Abuse Reduction Ashton, Lauren, Steven, Joe, Colin, David, Caitlin, Chris

3 The Community s View Inherently a community problem Our interviews show: Students: A negative perception of their peers Parents: Concerned yet unsure what to do Staff: A difficult problem to solve

4 Thoughts Behind Action Reasons for drinking:* Experimentation Coping with Stress Excitement and pleasure Reasons for not drinking: *According to Underage Drinking Research Initiative

5 Statistics 30% of adolescents get alcohol from relatives 1 High stress teens twice as likely to drink 2 Drinking before age of 15 leads to alcohol dependence 3 Underage alcohol use more damaging than illicit drug use 4 1 Underage Drinking SAMSHA Government Website Statistic, 2 About.com Alcoholism Statistic 3Underage Drinking Research Initiatvie 4 About.com Alcoholism Statistic

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7 Problem and Solution Drinking has become a norm Our goal: Change beliefs, change actions Use advertising to persuade community to think differently

8 Social Norms Theory Adolescent Psychology: Following The Pack Actual Behavior V. Perceived Behavior Perceive norms in healthy ways Encourages students to learn norms

9 Why Ridge? Unusually high rates of adolescent drug/alcohol use- 70% of seniors according to ADAS 2010 High performance culture Dominant ideologies Realistic approach

10 Policy Plan: Short Term 1. Statistically establish actual behavior 2. Statistically establish norms 3. Focus Groups 4. Advertisement Development 5. Display advertisements/ begin campaign

11 Policy Plan: Long Term 1. Survey student behavior 2. Incorporate into other BTSD programs (i.e. Project Adventure/R.AD. ) 3. Extend to other areas (i.e. Academic Integrity/Driving) 4. Change behavior at RHS to at or below the national level

12 Examples of Succesful Campaigns

13 Stall Seat Journal Georgetown University Magazine Placed in Residence Hall Bathrooms Includes Topics on Healthy Party Tips, Stress Management, etc. Shock Factor

14 High Schools Dekalb & Sycamore H.S., Sycamore IL. -14% Reduction over 2 years Evanston H.S., Evanston IL. -11% Reduction over 2 years

15 Community Outreach Coaches, Tutors, Teachers, Parents and Relatives Stay safe and be responsible Gap between perception and actual activity Aiming to change the middle

16 Implementation in School Announcements Motivational Posters (From Tomohawk Social Norms Project) Reminders

17 Evaluation of Implementation Survey each month Change in perception? Frequent and Consistent? Final Survey(ADAS)

18 Works Cited: Part 1 Mr. Gillikin Interview 1/4/11 T, Buddy. "Teen Pitfalls." About.com. Medical Review Board, 12/24/2007. Web. 19 Jan < Fighting Drunk Driving & Underage Drinking Century Council. Web. 22 Jan < Mr. Howlett Interview 2/9/11 "Underage Drinking." Underage Drinking-Why Do Adolescents Drink, What Are the Risks, and How Can Underage Drinking Be Prevented? National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Jan Web. 24 Mar < "Facts about Underage Drinking and Statistics on Teen Drinking." Underage Drinking Statistics. Monheit Law. Web. 24 Mar < Social Norms Campaign- Dartmouth College Web. January 16, 2012http:// Michigan State University's Social Norms The MSU Social Norms Research Project. Web. January 19,

19 Work Cited: Part 2 "Underage Drinking." Underage Drinking-Why Do Adolescents Drink, What Are the Risks, and How Can Underage Drinking Be Prevented? National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Jan Web. 24 Mar < "Facts about Underage Drinking and Statistics on Teen Drinking." Underage Drinking Statistics. Monheit Law. Web. 24 Mar < "National Social Norms Institute." National Social Norms Institute. Web. 25 Mar "Causes of Teenage Drinking." Talk Rehab. Web. 15 Jan National Social Norms Institute,. United States. University of Virginia. Case Studies. Charlottesville: UVA, Web. <