Charities aids public schools

The programs help young people make positive choices about alcohol and drug use, and how to settle differences.

The services were initiated more than 14 years ago at the request of the Ichabod Crane School District. Over time, Catholic Charities has partnered with additional districts to offer what is now a broad range of programs. The $128,000 annual budget is supported by funding from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the individual school districts, and Catholic Charities.

Programming

Another long-standing program is Preventing Abuse through Life Skills (PALS). In pre-kindergarten through third grade, PALS uses puppets to discuss such issues as tolerance, peer pressure, stress, refusal skills and drug information.

School-based service delivery works well, say the participants, because it is characterized by collaboration. Prevention educators can attend faculty meetings, and frequently discuss scheduling and curriculum implementation with school staff.

"It is a real opportunity to learn what will work best for the teacher and students," said Agnes Donlon, executive director of Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties.

More to come

The program has been "well received by the students," said Dale Tuczinski, chair of the Guidance and Counseling Department at the Middle School. "It allows them to engage in discussions they might otherwise not have and teaches the skills they need to resist negative influences."

In doing so, he noted, the program also enhances students' readiness to learn.

After school

The Elks, in collaboration with Catholic Charities, offer a safe place for kids to gather after the prom, with a D.J., pool tables and more than 300 breakfasts served from midnight to 5 a.m.

Prevention in Columbia and Greene counties also includes parent education. There is a "tremendous need" for such services, said Ms. Donlon, due to the rural nature of the area. "Parents are isolated," she explained, and lack of transportation can be a barrier to reaching services.

To overcome those challenges, parent education is offered both through schools and in the community, and focuses on preparing parents to identify warning signs of unhealthy behavior and to tackle problems before they occur.

(04-18-02) [[In-content Ad]]