Elmhurst COMMISSION ON YOUTH TO PRESENT HEROIN FORUM NOVEMBER 10

Heroin addiction and related deaths are increasing to epidemic levels, with usage trajectories spanning all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds. In response to this growing scourge, the City of Elmhurst’s Commission on Youth will present a community education forum, “The New Face of Heroin, It’s Not What You Think,” on Monday, November 10, from 7-9 p.m. at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, 395 Lake Street, Elmhurst.

DuPage County Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen, a former trauma surgeon for 20 years, took office in late 2012 and quickly became alarmed at the number of heroin-related deaths. There were 38 such deaths in 2012 and 46 in 2013, with victims ranging in age from their 20s through their 60s.

“Heroin is a totally different drug than all of the other illegal drugs. It is highly addictive and highly destructive - and that occurs in every person who’s addicted to heroin. There are no casual users or abusers. It takes over your life and destroys your life,” Dr. Jorgensen recently told the Daily Herald. He is on a mission to spread the word that this epidemic spans all ages, all races and all socio-economic backgrounds.

Featured speakers will be DuPage County Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen, along with Matt Quinn, MA, LCPC, CADC, of the new Elmhurst Hospital Adolescent Mental Health Outpatient Program and Corey Worden, MA, LCPC, CADC, of Linden Oaks at Edward.

Learn what’s driving the heroin epidemic and what you can do about it. Discussion will focus on:

·         The production, distribution and demographics of heroin use and abuse in DuPage County

·         The physiology, short- and long-term effects of heroin addiction

·         Narcan treatment protocols and how they have saved lives

·         What lies beneath this growing problem - a substance abuse epidemic

·         Practical things that YOU can do - tips, ideas, resources for help

This program is free and open to the public. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are appreciated, so that adequate seating is available for all. To make a reservation, please call (630) 530-3010 or visit http://tinyurl.com/HeroinForum111014 by Friday, November 7.

Newly added GPS Special Event:

 "Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence" with Laurence Steinberg Ph.D. 

The Glenbard Parent Series:  Navigating Healthy Families is excited to present "Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence" with Laurence Steinberg Ph.D. 12:00 p.m. -- 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 at Glenbard South, 23W200 Butterfield Rd. in Glen Ellyn.

Adolescence now start early, lasts longer and new discoveries about brain development make this time of life crucial in determining a person's ultimate success.  Dr Laurence Steinberg draws on a trove of fresh evidence-including his own groundbreaking research-and offers new strategies for instilling resilience, self-control and motivation.  Offering clear, specific insights this talk is essential for all those that work with and care for teens.  Learn about their need for risk taking, their decision making and how to reverse the troubling trends that befall this age group.  Discover the concrete steps we must adapt to and embrace as we nourish their tremendous possibilities and support them on their way.

Laurence Steinberg Ph.D. is one of the world's leading experts on adolescence and is a Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is credited with hundreds of articles on development during the teenage years and is the author or editor of 17 books. He has been featured on CBS, Today, Good Morning America, 20/20, Dateline, PBS, and the Oprah Winfrey Show, and is a frequent contributor to the NY Times, NPR, Wall Street Journal and Psychology Today. Dr Steinberg has been cited by the Supreme Court in several cases, including the one that abolished the juvenile death penalty and was named by Reuters as "one of the most influential scientific minds" in April 2014. His latest book "Age of Opportunity", has been universally endorsed by respected leaders in the field as a must read! Don't miss this just added important GPS presentation which is free and open to the public.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR- MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

Linden Oaks at Edward Psychiatrists

Steven Prinz, MD and Fatima Ali, MD: “Really Understanding Eating Disorders”

Wed, Nov. 12 from 12 p.m. to 12 p.m. at CCSD District #93 Admin. Center

Katie Davis Ph.D : : "The App Generation: How Today's Youth Navigate Identity, Imagination, and Intimacy in a Digital World"

Wed. Nov. 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at District #15 Marquardt Administration Center

and also at 7:00 p.m. at Glenbard West

Positively, Disruptively Happy! 

a blog by Jane S. Anderson, a former Glenbard Parent

In our culture, we believe that hard work and sacrifice lead to happiness. But according to the latest science from Positive Psychology, we may have that backwards. In her blog Positively, Disruptively Happy! Jane S Anderson, former Glenbard West parent, explores the research. She provides proven tools and principles useful for everyone who influences how people think, act, and live – leaders, managers, parents, school teachers, social workers, students, coaches, health professionals – and shows how these tools offer pathways to flourishing in key life domains like work, relationships, and well-being

To read her latest blog post 24 Invigorating Paths To Well-Being, go to http://positivelydisruptivelyhappy.com/24-paths-to-well-being/

PARENT EDUCATION CONSORTIUM (PEC) RELEASES LATEST CALENDAR

Next GPS event, Amanda Ripley - an Editor's Choice

Check out the PEC Calendar for programming of interest to parent throughout Chicago. 

"The Parent Education Consortium of the North Shore (PEC) is a centralized source of information on parent resources and programs that promote stronger schools, family and community life in the Chicago area. PEC is comprised of representatives from the community and parent/teacher organizations who offer programming on parenting topics through joint planning and shared resources. The Calendar of educational programs for parents and educators is compiled from submissions provided by the sponsoring organizations."

The PEC website, www.peccalendar.org, is a relational database -- you can search by date, speaker, topic, venue, etc.

PEC'S Editor's Choice:

"Those of you who eagerly read Amanda Ripley's bestseller The Smartest Kids in the World now have a chance to hear her at Glenbard East High School  in Lombard on Oct. 14 at 7pm. "
(Our next GPS event)

The Rise of the Two Dimensional Parent

The following article by Dr. Ron Taffel, a past GPS speaker and author of "Breaking Through to Teens" was based on information supplied by the Glenbard Students for Students Club. Learn about  the needs of 21st century teens, the importance of secure parental attachment, and how to best achieve it.  From Dr. Taffel: 

"While the article is about children and teens, it begins with a brief status summary of kids' mental health, about which there is reason for concern.  I then identify 21st century pressures adults face as we try to effectively raise, teach and work with children from the earliest years on.  The goal is to challenge ourselves as professionals and parents to become more courageous, authoritative and loving with our kids.  As I describe in the article there are many ways this "three-dimensional presence," as I call it, is undermined in our culture.  Seeing how this happens, as well as learning some solutions, will hopefully lead to greater dialogue about what is increasingly needed by 21st century children of all ages."

Are Therapists Seeing a New Kind of Attachment?

By Ron Taffel

Welcome Back Meeting October 7, 2014 7:00pm 

Elliott Library, Glenbard West High School

Although this event is sponsored by West Nation (formerly Gen Ellyn Youth Center Board).  All District 87 community members are welcome!

West Nation is a Glenbard West school community collaboration of staff, students and parents. West Nation empowers student involvement and connections to promote healthy decision making in our students to set a positive course through high school and beyond. Parents are offered education and opportunities for involvement to support student activities and events during the school year. West Nation is proud to partner in that mission with CARES (the high school equivalent of PTO/PTA, which organizes events for students, parents and staff, such as the Post Prom Party, Staff Appreciation Dinner, and Valentines for Vets etc.), Glenbard Parent Series (GPS), which brings incredible education to parents and faculty via speakers and invited guests, and Boosters (which raises funds for academic, athletic and co-curricular activities at West).  We like to think of West Nation, CAREs & Boosters as being integral parts of the foundation that helps to keep our fine castle together by promoting the West Way.

Please join Mr. Peter Monaghan, Principal, Glenbard West, and Dr. David Larson, Superintendent of Glenbard District 87, as we kick off a new year of parent-school-student collaboration. Sign-ups for committee opportunities will be available to parents.

We are excited to welcome Andy Duran, Executive Director of LEAD as our guest speaker.

Andy Duran has served as the Executive Director of both LEAD* and the SpeakUP! Prevention Coalition since May 2012.  Andy is passionate about youth. Equipped with years of experience working with youth and a new approach to drug prevention, Andy hopes to successfully position LEAD to make a positive impact on the behavior of youth in the community.  Andy hopes that, under his direction, LEAD will develop into a model that other organizations across the country can follow. Please feel free to peruse their website at http://www.leadingefforts.org/

 

* LEAD™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to parents and other adults and their role in the promotion of healthy family relationships and the prevention of alcohol, drug use, and other risky behavior by youth.  LEAD has served the Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Knollwood, IL communities (population 30,000) for over 25 years.

LEAD also manages and operates the Speak UP! Prevention Coalition.  Speak UP! is a grassroots community anti-drug coalition formed in 2006 to significantly reduce the levels of alcohol and drug use by youth in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood.  The coalition is funded in part by a federal Drug Free Communities grant and has volunteer members from all sectors of the community.  Speak UP! is specifically focused on reducing alcohol, marijuana, and prescription/over-the-counter drug use by youth and has established logic models and detailed strategic action plans to do so.

3 Great Upcoming Events this month over a two day period. Mark your calendars!

3 Great Upcoming Events this month over a two day period.  Mark your calendars!

OCTOBER

14       TUESDAY    NO SCHOOL - TEACHER’S INSTITUTE 8 AM – 1:30 PM - GPS SPEAKER:  Dr. Adam Cox – Building the 8 Pillars of Capable Young Minds, Glenbard South, Auditorium 7:00 PM – GPS SPEAKER: Amanda Ripley – The Smartest  Kids in the World, Glenbard East, Auditorium

15      WEDNESDAY 7:00 PM – GPS SPEAKER: Dr. Adam Cox – The Keys to Motivation and Capability: An Organized Approach to School Success, Glenbard North, Auditorium

Amanda Ripley: “The Smartest Kids in the World: What we Can Learn from theGlobal Superpowers in Education”

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Glenbard East Auditorium

Flyer for this event

Dr. Adam Cox: “Developing the Eight Essential Brain Skills Every Child Needs:

An Organized Approach to School Success”

Wednesday, Oct 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Glenbard North Auditorium

CASE Extended Workshop - Dr. Adam Cox: “Building the 8 Pillars of Capable Young Minds”

Tuesday, Oct 14 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Glenbard South Auditorium

*Requires registration at www.casedupage.com.  Free for parents from Glenbard

and its feeder elementary districts.

Flyer for these events

Ten Things ...College Admissions Won't Tell You.

By Daniel Goldstein

Please take a look at this article from the Wall Street Journal/Sunday as printed in the Oct. 5 Daily Herald newspaper. Its contains lots of really good insights about the college admissions process.

WSJ: 10 things the college admissions office won’t tell you

Good information from last year's GPS speaker Dr Christine Carter

“The Psychology of Success – Raising Grateful, Confident, Motivated, and Happy Teens (and Families) ” 

Happiness Tip: Write Down Good Things

Happiness Tip: Write Down Good Things

The Daily Herald has been covering the DuPage County 

Heroin Crisis with a series of articles.

DuPage coroner: Heroin a 'challenge to our society'

Heroin user still striving to 'get better eventually'

Editorial: Tenacity in the battle against heroin in the suburbs

Increased purity, decreasing costs driving heroin use