Community Corner
STEPS Makes Strides in Awareness With Spring Campaign
STEPS Parents Committee picks up the pace in a strong spring media campaign to reach all parents in the community, the most vital sector in Southington's Town-Wide Efforts to Promote the Success of our youth who are society's hope for the future.
As a follow up to our two-part series in April 2011, one which looked at and , we zoomed in for an update on the progress of STEPS in its most recent initiatives.
STEPS is a Southington community coalition with a mission aimed at growing great children. STEPS is an acronym for Southington's Town-wide Effort to Promote Success.
It also describes the nature of its vision as a series of steps over time, rather than a quick fix. STEPS is made up of students, parents, educators, media, clergy, law enforcement representatives, business members and other community stakeholders all dedicated to its singular long-term purpose.
STEPS has inspired a legion of committed volunteers who understand the unmistakably clear realities of the startling extent of teenage drinking in Southington revealed in survey-based statistical findings, the specific dangers and long-term negative impact of underage drinking and the Connecticut Social Host Law of 2007 which prohibits serving or allowing possession of alcohol to minors, with or without parent's permission, and subjects violators to fines, jail time and loss of homeowner’s insurance.
Details of surveys are available in the above referenced links and have awakened an otherwise safe and secure community to the serious hazards of inaction.
STEPS' Parents Committee, headed by Sue Walbert of Wheeler Clinic’s Prevention, Wellness and Recovery program, has held a series of talks with numerous parent groups since September 2008 to educate and increase awareness and vigilance of the activities of children, particularly in grades 6 through 12.
The parent meetings were productive and served to vitalize the enthusiasm of dedicated parent committee members such as Teresa Soltys, Lisa Mason and Beth Pestillo, along with David Harrington.
Together they developed creative strategies and specific targets for a spring media campaign designed to capture the interest and raise the antennae of parents during the spring season of proms, graduations and parties.
The campaign that emerged, dubbed “Sticker Shock” serves to alert parents to underage drinking by putting bright stickers on pizza boxes, florists’ corsages, rented formal wear, Dunkin' Donuts boxes in addition to publicity including a billboard sign on the Town Green.
The cooperation of the businesses involved put the campaign over the top, said Walbert.
STEPS Youth Prevention Coordinator, Kelly Berkmoes, notes that STEPS' website and publicity makes positive suggestions that the prom and graduation party season be celebrated with smoothies, ice cream sodas, pink lemonade or your favorite iced tea.
The positive progress of STEPS is clear.
“Southington’s Coalition is way ahead of other Connecticut coalitions,” said Walbert, adding that Southington Youth Services Director Sue Saucier and Berkmoes have been invited to meet with the Hamden coalition next week to share with them specific action being taken by STEPS. Saucier is also Vice-Chairperson of STEPS’ executive committee.
Because STEPS is a coalition that depends on Town-wide Effort, three suggestions are offered as to how you can help:
1. Contact STEPS at their website linked above.
2. Email this story to someone who should be informed about STEPS.
3. Attend and invite someone to join you at a special presentation for parents of children in grades 6 - 12 on Thursday, May 26, at 7:00 pm at the St. Dominic Community Learning Center at 1050 Flanders Road.
STEPS speakers include Sue Saucier, Steve Nyerick, Guidance Director at DePaolo Middle School and Sue Walbert. Admission is free. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.
