Attorney General Terry Goddard

Have a Cyber-Safe Summer 

 Summer is here Young people throughout Arizona (including my young son Kevin) are turning cartwheels at the thought of almost three months away from School. Surfing the internet is now likely to take a larger share of their time. 

Click here to find out what else the Attorney General has to say.

14 Teens Compete for Arizona Youth of the Year

            Arizona Republic
Apr. 10, 2008 03:46 PM 

     Fourteen teenagers representing Boys & Girls Clubs around the state are vying for the Arizona Youth of the Year Award. The winner will be announced during a breakfast April 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Phoenix. Click here to read more.

Arizona Alliance awarded Meth Prevention funds from Arizona
Parents Commission and Arizona Department of Health Services.
 

Arizona MethSMART© Works!! 

Ø      There are 1.2 million kids in AZ between 6-18, all who need the prevention message. 

Ø      Cost Effective:  In the first three months of MethSMART©, starting in October, 2006 – December 2006, utilizing the first portion of a state grant, the Arizona Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs provided MethSMART© curriculum to the following:

Ø       Youth:

o       Ages 6-9 = 809

o       Ages 10-13 = 388

o       Ages 14-18 = 218

o       Grand Total = 1,415 for first three months

o       Cost:  $70 per child

Compare this to the cost of treatment:  now estimated at $4,200 per person

Compare this to the cost of incarceration:  now estimated at $75,000 per youth, more for adults 

Ø      Leveraging Resources:  Of the $98,000 for the first quarter of MethSMART©, another approximately $18k was utilized at the local Clubs to implement the program.  So, for every dollar the Legislature appropriates to MethSMART©, Boys & Girls Clubs are able to bring at least another 18% additional funds to the effort.  That is effective and efficient use of state funds. 

Ø      Arizona Military Sites and Indian Communities:  Of the 16 Clubs statewide who are implementing MethSMART©, two of the military facilities are Luke Air Force Base and Yuma Proving Grounds Facility; in addition, Pascua Yaqui, Salt River Pima Maricopa, Aha Macav, Hualapai Nation, Gila River, Yavapai Apache, and Yavapai Prescott Indian Communities.  

Ø      Notoriety of MethSMART©:   Many times we hear that Arizona is last in this; last in that category as compared to the rest of the Nation.  As it relates to Meth Prevention, Arizona is a leader:  When the United State Department of Justice heard about the Arizona MethSMART© program, they decided to pilot it in 20 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the country.  They determined that the curriculum was a unique and innovative drug prevention programs and exactly what is needed for youth in our country.  In addition, they provided U.S. Dept of Justice to grants to three Arizona Clubs. 

Ø      Partnerships with Schools and School Districts:  The Alliance of Arizona Boys & Girls Clubs has partnered with many schools around the state to implement MethSMART© in and outside of the classrooms.  We have many more schools we would like to work with, but the $480,000 grant only goes so far.

 Arizona MethSMART© Works!!

ARIZONA ALLIANCE OF BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS FUNDED TO FIGHT METH

The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs announces the kickoff of a meth prevention program geared to children ages 6-18 on Wednesday, October 4 at 4:00 p.m. to be held at the Barker Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, 2311 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale, 480-947-6331. The focus of the program will be HB2554, Substance Abuse Treatment, passed in the most recent Legislative session and which appropriates $500,000 for Meth Prevention among Arizona’s children.  

The kickoff reception will recognize Senators Tim Bee, Karen Johnson and Carolyn Allen, Representatives Russell Pearce, Mark Anderson, Steve Tully, and Jim Weiers, Attorney General Terry Goddard and DPS Director Roger Vanderpool for their leadership in the fight against Meth. 

HB 2554 created the Addiction Reduction and Recovery Fund (ARRF) and appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund (GF) to ARRF to fund drug and alcohol abuse services and prevention programs through Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (RBHAs). HB 2554 also appropriated $3 million to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) for increased drug enforcement efforts, and $2 million to Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. for increased treatment services. It also appropriated $500,000 for methamphetamine abuse prevention services. 

The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, along with state and local law enforcement and elected officials, are working together to fight the scourge of Methamphetamine use, particularly as it impacts the lives of kids in our state.   The Arizona Alliance represents 21 separate Boys & Girls Clubs organizations located in 68 clubhouses in urban and rural communities across the entire state – including all of Arizona’s military bases. There are 14 clubhouses in 7 Indian communities in Arizona.  The Alliance has 49,000 registered members plus another 82,000 youth served who benefit from the clubs’ programs. We are the only organization which has such a widespread and comprehensive approach to youth services in the State of Arizona. 

“The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs has made it a goal to partner with the State of Arizona in order to expand statewide community-based prevention programs to the state’s children,” said John Heitel, President of the Arizona Alliance of Boy & Girls Clubs.  “That goal has been realized with the passage of HB2554 and the statewide implementation of MethSMART, a program of the Alliance.”  

The Arizona Boys & Girls Clubs have been serving Arizona’s kids in Arizona’s neighborhoods for over 60 years.  Boys & Girls Clubs are committed to stamping out the scourge of Meth in our communities and neighborhoods.  We know how it can wreck families and wreck kids’ lives. We recognize how incredibly addictive, cheap and addictive Meth is. Most important, we know that our SMART Moves programs work and we know that MethSMART© will be highly effective in preventing kids from ever attempting Meth. 

The Alliance will now be a partner in implementing programs in most of Arizona’s communities, including all the military installations in the state, to fight the scourge of Methamphetamine among our youth. 

When:  Program commences October 1, 2006, and runs through September 30, 2007 

Where:  Total of 16 Clubs will receive funding: Boys & Girls Club of Aha Macav, Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Colorado River, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central,  Arizona, Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley,Boys & Girls Club of Kingman, Boys & Girls Club of Luke Air Force Base, Boys & Girls Club of Yuma Proving Ground, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona, Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sierra Vista, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, The Yuma Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club 

How: After state administrative costs, Alliance will receive $480,000 for program implementation.

 Program:

·        MethSMART incorporates current research about problems confronting young people and provides viable solutions to help them handle challenging circumstances while avoiding risky and unhealthy behaviors.   By including  parent and staff educational pieces, this piece  successfully makes the prevention of methamphetamine abuse a team effort for those adults involved in the child’s life.

·        6-9 year olds: 6 interactive sessions addressing positive decision making and problem solving; how to say no to peer pressure; introduction to drugs that harm with  emphasis on methamphetamines and their effects.

·        10-13 year olds: 6 interactive sessions on avoiding  peer and media pressure; facts on methamphetamines and their effects on the body and mind; refusal techniques; support systems.

·        14-18 year olds: 6 interactive sessions on avoiding peer and media pressure; how methamphetamines affect the body and mind; refusal techniques; case studies of methamphetamine users; support systems; self esteem and goal setting.

·        Handbooks for parents explaining the program and offering activities to begin family dialogue.

·        Program includes pre and post testing in order to establish a database

The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs meets all of the criteria laid out in HB2554:  Statewide in scope, Community-based,  Proven track record of providing drug prevention programming to children.

Thanks DPS!

Arizona Clubs served over 7000 kids with their SMART Moves Program from January-June with a grant from AZ Dept of Public Safety.

Arizona Safeway Stores raised $10,000 for Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs!

Thanks to Safeway Shop & Care and all the vendors who participated!

April 2006 Basha’s Fundraiser: Raised $12,000.

Thanks to all who participated!

I’m Helping Campaign
At all Basha’s and Food City Outlets, statewide
       
 

Youth of the Year a Saguaro senior
Boys & Girls Club names state winner

"Since she was 6, Kristina Fryman has been walking through the front doors of the Rose Lane Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.
Now, at 18, the senior at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale has put the ultimate cap on her relationship with the club: She was named recently as the 2006 Boys & Girls Clubs state Youth of the Year." Continue Reading

Copyright © 2006, azcentral.com. All rights reserved.

Lars Jacoby
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 5, 2006 12:00 AM

Alliance Forms Partnership With Arizona Department of Public Safety

Roger Vanderpool, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Olivia McCormick, President of the Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, will announce a unique statewide partnership today. The partnership couples the expertise of the State of Arizona’s largest law enforcement team with the state’s largest youth development program to address crime and substance abuse prevention. The press conference will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Gilbert Boys & Girls Club, 44 North Oak Street, Gilbert, Arizona.

“Boys & Girls Clubs work,” said Vanderpool. “When the Boys & Girls Clubs opened a clubhouse in Arizona City in 2003, there was a 50% reduction in vandalism and academic test scores went up at the school. Nothing else changed in the community that year, so it is clear that the drop in crime and the increase in test scores was a direct result of the Club opening. As the Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, I am absolutely sold on Boys & Girls Clubs.”

Click here to view the news release and learn more. (Adobe Acrobat Format)

Alliance Forms Foster Care Partnership With State

The Boys & Girls Clubs Arizona Alliance has announced a new partnership with the State that offers FREE After School Club Services to children in foster care between the ages of six and eighteen years.

The Boys & Girls Clubs offer foster children a positive, safe environment where they can practice their social skills, develop positive friendships, and, following the youth development philosophy promoted by Club staff, increase their sense of belonging, competence, usefulness, and influence.

Programs and activities are offered in age appropriate groups in five core program areas that include a variety of programs ranging from leadership clubs to sports, arts, games, tutoring, and technology. In clubs where PROJECT LEARN is in place (a national researched, proven effective approach to programming) the ultimate goal is the academic success of the members and extra emphasis is placed on providing programs that assist the members to do well in school and develop educational goals for the future. Proven effective strategies such as Alternative Activities, Skill Development, and Peer Leadership, accepted by the State Department of Health for Prevention Programs, are used in all activities.

SIGN ME UP
For Foster Families wishing to take advantage of the Boys and Girls Club’s After School Services, please contact your local Club to set up an appointment and register your children. This is a FREE service being offered through this new partnership between the State of Arizona, DES/DCYF and Boys & Girls Clubs Arizona Alliance. Please be prepared to show your child’s CMDP card for membership.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS - SCHEDULE FOR MEMBERS
Clubs are open to receive members every school day. Clubs adapt their schedules to suit the local school calendars opening early for early dismissal and providing services to suit Year Round Schedules as well as regular school schedules. Services for youth are generally from 3:00 to 7:00 pm and for those clubs with Teen Centers for teens up to 9:00pm. Each organization hours of operation may vary so please check with the individual clubs for exact hour of operation.

OTHER PROGRAMS THAT CLUBS MAY OFFER:
Some clubs provide other programs that may not be part of regular After School Membership. Programs may vary from club to club, so please check with your local Club about the availability of these programs and how they can work with you if your child wants to be part of the following:

VACATION DAY CAMPS – Two week Sessions during school vacation times that provide all day activities. (Schedules and costs vary.)

SPORTS LEAGUES – Programs for youth and teens interested in signing up for special sports such as Basket Ball, Volley Ball, etc. on a competitive basis.

YOUNG CHAMPIONS – Activities such as Pom & Cheer, Karate, etc. for which clubs provide space and/or staff.