Andrew County group plans free upcoming events
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The Andrew County Health and Safety Coalition is planning programs to help families keep kids and teens off of drugs.
"Guiding Good Choices" is a free, six-week free program for parents and teens running from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Savannah Middle School. Coalition Coordinator Jessica Bledsoe said it is aimed at 9- to 15-year-olds.
"It's really geared to strengthen family bonds as well as decrease risk factors," Bledsoe said. "We unfortunately have behaviors and potentially those behaviors turn into drugs and alcohol and then you go down the path."
"Guiding Good Choices" was developed when the coalition looked at data from the last two years to see what kinds of risk behaviors and factors were present for students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades.
"It really comes down to parents," Bledsoe said. "Getting parents involved and what can we do to help educate parents."
Two free block parties also are being hosted by the coalition. The first will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 4, at Avenue City Elementary School, 18069 Highway 169 in Cosby, Missouri. It will include the Savannah Fire Department, touch-a-truck and the drug task force.
"We are doing it so that we can really strive for family bonding and it's free and you can come together and have a party without having drugs or alcohol there," Bledsoe said.
Later in May a similar drug and alcohol-free block party will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, at United Electric, 401 U.S. 71 in Savannah. Over the last few years, these block parties have grown from 150 people to more than 350.
Activities at the block parties will include hot dogs and drinks, a balloon artist, face painting and a petting zoo.
The events are able to be free to the public thanks to a Drug-Free Communities grant the coalition was awarded with at the end of last year.
An ongoing junior deputies program run by the Andrew County Sheriff's Department started in January and will continue through May. The coalition helps the department put it on for fifth-graders in Andrew County.
"It's just healthy choices and teaching the fifth-graders how and why we need to have those healthy choices and what's in the community," Bledsoe said. "Also strengthening the bond between how our deputies of Andrew County are here for your safety and they are here if you need help."
