News : Take Charge: VS students attend conference on substance abuse

High school students from Belle Plaine and Vinton-Shellsburg attended the ASAC Take Charge Conference this year in Cedar Rapids. All of the students that attended were part of advocacy groups that exist in their high schools. The students learned about leading their advocacy groups, myths and facts of different drugs, changing the community they live in, and how to present information to their city councils, just to name a few things. Students left the conference ready to reduce drug use in their schools and community by making active changes to the world they live in. One Vinton-Shellsburg student commented that “(The conference) was fun and it was very interesting to meet all the other people who actually want this (drug use) all to stop in their communities.” Thanks to the advisors of the groups: Sarah Kirschbaum (VS), Megan Albertsen (VS), Emily Schulte (BC), Bob Yilek (BP), and Laura Ridout (BP) for working with the kids daily and taking time to help them attend the conference. All of the advocacy groups have had meetings for the year and are implementing activities related to their goals. BOOM (Bobcats Offering Others Motivation, Benton Community), is writing an email that will be sent to all classmates and teachers. The email will contain information about suicide prevention and will also have some positive quotes or pictures in. Reality Check (Vinton-Shellsburg) is working on handing out cards with positive messages in honor of suicide prevention awareness month. Win With Wellness (Belle Plaine) was able to attend the conference for the first time this year. They are excited to implement some of the ideas they learned at the event.