Helping Students Strive Today for a Healthier Way

By Aurelia Jahani

For the past few months, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to intern with the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County (UPC) as a master’s candidate in public health from George Mason University.

During nearly 200 hours at UPC, I’ve participated in UPC Youth Council meetings, discussing current alcohol and drug trends with high school student leaders committed to a healthy, drug-free life. I also attended a press conference announcing national substance abuse data in which I learned lots of new approaches and insightful techniques.

My major assignment has been planning the 2013 Prevention Conference for middle school students and their parents that will be held Saturday, April 13 at Falls Church High School. Our goal has been to create an exciting, fun and informative conference. The conference theme Strive Today for a Healthier Way reflects a focus on the importance of healthy alternatives to stress and alcohol and other drug use.

Working with UPC Youth Coordinator Samara Kimmelman (also a GMU public health master’s candidate) has been fun and challenging as we each thought back to our own middle school days. It was important to us that the youth activities we selected for the conference don’t preach and run the risk of turning kids off. 

Instead, at Saturday’s conference middle school students will be actively engaged and encouraged to find their personal passions in life. The students can choose from a variety of options – from a beginner’s Zumba class to a cooking class to create nutritious snacks. In other workshops, students can assess their stress, play with music in a class taught by a jazz musician and songwriter, and write for enjoyment whether it’s a blog, poetry or slam journal.

Students also can choose to jump around with a nationally recognized athletic trainer who serves as personal trainer for the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) or take a stance and learn about the importance of focus and self-discipline with two martial arts instructors. All the workshop leaders will be sharing how their activity can decrease the normal stresses of being a young teen.

One part of the program that I think will have a real impact for students is our closing session called “Silver Lining Stories.”  Three young adults who have met difficult life challenges will talk about how they have used those experiences to give to others in our community.

The conference also has some great programs for parents and adults in the community. Following the check-in and a continental breakfast, parents and youth will be split up. Keynote speaker for adults will be neuropsychologist Dr. William Stixrud, noted for his listener-friendly presentations on understanding the mysteries of the teen brain. His follow-up workshop explores the impact of stress, lack of sleep, and alcohol and other drugs on the changing teen brain.

Other parent options include workshops on “‘Homework Stress-Proofing” led by counselor and author Neil McNerney, “Tips for Talking With My Teen,” and “Current Youth Substance Use Trends,” with the latter two presented in English, Spanish and Korean. FCPD officers and a local emergency room doctor will present up-to-date information about bath salts, marijuana and alcohol poisoning in our county that parents need to know.

To top it all off, we will be ending the conference with a Resource/Ideas Fair with local prevention organizations and youth groups showcasing products, summer activity information, and community service opportunities.

To get kids excited we will have a known DJ spinning popular songs, FCPD K9 Buster (the drug dog and his police partner) doing demonstrations, a jazz musician, and a super raffle with adult and student gifts such as facials and free food at popular restaurants. All attendees will receive a hip sport bag and stress ball.

Come and join us on April 13 at Falls Church High School for the 2013 Prevention Conference -- all students in 6^th-8^th grades and any adult in the community are welcome! Check out our event program on our website, and register today online at www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org.

Aurelia Jahani, 24,  is a Master of Public Health student at George Mason University. A graduate of Virginia Tech in health science, Aurelia aims to make a difference in local communities in regard to health initiatives and prevention.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a nonprofit organization with more than 50 community partners working together to keep youth and young adults safe and drug-free. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org.