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With the help of a grant from the Jamie Daniels Foundation, the coalition will create an educational video geared toward parents of elementary school-aged children, which will offer advice on how to navigate the topic of substance use disorders.
By Stacey Winconek
Since the legalization of marijuana in the state of Michigan, its sales have topped those of the state of California, which once dominated the market. And, while marketing marijuana to minors is forbidden in Michigan, advertisements for marijuana have inundated billboards, booths at family-friendly fairs, and social media — and kids younger and younger are noticing.
When it comes to tackling the tough topic of substance use, parents may feel unprepared, especially when discussing it with younger children.
That’s where the Chippewa Valley Coalition for Youth and Families comes in. The coalition, which has been in place for 30 years and is located in Clinton Township, partners with Chippewa Valley Schools on various drug prevention activities. It also brings together law enforcement, local government, the health department, and other community members to address youth substance use and prevent and reduce substance use disorders among middle and high school students.
“Parents often don’t know what to say, but there are ways to seize teachable moments with brief, age-appropriate input that grows as a child matures,” says Charlene McGunn, executive director of the Chippewa Valley Coalition for Youth and Families. “Parents are powerful influences. In focus groups with middle and high school students over the past decade, we’ve consistently heard that parental attitudes, supervision, and role modeling are the primary factors influencing their choices about substance use. Students also stress the importance of starting early—middle school is too late.”
With the help of a grant from the Jamie Daniels Foundation, the Chippewa Valley Coalition for Youth and Families will be able to help parents of elementary school children address the topic of substance use disorder in age-appropriate ways.
This funding will help the coalition create a film they’ve long envisioned—one that highlights the environmental influences children encounter, from marijuana billboards to vape devices in parks to family events where adult drinking is emphasized.
In addition to the film, there will be three parenting pieces that focus on developmentally appropriate ways to talk to your child about substance use disorder.
The film project, which is currently underway, is slated to be completed in summer 2025. Ultimately, the film will be distributed beyond the Chippewa Valley district to other school districts and coalitions so other Michigan parents will have access.
“Our prevention work has primarily focused on children, so we’re excited to provide this important information to parents and to see it shared across the state,” says Jamie Daniels Foundation cofounder Lisa Daniels-Goldman.
“Children and adolescents need strong support to develop protective attitudes toward substance use,” she says. “Given the dramatic effects on the developing brain, it’s crucial to educate parents, communities, and students. This effort is part of that mission, and we’re pleased to have the funds to move it forward.”