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LOL (Learning Out Loud)
Hosted by:
Boys Girls Club of Southeast, Alabama
Please briefly describe your Communities Talk activity.
The Communities Talk activity that we, the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast, Alabama (BGCSEAL), hosted was a Learning Out Loud (LOL) event in which we partnered with Ozark City Schools for the second LOL. We created a panel of local experts that included a State Farm agent, the Chief of Police, a counselor, a state trooper, and a pediatrician. They discussed the dangers of alcohol and underage drinking, which was interesting to hear from the perspective of each panelist. They also took questions from several of the students, and the students also shared their personal experiences. This was an open discussion for students to ask questions they had and feel comfortable to do so. Students asked great questions, like how alcohol and marijuana impact the body and families. This event was held before spring break at the local high school, and about 200 students attended the event. This activity hopefully helped students to think about their decisions and the impact alcohol and drugs are having on themselves and their community.
How does alcohol and other drug misuse affect your community?
Alcohol and other drug misuse affects our communities, as it is an increasing problem in both the community and schools. We have a lot of issues with youth and underage drinking. A lot of students are getting in trouble on the weekends and during school breaks for drinking and partying.
Which prevention strategy(ies), as defined by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, best fit your Communities Talk activity?
- Education Strategy – focuses on “two-way” communication between the facilitator and participants and aims to improve life/social skills such as decision making, refusal skills, and critical analysis.
- Alternative Strategy – focuses on redirecting individuals from potentially problematic situations and AOD use by providing constructive and healthy events/activities.
What goal(s) did you hope to accomplish with your Communities Talk activity?
- Hold meetings or discussion groups on alcohol and/or other drug misuse prevention.
- Create alcohol and/or other drug misuse prevention action groups (e.g., committees, task forces, and advisory boards).
- Build coalitions with other agencies or programs to reduce and prevent alcohol and/or other drug misuse.
Did you accomplish your goal(s)?
Yes
What challenge(s) did you face in planning your activity this year?
- We didn't experience any challenges
How did you overcome these challenges?
Prior to having this event, we reached out to the school counselor and principal to set a time during the day to participate in this discussion. One thing we learned and will do next time is to request that teachers be present with the students so they can pull aside or stop certain students from making jokes when talking about this serious topic.
What are your next steps?
- Host follow-up meetings or activities
If you’ve conducted Communities Talk activities in prior years, how has your repeated participation contributed to progress in achieving your prevention goals?
We have conducted the Communities Talk activity before and it was a great success. This year we decided to upgrade the event and hold it during the school day at the local high school, in an effort to capture a larger audience. This enabled more students to participate since we brought the resources to them, instead of last year having them come out to us after school hours. Moving forward, we want to find a way to include both parents and students in the event, but during the day and not after hours so we will have more participation.
Organizations that conduct Communities Talk activities often involve other organizations in the planning and execution of events. Please indicate which type(s) of organizations you involved in your activity planning.
- Law enforcement
- We partnered with a local State Farm Insurance agent, health professionals, and youth counselors.
Which of the following best describes the primary audience(s) for your Communities Talk activity?
- Youth
- Teachers or other education staff
- Prevention specialists and volunteers
- Law enforcement officials
- Doctors, nurses, or other health care professionals
- Healthcare providers
- The media
- Black or African American community members
- Hispanic community members
How did you reach and engage your primary audience(s) to encourage them to participate in your activity?
Prior to having this event, we reached out to the school counselor and principal to set a time during the day to participate in this discussion. One thing we learned and will do next time is to request that teachers be present with the students so they can pull aside or stop certain students from making jokes when talking about this serious topic.
Which Communities Talk resources (or other SAMHSA resources) were most helpful for your activity?
- SAMHSA’s Event Planner
- Communities Talk website
- Communities Talk toolkits
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