Beaumont Mayor David Moore, Chair of the Health and Human Services Standing Committee, moderated a session during the Conference’s Annual Conference on June 13 on " Positive Youth Development" in which panelist representing various companies and non-profit organizations offered effective strategies on preventing youth from engaging in risky behaviors.

"Helping our youth tackle the many life changing decisions they must make every day requires a comprehensive team approach. We as mayors must join with the parents, teachers, businesses, churches, and community groups to raise healthy kids," said Mayor Moore.

"Today’s youth feel disconnected from their families and society. It’s our job to reconnect them," said Dr. Lonnie Carton, representative from the Anheuser Busch company’s "Family Talk" and "Stepping into Adolescence Program." Both programs are designed to assist parents and children to successfully traverse the difficulties of moving from childhood to adolescence.

Echoing her sentiment, Margaret Caton, Senior Research Assistant at the Institute for Prevention Research and certified trainer of the Life Skills Training Program, stated "through the effective use of social learning theory and behavior change models we can give youth the tools they need to make positive life decisions about tobacco, drug and alcohol use." Designed for students attending middle or junior high school, the Life Skills Training program, is based on the latest scientific evidence of what causes drug abuse and hot to best prevent it.

"Parents are still the greatest influence on their children’s lives. We know from research conducted with youth themselves that children identify their parents as the most influential forces in their lives when it comes to making important decisions," stated Dr. Carton, when asked by mayors about the effects of peer pressure on decisions that young people make about risky behaviors. The "Stepping Into Adolescence" program teaches parents how to communicate with their children particularly when discussing difficult topics like alcohol and drugs use. "By teaching parents to focus on the senses – seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, listening, and common sense – we teach them how to better recognize changes in their children and the best ways to address those changes."

Philip Morris’ Director of Youth Smoking Prevention, Karen Daragan emphasized that youth are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as tobacco use, when they have after-school programs to go to. Savannah Mayor Floyd Adams said "Mayors are often challenged in dealing with these issues because most of them don’t directly operate schools systems where these programs could be easily implemented." He further noted that additional resources are needed for after school programs because it helps utilize city owned facilities targeted for after school youth.

Seattle Police Detective Leanne Shirey, founder of, The Internet and Your Child, also participated in the panel to talk about the challenges of the Internet and youth. Detective Shirey said, "parents also need to be educated on what their children are doing regarding to the Internet." Her program is designed to "fast forward" parents into the computer age, educating them on how to use the computer and the Internet and how recognize if their child is involved in illegal online activities. "A lot of parents don’t understand computers, but this program teaches parents how to make the Internet a positive and safe experience for their kids."

In closing the session, Mayor Moore said, "whether it’s illegal Internet activities, drugs, smoking, or alcohol, there are many dangers out there for the youngest members of our communities and we, as Mayors, are committed to helping them make the right decisions."

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