Upcoming Change in Leadership Announced: Search for New Executive Director Underway

While we will be sorry to see our current Executive Director go, Betty Frank-Bailey's planned departure presents a wonderful opportunity for a talented individual to join LEAD and Speak Up as both organizations continue to grow and evolve. Interested individuals should email a cover letter and application (including their resume) to edsearch.leadsu@gmail.com by February 21, 2012. For more more detailed information, click on the documents below:

• Executive Director Search Underway
• Job Description
• Application

Search for New Program Coordinator

Speak Up! is seeking a new Program Coordinator to implement the coalition's strategic action plan consistent with its 5-year Federal Drug Free Communities grant. Interested individuals should apply by February 21, 2012.

• Open Program Coordinator Position
• Position Description
• Application

Safe Party Tips

There are many pressures on our youth to use alcohol and drugs, the greatest coming from peers. Parents, guide your teens, especially during this season of prom, graduation and other special gatherings. Establish consistent standards and closely monitor gatherings to keep our teens' celebrations safe, healthy, and alcohol free. Read our Party Booklet: Tips for Parents When Teens Gather

Community Partners of the Coalition

Anonymous Supporters
Child Adolescent & Family Development Center
Lake Forest Country Day School
CROYA
Lake Bluff Police Department
Lake Bluff School District 65
Lake Bluff Schools PTO
Lake County Health Department
Lake County Sheriff’s Office
LF & LB Chamber of Commerce
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest High School
LFHS Booster Club
Lake Forest Police Department
Lake Forest Schools APT
Lake Forest School District 67
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Women’s  
Health & Advisory Council
Omni Youth Services
Parents of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff & Knollwood
Pioneer Press
Small Miracles
Village of Lake Bluff

Speak Up! Opposes “Medical” Marijuana

The Speak Up! Prevention Coalition of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Knollwood urges all residents to reach out to their fellow community members and elected officials to inform them why marijuana is a serious addictive substance and a public health threat.  “We are asking everyone to please contact their state legislators to ask them to vote NO on ANY vote to legalize marijuana for “medical use” or otherwise,” said Betty Frank-Bailey, Executive Director of the Speak Up! Prevention Coalition.

For additional information see our press release and our position paper or contact:

Speak Up! Prevention Coalition
400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 295-9075 

Speak Up! Encourages All Residents to Dispose of Unwanted Medication

The Speak Up! Prevention Coalition has launched a safe and secure collection and disposal program for unused medications.  The initiative represents a collaborative effort among Speak Up! partners, including The Village of Lake Bluff, City of Lake Forest, and the Lake Bluff and Lake Forest Police Departments, as well as the Save A Star Drug Awareness Foundation of Highland Park.  The program has two goals:  (1) to keep medication out of the hands of individuals who might otherwise become victims of prescription or other drug abuse and (2) to provide residents with an environmentally sound disposal method for unused prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Read more »

Take This Opportunity to Learn More! 

We encourage parents and teens to learn more about the risks of underage drinking. New scientific studies and even the US Surgeon General have concluded that the epidemic of teen drinking is damaging to many youth. You can join the effort to change the culture in our community in several ways:

• Speak up within your family and among your friends about the issue of alcohol use by children!
• Join the coalition itself and work on the campaign to reduce underage drinking. Email us to join.
• Sign the SpeakUP! Petition, which indicates your support for the effort, your interest in speaking up about the problem, and your willingness to get an email newsletter with valuable information on the issue of youth and alcohol use. See our section "How to Get Involved" for more information.
  
• Host a coffee in your home, with your friends or neighbors, and have a Coalition facilitator lead a frank discussion about the challenges of raising kids today. Email us if you would be willing.
• Help support the effort to reduce alcohol consumption by youth by making a tax deductible donation to the coalition.
  
  

Bring A Group Together to Talk

Help start the conversation about underage drinking; hear the latest facts, talk about how to support one another, and learn new ways to protect our kids.  Think about hosting a casual coffee among your friends, at clubs you belong to, or as a meeting with organizations you are part of!  So far, several parents have done just this and report that the parents attending thought the conversation was very, very helpful in addressing the pressing problem of youth and alcohol use.  The coffees help strengthen parent networks, a great positive protective factor.

We can provide an easy guide (suggested evite, agenda, copy of the “Our Stories DVD), and a facilitator.  We can share how others have successfully convinced their friends to come.  Just contact the head of the parent coffees committee, Deborahanne Reimer at doylereimer@yahoo.com or the Coaliton email at speakuplflb@gmail.com.

Let the conversations begin!  

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