[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 203 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CRITICAL CARE FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, many of us understand that our children are 
our most precious resource. The young people of today certainly are the 
leaders of tomorrow. We want them to grow to adulthood with a stable 
support system so that they in turn can understand the value of help to 
those in need of it, even when they will not admit it.
  AuSable Valley Community Mental Health Services, under the direction 
of Peggy Hendrickson, has established the AuSable Valley High Risk 
Youth Diversion-Middle School Success Program to help children in area 
middle schools who are at high risk for substance abuse, delinquency, 
and school dropout. Efforts are targeted toward helping children at a 
formative age when they can recover from a momentary misdirection in 
their personal outlook. Those students with high incidence of school 
absenteeism and other high-risk indicators, such as several 
disciplinary referrals, school failure, peer conflict, or a history of 
family problems, are selected for the care that this program can 
provide.
  The program helps build personal values and offers a support system. 
Certainly direct contact with the students is offered. But group 
enrichment activities, home visits with parents or guardians, and 
providing liaison between parents and school personnel are vital to the 
success of this program.
  The Middle School Success Program started in West Branch 5 years ago, 
with funding from the Federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and 
Communities Program, and discretionary funding from the Governor of 
Michigan. The program was expanded earlier this year to the Hale and 
Oscoda Area Schools. It has been such a success that it was recognized 
last month by the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention as a 
national Exemplary Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Program, 
having been nominated by Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services and 
the Michigan Center for Substance Abuse Services, Michigan Department 
of Public Health.
  I want to offer my personal congratulations to Peggy Hendrickson, the 
program director, and the members of the Direct Service Staff, Joe 
Fika, Kathy Eno, Sandra Van Wormer, Belva Iseler, Darla McKelvey, and 
Lisa Hawkins-Jack. Supervisor Kerry Boyd deserves our appreciation, as 
does Dr. Floyd Smith, the executive director, and the members of the 
AuSable Valley Community Mental Health Services Board. Their record of 
achievement--most notably having 100 percent of participants either 
remaining or becoming drug free, 90 percent decreasing or eliminating 
classroom evictions for behavior, 80 percent reducing or eliminating 
school detentions, and a number of other accomplishments all deserve 
our praise.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
congratulating these wonderful people for a record of accomplishment, 
offering a future of hope.

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