ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

Keeping children off drugs is a community effort and volunteer leaders are still needed for Project CHARLIE training. A workshop will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson.

Project CHARLIE is a national program that trains community volunteers to teach drug prevention techniques to second and fourth grade students. CHARLIE is an acronym for CHemical Abuse Resolution Lies In Education.

In the past, Project CHARLIE volunteers have visited every second and fourth grade classroom in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson school districts. However, not enough people participated last year to meet that goal, said sponsor Jana Jateff.

New volunteers will learn the history of the project and what is expected during a classroom session, Jateff said.

Project CHARLIE began in 1985 as a national program. Community leaders, civic club members and parent volunteers spend about 30 minutes each week in a classroom teaching students how to battle drug abuse. The lessons emphasize individual abilities and special skills while teaching about self-esteem, peer pressure, decision-making and consequences.

"They'll go through the plans themselves so they can experience what it's like," Jateff said.

For more information, call Jana Jateff at 651-4103 or Pam Brown at 243-8070.