Community Caring Conference set for Friday

The 18th annual Community Caring Conference will begin with registration and welcome from 8 to 8:35 a.m. Friday at Southeast Missouri State University Glenn Auditorium. The topic is alcohol and substance abuse awareness.

In 1995 the council became one of Missouri's first state community partnerships. With 21 partnerships working to identify and address local issues and concerns, the council facilitates community networking and collaboration to support communities in developing and providing resources to help empower individuals and families to meet life's challenges.

Dr. Tim Crowley, psychotherapist, consultant and motivational speaker, believes it is not enough to ask teens to stay away from drugs and alcohol and that showing them there are positive things they can do for themselves and others is important. Crowley will speak on two topics. The first, "What Should You Know?", will be presented from 8:35 to 9:45 a.m. The second, "Where Do We Go From Here?", will be presented from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m.

Painting the Community Picture will be held from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Presenters from Southeast Missouri Hospital Emergency Services, SEMO Drug Task Force, Cape Girardeau County Juvenile Office and Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office will evaluate problems we now have. A lunch break will follow with an hour long program on marketing messages we send to teens beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The program "Youth with Vision" will overview two marketing programs on raising awareness of the dangers of substance abuse and encouraging teens to express reasons for declining alcohol and other substances along with specifics on items being sold to our teens.

A section on community response will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., with speakers from Gibson Recovery Center, Cape Girardeau County Probation and Parole, Cape Girardeau County Health Department and Southeast Missouri State University Center for Health and Counseling.

Closing remarks and an evaluation will be held from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

Individuals concerned about the community, alcohol and substance abuse in their neighborhood and the media's impact on teens should contact Kay Azuma at the Community Caring Council at 651-3747, extension 104.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133