JMATE 2012: Day 1 Takeaways

Well, JMATE is off to a great start! Day one is over and we're all looking forward to day two. Here are our takeaways from today:
Jim Carlton, Deputy Director, Reclaiming Futures

• Funding for prevention has been steadily declining over the years.
• We're now seeing an uptick in marijuana (and alcohol???) usage among teens as prevention messages and perceived risks decrease.
• Recovery services need to become as available as drugs and alcohol are.
• Child maltreatment is the biggest predictor of co-occurring disorders.
• Use of illegal substances and alcohol by adolescent girls have risen to nearly that of boys. Girls are more likely to abuse prescription drugs
• There is ongoing tension around evidence based practices and culturally based services. For example, there are hundreds of federally recognized native tribes in the U.S. but very little research done to validate evidence based practices with them. Many native treatment approaches have not been studied.

Cora Crary, Learning Collaborative Manager, Reclaiming Futures

• The language we use helps determine the response we get. Example: long-term recovery vs. addict.
• We allow drugs and alcohol to be pervasive in our schools, but do not find ways to ensure recovery resources are as accessible.
• The youth and families in treatment should be part of your program's planning and soluctions.
• Working collaboratively helps ensure better outcomes for the community.
• When seeking grant funds, don't focus on the money, focus on the opportunity for better ways to serve your clients.
• Don't flee social ills, try to address and resolve the problems where they are at.

 
Liz Wu, Blog Editor, Reclaiming Futures

• Addiction affects everyone, regardless of ethnicity, socio-economic status or gender.
• Juvenile court judges want to get troubled youth the help they need, not incarcerate.
• At recovery high schools, students are there because they want to be, which empowers them to seek help and support services.
• When using social media with people in recovery, privacy is important. Need to refrain from "outing" people in recovery without their permission.
• The juvenile justice system was created with boys in mind but girls have different needs.

Stay tuned for more conference updates.
 
 
 

Liz Wu is a Digital Accounts Manager at Prichard Communications, where she oversees digital outreach for Reclaiming Futures and edits Reclaiming Futures Every Day. Before joining the Prichard team, Liz established the West Coast communications presence for the New America Foundation, where she managed all media relations, event planning and social media outreach for their 6 domestic policy programs. Liz received a B.A. in both Peace and Conflict Studies and German from the University of California at Berkeley. She tweets from @LizSF.