Welcome Parents!

Thank you for visiting our site. We hope that you can use these resources to help educate yourself and your children. Communicating with your child can be challenging at times, but we hope that you keep trying and continue to guide them to become the person they are mean to be. You have the opportunity to be a great influence on your children.

What is SADD?

SADD stands for Students Against Destructive Decisions a peer education group that focuses on prevention issues, provides peer support, and helps youth make better decisions. There are thousands of SADD chapters across the nation making a difference in their communities. SADD chapters are always looking for extra help, so get involved today!

Reality Check
One of the programs that NL SADD has developed is called Reality Check. It is a curriculum designed for 4, 5, and 6 grade classes, but the special part is that the lessons are taught by our own SADD members. The lessons are meant to educate the younger children about many issues that youth are faced with everyday. They range from alcohol and drugs, self-esteem, bullying, and values to internet safety and good decision making skills. We are listing some resources to help educate you more as you are talking to your children. We hope this is helpful in keeping the communication lines open with your child.

• Bullying Hilda Clarice Quiroz answers some frequently asked questions about bullying and shares some valuable information about the kinds of bullying that may be happening in your local school. http://www.schoolsafety.us/pubfiles/talking_with_hilda_about_bullying.pdf

• Alcohol and the Brain Research has shown that alcohol use negatively affects the brain's ability to develop in adolescents. This site has information, pictures, and advice for parents as they are talking with their children about alcohol. http://drawyourline.com/

• Drugs The National Institute on Drug Abuse publishes information about many drugs that are circulating in our schools. They have information about the common names for many of the drugs, side effects, and trends. http://www.nida.nih.gov/

• Eating Disorders Eating disorders have become common today as youth hold themselves to unrealistic standards of beauty and peak physical condition. Eating disorders affect both males and females. This site has information about the different types of eating disorders as well as advice for parents if you suspect that your child is struggling with an eating disorder. www.eatingdisorderinfo.org

• Internet Safety Today's youth are exposed and have access to the Internet. Here are some sites with tips that will help you monitor your child's online activity as well as keep them safe.
  http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm
  http://www.netsmartz.org
  http://www.wiredsafety.com
  http://www.isafe.org

• Depression & Suicide How can you tell if your child is depressed or even suicidal? The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has information about risk factors and warning signs as well as advice for how to get help. www.afsp.org
  If your child is in crisis, seek immediate help! North Dakota offers a 24 hour crisis line that can get you help for your child. Dial 211 and talk to a trained counsellor. Out of state call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) the National Suicide Helpline.
• Media Literacy Media literacy is a phrase used to describe comprehending the messages sent to us via media outlets and advertising. For more information check out www.medialiteracy.com

Parent Chronicles
The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has developed an initiative that is meant to bridge the "generation gap" between parents and teens. What teens are doing and what parents think their teens are doing sometimes are two different things. This site offers a 5 minute video clip illustrating this difference in perceptions. The site offers additional information and action steps for parents to get involved with their teen as well as some advice for parents as they are trying to keep their teen safe. http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/teens-today/generation-gap/default.aspx