"How do you use the results of the Minnesota Student Survey?", they ask. Let me count the ways...

We all love statistics, right? Actually, I have found that I really don't mind them so much if I give them away. We've all experienced the frustration of the academic argument "you can make statistics say whatever you want" and then prepare to defend our interpretation of what they appear to say. Instead of selling my interpretation of our local statistics, I supply the stats to several committees within the Princeton schools and also the Princeton Community Health Advisory Committee (CHAC).

The committees within the schools are the Student Assistance Teams (SAT) and the district level Administrative/Leadership Team. SAT uses the stats to confirm what they are seeing in referrals, to plan ahead for alternative programming and to develop better strategies for current programming.

The district level Administrative/Leadership Team uses the stats for K-12 curriculum planning, evaluation and policy revision. One example of a curriculum change, in part due to concern about local statistics regarding early onset of sexual activity, was the addition of the peer taught program entitled, "Projects 4 Teens." Another example of policy change was a complete revamping of our tobacco policy. Too many students were having repeated offenses and we wanted to reinforce the consequences with education and cessation referrals.

The committee however, that is especially effective at linking school and community issues is the Community Health Advisory Committee (CHAC). This committee makes up quite a thorough cross section of the community. Twenty-four people represent city, county, education, medicine, law enforcement, students, business, civic organizations, religious organizations, media and treatment services in the area. CHAC has been in existence for eleven years. Its mission is "commitment to coordinating, offering support and providing assistance to community prevention efforts and activities which target both youth and adults in the area of chemical health and violence."

Time to dig in, put down roots!

CHAC's roots took hold after calling a town meeting in 1986 asking the community what their greatest concerns were for youth. (Sort of an informal student survey seen through the eyes of adults in the community.) Adults were noticing kids had no place for fun in the community, kids were going home to empty houses, too many kids were hanging out at the malls, etc., etc. Sound familiar? Well, CHAC decided to dig in. It began a youth development program that resulted in opening a youth center. With the advent of such a big project, CHAC enlisted donations from local civic organizations to continue their efforts. Unfortunately, the youth center closed after three years due to lack of sustained funding, but CHAC went back to the drawing board.

Since 1989, CHAC has looked at the results of each student survey and chosen to develop their annual goals around those items they believe they can best address in the community.

For example, one member asked us to consider modeling a local project, "Princeton Loves Its Kids" (PLIK), after that of Eden Prairie. Her reasoning was, "prevention begins long before the use of chemicals." If our student survey says kids think we don't care, let's show them that we do. Thus began the first annual PLIK project. Local organizations have been very generous for six years now and the event has become a sort of inside winter carnival for the month of February. Hot dogs, chips, juice and cookies are donated for the opening ceremony. Clowns, karaoke, ventriloquists, and musicians entertain, and each year the festival grows. Businesses are now putting up bulletin boards for their employee's families, and the community in general is becoming more creative in showing its appreciation for youth throughout the month of February.

Another project that resulted from studying our local statistics was designating April as Chemical Health Awareness Month (which now includes violence). Again, civic organizations donate funds to the committee and CHAC spends them wisely in the form of radio public service announcements, newspapers ads, table tent ads in restaurants, health fair pamphlet distribution, and pens and memo pads throughout April from a different CHAC member. Each segment of the committee takes the annual theme and goal to their respective domain and promotes the messages we are trying to convey.

Do we struggle with membership, attendance and financial issues like any other committee? Of course we do, but we keep going. Because somehow, some way, back in 1986 a small group of people had a good idea. Some of those original people continue serving on this committee to this day and have seen both successes and failures. Always, they continue to believe that a small group of determined and caring people can make a difference in the lives of youth. And the way CHAC attempts to do that is to remind the adult community that we are role models for the future generation.

Our youth are watching, observing and mimicking adults as they form their own belief systems. Are we listening to them? Are we hearing them? I do think one way youth speak to us is through the Minnesota Student Survey. I do hope our youth are getting the message that truly, "Princeton Loves Its Kids."

Toni Williams has been a Prevention Specialist for the Princeton, MN school district for the past 12 years.