Escambia County Children's Policy Council

With the Alabama Children's Policy Council state convention set for Friday, July 27 in Montgomery, the Escambia County Children's Policy Council held its quarterly meeting last Thursday, July 19, at the Escambia County courthouse in Brewton.

Juvenile court attorney Eric Coale was the invited guest at the meeting as Chairman and ­­District Judge Jeff White and Executive Director Kaurean Reynolds gave updates on the Drug Erase Dreams (DED) program, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the success of the Peer and Mentor Program, the completion of the Needs Assessment for the community and other resources the council is involved in.

White said the DED Program has been successful county-wide, noting the council has veered from the traditional program recently, introducing dynamic speakers who tell their story of drug addiction and their path to recovery.

"The schools have been so cooperative in letting us present our programs," said White.

Mollie Pizzotti, a former drug user who is in full recovery, said there is a new program underway, presented in five classes to more than 300 middle and high school age students where each class works towards a goal, with students developing a plan by the fourth class. The fifth and final class would test the students on what they have learned about substance abuse and ways to avoid becoming addicted.

"The main age groups are seventh and tenth grades," said Pizzotti. "The new program will be presented county-wide to of those students during the course of the school year,"

White said the new DED program targets students more directly and believes that having real people who lived through their addictions and came out to tell their story can be very effective and relatable to teens and tweens.

"We wanted something more intimate." said White. "We wanted to look these children in the eyes. Addiction is so much deeper than the physiological addiction."

The Religious Leader and PEER Helper Leadership Symposium in Brewton last April gave the council a chance to present high school students who are peer helpers the chance to see what it's like to see through 'marijuana and alcohol glasses', to see how their motor skills are effected in different games, which the students seemed to enjoy learning about. Groups from area high schools participated in various activities to build teamwork and each discussed events or activities they had carried out at their own schools to prevent substance abuse.

"We had about 75 kids from each high school," said Reynolds. "This year, we are going to junior high schools with the PEER Helper Program. We got a lot of good feedback, so we are going to try to do it next year."

White said the CPC is accepting applications for contributions from the remaining $10,000 to $30,000 from the Department of Families and Children )DFC) before Sept.1, 2018, when the new fiscal year begins.

White said the sexual prevention program balance is at $0 currently, but will receive $16,000 for August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019. White said the amount awarded used to be $24,000, but got reduced to $16,000. The program will end at the end of the coming school year.

The amount in the Children's Trust Fund was $20,000, but was reduced to $16,000.

"Guidelines have to be met," said White. "We try to be liberal, but it still has to function within the constraints of the grant. We try to be good stewards of this grant. We try to get feedback on how to disburse what we have left."

White told members that entities can be put on a distribution list, but that no individuals would be considered.

Guest speaker Margaret Silbernagel spoke to members about Philadelphia Place, a place for boys age 10 to 18 in the foster care system to stay until they are returned to their family, adopted or age out.

Silbernagel has been working with others to secure a building in Flomaton and has been in the the process of establishing a non-profit organization for a year to make the dream a reality.

"You all are my heroes," said Silbernagel. "You all are on the frontline. You're fighting for our children. These children cannot help themselves. It is up to us."

Silbernagel said that Alabama has more than 6,100 children in Child Protective Services and Georgia has more than 16,000 and she wanted to do what she could to help.

White said the New Horizons Program will benefit children in the community who may not otherwise have the chance to be exposed to opportunities of hope.

Our goal is to take on this project and give them opportunities they may have exposure to otherwise," said Bishop. "We are excited to be given the chance to instill core values in these children, show them a better way, to instill hope for a bright future."

The program takes 20 to 25 boys and girls, ages 11 to 16, and exposes them to field trips and activities that some may take for granted, such as going to the movie, outings for fishing, trips to museums or attractions that are positive and uplifting.

Bishop said a location is being sought, where they can meet once a month, maybe on a Saturday.

"We are working on the application process," said Bishop. "The environment will be structured, with discipline as a big part."

A former military officer, Larry North, will be involved in the program heavily and White feels North's military background will enhance the success of this new program.

Other programs, such as Red Ribbon Week Partnership with the Sheriff's Office, Project Turn Around and Project C.L.O.U.D., which will resume at Alternative School in September, were updated. The council meets quarterly and invites and encourages community and religious leaders, advocates for children and concerned citizens to become involved.

For photos, see our Photo Gallery.