Build Your Skills |  Want to stop the bullying or discrimination in your school or community? Here are some resources to help you learn more, educate others, and become a better advocate for making your community safe.
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In Their Words | How I Overcame Suicide
~Anonymous Author In 2002, after I had lost two of my grandparents due to cancer, I told my family that I could not deal with the loss anymore. At the time, I worked in the school cafeteria preparing and serving food for over 3,000 students. The stress was getting to me and I did not know how to handle it.
I went home that night and found out that my father's doctor told him that he was sick and may not recover from it. My parents were fighting, my brothers bugged me and I still did not know what to do. Soon thereafter, things had gone too far and I couldn't handle it. I told my mother that I wanted to hurt or kill myself, hoping to get attention from my parents and stop the fighting. The next day, my family and school counselor met with me at school and then brought me to the hospital where I was evaluated. It was decided that I needed to go to a treatment center where I would learn to cope with my problems. I stayed in the treatment center for three weeks and I received the help that I needed. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and put on medication. With all of the assistance I received, I tell people what has happened in my life and that suicide is not the answer. I know some people that have thought about suicide and taking their life because things got rough. I consistently tell people my story and the things that they can do to cope with things and turn their lives around. With my story of how I overcame my problems, people look back at their suicidal thoughts and change their minds. Now, I have acquired more information from the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program at the 2005 Peer Leadership Conference. My father has received the medical attention needed and is now living a healthy life. Although I still have stress in my life, now I have the knowledge of things that help me cope with my situations.
A Teen Successfully Impacts Her Community
~Rebecca Powers, University of Maine Student As a junior in high school, I was asked by my Jobs For Maine's Graduates specialist, Jay Harper, to create a public service announcement that would alert the community of an issue that pertained to teenagers. I chose Teen Suicide. The more I researched my topic, the more I became alarmed to know that it was the second leading cause of death among teenagers in Maine. At that point, I started my journey of creating a prevention program within my school. At first, resistance from my school's administration caused me to postpone my efforts, but after I contacted Deb Bicknell from the Maine Youth Action Network, the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. On March 7, 2006, 14 teachers from Freeport and myself attended a special Gatekeeper Training held at the Freeport Community Library. After our full day there, the teachers and administration decided to pursue the training further, and in April, three teachers as well as myself made the trip to Augusta to attend the "Training of Trainers" training and by May, six trained teachers, as well as the Principal Mr. Edwards, spent a week setting up protocols for our school. With these preventative measures in place, the school will be able to help its students for many years to come. Working in Preventing Teen Suicide has given me a lot and has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I have gained so much confidence, been taught to never give up, and to believe in myself and my ability to make a difference. I know that suicide can be a scary and a hard thing to talk to teenagers about, but I also know that Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "There is nothing to fear, but fear itself." With that in mind, another effort in prevention, was working with Amy Farley and Deb Bicknell to create a product that could be distributed statewide. The product created was a bookmark to offer resources to students on this important topic. Check out the new MYSPP Youth Suicide Prevention Page where you can find out how to get the new bookmarks as well as additional resources to help your community address youth suicide. Check out the bookmark created through Becca's efforts! Have you thought about suicide? Do you have a friend or family member who you are worried about? Remember that you are not alone.
Call the confidential suicide hotline toll-free at 1-888-568-1112. |
Show Me the Money |
Teaching Tolerance Grant Program
Teaching Tolerance offers grants of $500 to $2500 to preK-12 classroom teachers for projects designed to reduce prejudice among youth, improve intergroup relations in schools and/or support educator professional development in these areas. Proposals from other community organizations and houses of worship will be considered on the basis of direct student impact.
There is no deadline for proposals Grants are restricted to one per applicant or school per school year Grants are not renewable Application materials are non-returnable All proposals must be submitted on a completed Teaching Tolerance Grant Application Form -incomplete applications will not be considered.
To apply, download and complete the application (PDF)and mail it, with the required attachments, to:
Teaching Tolerance Grants
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL36104
For more information, visit Teaching Tolerance online.
For more fundraising ideas & resources visit our Grants & Fundraising page! |
In the News | Read about anti-bullying work being done around New England and across the country. How do these topics relate to your school or community? What can you do to make news locally with your anti-bullying or suicide prevention efforts?
Learn more about USM's Bullying Prevention Education Program and the research-based evidence about its effectiveness.
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Check This Out: Network Highlight | This spring a motivated and enthusiastic group of youth from the Mount Ararat High School Gay Straight Alliance joined with MYAN and the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program to examine how to improve health care and suicide prevention support for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered/Transexual and Questioning (GLBTQ) youth. The group created and collected resources to help health care professionals in schools and communities develop cultural competency when working with GLBTQ youth.
The youth presented these resources and shared their own experiences during a workshop at the "Beyond the Basics of Suicide Prevention" conference. Their workshop encouraged health care professionals and other adults who attended the workshop to create safer spaces for GLBTQ youth in Maine.
Congratulations to Mt. Ararat Gay Straight Alliance on their successful workshop!
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Events Calendar | Want to get the word out about events in your community? Please email Molly O'Connell at mlo@propeople.org to let us know about what's going on near you! Events will be published on the MYAN website & in the MYAN News to Use when timing allows. The conference will feature internationally and nationally recognized tobacco specialists on both days of the conference. April 27th, 6:30-8pm, Portland's Monument Square May 16-17, 2007, USM Abromson Center, Portland
Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors (ASTPHND) Annual Meeting
June 10-12, Portland
This national association has over 250 members comprised of Public Health Nutrition Leaders in states and territories.
FMI or to register visit ASTPHND's website.
July 24 - 27, 2007, University of Southern Maine, Portland
October 24-26, 2007 Minneapolis, MN November 8-10, 2007, Hyatt Regency Hotel and Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, NY Behavioral Health Leaders and Providers 2007 Summit
June 19, 2007, 9:00am-2:30pm, Maple Hill Farms, Hallowell
Learn how to fully integrate tobacco treatment into your organization
Consider policy changes that will improve tobacco treatment.
To receive a summit brochure, contact Tina Chapman at Healthy Maine Partnership of Greater Waterville, PO Box 91, Waterville, ME 04903-0091; 873-0686 or e-mail mailto:tinac@unitedwaymidme.org.
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Messages from MYAN | Keep up to date on Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) events & projects by visiting www.myan.org.
3rd Annual Maine Youth Stop. Quit. RESIST! Anti-Tobacco Summit
This year's Summit takes place on April 26th & 27th, 2007 at the Augusta Civic Center. The event is sponsored by the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine and organized by MYAN and a statewide youth planning team. Learn more about this year's inspiring event organized by youth, for youth, by going to MYAN's Summit page.
Save the date! On May 17th MYAN will be offering a school day long training entitled Partnering for Change: Building Successful Youth & Adult Partnerships at the Washington County Community College in Calais. The training will be open to adults and 7th-12th grade students. Click the training title above to see the flyer and get more information about how to register!
Start Your Planning!
Next year's Peer Leadership Conference will be on Friday, November 16th & Saturday, November 17th at Atlantic Oakes by the Sea in beautiful Bar Harbor, ME. Many groups rely on fundraising to cover travel and registration costs, and now is the time to start planning! Visit the Conference page for more information on event registration and pricing and MYAN's Grants & Fundraising page for fundraising tips, or contact MYAN for more support!
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Network News | ~Zoey's Room is partnering with the Island Institute to reach out to girls in Maine living on islands and in coastal areas. They are looking for 40 girls in island and coastal areas of Maine to be involved in a study and are giving away memberships to Zoey's Room for those girls who participate. Once you become a member, you can enjoy the program for a full year - that includes access to chats, blogs and online challenges. For more information visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ndbge5bab.0.0.fbktlybab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.islandinstitute.org%2Fstory.asp%3Fid%3D78&id=preview.
~Youth Today: The Newspaper on Youth Work, is putting together a story about workforce issues in the youth field. They are building the story on recent studies by the Next Generation Youth Work Coalition about the makeup of the workforce and working conditions. If you'd like to communicate by phone or email, please contact Patrick Boyle at pboyle@youthtoday.org.They're particularly interested in talking with people about such issues as:
- education and ongoing training
- how long people have been in the field and how long they plan to stay in the field
- job benefits
- why work full time vs. why work part time
- moving around among agencies in order to move up the career ladder
~The Chewonki Foundation is in search of female mentors for three of this year's Canoe Expedition for Maine Girls participants. The Canoe Expedition for Maine Girls is unique among the other wilderness trips offered by the Chewonki Foundation because of its preparation and follow-up experiences. Studies have shown that participants (on similar programs) need long-term supportive relationships following the experience in order to maintain new-found self-confidence and ambitions. This year's program serves girls ages 14-16 from all over Maine. If you are interested in starting a new friendship with a young Maine girl, contact Genell Vashro at gvashro@chewonki.org or 882-7323 ext.45.
~NCSE (National Center for School Engagement at CFFC) needs your help in promoting a contest called, "21 Ways to Engage Students in School." The purpose of the contest is to identify successful and practical strategies that schools/communities use to promote school engagement. The overarching goal is to create a greater awareness of strategies that are asset-based. The deadline to submit an entry is April 27, 2007. For more information, visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ndbge5bab.0.0.fbktlybab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schoolengagement.org%2F&id=preview.
~Add Verb is currently expanding their Board of Directors. If you are based in Maine and interested in helping to nurture and guide their organization's vision as a board member, contact info@addverbproductions.com for details. (They are also recruiting interested supporters located anywhere in the US for their national advisory board!)
~Support Add Verb by attending a benefit concert with Catie Curtis on Thursday May 17, 7:30PM, State Street Church, 159 State St., Portland. Tickets are $15 General, $12 Students. On sale now at Bull Moose Music, or purchase at the door.
~The Compass Project, an experiential program that teaches job training and life skills through boat-building and rowing, is holding its 4th Annual Boat Building Festival on July 15, 16 & 17. In this popular annual fundraiser, families, friends and co-workers experience hands-on boat building with the help of professional boat builders. Over two-and-a-half days, 20 teams of five people each build a 12-foot Bevins Skiff. Registration fees cover all tools, materials and professional instruction. After an exciting launch at East End Beach, teams return home with their very own skiff. To learn more about how YOU can particiapte, visit their website. |
Call for YOUR Stories | Inspire others throughout the state by sharing your story of how you are making positive change in Maine. We're interested in what you are doing in your community. Tell us your success stories and accomplishments and we will highlight them in our newsletter!
Next month's topic will be Looking Back & Looking Forward: Evaluation & Keeping the Fire Lit. To submit YOUR story, contact Derek!
Youth whose stories are published in News to Use will receive a $10 stipend!
Deadline for submissions: Monday, May 14!
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Join the Network: Register Your Group with MYAN! | | The Maine Youth Action Network is expanding its network of individuals and groups around Maine who are making a difference! This will result in MYAN having an improved capacity to support you and to connect you to the ideas and experiences of other groups doing similar work and to new resources & tools.
Whether you're a long-time MYAN participant or a program that wants to get involved, we need you to fill out our survey. Fill out the survey TODAY and pass it on to others who will benefit! |
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