PRESS RELEASE
 

The setting was Mayor Sottile's Chambers hosted by Alderman Noble for the presentation of Congressional Awards for Outstanding Community Service to two local teens. The teens recently graduated from High School and were recognized by Congressman Hinchey and Assemblyman Cahill for their creation of two programs. Program Coordinator Rose Hallinan and Program Administrator Stephan Bielecki explained the programs:
 
"The Awareness Mentoring Program gives us a chance to break the underage drinking cycle.  By mentoring the younger kids a bond forms between the mentors and the kids.  They learn to look up to the mentors more than one could ever imagine and does have a powerful influence within the children's lives.  Doing activities and connecting with the kids really shows how much fun can be had without the influence of alcohol and how unneeded alcohol is." stated Hallinan

 
The Awareness Alcohol Program gives us a chance to try and change people’s outlook on alcohol after it has already gotten them in trouble.  This program is much harder to get results because the influence of alcohol is already there.  Many people who have gotten in trouble with alcohol don’t want to hear a lecture about how bad it can be.  They really need something that touches them deeper to make a change in their lives. This is why it would be extremely beneficial not only to the group but to the whole county if Zephyr Dresser-Peck and others who have had this same horrific experience were able to help our nations youth. Change has to start somewhere. Zephyr's experience is the reason we all took the initiative to start this group, and I believe that we should look at making a serious change to utilize teens like him where they are known in their communities. The input he gave from his personal experience and his willingness to work as coordinator with the alcohol program was essential in the creation of this program. Shared personal experience could be the biggest factor to help others change.  -Bielecki.
 
The ceremony was well attended with Legislator Provenzano,County Administrator Michael Hein, Mental Health  Association Ellen Pendegar, UC Sheriff VanBlarcum, Judge Vosper and Alderman Noble among others supporting the teens.
 
Adult Program Coordinator Marie Shultis stated she had connected the teens with people who could educate them and provide them the tools needed to create these two programs. Shultis credited Ellen Pendagar of The Mental Health association for allowing Trainer Pam Perkin's to work to create the Mentoring training that the teens now use to peer train each other. Her foresight is what is needed to give these programs a start thus allowing them to be self sufficient.  
 
During the creation of the Alcohol Program Pam helped them discover innovative ways to combine their real life situations with prevention and risk reduction strategies to increase healthy decision making. This information was crucial for them to have in order to develop the program.
 
Other professionals that Shultis credited with helping the teens were Chris Dennehy, Janine Ogden,Annie Mullin Patrick and currently Patricia Bresslan Cantine. The teens have always worked with a licensed professional, added Shultis. 

 
Judge Vosper who attended stated, "there are no other programs like this out there, the key is peer to peer. We need to change the culture, adding laws won't help if the mind set doesn't change. We don't murder people because we know inherently it is wrong, not just because it is against the law We need to instill the same mind set into the teens and adults about underage drinking. It is proven teens brains are still developing and alcohol has negative effects during those important developmental stages."
 
Shultis thanked the Ulster County judges for showing their caring and dedication for our youth in attending a presentation on their own time to learn about the program. Now the judges can and have utilized the program to send underage drinking offenders to be educated to the unintended negative consequences that can result from drinking, and drinking and driving.
 
The Alcohol program is held monthly at the UC Law Enforcement Center. Congressman Hinchey's representative, Lori Dubord stated, "Thank you Judge Vosper and Sheriff
VanBlarcum for showing your support to this program in this important initiative for the youth in our community."
 
www.hvinet.com/awareness  Teen Mentoring

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