SAFE HOMES

SAFE HOMES

A Coalition of Parents & Community

A Parents Network

Drug Free - Violence Free

Mission Statement:

“Parents, Guardians and Community Working Together

for Drug-free, Violence-free Youth.”

Goal:

Development of a community-wide coalition of parents/adults

empowered to work together to implement the SAFE HOMES project

in their homes, schools, and community.

SAFE HOMES Program is endorsed by:

Pride-Omaha, Inc. and Raymond Central Schools

Suggested Websites: www.safehomes.org and www.pride.org

OBJECTIVES

1. Parents/guardians will supervise all gatherings of youth in their homes or
on their property.

    2. Parents/guardians will not allow the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco,
         marijuana, and other drugs or violence by youth in their homes or on
         their property; and

3. Parents/guardians will know the where-abouts of their children and set
appropriate expectations and consequences for their children’s behavior.

EXPECTATIONS AS A MEMBER

1. Set age-appropriate family guidelines for your children; and KNOW:

* Where your children are going;

* Whom they will be with;

* What their plans are:

* When they are expected to return home, and what the consequences will be if this rule is

broken by your children.

2. Actively support and enforce a clear, consistent, message and policy for all youth that there will

be “NO USE” of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs or violence.

3. Talk to other parents (the parents of your children’s friends) and agree on expectations and rules

for your children and the consequences for a youth who breaks the rules. Welcome a phone call

from other parents/guardians supporting your combined commitment.

4. Provide support for other parents/guardians in your joint efforts to have safe, healthy, drug-free

and violence-free homes and communities.

5. Give permission to the SAFE HOMES coordinator to print our names, phone numbers, our

children’s names and grade, and our address in the SAFE HOMES Directory so that parents can

WHAT IS THE SAFE HOMES PROGRAM?

* It’s a project for all parents and guardians of youth who are in pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade.

* It provides a way for parents/guardians to talk to each other and to unite in a clear NO USE

message to youth that “there will be NO USE of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other drugs or

violence in their homes or on their property.

* Parents will know where their children are, whom they are with, and when they are to return home.

· Parents in the SAFE HOMES program will receive a SAFE HOMES Directory that will list the

names, addresses, and phone numbers of all families that participate in the SAFE HOMES

Program. This can be used to network with other parents. This directory will be updated and mailed

out quarterly, if additions or changes are made during the year.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

* Be aware that parties, sleepovers, gatherings and other activities for youth in our community are

being held WITHOUT adult supervision (or any supervision) and that alcohol, tobacco,

marijuana, other drugs and violence are commonly present.

* Be aware that the use of alcohol has many dangerous consequences; loss of inhibitions,

suicide, sexual promiscuity, violence, crimes, and DEATH.

* Both adults and young people need to know that alcohol is not to be equated with “fun” or

“party”; this is a false idea encouraged by the alcohol advertising industry.

* Parents need to support each other in hosting drug-free activities and encouraging young people to

attend drug-free events.

COMMUNICATE

With Our Child:

* That being drug-free and violence-free is the “norm” in our home.

* That we as parents “ARE IN CHARGE!”

* That there are clear, consistent, “expectations” for their behavior.

* What the “consequences” for actions will be.

With Other Parents:

* That our home is a safe, healthy, violence-free, drug-free place for all youth.

* That all gatherings and parties for youth are actively supervised by responsible adults.

With Other Youth:

* that there will be no possession, serving, or use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other drugs or

violence in our home.

* that there will be regular contact with their parents.

* that the “expectations” are the same for all SAFE HOMES families.

FAMILY GUIDELINES

* Inform your children that you have joined the SAFE HOMES PARENTS NETWORK.

* Discuss with them why you believe this is important.

* Know where your children are going, whom they are with, what they are doing, and when they

are expected to return home.

* Know ahead of time WHAT the consequences will be if they are not where they agreed to be or

are late in returning home.

* Be awake (or awakened) when they return home at night.

* Let your children know where YOU will be.

* Assure your children that they can phone you to be picked up wherever and whenever needed.

* Get to know your children’s friends and their parents.

AS A HOST PARENT

* Encourage “by invitation only” activities.

* Never permit “party crashers”; use a guest list.

* Be a visible, active host. Tell guests who choose to leave the activity that they may NOT return.

* Call the parents of the youth who leave and inform them so they know you are no longer

supervising their child.

* NEVER allow anyone under the “influence” to leave (MUST be with an adult). Call the parent

or police.

AS A PARENT OF A YOUTH INVITED TO AN ACTIVITY OR PARTY

* Call the host parent and introduce yourself.

* Verify with the parent, the occasion and location.

* Check that there will be active, responsible, adult supervision at all times.

* Verify that there will be no alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other drugs or violence allowed, served,

provided, or available at all.

* If the activity seems inappropriate, express your concern to the parent and to your children: keep

your children home and plan another activity, perhaps with the family

Cut and return the bottom portion of this page.

** If you have more than one child (elementary - Jr. - Sr. High School),

you only need to fill out one form for all the family.**

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SAFE HOMES PLEDGE FORM

1. I/We will actively supervise all gatherings or parties of youth in our home or on our property, or

ask another responsible adult for help to do so.

2. I/We will not allow the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other drugs, or violence by

youth in our home or on our property.

3. I/We will set expectations for my/our children by knowing where they are going, whom they are

with, and what their plans are, and when they are to return home.

Please PRINT the following:

Father/Guardian’s first and last name ___________________ _____________________

Mother/Guardian’s first and last name ___________________ _____________________

Physical Address (Street/RFD#) __________________________________________________

Mailing Address (Box, etc.) ________________________________________________________________

City _____________________ Zip _______________ Phone __________________

Children’s Names Grade in School Children’s Names Grade in School

___________________ _______________ ________________ _______________

________________________________ ____________________________________

(Father/Guardian’s Signature) (Mother/Guardian’s Signature)

Return to your child’s school or mail to:

SAFE HOMES Coordinator, Kristine M. White, 406 E. Third, Valparaiso, NE 68065.