Seeing 'i2i' on teen issues
<p>Nikolas Callaway takes part in an exercise with classmates Tuesday at Post Falls Middle School.</p>
<p>Kristin Schmidt works with Post Falls Middle School students during the Idaho Drug Free Youth "i2i Project" Tuesday. The program is traveling to 30 Idaho communities during the school year to help communities deal with tough issues that parents face when raising teenagers.</p>
POST FALLS - Shelbie Hanson saw "i2i" with her classmates on Tuesday.
And that made the Post Falls Middle School seventh-grader feel good.
Hanson was among the students who participated in the new Idaho Drug Free Youth-sponsored i2i Project aimed at curbing teen substance abuse, bullying and other issues.
"If you don't know a person, you shouldn't make judgement and you can be nice," Hanson told the group. "You are who you are and you can't change that."
The project, funded with a grant through the Idaho Millennium Fund, is making a stop in 30 Idaho communities this school year. Last month it was held at Lakeland Junior High in Rathdrum.
"It helps open communications between teens and parents so they can see eye to eye on the issues surrounding underage drinking and substance abuse," said Todd Spear, who is on the Lakeland Junior High staff.
The project is a three-phase approach to help communities deal with tough issues that parents face when raising teens. It educates and unites teens, parents and caring adults to create a safe and substance-free community.
During the first phase, facilitators spend a day with students in a peer-to-peer workshop building leadership and communication skills, breaking down barriers and building trust among fellow classmates. The idea is to prevent student-related violence.
Post Falls student Mike Emmons said he got to know his classmates better through the group activities. Students realized they have more similarities than differences through the discussions.
"It was helpful because you learn how to get along with people better when you meet them," Emmons said.
The second phase involves parents of middle school students, who are invited to a night presentation on teen brain development, media, advertising and social norms around teen problem behaviors such as violence, underage drinking and social pressures.
Finally, parents or caregivers are given a parent resource kit, a virtual "how to" manual.
Greg Sommers, a facilitator of the nonprofit IDFY, said when students learn that they actually have a lot in common, barriers are broken and positive communication happens.
"It gives them an excuse to be kind to each other," Sommers said. "Every kid knows what it's like to have someone put you down and it's the common things that draw us closer if we let those be known. But we rarely take the time to see those things."