East Rockaway creates Coalition for Youth

In response to the alarming results of a survey of East Rockaway youth regarding their use of drugs and alcohol, Mayor Ed Sieban and the village board have enthusiastically endorsed the creation of a Coalition for Youth committee in the community.

Village officials offered to co-sponsor the program with the East Rockaway Union Free School District, should the district choose to join them in the effort.

“Such a coalition would ultimately include organizations and individuals from throughout the village and the school district, including parents and young people,” said Deputy Mayor Richard Meagher, who presented the idea to the public. He said that the committee’s initial goals would likely include identifying ways to combat substance abuse through education and enacting tougher laws, as well as by multiplying the availability of activities and programs that young people want and need.

“It has been estimated that a six-month period will be necessary to establish membership of the coalition, determine a mission statement, develop goals and receive at least minimum training in coalition building,” Meagher said.

The idea, he said, was inspired by a school district presentation at East Rockaway High School on Jan. 20, detailing the results of a 2008 survey of 500 East Rockaway students. “When [Judi Vining] said that the initial battle to combat substance abuse is by fighting it as a community,” Meagher said, referring to the coordinator of the Long Beach Medical Center’s Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, “we sat up and took notice.”

Village board trustees said they were also inspired by a high school PTA program on Jan. 27 on coalition building to combat substance abuse by youths. “It’s time to begin the process of creating just such a coalition,” said Sieban. “I want to thank Richard for heading up the village’s participation in forming the coalition. Being a huge advocate for kids, Richard immediately saw a need and went to work on fulfilling that need. Since the meeting, Richard lobbied anyone and everyone he could reach by e-mail, telephone calls and personal discussions. The coalition is being formed largely ... due to his efforts.”

Meagher said that recent coverage of the issue in the Herald helped tremendously to get the word out. “That is a big part of what we need,” he said. “If this coalition is going to be successful, we need to attract and educate as many individuals and organizations as we can.”

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