Safe Homes Parents Network

Berks County Parents Safe Homes 2009-2010 Directories

The 2009-2010 directories are now available. If you signed up for the 2009-2010 Berks County Safe Homes Parents Network directory for your school or organization, you will receive a letter in the mail with the web page address for you to access the up-to-date directory online. If you have misplaced the information, please contact the Council Safe Homes Coordinator at 610-376-8669 or via e-mail.

Berks County Parents Safe Homes facebook

The Berks County Safe Homes Network facebook page is now available. Join our network for parenting tips, upcoming family-oriented events, and news!

Berks County Safe Homes Parent Network Program

A program supported by parents, for parents, the Safe Homes program is a parent network to help parents ensure the homes their children visit are safe and healthy places. Safe Homes parents enjoy the mutual support of other like-minded parents by agreeing to follow the tenets of the Safe Homes pledge. A directory of names and telephone numbers of Safe Homes members within each participating school is compiled and mailed to all pledging households. These homes enjoy the understanding that they may contact anyone in the directory about upcoming events that their child/children might be attending.

In repeated surveys of students in Berks County and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the importance of family as a factor influencing their attitudes and actions regarding alcohol and other drugs emerges. In fact, “parents’ example” is paramount among reasons kids don’t drink or use illegal drugs. By supporting the Safe Homes program, the Council on Chemical Abuse strives to help parents in fulfilling this responsibility.

View the Berks County Safe Homes brochure and flyer.

High School Parent:
1. I will NOT allow unsupervised parties or gatherings in my home.
2. I will NOT serve or allow anyone under the age of 21 years to consume alcohol, or permit the use of illicit drugs by anyone in my home or on my property.
3. I wish to be informed by other parents of any drug or alcohol use or any other risk taking behavior of which they are aware my child/children may be involved. Also, I will inform other Safe Homes parents of any drug or alcohol use or any other risk taking behavior of which I am aware their child/children may be involved.
4. I will call other parents for information when my child/children is/are invited to a party and I will welcome calls from other parents concerned about their child/children.

Middle School Parent:
1. I will be a good role model. My habits and attitudes may strongly influence my
child/children’s ideas about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
2. I will know who my child/children’s friends are. And, when possible, I will know their parents. Next to me, friends are the biggest influence on my child/children at this age.
3. I will make family rules. It is helpful for my child/children to know the specific rules about not using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. It will also be helpful for my child/children to know what the consequences will be for using them.

Elementary School Parent:
1. I will teach my child/children the risks of alcohol and other drug use. Because alcohol is legal for adults to drink, my child/children may be confused about the risks young people face if they drink alcohol.
2. I will help my child/children deal with peer pressure. I recognize that my child/children may need my encouragement and “permission” to say no to negative peer pressure.
3. I will encourage healthy, creative activities. Hobbies, school events, and other activities may prevent my child/children from using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

For more information on how you can start a Safe Homes network in your school, please contact the Safe Homes Coordinator.

Safe Homes Parents Links

The following information is available.
New! Ten Resolutions That Show Your Kids You Care
What is Safe Homes?
Safe Homes Commonly Asked Questions
Common Sense Party Tips
Confronting the Drug Issue
International Safe Homes Directory
Not My Kids
Safe Homes for Parents of Younger Students
Speaking Up
Today's Trends
Unsupervised Parties
Why Kids Do Drugs

Contact Christa McCusker with questions or comments about this website.
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