Wal-Mart Jewelry Department does it again! Youth Bridge was the recipient of a $1000 grant awarded on September 16, 2009  to support our Partners Against Substance Abuse program. In 2008, Youth Bridge was also fortunate to receive a $1000 donation from the Wal-Mart Jewelry Department to go toward the Partners Against Substance Abuse (PASA) program.  Without the generous support from friends such as Wal-Mart, our programming and outreach to our area youth would be limited.  From all of us at Youth Bridge, we say a sincere “thank you”!

Our PASA program recognizes that Northwest Arkansas has a considerable problem with substance abuse. Did you know that: According to the 2007 Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention  and the 2008 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment reports on adolescent alcohol and substance abuse,  some frightening statistics indicate that of the 88,000 students in the  6,8,10,12^th grade that participated in the assessments:That 45% have used alcohol sometime in their lives

• That 20.5% have used alcohol during the last 30 days
• Nearly half of all 12^th grades reported drinking at home or at someone else’s home.
• Arkansas youth drink at a younger age than their peers throughout the nation, averaging at 12.6 years.
• One in four Arkansas 12^th grades report binge drinking (5 or more drinks per episode)
• Over 800 6^th graders reported binge drinking
• Thirty percent of 10^th graders report drinking alcohol during a thirty-day period of time
• One in five teens have abused  prescription pain medication
• That 85% of all overdose deaths are caused by prescription drug use
• In Washington County, 15% of 10^th graders and 24% of 12^th graders admitted to abusing prescription drugs
• That 6% of the 10^th graders admitted to abusing over-the-counter (OTC) drugs while 10% of the 12^th graders admitted to abusing OTC drugs
• In Benton County, 16% of high school sophomores and 22% of seniors have abused prescription drugs

Funds will provide operational technology for the charity

Youth Bridge, Inc. received a contribution of a $2500 for the Youth Bridge operational technology program funded by a grant from Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation (NWACF). The grant was used to fulfill needs of Youth Bridge for updated technology and performance software.

Nancy Hairston, Director of Development for Youth Bridge, said the funds were essential in carrying on the operations of Youth Bridge. “We couldn’t continue to make advancements in youth services without the help of great organizations such as the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation”, said Hairston. “We truly appreciate all donations. They are the lifeblood of any charitable organization and we are so very lucky to be in a community where non-profits and philanthropy are embraced.”

Youth Bridge is northwest Arkansas’ leading provider of comprehensive care to troubled teens and their families. They provide outpatient therapy and counseling, residential substance abuse treatment, emergency shelters, academic and social support, and a transitional living program for homeless young adults. Each year Youth Bridge serves more than a thousand teens and their families from an eight-county area in northwest and north central Arkansas.

Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation is a public charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in northwest Arkansas. Founded in 1999, Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation serves the people living in Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison Counties. NWACF works with donors to establish charitable funds and supports non-profit organizations through a variety of programs. For more information about the organization, visit www.nwacf.org

Often the most important part of drug testing is deciding what type of drug test to conduct. You must ask yourself, “What ‘question’ am I asking this donor?” The question may be “Are you impaired?” or “Do you have a habit of drug use?” By thinking in terms of the question you need to answer, you can select the appropriate testing method for the situation.

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