Bill Spitzer

P & I Coordinator Parenting Resource Center

Positively Austin! Next month our community will have the opportunity to learn more about how Austin was the birthplace for a multi-million-dollar prevention strategy that has benefited thousands of students across Minnesota.

It all started with a research scientist that was doing a presentation in Austin over 10 years ago about a new way to combat substance abuse. This new strategy called positive community norms, highlighted the good things that were happening in a community which in turn reduced substance abuse.

Jeff Linkenbach, the original scientist that spoke here a decade ago, will share the background of positive community norms (PCN). He will talk about how they will be used under the new five-year grant that is currently in its first year. Linkenbach will also highlight the transformation that takes place in communities that change the way they look at substance abuse. The evening event will be held at the Hormel Historic Home on Tuesday, April 11.

The benefit of positive community norms is that they can be framed around many everyday concerns. In addition, these positive messages build upon the true facts and begin to discredit misperceptions. Once these misperceptions are clarified, people begin to change behavior based on the facts instead of what people think is accurate.

You may have noticed a couple of billboards around town that ask, “Can you handle the truth?” This is the start of our positive community norms campaign called, “Truth is.” Over the next several weeks we will learn the truth about the decisions our young people are facing and what they perceive their fellow classmates are doing when it comes to substance abuse. What we learn may surprise some but students have had a chance to share the facts as well as their perceptions. I think we are ready for the truth.

Bill Spitzer is the Planning and Implementation (P & I) Coordinator working closely with APAC (Austin Positive Action Coalition). APAC and Bill will be working with our schools and community as part of a five-year grant focusing on Positive Community Norms. Feel free to contact him at the Austin High School 507-460-1800 ext. 0361 or via e-mail bill.spitzer@austin.k12.mn.us. This grant is made possible by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, ADAD and hosted locally by the PRC. To learn more about the Parenting Resource, visit their website at www.familiesandcommunities.org