Coalition seeks to promote positive behavior in youths

SALEM -- A coalition of students, teachers, parents and others is forming to find ways to promote positive behavior among area youngsters and deter negative practices and situations they're engaging in.
A public meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the high school library, 1200 E. Sixth St., to brainstorm those issues.
"We welcome people to join us at any point. The success of the program is going to depend on the community," said Debbie Pietrzak of Salem Community Hospital.
The hospital is part of a group that is assisting the school district in the project.
Others include East Liverpool City Hospital, Columbiana County Educational Service Center and the county health department.
The effort began last year when nearly 350 seventh- and 10th-graders in the school district answered a 154-question survey that sought to profile their activities and the influences in their lives.
Survey results: Many of the pupils reported plenty of positives, such as good family support, parental involvement in schooling, availability of sound adult role models and an optimistic outlook for the future.
But risky, nonproductive and other negative behaviors and situations were noted in the survey, too.
Those included watching too much television, being home alone too often or being victims of violence.
Students, teachers, parents, and business, civic and religious leaders are now being asked to develop new programs or augment ones that can address the positives and negatives identified in the survey.
At Tuesday's meeting, participants will split into work groups assigned to come up with action plans over the next several weeks.
Those plans should be ready to present to the community by early summer. The next step will be finding ways to implement the ones determined to be the best and most practical.
Pietrzak said organizers hopethat many of the efforts can be in place by the beginning of the next school year.
Those seeking more information about becoming involved may call her at 332-7152.