Founded in 2001, KidsMatter is the Naperville nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping youth and families to manage the stresses that can lead to destructive behavior. This week KidsMatter is launching another community-wide initiative to help support parents raising children in increasingly stressful and uncertain times.
Organizers of the new initiative to be led by Diane Overgard held a meeting Tuesday in the Mayor’s Conference Room to enlighten local media about the program’s launch this Friday. On that day a new website will go “live” in conjunction with a promotion by high school spirit groups during the Prairie Classic, a football game between Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley high schools at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on the campus of North Central College.
The initiative, ParentsMatterToo, was born of growing concern about the drug crisis that has taken the lives of 13 young people in the Naperville community since 2011. In addition to Overgard, community members in attendance were IdaLynn Wenhold, Executive Director of KidsMatter; Bob McBride, Principal of Neuqua Valley High School; Bridget Hatch, Marketing/Events Manager, KidsMatter; Councilman Bob Fieseler; and Gina Sharp, President of Linden Oaks Hospital and Chairman of the Kidsmatter Board of Trustees.
All local high schools, public and private, will be included in the roll out in this effort. The partnership aims to “find ways for parents to better informed on a variety of critical issues including teen drug use, inter-teen harassment, stress and the toll that it takes on the social-emotional health of our students,” said Kevin Pobst, Prinicipal of Naperville North High School in a written statement.
Parents count
Recognizing the key role parents play in raising resilient young people, ParentMatterToo seeks to provide parents with a number of sustainable resources to help them learn about and address at-risk behavior.
In addition to the awareness activities at the Neuqua Valley vs. Waubonsie Valley this Friday, ParentsMatterToo will be promoted during the Wes Spencer Crosstown Classic footall game between Naperville Central vs. Naperville North on October 25.
Mayor George Pradel has proclaimed October ParentsMatterToo month in the City of Naperville.
“Residents can expect to see news of ParentsMatterToo in area schools, churches and community organizations throughout the month,” Overgard noted. “This is truly a community-wide drive to make parents aware that they are not alone, there are resources to help.”
The program is funded by a $24,000 grant from the City of Naperville and other contributions by area business sponsors.
City Councilman Bob Fieseler, who sits on the KidsMatter Board of Trustees, explained that the City Council l is concerned about what appears to be an increase in drug use and suicides among our young people.
“We hope allocating some funds ($50,000) to local organizations like KidsMatter will prompt some creative thinking to address this tragedy.” Fieseler said, opining that parents play a critical role, offering personal experiences to the conversation.
“If parents did nothing more than get rid of their own unused medications, we could have a tremendous impact,” Fieseler said. “The ParentsMatterToo solution seeks to promote better connections between parents and kids by equipping them with tools to effectively re-engage and helping them understand the importance of staying engaged.”
Led by Overgard, a published author and frequent speaker on parenting issues, with the support of KidsMatter Trustees, Naperville North High School Principal Pobst, Neuqua Valley High School Principal McBride and Linden Oaks Hospital, ParentsMatterToo will offer a three-pronged approach to helping parents gain reliable information regarding substance abuse, suicide and other destructive behaviors, social issues, stress, anxiety and depression, while empowering them through peer and professional support to challenge effectively destructive behaviors in their children.
“According to Drug-Free America, 67 percent of teens say parents—not their peers or the media—have the biggest influence on their decision to stay drug-free,” said Kidsmatter Executive Director IdaLynn Wenhold.
“We also know studies show that initially, parents are more likely to seek information from other parents and the Internet before approaching professionals, school officials or their faith community leaders. That’s why the initiative was designed with three key components to address what parents need,” Wenhold added.
New interactive website, www.parentsmattertoo.org, will be launched Oct. 11
The interactive website will feature written as well as videotaped local professionals’ answers to nearly 100 frequently asked questions, explained Overgard after the morning’s conversation.
Contact information for each expert will be available on the site. Another component of the project will offer guided Parent Conversation Circles held throughout the community. On the site, parents will see where conversation groups are being hosted and can inquire about joining or starting a circle. A calendar of speaker programs on related issues will also be available on the website.
“KidsMatter has created ParentsMatterToo as a network of connected parents committed to providing nonjudgmental opportunities to share struggles, provide support and offer parents a safe environment to discuss at-risk situations and be strengthened to challenge our children’s choices,” noted Sharp.
“ParentsMatterToo will equip parents to help their kids successfully navigate the challenges of everyday life so they can say ‘no’ to destructive choices and ‘yes’ to realizing endless possibilities,” Sharp said.
KidsMatter
KidsMatter is a Naperville-based not-for-profit organization that equips youth and families with tools to manage the stress of everyday life through dynamic school and community programs, practical education, resources and youth recognition. KidsMatter harnesses the power of partnership with parents, educators and an extensive network of community resources to help kids and families thrive. For more information on ParentsMatterToo visit www.parentsmattertoo.org or www.kidsmatter2us.org.
