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What We Do
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Our Messages
If you have walked or driven around Watertown in the past year, you may have noticed "Talk it Up! Lock it Up!" banners and posters at schools, public buildings, local businesses, and at school events.
The Watertown Youth Coalition encourages parents to talk to their kids about how to make healthy decisions around alcohol and then lock up the alcohol in their homes in order to eliminate access.
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| Our latest message in the Talk it UP! Lock it Up! campaign states "Parenting Matters. Help Kids Find Positive things to Do." To view this flyer and tips, please click here. |
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| If you have been into a Watertown liquor store, you may have seen bright orange and blue stickers and posters that notify consumers of the legal penalties associated with providing alcohol for minors. This campaign also aims at reminding adults that not purchasing alcohol for those under 21 protects our youth from harming themselves and others while intoxicated. |
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| To learn more about this campaign, please visit www.itsonyou.org. |
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A primary goal of our work is to decrease the level of alcohol use amongst Watertown’s youth. In 2005, a survey called the Youth Risk Behavior Survey was given at both Watertown High School and Watertown Middle School. Its results revealed that 30% of Watertown middle school students and 78% of Watertown high school students report having had a drink (more than a sip) in their lifetime.
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This is important to note since:
95% of adults who are alcohol dependent started drinking before they were 21.
Alcohol is the top contributor to the leading causes of adolescent death.
When kids postpone using until after age 21 they are much less likely to develop an alcohol problem. In fact,
for every year an adolescent delays using alcohol the odds of lifelong dependence decreases by 15%.
MRI research indicates that the brain is not fully developed until our early 20s.
Drinking alcohol puts youth at greater risk of involvement in other risky behaviors including other drug use,
early sexual activity, and suicide.
Why care? Because whether we are a kid or an adult, we each have the power and the responsibility to make our community safer and healthier for those around us.
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To view the executive summary of the 2005 YRBS for Watertown Middle School, please click here.
To view the executive summary of the 2005 YRBS for Watertown High School, please click here.
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Peer Leadership
The WYC’s Peer Leadership program at Watertown High School is a group made up of students from grades 9-12. Peer Leaders are motivated and caring students who use their time, talents, and leadership skills to spread the message that Watertown’s youth care about their town and about their own futures. Being a Peer Leader gives these students the opportunity to have their voices heard by adults within the community.
One of the great things about being a part of the Peer Leadership program is that it is fun! To learn more about being a Peer Leader and to view pictures from Peer Leadership events, please visit our Youth page.
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