March 26, 2008, Derry, NH --- The Community Alliance for Teen Safety (CATS) announces the winners of the Community Contest for Prevention and Planning, a community-based contest to help determine potential program models for strengthening youth and families.  Participants were asked to comment on what they believed was the single greatest threat facing the greater Derry community in terms of youth, families and substance abuse. They were then asked to review a list of programs currently modeled in other parts of the country and identify which program they thought was best suited to address the threat or problem identified.  Winners were identified in adult and youth categories and will be recognized at the upcoming Town Hall Meeting for Preventing Underage Drinking on April 2, 2008 at the Marion Gerrish Community Center in Derry.  The adult winner will receive a gift card for $500 worth of groceries and the youth winner will receive an iPhone.   Contest sponsors are Hannafords of Derry, Wal-Mart of Derry and Liberty Mutual of Londonderry.

Cathy Silverman of Derry is the adult winner. She recommended the Across Ages program. Across Ages is a mentoring initiative targeting youth 9 to 13 years of age. It includes four components; elders mentoring youth, youth performing community service, youth participating in a life skills/problem-solving curriculum, and monthly activities for family members. The goal is to enhance the resiliency of children in order to promote positive development and prevent them from engaging in high-risk behaviors such as substance use, early sexual activity, or violence. Across Ages is an initiative of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Maddie Smith of Windham, a freshman at Salem High School is the youth winner. Maddie recommended the Keep a Clear Mind (KACM) program. Keep a Clear Mind (KACM) is a take-home drug education program for upper elementary school students, 8 to 12 years of age, and their parents. It is designed to influence known risk factors for late substance use by helping children develop specific skills to refuse and avoid the use of drugs. Keep a Clear Mind is an initiative of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Tim Patterson of Londonderry, a sophomore at Londonderry High School is a youth honorable mention.  Tim supports Project Break Away.

Philip Melanson of Windham, a sophomore at Salem High School is a youth honorable mention.  He suggests the Let Each One Teach One mentor program.

"We were really pleased with the participation," says Sue Center, Executive Director of CATS.  This contest was a great way for members of the greater Derry community to be involved in creating solutions for our youth and families.  CATS is here to serve the community. We want people's input and participation and look forward to the possibility of implementing the programs selected.

The C.A.T.S. mission is to promote safe habits for all youth by increasing awareness of high-risk behaviors, encouraging healthy choices, and fostering community alliances in Chester, Derry, Hampstead, Salem and Windham.