CASSOPOLIS — Cass County’s second annual Smart Summer campaign kicked off Monday morning with a visible show of support encompassing law enforcement, the court system and Lansing legislators, including state Sen. John Proos of St. Joseph and state Reps. Sharon Tyler of Niles and Matt Lori of Constantine.

“We’ve taken it up several notches this year,” E.J. McAndrew, substance abuse prevention coordinator for Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network, said in the Kincheloe room of the 1899 courthouse.

“We’ve been able to secure a little funding,” which will be showing up in the form of three billboards” driving home three awareness messages — set boundaries, monitor activities, stay connected.

She said they are located along M-60 outside Niles, near Family Fare in Dowagiac and by McDonald’s in Cassopolis, with a fourth erected later this summer in another part of the county.

Sheriff Joe Underwood agreed. “This is our first big kickoff where we’ve invited a lot of people” for Smart Summer, a 12-week campaign pioneered by the Kalamazoo Substance Abuse Task Force.

Each week, a new question prompts parents with a thought-provoking statement on a particular topic.

The CASS Coalition Facebook page will be listed to assist parents in accessing current information as well as review previous topics.

Goal of Smart Summer is to increase parental involvement in their children’s lives in a positive, pro-active manner, leading to a decrease in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse, in the lives of their children and other youths.

CASS Coalition will be running this year’s campaign simultaneously with Kalamazoo County beginning June 13 through the week of Aug. 29.

They hope to place posters in 100 locations, changing questions each Monday: Do you know where your kids are right now? Are you sure? (June 13); Are the parents home? (June 20); Do you know your kids’ friends?(June 27); Have you talked to your kids about drugs? (July 4); Are your kids drinking alcohol at summer parties? (July 11); Is the driver sober? (July 18); What Internet sites did your kids visit today? (July 25); Who is at your house right now? (Aug. 1); Are your prescription drugs secured? (Aug. 8); Who do your kids want to be like? (Aug. 15); Do you know who your kids are with? (Aug. 22); and are you a good role model for your kids? (Aug. 29).

Underwood said the coalition exists to “provide a community collaboration addressing the consequences of existing and emerging issues associated with the use, abuse and addiction to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

“Through education, community standards, outreach and enforcement, we will promote what’s best for health and safety of Cass County residents. I think we have to have those four components to be successful. We have good partners — the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, represented by Prosecutor Victor Fitz — Woodlands, also represented by Executive Director Kathy Emans, Michigan State Police, Classic Hits 101 FM/910 AM (WGTO), Cassopolis Family Clinic Network, represented by Executive Director Mary Geegan Middleton, Judge Susan Dobrich’s Cass County Family Court and the Sheriff’s Office.

“We are looking for more members. You don’t have to be a governmental agency to be involved. The more we collaborate, the more knowledge we get and the more powerful our message becomes, the sheriff told an audience which also included County Administrator Charles Cleaver and some commissioners.

Fitz stated, “Summer is a great time of year. We just experienced our first great warm weekend. But for parents summer is a time of great concern. I think about Kid Rock’s catchy tune, ‘Summertime,’ about all the fun summer things, but there are some dangerous lyrics which talk about drinking whiskey from the bottle and doing things to their favorite song under the influence of alcohol, drugs and so forth. It underlies some very real concerns for kids in the summer and parents trying to monitor that.”

“Alcohol use can be very much romanticized,” the prosecutor said. “One of the most compelling statistics it brings to the forefront is that if a kid is drinking by 15, they are five times more likely to be alcohol dependent or an alcoholic. It’s very real. It can result in criminal activity with kids, highway problems, problems with sexual activity, addictions and can impact their future,” from college to job applications.

Fitz continued, “As Woodlands folks know, during this age until 21, a child’s brain is very much in a developmental stage. If they’re using alcohol, it can have a detrimental effect on that part of their life. I’ll give you a quick example. Years ago in Porter Township, there was a girl having a problem with her boyfriend and a party at her house while the parents were gone and weren’t monitoring the situation. Drinking, she got suicidal in her thinking because alcohol is a depressant. She laid down on the highway centerline and a car killed her because the driver didn’t see her.

“Another example, in the northern end of the county we had parents sanctioning a party where the kids were having pool parties and drinking alcohol, which is against the law, even if you’re there monitoring it. One of the girls ran out into the street and was hit by a car. But we’re not here today to talk about doom and gloom, we’re here to talk about positive things which can be done here at the start of summer. It’s very wise to emphasize parents for alcohol safety solutions because they do provide the number-one deterrent and influence. Seventy-five posters were placed in businesses last summer giving kids and parents tips and practical solutions on how to deal with alcohol and be preventive, such as teaming up with other parents. The reality is, both mothers and fathers work so kids are home alone. Calling your kids two to three times a day, finding out where they’re at. Keeping track of who their friends are because that can influence behavior. What they’re looking at on the Internet and their cell phone activity. There’s nothing wrong with that as a parent. Ask your kids tough questions on a regular basis so they hear it from their number-one influence and make their passage into adulthood in a safe fashion. This program empowers parents so summer is a positive, wonderful time for both parents and kids.”

State Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, spoke as the father of three young children and as a son.

“I’m concerned who they run with in the neighborhood and on the soccer field. Insert ‘community’ after every time you hear the word ‘parent.’ We have a responsibility beyond just ourselves as parents to model behavior. Not to confront is to condone. If we don’t confront what we know is happening in our neighborhood or actions being taken by a parent, we just may not recognize they’re acting in an illegal fashion — ‘my dad gave me a few beers back in the barn and it wasn’t that big of a deal, so I don’t know why it’s a big deal now.’

“We forget the spheres of influence that has on other kids. You may think that’s okay for your kid, but your kid modeled that behavior to others in the community. Our kids want us to provide boundaries for them. I’m reminded of my dad’s comment when I was a kid pushing my boundaries: ‘My job is not to be your friend right now, my job is to be your dad.’ That’s important for us to remember. Established boundaries give them someone to blame when they bump up against them” and are tempted to cave in to peer pressure.

“You better believe I blamed by dad,” Proos said, “but that gave me an out and a chance to say, ‘No, I will not or I’m going to get myself in big trouble.’

“Ultimately, kids don’t want to disappoint, so make sure lines of communication are open as often as possible. Statistics bear out that we’re going to have some tragedy in Cass, Berrien or Van Buren counties. I don’t want that to happen and you don’t want that to happen. By us working together to find the best information to provide our parents, gives us a better chance at a safe summer and kids going back to school with their whole class intact.”

Lori, former St. Joseph County sheriff, noted how everyone has a unique personality, even on the panel, where Proos is a “great public speaker” and Fitz “likes to talk and communicating effectively is part of his job of convincing a jury with his final argument,” while he’s quieter and reserved.

“Every parent is different,” Lori said, “and sometimes it’s extremely tough to talk to your kids about difficult things, but it’s a job we have to do. It’s absolutely critical to make time to communicate. So much keeps us occupied. Walking down the street at the Capitol on a beautiful spring morning as everybody comes in to work with their earbuds in or they’re looking at their phone or their iPad. Nobody pays attention to the beautiful sunshine, the green leaves or the squirrels running across the lawn. Cass County does a great job of collaborating and attempting to get something together amongst all the agencies. Exactly what we need throughout Michigan is more of what you do to get on the same page.”

“You’ve got to pay attention to who your kids are running around with,” Lori said. “Sheriffs run criminal histories every day for employers. You have to screen who they’re running around with and have the guts to say, ‘No, I’m sorry.’ If your kids are going to a house, make sure the parents are there.”

Tyler, mother of two sons, said, “As parents, we are the first line of defense in our children’s lives. It’s important to think about how our actions may affect our kids. The best thing we can do is to keep them safe by taking an active role in their lives. Ask them about their day, their friends, activities at school, plans they have with their friends. Get to know their friends and friends’ parents, coaches, teachers, mentors and employers.

“Let your kids know you are there for them, to answer any questions they may have. Kids are naturally curious. Talking to them will help answer questions they may have, preventing their need to experience it. Promise yourself to avoid anger or judgment if they are calling and asking for help. Their safety is more important. Inventory alcohol and prescription drugs in your house and know how much is there.”

Tyler urged parents to “stay up to date on the latest trends,” such as bath salts, spice and ivory wave. “These are all dangerous synthetic drugs with effects similar to cocaine that are made and marketed to young adults in the last two to three years. You would not use these bath salts in your tub or season your food with this spice. These unregulated drugs are made overseas with devastating side effects. Last week the Michigan House of Representatives passed my bill to ban the chemical in bath salts, but they’re still out there for the time being. Legislators and Congress cannot pass bills fast enough to outlaw these dangerous new synthetic drugs, so it’s important to know what’s going on at your kid’s school, in your neighborhood, in your town, in your state. It’s important to keep your local officials informed. I learned about bath salts after a case made headlines in the newspaper. If we maintain a dialogue, we can prevent the harmful effects of these new drugs. As a legislator looking at all the problems we have, a lot could be solved by increasing parental involvement.”

ATOD meets second Thursday of each month

CASSOPOLIS — Cass County ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs) Safety Solutions group meets the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network, 960 M-60 East.

Meetings are open. Community participation is welcome, according to E.J. McAndrew, Woodlands substance abuse prevention coordinator, (269) 445-2451 or ejmc@woolandsbhn.org.