The campaign is a collaboration between Lake County Health Department and District 112 Middle Schools: Edgewood and Northwood. The Lake County Health Department receives a grant through the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to manage and implement substance use prevention campaigns and programs throughout Lake County.

The student campaign started in the Fall of 2019 at both Northwood and Edgewood middle schools.

The main goal of the campaign is to decrease 30-day alcohol use-rates in district 112 middle school students.

The Lake County Health Department’s (LCHD) Prevention Program has been working in the Highland Park and Highwood area for over a decade; with much of our involvement being in collaboration with the coalition, Community. The Anti Drug. Prior to 2019, the student campaigns were in district 113 high schools. All campaigns funded through DHS used state-designed materials and must adhere to state guidelines. High school administration wanted the campaign to be more locally designed and decided to create an internal campaign. The state-designed campaign moved to the middle schools in district 112.

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LCHD’s additional involvement in the community includes a federally qualified healthcare center right in downtown Highland Park, serving residents and workers in south Lake County.

The focus of this specific campaign is on middle school students (see previous question for further explanation). The LCHD Prevention Program services other communities in which campaigns are implemented in high schools.

Baseline data comes from the Illinois Youth Survey; a bi-annual survey facilitated during the spring semester of even numbered years. Comparison data comes from the semi-annual surveys administered in the fall and spring of each school year.

We work with Community the Anti-Drug you can reach out to info@communitytheantidrug.org or JStrelitz2@lakecountyil.gov for information.

The only requirement is that you are connected to a student at either Edgewood Middle School or Northwood Junior High School.

Check the principal newsletters at Edgewood and Northwood to learn more about any upcoming events and communication. To find out more information about the parent committee, please email Josh at JStrelitz2@lakecountyil.gov.

Start having conversations with your child about the campaign. Ask them about the campaign activities and how they feel about the campaign. This can also help to continue or start discussions about your family’s rules on underage drinking and general substance use. Similarly, talk with friends and fellow middle school parents about the campaign and if they also want to be involved.

This website contains valuable information with links to even more information. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please email Josh at JStrelitz2@lakecountyil.gov