Youth Theatre Program Returning to Prescott Park Arts Festival

Portsmouth, NH - Prescott Park Arts Festival has announced that it plans to revive its acclaimed youth theatre academy program as part of its 2013 summer offerings. As a special partnership with Camp CenterStage, this unique opportunity for young, aspiring actors will offer a three-week, full day camp, from July 15 to August 4, culminating in two performances of Seussical, Jr. on the FairPoint Communications MainStage.

The youth theatre program, Camp ENCORE!, will offer sessions in music, singing, dancing, acting, visual arts and technical theater while rehearsing the fully produced show, Seussical, Jr. The three-week session will also include guest artist teachers, specialized focused workshops and community outreach experiences.

"Each camper will have to opportunity to grow, learn, explore, have fun and perform on the Festival's stage," said Camp Director, Lisa Forsley. The collaboration with Camp CenterStage brings with it a well-developed camp program, and a full staff of professional teachers and artists to lead the summer session.

"We had to place this camp on hiatus five years while we reorganized in order to put the festival on the wonderful path it has enjoyed over these last few years," explained Prescott Park Arts Festival Executive Director, Ben Anderson. "Still, we were inundated with requests to revive the program each year, so we're proud to finally have that opportunity. It is an experience that kids will treasure for their entire lives."

Offered during most of the Festival's thirty eight year history, the youth academy once reached between 70 and 85 children and was held over the full eight weeks of summer.

"Getting the next generation of creative types involved and developing their talents at a young age is something that the Festival is very proud to offer again to the community," explained Prescott Park Arts Festival Executive Director, Ben Anderson, of his decision to go forward with the camp. The camp is open to aspiring youth performers, artists, and technicians ages 8 to 17. Campers will receive a total of 120 hours of learning, rehearsing and creative fun. 

All classes and rehearsals will be held at Prescott Park Arts Festival, providing a beautiful outdoor setting with full artistic and technical support for the final show.

Camp ENCORE! will be held July 15 to August 4 with performances of the final cumulating production of Seussical Jr. The camp will be Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 5:00 with an early drop off program available. More information about Camp ENCORE! can be found on the Festival website, www.prescottpark.org/camp.cfm or by contacting the Festival office at 603-436-2848.

About Camp CenterStage:

Camp CenterStage (CCS) was started by a core group of experienced arts educators who have a shared vision of creating a top-notch camp experience. Camp CenterStage promotes a judgment free environment where youth are encouraged to explore and share their talents, and provides a camp experience that combines the performing arts and traditional camp experiences as a way to teach positive life and leadership skills.

Prescott Park Arts Festival, a non-profit organization, is the Seacoast's premier outdoor performing arts venue, offering a uniquely accessible experience of high quality live theater and music -- no fixed admissions fees -- in an idyllic natural setting.

For more information, contact Ben Anderson, Executive Director, at 603-436-2848 or at ben@prescottpark.org .                 

NH DHHS - Tobacco Sales to Youth In NH Increased in 2012

Concord – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services (BDAS) is releasing a report showing

tobacco sales to youth in New Hampshire increased over the past year.

According to recent tobacco compliance checks tobacco sales to New

Hampshire youth increased by about 5% to 13.2% in 2012 from 7.8% in 2011.



“While the results of the checks were well under the federal SYNAR

requirement of 20%, this does raise concerns,” stated BDAS Director Joe

Harding. “Research shows that lower tobacco use by youth also decreases

the chance that they will use drugs or alcohol.”





Data from the NH Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) demonstrated that youth

tobacco use dramatically increases their use of other substances. The

results of 22,000 student surveyed in the 2007 YRBS revealed that 27 out of

28 high school students who smoked also reported drinking.





SYNAR is a federally mandated effort to reduce tobacco sales to youth. 291

tobacco retailers across the state were surveyed in this year’s effort.

BDAS partners with the NH Division of Liquor Enforcement (DLE), to conduct

and report on the results of the compliance checks. In addition, DLE has

been contracted by the US Food and Drug Administration to conduct

additional tobacco retailer compliance checks.



BDAS and DLE plan to increase efforts to lower the number of sales, which

declined for the two previous years. These efforts will include increased

coordination with local law enforcement and other educational efforts.

New Hampshire Recognizes Teen Driver Safety Week

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Departments of Safety (DOS), Health and

Human Services (DHHS), and Transportation (DOT) are teaming up this year to

raise awareness of safe driving behaviors during National Teen Driver

Safety Week, October 14-20, 2012. Now in its sixth year, this federally

designated week’s goal is to encourage the communication of the positive

benefits of safe driving.



“Keeping our teens safe is paramount,” states Dr. José Montero, Director of

DHHS’s Division of Public Health Services. “In 2009, there were 1,648

adolescents who were treated in the State’s emergency departments due to

motor vehicle crashes. Eighty teens were hospitalized in that same period.

This is a significant issue that all of us must pay attention to.”



Encouraging positive aspects of safe driving includes wearing a seat belt.

In the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 10.7% of students answered that

they “rarely or never wore a seatbelt when riding in a car driven by

someone else.” According to the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency’s 2011

annual seatbelt survey, adolescent drivers are less likely to buckle up

than adult drivers: 57.1% compared with 71.2%. There are efforts in the

State to help increase the usage of seatbelts amongst teens.



We’re working with teens in several different programs,” said Howard

Hedegard, Highway Safety Specialist at the Injury Prevention Center at

Dartmouth. “However, all of the programs encourage teens to be the good

driver that they want to be. Positively structured learning experiences

have a much greater chance of motivating people to choose safe, smart

behaviors. In fact one school that had continuous programming for over a

year, teen seat belt use increased from 64% in a student led observational

survey to 85%. That’s incredible.”



The public–private collaborative New Hampshire Strategic Highway Safety

Plan, “Driving Toward Zero Deaths” supports additional ways teens can be

the driver that they want to be. The plan supports Graduated Drivers

Licensing and increased community and parental involvement encouraging safe

teen driving practices.



“In New Hampshire our graduated driver licensing system does have a youth

operator license for drivers between the ages of 16 and 20,” said

Christopher Clement, Commissioner of DOT. “This license restricts nighttime

driving (between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.) for those under age 18 and limits

the number of passengers a teen driver may have in his or her vehicle for

the first six months of licensure. Taking care to follow these rules will

help the teen driver keep himself or herself safe.”



“It’s interesting to note that teens ages 16 through 20 were involved in

64% of the crashes during the last five-year period,” said John Barthelmes,

Commissioner of DOS, “but they only make up about 6% of the total licensed

drivers. This discrepancy makes this an issue of the utmost importance and

one that we focus on all the time. However, this week, we’re paying it

special attention.” According to the Department of Safety’s crash

statistics, the majority of fatal crashes involving teens were due to

speed.



For more information about National Teen Driver Safety Week, visit the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website at

www.nhtsa.gov/Teen-Drivers  or

www.teendriversource.org/more_pages/page/get_behind_national_teen_driver_safety_week_ntdsw_/teen

for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Research Institute. For

information on New Hampshire’s driving license requirements, visit

www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/driver-licensing/index.htm . New Hampshire’s

Driving Towards Zero website can also be accessed at www.nhdtz.com

NH DHHS - Restorative Justice Conference to be Held in Manchester

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS) Division of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) Sununu Youth Services

Center (SYSC) in collaboration with Northeast Caribbean Institute is

holding a Restorative Justice Conference in Manchester on Friday, September

28th. The conference will focus on providing participants with the

opportunity to engage with experts in the field around Restorative Justice

Practices.



The conference will include an overview on Restorative Justice as a unique

evidence-based alternative to retributive punishment. Restorative Justice

offers offenders options that focus on making amends, repairing harm of

crime, and addressing the needs of individuals and communities whose lives

are affected by offenders’ actions as opposed to punishment alone that does

not typically meet the needs of the victims and their families. Conference

participants will have the opportunity to learn about how restorative

connections can change lives. Communities for Alcohol and Drug Free Youth

(CADY) will present an overview of restorative justice practice and share

personal insight on how this vital program breaks the cycle of crime.

Participants will be able to meet the people who helped reclaim the futures

of over 100 youth through a model for first-time youth offenders that

emphasizes personal responsibility for actions, restitution to victims,

competency-based skill building and connections with community.


DATE September 28, 2012

9 AM – 4 PM


EVENT Restorative Justice Conference

LOCATION Executive Court Banquet Facility

1199 South Mammoth Rd

Manchester, NH

NH DHHS - New Hampshire Foster Youth Convene For Independent Living Conference The “When Life’s not FAIR”

Concord, NH – More than a 100 youth from all over New Hampshire gathered at

Keene State College to participate in the Eighth Annual Division for

Children Youth and Families (DCYF) Teen Conference. The conference was an

all-day learning experience designed to address the unique needs of older

adolescents making the transition from “out of home care” to adulthood and

independence.



“We want our youth to be as successful as possible,” said New Hampshire

Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas.

“This conference is an opportunity to bring teens together, share

experiences and help equip them with some of the tools they will need as

they begin to prepare for the future.”



The theme of this year’s conference was the “When Life’s Not FAIR” as

selected by the NH Youth Voices. Co- sponsors included NH Youth Voices, the

University of New Hampshire Center for Professional Excellence in Child

Welfare, and the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation

(NHHEAF). The keynote presentation was Digital Stories, a unique way for

youth in care to tell their story through the use of images, pictures,

music and their own narration. The stories were created in collaboration

with the National Resource Center for Permanency at the Hunter College

School of Social Work. There were a number of workshops geared toward

providing youth attendees with helpful information on topics such as

getting a job, self advocacy, navigating the college admissions process and

staying safe online. There was also an opportunity for youth to network,

and learn about resources to assist them as they transition to adulthood.



“It is incredibly important that we engage our youth as they plan for the

future,” said DHHS’ Director of the Division of Children, Youth and

Families, Maggie Bishop. “This conference is an opportunity for us to talk

with teens about issues that are important to their future success. We

want them to realize how important it is that we work together, and that

they are a valued part of the system that is working on their behalf.”



During the conference, Director Bishop signed the DCYF’s Youth in Care Bill

of Rights. These rights are intended to guide DCYF and its provider in the

delivery of care and services to youth in out-of-home care with the

commitment to permanency, safety and well-being. These rights provide

youth with a “voice” regarding their DCYF involvement while ensuring

opportunities for normal life experiences. Director Bishop also signed the

New England Youth Coalition’s Sibling Bill of Rights which formally

recognize the value of sibling relationships and reinforce DCYF’s

commitment to preserve these important connections for children and youth

in State care. The New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioner

and Directors (NEACWCD) and the New England Youth Coalition (NEYC) created

the Sibling Bill of Rights together. NEYC serves as an advisory group to

NEACWCD identifying systemic issues that need to be improved from the

perspective of youth in care.