Under the Influence: The Town That Listened to Its Kids

by Patty Jo Sawvel

Overview

This book contains a science-based PARENT HANDBOOK and TEEN HANDBOOK.
Materials in this book have been used to train law enforcement, teachers, parents,
and students. Give yourself, your loved ones, and your community the tools needed
to support your youth.

The pleasant town of Kernersville, North Carolina, decided to take a peek at its
teenage drug problem. Nestled in the heart of three large cities, this community
was certain that its problem was not nearly as bad as the rest of the nation. Many adults believed
that 10% of the high school students abused drugs.

However, when the hometown newspaper—the Kernersville News—surveyed 1,706
local teenagers, it was shocked to report that 92% of the respondents
believed that "most of the students in my school use drugs."

Stunned, the townspeople decided to stop waiting for the Government to do something
and to tackle the problem for themselves. First, they took the teens out of the back seat
and put them in the driver's seat—airing their uncensored voices on the front pages of the newspaper.

Then, the Kernersville Police Department joined forces with the News and the
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. Together, they broke down walls from here to Washington,
to give their students the leadership and life skills that transformed their community.
What resulted was the grassroots non-profit Kernersville Cares for Kids and 20 student leaders
that turned the town right-side up.

This book invites readers to become cub reporters and shadow the investigative
journalist as she uncovers life-altering truths that changed a community.

How to convert negative peer pressure into positive peer influence
What kids really want from adults
What it's like to work as an investigative reporter

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798765541555
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	03/12/2022
Pages:	410
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.84(d)

About the Author

Award-winning journalist, Patty Jo Sawvel, completed the Wake Forest University
Addiction Studies Program for Journalists, author/edited the book,
Issues That Concern You: Student Drug Testing, and contributed chapters to Drugs and Controlled Substances:
Information for Students (published by Thomson Gale). Sawvel served as a founding member of
Kernersville Cares for Kids. In Short, Sawvel cares.

In recent years, Sawvel, has trained hundreds of law enforcment officers,
teachers, parents, students, and members of the business community in her "Cope, Connect, Select"
trainings. These trainings are based on her learnings which are documented in this book.

Additionally, Sawvel writes/co-authors biographies for leaders who want to
breath life into their mission and move others to action.

Her recent works include:
2022 BE THE BRIDGE with Dr. Bill Greenwood
2021 SIDESTEPPING SABOTAGE with Donald K. Hawkins
2021 FACING DOWN THE MONSTER with James K. Hutchins
2020 A CATALYST FOR CHANGE with John R. Bost
2018 LYNCHED BY THE LAW with Anthony L. Parker
2018 THE MAN FROM PERU with Fermin Bocanegra
2016 BOTH SIDES OF THE BARS with Anthony Bryant
2016 SHARECROPPER'S WISDOM with General JR Gorham
2015 NO MORE BOREDOM with Henry Flowers
Contact Sawvel at www.ClassicWritingPR.com or call 336.906.7238

Editorial Reviews

Every parent should read this book. Every counselor should read this book.
I wish every school would implement this program in each community. Defininely a MUST READ
to help parents understand, and the teens and preteens to make better choices and avoid
the terrible journey of drug addiction!!! I am recommending this book to all my friends, family,
and those dealing with prodigals.

Parent - Patricia Julian

This book provides a guideline for a community to address the issues of teenage drinking
and drug abuse. The book clearly shows how it takes both youth & adults to address these issues.
Youth need to know adults care about them as individuals...This book describes the process
of bringing everyone on board to discuss the issues. It is a book with facts but also with heart.
I know the people. It's all true.

Kville Chamber Commerce - Bruce Boyer

Talk about influence! The influence of this writer, of the teachers and principals,
parents, kids, and other community folks--all who stepped up to the plate in a fascinating way.
Lots of drama here, great examples of leadership by educators, overcoming
seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

CPA - Charles Amboy