“Red Flags & Resources” is a local resource guide for educators, parents, and students to share information about the reality of risky behaviors most often facing young people today. The guide covers many substance abuse, emotional health, and personal safety issues and is available for distribution at no cost to organizations throughout the Franklin and Grand Isle County area.

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The Red Flags & Resources guide is a collaborative effort between Franklin County Caring Communities, Grand Isle County Clean Team, and a team from the 2008 Franklin-Grand Isle LEAD program. These groups identified a need in the community, as referenced in the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and worked together to provide an easy to read publication, that addresses the parental concerns and need for factual information about some of the dangerous choices available to today’s youth. Each topic in the guide, for example, Alcohol, has a page outlining the risks, provides a list of local (Franklin and Grand Isle County) resources for help as well as good web sites and books on the topic, and a list of behavioral red flags to look for if you have concerns about someone’s use/abuse of alcohol. Each section was reviewed by several area professionals and the guide is available at no cost.

Our United Way is a strong supporter of the LEAD program and is one of many community funders who helped make this publication a reality. The LEAD program is a series of monthly interactive seminars offered to residents interested in getting more involved and more knowledgeable about their communities. The class provides information and lively discussion about some of the issues going on today in Vermont and class participants also break into groups to work on projects on behalf of community organizations. Registration for the program is now handled through the Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Red Flags and Resources publication will be sustained well into the future through the ongoing efforts of Franklin County Caring Communities and the Grand Isle County Clean Team. We encourage all school staff to take a look at this great tool and see if they can help us ensure it gets to families throughout our communities.