CHOICES continues its positive programs

Rhonda Kalish continues to serve Avalon youth

Since 2002 CHOICES (Citizens Helping Our Island Children End Substance-Abuse) has led important recreational, educational and intervention programs at Avalon Schools and in the community. Continuing Care Specialist Rhonda Kalish is the current coordinator of CHOICES and she works with a committed group of educators, health care professional and civic leaders.

Rhonda Kalish continues to serve Avalon youth

Since 2002 CHOICES (Citizens Helping Our Island Children End Substance-Abuse) has led important recreational, educational and intervention programs at Avalon Schools and in the community. Continuing Care Specialist Rhonda Kalish is the current coordinator of CHOICES and she works with a committed group of educators, health care professional and civic leaders.

Kalish originally came to Catalina in the 1990s to manage the old Catalina Stables. Her experience in church youth departments, school advocacy and teen pregnancy prevention made her a perfect fit for the fledgling organization, which was dedicated to healthy choices and youth sobriety. She continues 11 years later to counsel court-referred students in early intervention as part of sentencing for youth drug or alcohol offenses.

One student wrote, “If I hadn’t gotten in trouble and met Kalish, my life would never be what it is today. I’m a totally changed person”. Families are impacted positively by Kalish and CHOICES. One parent wrote “ I can’t thank you enough for helping my son stay sober and for teaching our family how to communicate.”

Funding for CHOICES is dangerously low and programs have been cut, but Kalish perseveres.

Data and her personal experience indicate that drugs and alcohol are still too easily accessible to Avalon students. Avalon’s popularity as a tourist destination is a contributing factor to high alcohol use by youngsters. The number of children witnessing adult drunkenness in public is five times higher than the national average. The message that drug and alcohol abuse is not “normal everyday adult behavior” is lost on children in this geographically isolated community.

Kalish works with “Teen Intervene” to assess “at risk youth” with early recovery skills, relapse prevention, drug testing and drug and alcohol risk education. Kalish is the one who responds to the school when a student is caught “under the influence” but she also personally escorted six Islanders to adult rehab facilities in 2012. She is a tremendous resource and support for anyone in need.

Kalish will be the one making the pink lemonade and corn on the cob for the CHOICES booth at Fall Fest (Thursday, Oct. 17). She’ll plan and direct the school’s Red Ribbon Week Oct. 21-25 (“A Healthy Me is Drug Free!”).

The Peer Mediation Program she oversees takes place during lunch on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in Ms. Huart’s Room at school. Kalish teaches the mentors and students conflict resolution skills and anti-bullying (“Buddies Not Bullies”) empowerment.

She’s making a real difference in the lives of young people at risk one day at a time.

But she’s the first to admit that the job of safeguarding Avalon youth is everybody’s business. Responsibility falls to the community to come alongside Kalish and CHOICES to keep kids off drugs and away from tobacco and alcohol. It’s much more complicated than “just say no.” Parents, law enforcement, businesses, service groups and concerned adults need to be involved!

Give money (to CHOICES PO Box 1492 Avalon, CA 90704).

Volunteer at Avalon School (call 310-510-0790) or offer to help at an upcoming CHOICES event. Check out CHOICES Facebook page, or the website www.catalinachoices.org .

Ask questions? Make a commitment to helping young people who are already smoking, drinking or doing drugs before their lives are permanently ruined. Help the youngest and most vulnerable develop to healthier lifestyles.