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Kids in Crisis - Insight Issue 31
Insight Issue 31 - Summer 2005

Substance Abuse and the American Family
A new study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University finds that more than more than 35 million children in the U.S. – half of all children – are at greater risk of substance abuse and physical and mental illnesses because of parents who use illegal drugs, abuse alcohol and/or use tobacco.

The CASA report Family Matters: Substance Abuse and the American Family, issued under the direction of Joseph A. Califano, Jr., the organization’s chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, finds:

• 13 percent of children under 18 live in a household where a parent or other adult uses illicit drugs.
• One in four (24%) children lives in a home where a parent or other adult is a binge or heavy drinker.
• 37 percent of children live in a household where a parent or other adult uses tobacco.

Additionally, the CASA findings uncover that the children of alcohol and drug-abusing parents are at a significantly higher risk
of abuse and neglect. These parents are 3 times likelier to abuse their children and 4 times likelier to neglect them than parents
who do not abuse substances. Children in homes with parents who abuse substances are more likely to suffer emotional issues, including depression, anxiety and behavior problems; they are also at increased risk of accidents, injuries and academic failure.

“Clearly, the effects of substance abuse are extensive and prolonged,” says Shari Shapiro, Executive Director of Kids in Crisis. “The findings from this report should show parents they have no ‘wiggle room’ on why they should not abuse alcohol, smoke or use drugs.”

David's Treasure Tree Grows at KIC
In late May, the doors swung openon the Kids in Crisis branch of David’s Treasure Tree, a toy closet full of games, toys, art supplies, stuffed animals and sports equipment, available to the children staying temporarily at the Teen House and Nursery facilities at Kids in Crisis (KIC). Children staying at KIC often come with nothing more than the clothes on their back, amidst a family struggle with issues including abuse, neglect, addiction, conflict, economic hardship and more. Each boy and girl who comes to KIC to deal with family issues and individual struggles will be given the chance to select an item from the Treasure Tree to call their own, providing them with comfort or encouraging a special interestduringtheir time at KIC.

Named in memory of David Bennett Kanarek, a Greenwich teen who lost his fight with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 2000, the KIC branch of David’s Treasure Tree is modeled after one opened at The Stamford Hospital in 2003. The development of both Treasure Trees has been spearheaded by State Representative Christel Truglia (D-Stamford), a close friend of the Kanarek family, who knew they were searching for a way to honor David following his five-year medical struggle.

Christel proposed the idea for the first David’s Treasure Tree after learning of a toy program in place at Yale-New Haven Hospital; late last year, she suggested a similar effort at Kids in Crisis. Since then, Christel has raised more than $2,000 toward the purchase of the items for the KIC branch of David’s Treasure Tree. Today, the newly-opened Tree is full of fun items for children newborn to age 17 – everything from dolls to CDs, paints to games.

“David had been treated at Yale and was able to experience The Toy Closet firsthand,” noted Robin Bennett Kanarek, David’s mother. “Having a new toy was a brief escape from the day-to-day medical struggle. We all saw how it was able to transport him to a different place, away from the pain. To be able to do this for the children at Kids in Crisis – who are grappling with deep emotional pain – is a meaningful, wonderful legacy which replicates David’s loving spirit.”

“This is an important addition to Kids in Crisis,” said Shari Shapiro, “because it impacts our children directly and immediately upon their arrival. Children who come to stay with us are lost, confused, dealing with enormous separation issues. Having an animal to cuddle with, an activity to occupy them during their ‘down time’ or an item that taps into their talents means we can take them out of their troubling world and help them begin to heal.”

The KIC Branch of David’s Treasure Tree is adorned with a colorful, child-friendly mural painted and donated by local artist Nicole Cantoré, who used animals and colorful childhood symbols including balls, trains, and dinosaurs for her painting. John Akoury, a local contractor, gave his time to design and build the closet.

Volunteering Has No Age Pre-Requisites
BY HALEY MURPHY

Volunteerism is an outlet unlike any other. In a whirlpool of academic and athletic pressures, I have found that it is increasingly important to take a step back and put my life in perspective. The secret to all this prioritizing? Volunteering. Not only is this an incredible escape from everyday anxieties, it is also rewarding on an array of levels. After years of exploring the ways I can change my community, I credit a large part of my character, as well as a portion of my sanity, to my time spent helping others. This sense of calling probably began as a whisper in my early childhood.

Since I was very young, I have been made aware of how lucky I am. My parents, teachers, family, and friends have made me cognizant of the blessings that I encounter daily, and have also instilled in me a great sense of duty to share with those who have not been so fortunate. It has been said, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” And I, for one, believe that one of the best ways for a teen to learn to appreciate what is provided for him or her is by stepping outside the confines of the world with which they are familiar and comfortable. For me, both the fulfillment of this moral obligation and the attainment of a new perspective came through my work with charities and community service projects.

I first learned about Kids in Crisis as a Girl Scout in first grade when a family friend would purchase cookies during the annual sales and we would then drive together to the KIC houses and deliver the treats to the kids. When I got older, I began to attend the Youth Corps meetings, and met other teens hoping to make even the slightest difference through KIC. Now, I see our success each time we host a day of games or crafts for the kids from the house. Their smiles let us know that our time spent organizing or fundraising for the Youth Corps is more than worth it.

The massive impact volunteering can have on a teenager is indescribable. For some, it opens their eyes to all that passes without notice. For others, it serves as a distraction from the requirements and stresses of each day. Still others enjoy knowing that they have accomplished something that will benefit others. Finally, there are those that merely like the qualities it adds to their résumés. Whatever the impetus, there is more to volunteering than donating time. It is a labor of dedication, passion, and effort. And, for today’s teen, getting involved is a necessity.