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04/12/2017 08:30 AMRobyn Sneider was just weeks into her new job with Guilford DAY when she testified on the dangers of legalizing marijuana with a quote heard ‘round the state.
During the state Judiciary Committee’s first public hearing to legalize recreational marijuana on March 22, Guilford DAY adult members and teens went to Hartford to testify. Robyn was heard first and made the point that legalizing pot would not only make it more available to adults, but to kids,
“If we open the floodgate by legalizing marijuana for those 21 and older, we may as well add weed to our Halloween baskets for kids. That’s how easy it will be for kids under age 21 to get access,” Robyn told the legislators.
Robyn’s zinger of a quote played in several news stories across the state. On April 21, the bill was withdrawn by lawmakers for the rest of the legislative session, but will likely be revisited next year.
Making a splash to further the mission of Guilford DAY (Developmental Assets for Youth) is just one reason why Robyn was hired to fill the part-time position of DAY prevention coordinator just three months ago.
DAY’s mission statement states it works to bring the community together to build a healthier environment for Guilford youth by reinforcing the importance of family boundaries, encouraging adult role models, and applauding positive peer influences.
“We promote positive assets for youth through different programs we create or facilitate in partnership with various sectors within the community, and we also work on environmental strategies,” says Robyn.
Supported with an office at Guilford Youth & Family Services, Robyn is helping DAY continue work that is largely being underwritten by an annual $125,000 federal Drug Free Communities grant. DAY is in year six of the grant, first issued in 2011, and has four more years left.
“We use these funds to create awareness,” says Robyn. “We want to educate and inform families and kids on what are the risk factors, what kinds of things influence kids, and how it’s important for kids to know they’re valued in the community. It’s so much more than just prevention of drugs and alcohol for underage substance use. It’s helping them make good choices, develop into leaders, believe in themselves, improve their self-esteem, and help them become a well-rounded individual that’s respected in their community.”
Community involvement programs run the gamut from DAY’s annual Halloween Spooktacular to spring’s Guilford DAY week, coming May 13 to 20 this year. This year’s DAY Week kicks off with the Lifelinx/Guilford DAY 5k Nick Kruczek Color Run/Walk on Saturday, May 13. The 5K course takes off from the Guilford fairgrounds to Jacobs Beach and back, with runners passing color stations to be blasted with a rainbow of color by the finish line.
“It’s an amazing chance for families to get together,” says Robyn.
“The color run has been named this year for a mom and executive committee member on our Guilford DAY Coalition who lost her son,” says Robyn of Guilford mom Sue Kruczek, a vocal proponent of curbing the state’s opioid/heroin abuse crisis.
The most important color of the DAY Week will be purple, used to symbolize sobriety and a visible affirmation that youth who value a substance-free life are in the majority, not the minority. Adults are encouraged to promote the color purple to show their support of Guilford’s youth and a commitment to a healthy, successful life. DAY will seek support from local businesses and organizations to fly purple flags to help raise awareness.
Guilford first went purple with DAY in 2015, when 500 flags were planted around town. It was the same year DAY brought in former NBA player Chris Herren to share his potent message of overcoming drug abuse in a free talk for the Guilford community.
Families are a key element in helping DAY’s message reach kids, and as a mom of two (ages 22 and 20) Robyn says it’s important for parents to realize “knowledge is power.”
“If you’re a parent, you have to learn,” says Robyn. “I’m really passionate about the fact that you can’t just say, ‘I have a great kid; my kid will never do this.’ This is all around us. We have to be talking to our kids.”
Also part of this year’s DAY Week, programs will take place at each of the town’s schools, including Baldwin Middle School the elementary schools. DAY programming has great support at Guilford High School and Adams Middle School, but Robyn says it’s critical that DAY’s message begins to reach students in lower grades, as well.
“It has to start at a younger age to make an impact,” says Robyn. “Statistics say around age 10 is where you really need to start to talk to these kids. The more programs we can get, and the more kids we can get involved to just understand the importance of taking care of themselves and making good choices, the healthier they’re going to be.”
Speaking of statistics, results of a 2016 drug and alcohol use survey of Guilford students in grades 7 to 12 indicates that DAY’s efforts are working. The results have just come out for DAY’s 2016 biannual SEARCH Institute Study, which polls Adams Middle School and Guilford High School students anonymously. Through DAY, the survey has been conducted at the schools every other year since 2009.
“The recent survey that we did for 2016 showed our numbers dramatically decreasing in terms of usage for alcohol, marijuana, any kind of prescription drugs/opiates, and tobacco. All the numbers are coming down significantly, especially within the last two years,” says Robyn. “So we have to attribute that to all the programs we’ve done.”
Data results from the 2016 SEARCH Institute study will be shared within the next month with Guilford parents, local businesses, and other sectors of the community, Robyn says.
Helping spread DAY’s programming, efforts, and message comes easily for Robyn, a former Aetna marketing and communications director of more than 20 years. After being laid off during the recession, the Branford native and Clinton resident continued working as a consultant while seeking a new post. She also continued volunteering with Partners in Community in Clinton, during which she received training which helped position Robyn for her new role with DAY.
“So this is a career change for me, but it’s something I’m excited about,” says Robyn, who is also a member of Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals. “My heart is in this. I believe in our kids. I worked really hard to raise my kids—and they’re pretty amazing, I’ve been told! I worked really hard to teach them right from wrong and show them how to be leaders and make good choices. And now I feel really good that I can help other families and kids to do that, and make a difference.”
That said, Robyn adds, “Although our coalition is doing amazing things, I really believe it takes a village, and we really need more help! Anyone interested in joining our efforts—in whatever capacity—should contact me.”
To learn more about or contribute to the efforts of Guilford DAY, contact Robyn Sneider of DAY at sneiderr@ci.guilford.ct.us or 203-453-8047. Registration for the 5k Nick Kruczek Color Run/Walk on Saturday, May 13 is available at www.lifelinx.org or at the DAY website, www.itsworthitguilford.org. More information is also available the Guilford DAY Facebook page.