MethSMART: Smart Programs for Smart Kids In 2006, the Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) partnered to create MethSMART: Smart Programs for Smart Kids. The program incorporates current research about problems confronting young people and provides viable solutions to help them handle challenging circumstances while avoiding risky and unhealthy behaviors. Through well-designed prevention curricula including parent and staff educational pieces, MethSMART successfully makes the prevention of methamphetamine abuse a team effort between young people and the adults involved in their lives. Curricula components include: MethSMART Kids, for 6-9 year olds; MethSMART Youth, for 10-13 year olds; MethSMART Teens, for 14-18 year olds; and MethSMART Adults, a handbook which explains the program and offers activities to begin inter-generational dialogue. BGCA’s nationally acclaimed SMART Moves prevention program has been helping young people avoid four of the most immediate threats to their well-being: alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and premature sexual activity, since 1990. MethSMART, an extension of SMART Moves, focuses specifically on the growing threat of methamphetamine abuse. Using highly interactive strategies, the MethSMART program is designed to resonate with the cultural values of its target audience and address the contexts in which young people are likely to encounter challenging dilemmas. In June 2007, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), and the Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs held its second MethSMART Implementation Training in Phoenix, Arizona.  Altogether, 119 Boys & Girls Club staff from 31 states and 70 communities attended the training, 32 Native American Boys & Girls Clubs were represented. In July 2007, 20 Native Clubs received funding to implement MethSMART.  These awards were made possible by a partnership between BGCA and the National Indian Gaming Association.   This year, seven additional Clubs were selected to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.  The third MethSMART Implementation Training will be held April 17-18, 2008 in San Diego, CA. 2008 MethSMART Grant Recipients Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, AZ Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, CA Boys & Girls Club of Pomona Valley, CA Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma City. OK Boys & Girls Club of Easton, PA Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley, TX Boys & Girls Club of Central Wyoming, WY The Department of Justice has declared November 30, 2008 as National Methamphetamine Awareness Day. All Boys & Girls Clubs are encouraged to partner with state and local law enforcement, community partners, and state and local leaders to give educational presentations about the dangers of methamphetamine. For more information about this outreach effort or National resources and events, visit http://www.usdoj.gov/methawareness. Let us know how your Club will observe this event! For more information about the MethSMART Program, contact FirstPic, Inc. at 1-866-NA-CLUBS.