Community center offers a safe haven for teens

Warwick — The Warwick Community Center is getting a face lift — at least the teen center on the lower level is. Over the years, the center has undergone several renovations on different parts of the building. And while that is wonderful for the community using this building, the programs offered, especially for middle schoolers and high schoolers, can be instrumental in keeping kids safe, healthy and on the right track. Just walk into the office area of the Community Center and the message is clear — drinking and drugs will get you nowhere fast. Lisa Pearce is the Teen Center director and a prevention specialist. “Our whole emphasis is that kids have a place to go that is alcohol and tobacco free,” said Pearce. “The prevention message is constant. We have posters up and our staff articulates it. We leave brochures here and there. They pick them up and read them. It’s important that they learn how to say no to a boyfriend or girlfriend, whether it is about sex, alcohol or drugs.” The Teen Center gives kids from grades six through 12 a place to go during the summer, on weekends and after school during the school year. Pearce said there is a bus that comes directly from the middle school to the Community Center everyday after school. “We have a drop in teen center in the basement,” said Pearce. “It is free to the public during the school year and always supervised. You don’t have to join anything, just show up. Kids can come and do their homework. They can get help with their homework. They can have a snack, relax with their friends. It’s better than being six inches away from a computer for hours.” The center has a youth advisory board made up of teens who are elected annually. They plan activities and fund raisers and make suggestions for programs. There is still a month left to the summer, and the center’s Summer Solutions program still has plenty planned. Tonight, there is an outing to Frontier Lanes from 6-11 p.m. Transportation and pizza are provided. On Sunday, there are musical performances from teen bands from 6:30 until 10 p.m. There is a movie night planned, a spa night, a dance party and an outing to Rye Playland. “Recreation exists in Warwick and it is free,” said Pearce. The Teen Center gets funding from the Department of Justice, the Orange County Youth Bureau, the state’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), and the Village of Warwick. A recent grant from the Department of Justice through New York’s senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer will be paying for computers for the new teen center. A grant from Juvenile Justice is helping to train teenage Counselors in Training (CIT), part of the summer enrichment program offered for kids in grades kindergarten through five. “Some of the kids are CITs for half a day,” said Pearce. “They are trained as staff are trained. They learn things that make them employable.” This year, Pearce is excited that Warwick Valley High School will host the kickoff to Orange County Red Ribbon Week on Oct. 23, including the annual talent show on Oct. 28. The week is devoted to educating kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. “We are allowed to answer questions here on substance abuse,” said Pearce. “Kids already have poor judgment. Throw in some alcohol and that’s why you have cars driven into ditches and unprotected sex. Our emphasis is to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors. People make mistakes; we all do. But you pick yourself up and start again.” The Summer Solutions program is open from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Starting in September, the teen center is open from 2-6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and from 2-10 p.m. on Fridays. For more information, call Pearce at 986-6422.