Amazing Kids! is proud to highlight the Amazing Kids! of the Month!

Each month, we showcase kids who are accomplishing amazing things.  We hope that by telling their special stories, we will inspire other kids to accomplish their own amazing achievements. 

PAL^® - "Bringing Out the Best in Students"...

 "Peers helping peers to withstand the pressures of a 'hurry-and-grow-up' world are basic to PAL^®, one of our most successful alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention programs.  Working with and learning from educators and community members, youth leaders share themselves to help others...to give them a boost when they need it most.  We're very proud of them." 

^{John F. Dean, Ed.D.
Orange County Superintendent of Schools
--Quote from the PAL brochure}

PAL is a joint project of the Orange County Department of Education and Orange County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services.  The current PAL coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education is Vicki Walker.  Vicki is a dedicated, hard-working and amazing coordinator for the program! 

Students in Orange County who are in grades third through twelfth can participate in PAL. Student peers ("Pals") are involved in many different amazing activities during the year, including:

• Peer helping, one-on-one
• Peer mediation (helping peers solve conflicts with one another)
• New student orientation
• Cross-age teaching
• Peer and cross-age tutoring
• Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention advocacy (teaching the harmful effects of drugs and how to avoid them)

Below are just some of the amazing stories about the Pals in a few of the schools in Orange County.  We wish we could tell the stories about all of the amazing Pals, but there are just too many to tell in this limited space!  Amazing Kids!  wishes to acknowledge all the great work by the Pals.  Keep up the great work!  You have a lot to be proud of!

What is PAL^®?
PAL Philosophy
Training
Conflict Resolution Program
PAL^® Camp
Contact Information

What is PAL^®?

"PAL^® (Peer Assistance Leadership) is a peer-to-peer outreach program
for elementary, intermediate, and high school students. The proven results 
are improved school attendance, reduced drug and alcohol abuse, a positive
school climate, increased academic success, responsible behavior, and 
involvement in community service. The PAL Program teaches life skills
and builds resiliency in students. PAL is the best friend your school ever had. 

 PAL's comprehensive network of prevention programs was established in 
1980 to address the underlying causes for alcohol and other drug use by
youth. Its unique features include a wide network of schools, PAL Advisors,
parents, corporate, and business organizations linked with a common goal of
providing prevention and intervention services to students. The keys to the 
success of PAL are found in the extensive involvement of faculty and parent
volunteers, and the cultivation of local ownership to ensure program 
continuation. The combination of these special populations empower caring 
students to assist their peers.

                  In order to provide a meaningful prevention and intervention program for 
                  high-risk and other youth, a peer-to-peer program is an essential ingredient. 
                  Virtually all prevention research overwhelmingly supports this position. 

                  It is important to begin to view youth not as a problem that needs 
                  to be fixed, but as a resource that can contribute to their peers, schools, 
                  families, and communities (Bernard, 1990). Peer-to-peer programs at the 
                  elementary, middle, and high school levels can play a major role in reducing 
                  the alienation and disconnectedness many youth feel from their schools, 
                  families, and society. These programs need to begin in early elementary 
                  grades to enable children to experience serving as resources to one another 
                  (SWRL, 1992). 

                  Peer Assistance Leadership (PAL^®) is quickly becoming synonymous with 
                  the concept of youth services, and infusion into the curriculum is 
                  encouraged. PAL provides students of all ages ongoing opportunities to 
                  create supportive environments that empower their peers to make healthy, 
                  positive decisions and to achieve their human potential. 

                  The primary intent of the PAL program is to help create, enhance, and 
                  support all peer-to-peer and peer leadership programs in schools. This 
                  includes technical assistance, trainings, PAL camps, a newsletter, and 
                  community, business, and corporate support for K-12 students and their 
                  faculty and parent advisors. 

Training

               Training and technical assistance is available throughout 
                  the year for advisors. A new training manual has been compiled and 
                  includes curriculum, ideas for starting a program, student training activities, 
                  forms, handouts, and evaluation and resource materials. 

                  After school workshops are available to help students learn 
                  strategies in order to implement their program. Topics include drug 
                  and suicide prevention, dramatic arts interpretations, and positive, social, 
                  age-appropriate activities. 

Conflict Resolution Program

                Advisors are trained to teach students mediation techniques in 
                  order to help peers solve their problems. Conflict managers are trained 
                  student conflict resolvers who help disputing students identify and express 
                  their concerns and find their own resolutions. 

PAL® Camp

                Several times a year advisors and students from elementary, junior 
                  high/middle,and high schools spend 3-4 days in the San Bernardino 
                  Mountains learning program implementation strategies. Advisors and camp 
                  staff provide small group and recreational activities. The expected outcome 
                  is a new or expanded PAL program on each participating school campus 
                  and increased awareness of prevention and intervention programs. 

Contact Information

                 Business/corporate support has played a major role in 
                  shaping PAL programs. PAL has been developed by the Orange County 
                  Department of Education, in partnerships with the Orange County Health 
                  Care Agency, Drug Abuse Services, and the Center for Drug Free 
                  Communities. PAL has also enjoyed support from the Orange County 
                  Chamber of Commerce, and business involvement is crucial to the 
                  continued success of PAL. "

                  For personal support, a 400-page manual and video are 
                  available and can be ordered for $149.00 (plus tax and shipping) from: 

                  Orange County Department of Education 
                  PAL^® Office 
                  200 Kalmus Drive, Box 9050 
                  Costa Mesa, CA 92628-9050 
 

            For further information, please contact: 

            Vicki Walker, Coordinator 
                PAL^® Program 
                Orange County Department of Education 
                714-966-4458 
                vicki_walker@ocde.k12.ca.us 

            Alec Esparza, Project Specialist 
                PAL^® Program 
                Orange County Department of Education 
                714-966-4404 
                alec_esparza@ocde.k12.ca.us 

            Debbie Miranda, Education Specialist 
                PAL^® Program 
                Orange County Department of Education 
                714-966-4463 
                debbie_miranda@ocde.k12.ca.us 

            Sally Warrick, Education Specialist 
                PAL^® Program 
                Orange County Department of Education 
                714-966-4342 
                sally_warrick@ocde.k12.ca.us 

            Mailing Address:
                Orange County Department of Education 
                PAL^® Office 
                200 Kalmus Drive, Box 9050 
                Costa Mesa, CA 92628-9050 
 
 

More Amazing PAL Information .............................................................................................. The 1998 recipients for outstanding PAL programs (as recognized by the Orange County Department of Education) Outstanding New Program:  Glenview Elementary, Placential-Yorba Linda USD; Rubin White, Principal; Cathy La Bare, P.A.L. Advisor Outstanding Individual PAL: Helen Taylor-Bleiker, Advisor; Helen Estock Elementary, Tustin USD; Peter Schaefer, Principal Elementary Schools: John Marshall Elementary, Anaheim CSD; Peggy Immerman, Principal; Advisors:  Natalie Aviles, Denise Cross, Stephanie Juman, Harriet Kelly, Robin Leclercq, Natalie Aviles. Palmyra Elementary, Orange USD; Sue Olsen-Dahlquist, Principal; Lisa Burgess, Advisor Middle Schools: La Pas Middle School, Saddleback Valley USD; Juanita Lampi, Principal; Kelly Motske, Advisor Washington Middle School, La Habra CSD; Gary Mantey, Principal; Judy Thomas, Advisor High Schools: El Modena High School, Orange USD; Nancy Murray, Principal; Heather Rupert, Advisor Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos USD; Carol Hart, Principal; Nona Rafferty, Advisor   Back to the Top A Special Message from Amazing Kids! for all you kids and teens:   YOU CAN BE AN AMAZING KID AND TEEN TOO! It's no secret...every person has the potential to be amazing in their own way.  Sometimes we just need a little help in finding out what our special talents are!  If you are doing some amazing things too, we want to hear about it!  Send us your stories about your amazing accomplishments, so we can tell the world just how amazing you are!  We are always looking for new stories.  And don't be shy!  We'd love to hear from you! Here's an idea you might want to try: WHY NOT HELP OTHERS SEE THEIR OWN POTENTIAL? If you know someone who needs a little encouragement, why not tell them what you think is special about them?  Maybe you can be the one to help them uncover their own special talents!  Amazing Kids! is looking for teens like you to be Amazing Teen Volunteers and Ambassadors. If you'd like to join Amazing Kids! in helping to spread the word, please email us at:  info@amazing-kids.org.  HELP US SPREAD THE WORD:  It's cool to be an Amazing Kid!

Calling All Amazing Kids!  We Need Your Help! If you are, or know any kids who are, doing amazing things, we want to hear about it!  Send us your stories, so we might be able to feature you too someday!   Please be patient, and we will do our best to tell your story some day -- hopefully soon!