The summit brought up issues of substance abuse, risky behavior, eating disorders and more, and how to address these concerns within the community. Keynote speaker Martin Sheen, who spoke about substance abuse, advised seeking help from the experts, to not be intimidated and to find answers to questions.
By Bridget Graham Gungoren / Special to the Malibu Times
In an effort to educate as well as determine programs necessary to address the problems facing Malibu’s youth, the Malibu Foundation for Youth and Families brought community members together for the summit, “Face the Issues: Positive Solutions for Malibu’s Youth and Families” on Saturday at Malibu High School. The summit featured guest speaker Martin Sheen. Daniel Stern facilitated a general session with a panel of experts addressing the issues of substance abuse, risky behavior, eating disorders and more that affect the youth and families of Malibu.
Individual breakout sessions were available after the general panel spoke and addressed issues more in-depth. The summit was the result of a survey taken last year to provide answers to the questions asked most by young people and parents.
“This is about the next step for what Malibu needs and what the foundation can do … what actions we can be taking,” Stern said in his welcome speech to the attendees.
“We discovered a lot of pressing issues,” Stern said, “…substance abuse, risk-taking behavior, eating disorders came up a lot in our survey … media influence and issues that face the Latino population were some of the top issues.”
Keynote speaker Sheen addressed the issue of substance abuse and said, “If there are any among you who are dealing with a child or loved one in the grip of addiction or despair, you’ve come to the right place.”
Sheen advised seeking help from the experts, to not be intimidated and to find answers to their questions.
“Substance abuse is a serious disease … don’t be held back by arrogance or ignorance,” he said. “Don’t assume that your child is safe from substance abuse, no matter how close you are. All children are vulnerable by virtue of them being children.”
Although a member of Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous and thus bound by confidentiality, Sheen talked of family support and parents’ need to parent, no matter the cost.
He asked, “Do we love our children enough to risk their wrath and demand the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth … all the time, no matter what?”
Sheen gave seven questions that parents should ask their children if they suspect substance abuse: “Are you using? What are you using? How long have you been using? Where do you get it? Who do you use with? Do you use alone? And, this is the $64 million question, why do you use?”
The answer to question seven he said, “will take you on a journey about your children and yourself.”
While universally, the answer is “I don’t know,” Sheen gave a personal theory that most who partake in substance abuse are searching on a spiritual journey. He advised parents to stay united if sorting through these issues, to trust their instincts and to be educated in the issues.
Panelist Carolyn Hall, a marriage and family specialist, echoed Sheen’s words of families staying connected.
“Everyone disburses to their own zone,” she said. “Families need to focus on reconnecting to not only each other, but also to the kids your kids are hanging out with.”
Also on the panel was Carolyn Costin, a specialist in the field of eating disorders, founder and executive director of The Eating Disorder Center of California. Statistics were given that 80 percent of fourth-graders admitted to having dieted; ten percent admitted to vomiting to lose weight. She said that anorexia and bulimia education should be provided to educate children and raise self-esteem.
Media influence was also discussed in great detail. Panelist Dick Van Dyke said his particular “rant” was the increase of sex and violence on television, and said producers and media executives should be taking responsibility. He said that when automobile accidents were on the rise, seatbelts were mandated. When second-hand smoke was found to be unhealthy, actions were taken. After 9/11, the Patriot Act was implemented.
“But when the emotional and character of our kids is being threatened, nobody’s doing anything about it,” he said. “Producers of movie and television should either get the choice to take responsibility or face some restrictions.”
Stern agreed and said that media literacy classes to teach children how to watch is a crucial course that should be taught and lobbied for within the schools.
Panelist Dr. Monica Salinas, who is an advisory board member of the Venice Family Clinic, talked of these issues and more in regard to the effects on the Latino community. She told the story of a 24-year-old woman and her two children, who are abused by her husband, an employee of a Malibu resident. The woman has nowhere to go to for help, Salinas said. She said that Spanish-speaking counseling should happen for the employees in addition to community members, because there are no resources for these employees here or where they live. And education for these parents is essential to building the lives of the young Hispanic population.
In one of the first steps to give the youth of Malibu a positive outlet, Tina Firestone, CEO of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is working to build employment and mentorship opportunities for young people to help build self-esteem and give career direction.
Jennifer Pietro, executive director of MFYF, said she was happy with the response from the community to the summit.
“The summit was designed to respond to some of our community’s most pressing issues, to provide positive solutions, to bring about change, and to help create a community that nourishes our youth and creates healthy families in mind, body and spirit,” she wrote in an e-mail to The Malibu Times after the summit. “We were greeted with a tremendous response to this call to action, and we are currently compiling the survey results as well as the list of goods, services and other resources offered by our neighbors as a result of their participation in the summit.”
More information about the Malibu Foundation for Youth and Families can be found at www.malibuyouth.org