School health clerk launches advisory group

Joey Levin A parent advisory program started last year at Calabasas High School by health clerk Joey Levin is open to parents throughout the Las Virgenes Unified School District this year.

The adults-only educational program, called RAP (Resolve and Problem Solve), was launched by Levin in 2007 to help parents "discuss real teen issues," Levin said.

Dennis Poncher, the creator of the tough love program, BILY, which stands for Because I Love You, will be the featured speaker on Wed., Nov. 12. Levin said Poncher's talk will be relevant to parents of children of all ages.

"I don't believe problems start in high school," Levin said. "I believe they come to fruition (at this time)."

Levin has witnessed the pitfalls of the teen years as a mother of two sons and as a school employee. She said she always keeps a "wary eye" on her sons because of her knowledge of drug and alcohol use in high school and college.

"Both are great guys, but negotiating the waters of the teen years can be treacherous," Levin said. "Problems that used to start in high school are now (prevalent) in middle school," Levin said.

Poncher started the support program in 1982 and has appeared on several talk shows, including "Oprah," "Montel Williams" and "Good Morning America." A movie about BILY is under development, she said.

"We promote structure, consequences and consistency in raising our kids, and we have helped thousands of families over the past 25 years," Poncher said on his website (www.bily.org.) "We also handle the aggravating things like messy rooms, chores not being done and low school grades."

Levin said the meeting will also help parents of students "who don't fit in."

The BILY program will start at 7 p.m. in the school's lecture hall. There is no charge to attend the meeting, but only adults will be allowed to participate.

"We have seen runaways return home, truants return to school and graduate; children who were dependent on substances have become clean and sober, and families have been reunited," Poncher said.

For further information, call Joey Levin at (818) 222-7177, ext. 223.