Sandy Kalabalikis

Sandy Kalabalikis, a health educator with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit, said the event was presented by the Chatham-Kent Youth Services Coalition, which was formed about a year ago.

"It's for us, it's to educate all the different providers on what everyone else is doing," she said."The greatest thing is we have the interest from the community."

The coalition was developed after a nurse working in local schools was stumped by a student's question.She had to make a number of calls to find the answer because there wasn't a place to call that could connect her to the right agency.

Kalabalikis said the coalition is getting a Community Partnership Fund grant to hold a youth services conference in the fall.

Jacobs, along with Chatham-Kent public health educator Sandy Kalabalikis, completed the proposal for funding.

Health educator Sandy Kalabalikis said the next step is to hold focus groups with youth to discuss ways to reach them through programs and services.

She said students were interviewed about nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, safety at home, at school and in the community, health and feelings, dental health, injuries and sun safety.

Kalabalikis highlighted some of the assessment's findings, which were broken down into two groups - Grades 7 to 8 and Grades 9 to 12.Kalabalikis said the study found that the average age of students having sex for the first time was 15.She said 30 per cent of high school students interviewed said they've had sexual intercourse.

It's important to note that of those who have had sex, 74 per cent use condoms and 44 per cent use the birth control pill, she said.

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Kalabalikis told the board that 37 per cent of students in Grades 9 to 12 reported trying cigarettes and 10 per cent of students in Grades 7 to 8 have smoked.

Most older students, 85 per cent, have tried an alcoholic beverage and in Grades 7 to 8, more than half have taken a drink of alcohol.Kalabalikis said 37 per cent of Grade 9 to 12 students have tried marijuana and 43 per cent said the illicit drug wouldn't be hard to get.

Health educator Sandy Kalabalikis highlighted some of the assessment's findings, which were broken down into two groups â€" Grades 7 to 8 and Grades 9 to 12.

Kalabalikis said the study found that the average age of students having sex for the first time was 15.She said 30 per cent of high school students interviewed said they've had sexual intercourse.

It's important to note that of those who have had sex, 74 per cent use condoms and 44 per cent use the birth control pill, she said.

Kalabalikis told the board that 37 per cent of students in Grades 9 to 12 reported trying cigarettes and 10 per cent of students in Grades 7 to 8 have smoked.

Most older students, 85 per cent, have tried an alcoholic beverage and in Grades 7 to 8, more than half have taken a drink of alcohol.

Kalabalikis said 37 per cent of Grade 9 to 12 students have tried marijuana and 43 per cent said the illicit drug wouldn't be hard to get.