Co-Presidents:    Barb Sellars & Edie McGinnes

Volunteer Co-ordinator:  Yvonne McGough

Secretary:  Jessica Theodore

Treasurer:  Doreen Love

DAC Rep:  Katherine Tollefson

Chairpersons:

Faculty Meetings:  Atiya Khan

Connecting To Success: Diana Meyer

Open House:  Kelly Feuer

Prom:  Meredith Apostolou

City of Santa Clarita
Parent Guide
Teenage Parties and Dances

Dear Community Member,

Every year, deputies respond to parties in which teenagers are unsupervised and participating in unsafe or criminal behavior.  While it is important that teenagers enjoy the social aspect of their lives, they need the appropriate levels of supervision as they develop their growing levels of independence.  Many times, parents assume that all of the other parents in this community believe in the same rules of conduct, and unfortunately we find this is not true in some cases.

The results of unsupervised teen parties can be tragic, as alcohol and drug use has lead to death and injuries.  Other times, there are complaints of loud, unreasonable noise that disturbs the peace of neighbors.  Although these parties are not the norm, the potential for an unsupervised party to rise to this level is greater than a well-planned, supervised event with reasonable expectations.

We hope that this guide assists you and your teen with planning, controlling, and surviving a teen party.

J. Anthony Le Berge
Captain
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station
23740 Magic Mountain Parkway
Valencia, CA  91355
661-255-1121

When the gathering is at your home:

Before the party:

• Decide which areas of the house will be used, and which are off-limits.
• Determine the party’s schedule.
• Discuss acceptable behavior and the consequences of unacceptable behavior
• Make sure that your child knows that it is illegal in California to serve alcoholic beverages to guests under age 21 or have controlled substances present.
• Tell your teen that you plan to be home during the party.  Invite other parents to help chaperone.
• If another parent calls to confirm or inquire about the party at your house, welcome the contact.
• Affirm that you will be enforcing the guidelines for behavior.
• Keep a guest list of those invited to the party.
• Speak with your neighbors ahead of time about possible noise or traffic.
• Take steps in advance to help your child avoid confrontations with guests.
• Remove prescription medications from the bathrooms and bedrooms, and secure your personal supply of all liquor.
• Discuss with your teen what will happen if a guest arrives or becomes intoxicated or engages in any illegal behavior at the party.

NOTE:  Responsibility begins at home!   Please remember that as a parent or legal guardian, you are responsible and liable for the actions of your underage teen.  California law also holds you responsible if there is any alcohol furnished or drinking by an underage minor allowed at a party hosted at your residence.

During the party:

• Be home during the party.  Meet all guests at the front door.  Be present during the party.
• Have the guests leave heavy coats, purses, and backpacks with you to prevent alcohol from coming into the event.
• Consider having an adult check attendees against the guest list to prevent party crashers.
• Don’t allow a guest in with an open container or allow someone to drink in your front yard.
• Make it clear that once a guest leaves the party, they may not return.  This prevents trips to cars or areas where banned substances can be retrieved or ingested.
• Limit the number of rooms that are accessible to the teens.  Keep bedrooms and back rooms off limits.
• Watch for signs of alcohol or drug use.
• Be near the door as the party draws to a close.  Don’t let anyone drive who appears to be under the influence.
• Remember that with cell phones and text messaging technology, a small party can quickly grow with numbers of unwanted and/or unexpected guests.
• Don’t hesitate to call the Sheriff’s Department if problems develop or troublesome guests refuse to leave.

When the party is elsewhere:

Before the party:

• Set ground rules.  Let your teen know your expectations for his/her behavior and what time to be home.
• Ask to be kept informed if any plans change.  Teens may drift from one home to another, taking the “party” with them.
• Discuss ways to handle unexpected situations such as the presence of drugs, alcohol, peer pressure or compromising positions.
• Contact the parents of the teen who is hosting the event.  Don’t be afraid to ask if they will be present during the party and if there will be any alcohol at the event.
• Make sure you and your teen understand the transportation arrangements—determine who will be driving both ways.

During or after the party:

• Make it easy for your teen to leave the party if he/she wants out for any reason.
• BE REACHABLE!  You or another responsible adult will pick them up—no questions asked.

• Be awake when your teen comes home and be attuned for any signs of intoxication.
• Be very careful about impromptu sleepovers.  Verify permission and adult supervision before allowing your teen to spend the night elsewhere.

Issues to be concerned about…
An empty house is an attractive nuisance.  If you are going away for a day or a weekend—or working on a day when the kids are out of school—be aware that your home could be a site for an impromptu party.
Word spreads fast about which houses are available and even a well-meaning teen can find uninvited friends wanting to come in and “hang out.”  Avoid these issues by:

• Giving your neighbors your cell phone number and asking them to call you if they see any unexpected activity.
• Arranging for your teen to spend the time you are gone with friends or hire a housesitter to care for the house.
• Having a responsible adult (relative, friend, neighbor) supervise your family and house while you are away.
• Expressing to everyone in your house that calling 911 in an emergency is always an option if needed.
• Keeping all of your doors and windows locked, and if you have an alarm system, keeping it activated.

Santa Clarita Valley Safe Rides
SCV Safe Rides is staffed by volunteers offering free confidential rides home on Friday and Saturday evenings from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am to teenagers who are not in a condition to drive or don’t want to ride with an unsafe driver.  Call (661) 259-6330.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY                 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM
TEENS, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!
Call (661) 259-6330

Report Crime Tips Anonymously
Call (877) TIP LASD
WWW. SCVSHERIFF.COM

This information provided by:

City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Blvd.
Santa Clarita, CA  91355
santa-clarita.com