Parent Support Network (PSN)

New Trier high school strives to promote healthy lifestyles, attitudes and behaviors for students, parents, teachers and staff. Parents often acknowledge that they feel alone in their efforts to establish and set clear limits and boundaries with their teenagers around alcohol and drug use. New Trier, along with other local high schools in the area, offers the Parent Support Network (PSN) program to facilitate communication amongst parents, between parents and their children, and within the community, so parents do not feel alone in their efforts.   

Participation in the PSN means you are asked to support a set of guidelines established to set clear limits for our teens around substance use.  The online directory provides a list and contact information of all participating parents indicating that as a participant, you welcome communication from other participants.  You will also receive quarterly emails regarding prevention information and workshops. 

The agreement to be part of the PSN is not a legally binding contract.  It asks parents to the best of their ability to support the following guidelines: 

  1. No provision or allowance of alcohol or any other drug to other people’s children while they are in your home(s) 
  2. To the best of your ability, not allow un-chaperoned parties in your home 
  3. Communication between parents and/or teens about alcohol/drug use and social gatherings (e.g.  “Are you going to be home to chaperone?”, “My daughter told me she would be spending the night at your home tonight, will you be there?”) 

As you consider taking part in this initiative, please take into account that NT students say the number one external reason that students don’t use substances is because of their parents’ rules. (New Trier Social Norms Campaign 2009). 

If you would like to participate, please click here to go to the Parent Support Network Sign Up. 

(Please note you will only have access to the PSN directory if you sign up to participate.  You will receive an email with a pin) 

We hope that you take this opportunity to support one another in these important but sometimes difficult discussions. If you have questions about this effort please contact Robyn Gold-Kessler, Student Assistance Program Liaison, at 847.784.7526 or goldr@newtrier.k12.il.us.