‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ comes to school district

The “Hidden in Plain Sight” exhibit will visit Elyria High School on Jan. 23 to inform parents and alert them on items in their teenager’s bedrooms or lives that could display dangerous activity.

An exhibit, created by Copley and Bath police departments, that displays the average teenager’s bedroom, has traveled to different districts in the state.

“Looks can be deceiving,” is the message behind the exhibit that shares what items may be hiding under clothing or “in plain sight” in your child’s room, according to a news release from the police departments.

In a room of clutter, the display includes clothing scattered on the

floor, school supplies on a desk, personal care products on a vanity and more than 150 items that can actually be signs your child is involved in threatening or even illegal acts, the release said.

The High School Performing Arts Center, 600 West Ave., will house the exhibit.

Amy Higgins, director of communications and marketing for Elyria Schools, said guests are encouraged to explore and interact with items in the display.

Due to content shown in exhibit, children are not permitted to attend.

Some of the items may be indicative that a teenager is involved in substance abuse, underage drinking, eating disorders, sexual activity and other behaviors, the release said.

The exhibit will be open for browsing. Speakers from both departments and agencies in Lorain County will share information on the items in the display and will perform the “snoop and search” method.

The information provided can help parents or guardians become aware and alert of their surroundings in their homes, Higgins said.

Discussion between guests and speakers are open to share stories related to the topic.

“There are things before

(anyone’s) eye,” Higgins said. “Unless you look for those things, you won’t even see it.”

Elyria Schools formed an initiative least two years ago that focused on heroin education and awareness, she said.

With the rise of the heroin and opioid epidemic, the district received assistance from the Elyria Police Department, LifeCare Ambulance, University Hospital Elyria Medical Center and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office to create an informative video on the issue.

The video was shared with over 700 staff members and students from grades 4-12 in the district to inform them of the epidemic.

First responders from local departments and agencies such as The LCADA Way and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County visited students to provide them with more information and to answer questions.

When the drug epidemic was just becoming a serious crisis during that time, Higgins said the district received a lot of good attention across Ohio and throughout the United States.

Since then, she said all who have been involved in the initiative have continued to look for opportunities to open a line of communication between students and parents.

The district’s goal is to promote safety, Higgins said, and so far it has been

pretty successful.

With “Hidden in Plain Sight,” she said it was the next phase.

“We want our families to know the district, responders and agencies are here to help them and be a support system,” Higgins said.

The district offers therapists, social workers, guidance counselors and other resources on a daily basis, she said.

However, the exhibit is an outreach, Higgins said.

What started as a focus on drugs, is now on the safety of children, she said.

The exhibit opens at 6 p.m. and can continue for two hours or more, depending on the discussion. Guests are welcome at any time. There is no charge for admittance and is open to adults only. For further information, contact Elyria Schools Communications and Marketing Office, 440284-8183, or visit www. bathtownship.org or www. copley.oh.us for scheduled dates and locations of additional exhibits.