December 2025

Greetings Prevention Champions!

Welcome to the December Edition of the Henrico Area Prevention Services Monthly Newsletter!

A Message from the Prevention Team

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for each of you, for our partners, and for the community we serve. Together, we’ve continued the vital work of reducing risk, building protective factors, and creating safe, thriving environments for youth and families in Henrico. We hope you find time this season to rest, reflect, and reconnect. Thank you for walking beside us in prevention, and for helping us carry this mission forward with compassion and purpose.

Warm wishes from all of us at Henrico Prevention Services

🧠 Mental Wellness During the Holidays: Understanding SAD & Stress-Free Strategies

The holiday season brings joy for many, but it can also bring pressure, disrupted routines, and emotional challenges. That’s why December is National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month, and a perfect time to reflect on how we care for our mental wellness.

For some, colder months and shorter days can also trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that tends to show up in fall and winter.

💙 Stress-Free Holiday Tips:

• Simplify where you can...say “no” to protect your peace
• Keep 1–2 routines steady (like meals or bedtime)
• Get some movement, even if it’s indoors
• Let go of perfection...focus on connection
• Take quiet moments for yourself and encourage others to do the same

🔗 Learn more: samhsa.gov/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder

📞 Need support? Call or text 988 anytime, day or night.

Long-term approaches aimed at changing shared community conditions, like social norms or the availability of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, to reduce risks and create lasting positive change. These strategies focus on the whole population and build momentum for long-term impact.

🧩 Winter Break Safety & Substance Use Prevention

Unstructured time, holiday stress, and peer pressure can increase risky behaviors during winter break.

Encourage safe celebrations, maintain open conversations, and stay aware of youth access to alcohol, vapes, and other substances.

🔹 Start the conversation: Talk. They Hear You...Underage drinking campaign

🔹 Truth Initiative: Youth Nicotine Prevention

🔹 Vaping Prevention Resources

🔹 Marijuana Use Prevention

🔹 Crisis Support: Call or text 988 anytime.

Kids don’t need scratch-offs in their stockings, they need our guidance. Early exposure to gambling raises risk later on so keep lottery products out of children’s gifts, talk openly about odds, money, and coping with stress in healthier ways. If your crew needs a real-talk session at school… church… or a community event, we’ll bring it. In need of vendors or trainers… email henricoprevention@henrico.gov

Resources and helplines…

• Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline: 888-532-3500 | Text: 800GAM | Live Chat: vcpg.net

• VCPG resources: vcpg.net

• National 1-800-GAMBLER: 1-800-426-2535 | 1800gambler.com

• NCPG info: ncpgambling.org

• Crisis support: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call/text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

Need Help? Call or Text 988.

Here's a reminder that support is just three digits away. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support 24/7. You are not alone.

Also visit BeWellVA

Here's what we've been up to...

11/6: Lakeside Elementary Family/Teacher Conferences – 3:30–6:30 PM

11/13: Henrico Prevention partnered with VA DBHDS on Nov 13th, to deliver REVIVE overdose-response training at the Governor’s Office during a ceremony highlighting statewide progress, including a reported 57% drop in opioid overdoses and the One Pill Can Kill and It Only Takes One campaigns.

Fifteen new lifesavers were trained and naloxone was distributed as we advanced real conversations on prevention, treatment, and recovery. Interested in REVIVE for your team… email henricoprevention@henrico.gov

11/18: It Takes a Village Community Conversation – 5:30–7:30 PM @ The Oak Avenue Complex

11/25: DBHDS Annual Site Visit

12/4: Henrico Interfaith Summit @ Dorey Park 9 AM – 12 PM

12/6: Community Connections Day (STOP event) 12–3 PM

12/6: 3C Church Iron Man Breakfast 9AM

Here's what we have planned...

12/16–12/19: Restorative Justice Training for FT Staff

12/19: Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition Meeting, 12–1:30 PM

🧤 Friendsgiving at Connect

This season, our Connect programs got cozy with gratitude!



🧡 Richfield Connect hosted a joyful Friendsgiving celebration

☕ St. Luke Connect gathered for a Friendsgiving Brunch

🧥 Thanks to Henrico PAL for donating coats to keep our St. Luke youth warm and safe

🏠 Family Fun:

Winter Break Indoor Scavenger Hunt!

Keep the connection going with this silly, cozy, totally screen-free activity designed for families to do together.



✅ Works for all ages

✅ Promotes laughter and bonding

✅ Easy to print & play

Download Here

Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition is a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit Organization that promotes health and wellness in Henrico County with a primary focus on reducing youth substance abuse through education, advocacy and capacity building.

The next general body meeting will be virtual on Friday, Dec. 19th. Please email Terrell Pollard at henricotoosmart2start@gmail.com

Follow the coalition on Facebook and Instagram

News the Henrico Community Can Use!

Find out about free family centered events happening at the Oak in December!!

Check out https://linktr.ee/henricorecparks for Henrico resources and events for the whole family.

Click on the flyers above to download

This month, we’re embracing kindness as prevention. The Action for Happiness Kindness Calendar offers simple ways to uplift yourself and others all month long.

📅 Try one act a day, like leaving a note of encouragement, donating to a cause, or sharing a warm memory.

🧠 Kindness creates connection and connection is prevention!

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Henrico Prevention offers various FREE community-based trainings supporting mental health awareness, substance use prevention, and wellness.

Be Well VA is the Community Services Boards Office on Prevention regional approach to bring awareness to the increasing number of deaths by suicide and promote wellness for life. We are a local resource to help you find your path to emotional well-being. Find out what’s happening in your community, learn more about training opportunities, and

BE WELL Virginia!

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