February 2025 Newsletter

February 2025

Announcements

SAPCA Partners with DEA and ACPS to Deliver Substance Use Prevention Assemblies

Last month, SAPCA collaborated with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) to present assemblies to more than 1,500 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students at George Washington Middle School.

During these assemblies, students learned facts about alcohol, marijuana, vaping, and fentanyl. Students also participated in a gallery walk to view the DEA's Faces of Fentanyl exhibit, which commemorates the lives lost from fentanyl poisoning.

We look forward to continuing to share this important prevention information with Alexandria's youth!

Event Recap: Patrick Henry Family Workshop

On January 29, SAPCA collaborated with Patrick Henry K-8 School and ACPS to host a family workshop about youth substance use prevention. Patrick Henry Principal Kenard Robinson welcomed families to the event before introducing Isaiah Duran, a City of Alexandria Youth Development Counselor who works out of the school.

Mr. Duran highlighted several current school-wide initiatives to prevent youth substance use, including:

Celebrating Red Ribbon Week, an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention awareness campaign taking place each October;
Hosting assemblies for middle schools students to promote the facts about alcohol, marijuana, vaping, and fentanyl;
Implementing Too Good for Drugs, an evidence-based curriculum that helps students develop skills for making healthy choices, building positive friendships, communicating effectively, and resisting peer pressure; and
Delivering substance use prevention education through health and physical education classes for students in grades 4-8.

SAPCA Coordinator Emma Beall then provided an overview of tobacco products -- including vaping devices -- and explained some of the health effects associated with vaping. During this event, parents also learned about strategies to support youth to be tobacco-free, tips for communicating with teens, signs of youth substance use, and school and community resources. The event culminated with a testimonial from a community parent who shared how youth vaping impacted her own family.

We appreciate the families that attended this event and look forward to continuing to collaborate with our school partners to expand prevention efforts in our community.

Five Things You Should Know: Tips for Communicating With Teens

Did you know that parents have a significant influence in their children's decision to not use substances? Although it may not seem like it, when parents talk about underage drinking and substance use, their children do hear them.

Strengthening the parent-child relationship through consistent, intentional, and healthy communication is one way parents can support youth to make healthy choices. Explore these five tips for communicating with teens:

Listen

If you are curious about what’s going on in your teen’s life, asking direct questions might not be as effective as simply sitting back and listening. Kids are more likely to be open with their parents if they don’t feel pressured to share information they may not be ready to. Even an offhand comment about something that happened during the day may be their way of reaching out.

Validate their feelings

It is often our tendency to try to solve problems for our kids or downplay their disappointments. But saying something like “They weren’t right for you anyway” after a romantic disappointment can feel dismissive. Instead, show kids that you understand and empathize by reflecting the comment back: “Wow, that does sound difficult.”

Show Trust

Teens want to be taken seriously, especially by their parents/caregivers. Look for ways to show that you trust your teen. Asking them for a favor shows that you rely on them. Offering a privilege shows that you think they can handle it. Letting your kid know you have faith in them will boost their confidence and make them more likely to rise to the occasion.

Give Praise

Parents tend to praise children more when they are younger, but adolescents need the self-esteem boost just as much. Teenagers might act like they’re too cool to care about what their parents think, but the truth is they still want your approval.

Be Observant

It’s normal for kids to go through some changes as they mature but pay attention if you notice changes to mood, behavior, energy level, or appetite. Likewise, take note if they stop wanting to do things that used to make them happy, or if you notice them isolating themselves. If you see a change in your teen’s daily ability to function, ask them about it and be supportive (without being judgmental). They may need your help and it could be a sign they need to talk to a mental health professional.

Explore more resources at PreventItAlexandria.org.

Quick Links

Learn more about SAPCA

Subscribe to SAPCA's e-mail list

Make a tax-deductible donation to support local prevention efforts

Upcoming Events & Resources

Celebrate Black History Month

The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) and the Alexandria Library invite the public to celebrate Black History Month this February with a dynamic lineup of events and activities. Black History Month is an annual recognition of the history, culture, achievements, and contributions of African Americans and persons of African descent in U.S. history.

Join OHA for a series of events to celebrate Black History Month, including a Martin Luther King Jr. Poster Exhibition, Storytime for Little Historians, and Meaningful Conversations about Racism and What to Do About It.

Alexandria Library is also hosting programs for all ages, including a spotlight on several notable figures in the African American Community and a subject guide on African American Culture and History.

Learn more at alexandriava.gov/BlackHistoryMonth.

Registration Opens for Animal Welfare League of Alexandria Summer Camps

Summer is coming and that means another year of paw-some summer camp! Join the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) for a series of week-long day camps for students ages 6 through 13. The AWLA Summer Camp offers exciting, hands-on fun to young animal lovers, while providing a structured learning experience tailored to your child’s learning level. Space is limited, so sign up today to secure a spot in Alexandria's most entertaining animal camp of the summer.

This year’s camp experience will include lessons on cats, dogs, and small animals, as well as the operation of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, veterinary care, dog training and more! Campers will make crafts for use at home in addition to projects for the enrichment of shelter pets. Attendees will also meet special guests such as Animal Services Officers, Vet Techs, animal foster caregivers and more!

Learn more about the AWLA here.

Upcoming Youth Development Trainings

The next Understanding ACEs: Building Resilient Communities training will take place virtually on February 4 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Register here.
The next Question. Persuade. Refer. training will take place virtually on February 13 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Register here.
The next Everyone's An Asset Builder training will take place in-person on February 20 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Register here.

Contact temi.aregbesola@alexandriava.gov for more information.

Mark your Calendar for Upcoming Free Webinars

This month, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) is hosting a series of free webinars as part of their mission to empower Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices, including:

February 4, 1-3 p.m. | Identifying Successful Like-Minded Partnerships - register here.
February 11, 2-3 p.m. | Helping Youth Navigate Depictions of Substance Use in Pop Culture - register here.
February 19, 1-3 p.m. | Let's Talk About Weed - register here.

Operation Parent is also hosting several free webinars focused on substance use, including:

February 18, 1 p.m. | Vapes in 2025: What's Changed & What Parents Need to Know - register here.
March 4, 1 p.m. | Unpacking the Risks of Modern Marijuana - register here.

Operation Parent is a national nonprofit that exists to empower parents and caregivers to fully engage in ongoing conversations with their children about technology, substance use, and mental health issues for purposes of prevention.

Learn more about VFHY's efforts to support Virginia youth to make healthy choices at vfhy.org.

Learn more about Operation Parent at operationparent.org.

Washington Wizards Winter Reading Challenge

The Washington Wizards challenge you to read, stay active, and be engaged this winter by completing the Winter Reading Challenge. Earn the reading badge and at least one other badge to complete the challenge and earn a completion prize and a chance to win tickets to a Washington Wizards game.

The challenge runs from December 16 - February 16. Learn more about the Winter Reading Challenge at alexlibraryva.org/winter-reading.

Alexandria Library Hosts Teen Winter Creativity Contest

Looking for a creative challenge this winter? The Teen Winter Creativity Contest is a self-expressive contest for writers, visual artists and photographers in grades 6-12. All three categories -- writing, photography, and two-dimensional visual art -- are open-ended, meaning that, besides format, there are no writing or artistic limations. Students may submit something they have been working on or something new. The deadline for submission is February 16, 2025.

Click here to review the contest rules and guidelines.

Join the Green Teen Club!

Join the Green Teen Club, a free program for teen adventurers and nature enthusiasts ages 11-18, for exciting field trips and hands-on activities. During this program, teens will delve into local ecosystems, hike scenic trails, learn about conservation, and encounter fascinating wildlife.

The Green Teen Club meets the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center (5750 Sanger Ave.)

Click here to learn more.

Click here to register for the Bland Competition.

Click here to learn more about Inspire Summer 2025.

Save The Date for Spring Break Volunteering

Youth Engaged In Service (formerly Breaks with Impact), or YES, is returning this spring with opportunities for middle and high school students to serve the community. YES participants will engage in efforts to deter food insecurity, clean up local parks, remove invasive species, serve local nonprofits, and more.

Tentative dates for spring break programming are as follows: