Youth interested in participating in the project should list three reasons they don't vape using this poster, then record a 30-60 second video with the poster as they share why they don't vape.

The "I don't vape because..." video project is part of a campaign to educate teens, parents and community members about e-cigarettes, an umbrella term for a variety of devices that produce an aerosol that users inhale, including JUULS and vape pens. The videos will be shared on SAPCA's YouTube channel and promoted using social media and other platforms.

Submit videos to Rashad.Price@alexandriava.gov

For facts about vaping, including resources to quit, click here.

Happy with your career and education choices? The Youth Development Team is inviting local professionals and college or technical school graduates to submit short videos about their choices to encourage Alexandria teens to learn about and explore college and career options. Learn more here.

Then on September 1, the City’s Opioid Work Group will launch “Think you know about opioids? Think again.” a social media campaign to raise awareness about opioids, misuse, overdose risks, and treatment and recovery. The campaign invites social media users to share short videos and tag three others to share the content with their own networks. View and share the videos and learn more about opioids by visiting alexandriava.gov/Opioids.

SAFE Project recently launched its #NoShame, grassroots campaign. Stigma often acts as a barrier to individuals getting help for mental health and substance use disorders. SAFE Project believes there’s #NoShame in getting help or talking about mental health and addiction. This campaign aims to create a nationwide movement to combat negative public perceptions caused by stigma and support those seeking treatment. To learn more about the #NoShame Campaign, visit the #NoShame website.

There’s #NoShame in getting help. Addiction is a disease. Take the #NoShame Pledge.

This August, Youth Development Team Members Emma Beall, Annette Bridges, Noraine Buttar, Theodore Jones, and Iris Perez-Torres attended the virtual National Prevention Network Conference August 25-26. This year's conference theme was "Staying Connected, Staying Healthy: Virtual Prevention in Action." Attendees learned about the impacts of adverse childhood experiences, current substance use and abuse trends and best practices for engaging the community in prevention.

The Youth Development Team has more than 35 years of experience promoting the healthy social emotional development of children and youth through evidence-based prevention services and initiatives, subsequently preventing costly outcomes such as alcohol and other drug use, pregnancy, school drop-out, smoking and violence. Click here to learn more about the Youth Development Team's work.

Applications to join the 2020-2021 Dream Project Mentoring Program have begun. The Dream Project Mentoring Program prepares high school seniors from Northern Virginia to gain admission to and succeed in college. Mentors support and assist mentees with college and scholarship applications, essays, interviews, and resumes. Throughout the year, mentees and mentors develop a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.'' This year mentoring will be done online.

What we can all do to cope with stress? How Right Now | Finding What Helps is a tool that helps users find resources that address specific concerns through fact sheets, articles, webinars, mobile apps and crisis hotlines. This resource can be found in Spanish here.

emma.beall@alexandriava.gov