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Greetings Prevention Champions!
Welcome to the September Edition of the Henrico Area Prevention Services
Monthly Newsletter!
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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time when communities across the nation come together to raise awareness and spread hope. At Henrico Prevention, our mission is to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors in our community, and suicide prevention is a critical component of this work. | |
September 8th is 988 Day! It's a day to create positive buzz around the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and its related activities across the country. This year's theme is “No Judgment. Just Help.” Save this number in your cell phone and remember to share with a friend. #988day | |
Service Provider Training on Human Trafficking | |
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Through a valuable partnership with Youth Impact, Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition, and Freekind, members of our team participated in a youth service provider training on human trafficking. Facilitated by Lauren Diggs of Freekind, the training equipped us with crucial strategies to identify and prevent human trafficking in our community. Freekind’s mission is to prevent human trafficking and support survivors on their journey to freedom. They focus on restoring humanity, offering grace to the most vulnerable as they regain their freedom, hope, and sense of belonging.
The training was enlightening and empowering, providing our team with the tools needed to help young people, families, and the broader community avoid these dangerous situations. We are eager to share the resources provided by Freekind with our audience to further spread awareness and prevention strategies. For more information, please visit https://freekindva.org. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against human trafficking.
Human Trafficking Response in Virginia
National Human Trafficking Resource Center’s Educator Tool
Freedom Initiative, based in Charlottesville Virginia, developed the below protocol for reporting suspected cases of trafficking.
Call #77 to report suspected human trafficking to Virginia State Police. For minors, call Virginia State Police AND the Virginia Department of Social Services at 804-786- 8536
Parent Resources
Defend Young Minds- https://www.defendyoungminds.com/
Courses for families/schools- https://www.defendyoungminds.com/brain-defense
Articles/tips for parents- https://www.defendyoungminds.com/articles
Protect Young Eyes- https://protectyoungeyes.com/
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Quitlines: Helping You Quit Smoking for Good
Quit Now Virginia
Tips from Former Smokers
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Tobacco Free Tuesday is September 17. Come learn from the success stories of King George County Parks and Recreation and Lexington at Kendal, a retirement community. Implementing a tobacco free policy helps provide a safe and healthy environment for all. Click to Register. | |
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CADCA’s Geographic Health Equity Alliance (GHEA) has partnered with the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation to host a 2-part webinar series focused on helping communities prevent and reduce commercial tobacco use. Part 1, Clearing the Air: Science of Secondhand Smoke, recording and slides are available. Part 2 “Clearing the Air: Steps to Going Smokefree”, is September 9th and is open for registration.
Both can be found here.
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Here's what we've been up to...
8/6: HTS2S Nicotine Jeopardy, 1:00-3:00pm, IBEW Local 666
8/6: National Night Out, 5:30-8:30pm, Various Henrico Locations
8/8: HCPS School-Based MH Retreat, 8-4:30pm, The Oak
8/9: 2024 Henrico Hoop It Up Back to School Event, 12-4pm, Henrico Sports & Event Center
8/10: Charles City Back to School Fair, 10a-1p, Charles City HS
8/21: Youth Provider Training on Human Trafficking Prevention, 10:00-12:30, The Oak
8/22: SUD & Prevention Retreat, 11am-2pm, Belmont Rec Center
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Here's what we have planned...
9/13: Talk Saves Lives, VA State Council Missionary Women’s Retreat
9/14: Laura Teague Memorial 5K
9/29-10/2: VFHY Champions for Youth Summit
10/3: Henrico County Active aging Week Walk and Fitness Forum 10am-12pm, Henrico Sports & Events Center
10/5: Glen Allen Day, 9am-3pm, Crump Park
10/5: Charles City AFSP Out of Darkness Walk
10/12: Bernard Greene Drug Court Memorial 5K
10/19: Richmond AFSP Out of Darkness Walk
10/21-22: Community Coalitions of Virginia (CCoVA) Summit
10/23-31: Red Ribbon Week
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School in Back in Session...
That Means the Doors to Our 5 CONNECT After School Programs are OPEN!
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We make Prevention fun and engaging for our youth! Nicotine Jeopardy, hosted by the Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition and facilitated by THINKFAST Interactive, was a great way to engage our youth, testing their knowledge and increasing awareness of the dangers of nicotine use. | |
News the Henrico Community Can Use! | |
*Please note* Effective July 1, 2024, all communications coming from Henrico County general government employees will be from an @henrico.gov domain. Please ensure you update your contact information. | |
Be the difference...Focus on Wellness! | |
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NAMI's Tips for Easing Back to School Anxiety
As the new school year begins, it's not uncommon for students to experience anxiety. Whether it's starting a new grade, adjusting to a new routine, or facing academic pressures, these feelings are valid and can be managed with the right support. Here are some tips from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to help ease back-to-school anxiety:
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Acknowledge Their Feelings: Encourage your child to talk about their worries. Listening and validating their feelings can help them feel understood and supported.
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Get Back Into Routine: Establishing a consistent daily routine before school starts can help ease the transition. This includes regular sleep schedules, meal times, and study habits.
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Focus on Positives: Help your child focus on the positive aspects of going back to school, such as seeing friends, engaging in favorite activities, or learning new things.
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Prepare in Advance: Familiarize your child with the school environment before the first day. Visiting the school, meeting the teacher, and discussing the daily schedule can help reduce uncertainty and build confidence.
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Encourage Problem-Solving: Teach your child to break down overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This helps build resilience and gives them a sense of control over their situation.
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Practice Relaxation Techniques: Introduce your child to relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness to help them manage stress.
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Stay Connected: Maintain open communication with your child’s teacher and school staff. This partnership can ensure that your child’s needs are met both at home and at school.
By following these tips, parents can play a crucial role in helping their children navigate the challenges of the new school year with confidence and ease. For more detailed information, visit NAMI’s website.
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Henrico Prevention offers various FREE community-based trainings supporting mental health awareness, substance use prevention, and wellness.
See additional trainings below, offered by our Community Partners.
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✨Explore Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) with our insightful and impactful collaborative team virtual training. ACEs are events in childhood that can have lasting effects on health and well-being.
We invite community organizations to prioritize mental health and resilience by attending this 2-hour ACEs training. Uncover the keys to understanding and addressing these experiences for a brighter, more compassionate future.
Click the flyer to register!
Together, let's foster a supportive environment for all.
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Visit BeWellVA.com for regional training opportunities.
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, and BE WELL Virginia!
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Henrico Prevention thrives on your input and engagement. We invite you to share your thoughts on our newsletter—what you loved, what you'd like to see more of, and any ideas for future content. Your valuable feedback helps us tailor our communications to better serve your needs and interests. | | |
Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services, Prevention Services | 3908 Nine Mile Rd. Richmond, VA 23223| 804-727-8097 | henricoprevention@henrico.us |
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