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COVID-19 Won't Stop Santa from Delivering Gifts this Year
Parents, Dr. Anthony Fauci recently made a major announcement: Santa Claus cannot contract COVID-19, so there’s no need for kids to worry that he won’t be showing up this Christmas Eve (or that he can spread anything).
“Santa is not going to be spreading any infections to anybody,” said Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert. “(He) is exempt from this because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity.”
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Regional Opioid and Other Drug Prevention and Policy Workgroup |
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Special Presentation
Thursday, December 3 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: John Daviau, MACP
Director of CT Affiliate Chapter, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)
Let’s take a look at the states where legalization has already occurred
and see what we might learn.
Topics to include:
Marijuana and Mental Health
Marijuana and Opioids
Vaping and Marijuana
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Drug Free Schools Committee
Resources for Youth, Parents and Families
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Impact of COVID-19 and Lockdown on Mental Health of Children and Adolescents
COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has brought about a sense of fear and anxiety around the globe. This phenomenon has led to short term as well as long term psychosocial and mental health implications for children and adolescents.
This paper is aimed at narratively reviewing various articles related to mental health aspects of children and adolescents impacted by COVID-19 pandemic and enforcement of nationwide or regional lockdowns to prevent further spread of infection.
Some recommendations regarding the role of parents:
With Younger Children
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Parents should devote time to provide children with undivided, positive attention and reassurance.
- With the aim to increase children's awareness about COVID-19, provide them with fact-based information.
- Efforts should be made so that a consistent routine is followed with enough opportunities to play, read, rest and engage in physical activity.
- Focus should be on ‘good behavior’ more than ‘bad behavior’. Provide praise and social reinforcements.
With Adolescents
- This is the best time for parents to model important life skills i.e. coping with stress, coping with emotions, and problem-solving with their children.
- Teach older children home responsibilities - skills including cooking, managing money matters, learning first aid, organizing their room, contributing to managing chores like laundry and cleaning.
- Value the peer support system of the adolescents. Parents should encourage adolescents who are introverts to keep in touch with their peers.
- Negotiations with adolescents to limit their time and internet-based activities are recommended.
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Upcoming Programs for Teens and Parents |
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Region 5 Suicide Advisory Board |
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Sector Engagement
The Benefits of Youth Serving Organizations Involvement in Prevention
Natalie Rodriguez, Youth Advocate, New Milford Youth Agency
"It is beneficial for Youth Serving Organizations to provide prevention services to engage multiple populations of youth under the shared goals of building strengths, resiliency, and developmental assets that all youth need in order to succeed throughout their lives. Prevention services provide support and resources to vulnerable and at-risk youth.
Through creating a safe space for youth within their community, prevention provides the platform for meaningful conversation and advocacy within their schools and overall community.
A prevention specialist can foster skills of leadership, values development, and decision-making while also aligning youth with successful mentors and adult role models of which they can aspire to become. Youth prevention programs expose youth to a positive lifestyle with the notion that they will strive to maintain it."
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This Vision Board Workshop served as a prevention program at the New Milford Youth Agency. |
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Creating a Kindness Tree served as a prevention program at the New Milford Youth Agency.
The concept reads as follows:
Kindness Tree
In honor of our late Board Member:
Barrie L. Goldstein
We invite all kids to take an ornament home to place on their tree as Barrie wanted. In return, please perform an act of kindness for someone else this holiday season in honor of Barrie.
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Problem Gambling Awareness |
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Each year, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University asks lotteries to support our responsible gambling campaign and help raise awareness regarding the risks of underage lottery play during the holiday season.
Whether or not it is legal for minors to participate in lottery games in your area, a responsible gaming message during the holidays is always welcomed. In past years, the campaign has been endorsed by the World Lottery Association and NASPL.
Click here for a Fact Sheet on Youth Gambling - part of the Responsible Gambling Holiday Lottery Campaign. |
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40 Developmental Assets Framework |
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The Developmental Assets® are 40 research-based, positive experiences and qualities that influence young people’s development, helping them become caring, responsible, and productive adults.
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External Asset #4 which falls under "Support"
Caring Neighborhood- Young person experiences caring neighbors
It’s important for the well-being of young people and society to reach out to one another and get to know neighbors. The key is to create a safe haven in which young people feel loved, supported, and understood.
How do we build this asset?
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Greet your neighbors when you see them outside. Encourage your child to get to know the people in your neighborhood by being a role model.
- Walk through the neighborhood as a family.
- Organize a potluck, cookout, or block party with your neighbors.
The 40 Developmental Assets® may be reproduced for educational, non-commercial uses only. Copyright ©1997 Search Institute®, 3001 Broadway Street NE, Suite 310, Minneapolis MN 55413; 800-888-7828; www.searchinstitute.org. All rights reserved.
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