Prom and Graduation Season
Proms, graduations and the parties surrounding them can be an exciting time for teens and parents that they usually can remember throughout their lives. But they can also be a time of heartbreak. There are all too often negative consequences, serious injuries, and even deaths.
The good news is that parents and other adults can help keep teens safe by being informed and prepared. Keep the lines of communication open. Be sure to talk with your kids about underage drinking and the importance of making good decisions and be sure to be clear about your expectations. Following are some tips for both parents and teens.
Safety Tips for Parents:
- Remember that you are the primary influence on your teen.
- Set clear rules about not drinking, and enforce consequences for breaking them.
- Offer to plan, host, and supervise a graduation party; assure parents the party will be alcohol-free.
- Require adult supervision at every celebration your teen attends.
- Know who will be driving your teen to and from the celebration.
- Remind your teen that, under any circumstance, you will be there to pick them up or help them, no questions asked.
- Don’t be afraid to ask your teen to “check in” while they are out.
- Get tips for talking to your teen.
Safety Tips for Graduates and Teens Going to Prom:
- Never drink and drive!
- Do not get into a car with a driver who has been drinking.
- Remember you can always say “no” and do not have to do anything you do not want to do.
- If it doesn’t feel safe, it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts.
- Watch out for your friends and have them do the same for you.
- Never be afraid to call your parents or a trusted adult.
- More Prom safety tips
Graduation and attending prom should be one of the most memorable times in your and your child’s lives. Talk with them and keep communication lines open to keep them and their friends safe.
Being your authentic self is one of the best ways to protect your #mentalhealth. As we celebrate #PrideMonth, learn more and find resources from Mental Health America: mhanational.org/pride
If you or an LGBTQ+ individual you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available at The Trevor Project with trained counselors. You may visit the website to chat with a counselor, call 866-488-7386 to speak with a counselor or text a counselor at 678-678.
ASK is proud to curate the virtual Save A Life Wellness Fair which will connect you to resources that support Substance Misuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery; Mental Health and Opportunities for Thoughtful Service.
Click here to view the virtual Save A Life Wellness Fair and download the application on your phone. You never know when you, a friend, neighbor or loved one may need this vital information and by having it readily available it truly may be the most important gift you have ever given yourself or shared.
Life is hard, let’s be prepared to take good care of ourselves and one another.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at awesome nonprofits throughout Westchester and Putnam Counties. To view these opportunities, please check out Volunteer New York!
The John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak can always use some volunteers! To find out about their Teen Volunteer Program, click here.
Yorktown Leos Club
Leadership, Experience, Opportunity! The Yorktown Leos are a community service club for people ages 12-25 willing to help others in the community. They host and participate in a variety of fun and collaborative events. The Yorktown Leos Club has been helping the Yorktown community for over 25 years and to learn how to get involved, click here.
Weekly Spotlight Family Support Groups
From our partners at Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, weekly Spotlight Family Support Groups, held virtually every Tuesday and Wednesday via Zoom. Spotlight on Recovery is a Family Educational and Support Group for families struggling with a loved one misusing substances. For more information, click here.
Virtual Naloxone Training
Naloxone is a prescription medicine that reverses an overdose by blocking heroin or other opioids in the nervous system for 30-90 minutes. Naloxone is administered by injection or intranasal. Following training, participants receive a kit by mail. Presented by our partners at Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. Please inquire about setting up a virtual training by contacting Susan Salomone at: ssal@drugcrisisinourbackyard.com.
Feeling overwhelmed? Join Us for Nervous System Regulation and Gentle Movement
This will be a safe space where we may connect and come home to ourselves. Practice may be done from a seated position, with options to stand for moving meditations. For more information, click here.
Student Assistance Services Corner
“Helping Students Enhance Their Well Being by Making Healthy Decisions and Remaining Substance Free”
A partnership between a parent/guardian and Student Assistance Counselor best supports the nurturing of the social and emotional wellbeing of students. We encourage you to contact the SAC at your child’s school for a confidential consultation. Click here to learn more.
| Lakeland High School Sasha Meyer Porco, LMSW, CASAC smeyerporco@lakelandschools.org | Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School Ms. Finan, MS lfinan@lakelandschools.org | Yorktown High School Kiara Loughran, MS sacounselor@yorktown.org |
Upcoming Events
June 3 – From the Table to Self-Talk: Reframing Food and Body Confidence for Youth
Learn practical ways to support healthy habits, encourage positive self-talk, and model a balanced approach to food, exercise, and body image so youth can grow in confidence and feel good in their bodies. Register here.
June 3 – Substance Use and Mental Health: Communication, Boundaries, & Crisis Management
Caregivers, family members, and friends need clear tools to support someone who is dealing with both substance use and mental health challenges. Learn how to recognize crisis warning signs, set healthy boundaries, and avoid enabling harmful behaviors with a licensed therapist. Register here.
June 8 – Returning Responsibility: Nurturing Independence in Kids
Transferring responsibility to children as they mature helps to boost their confidence and develop into self-sufficient and accountable people. Learn practical strategies for fostering responsibility in everyday activities and discuss how to strike a balance between offering children support and allowing autonomy in this one-hour seminar with a licensed therapist. Register here.
July 1 – Aging & Mental Health: Understanding Emotional Well-Being, Connection, and Support in Later Life
Learn how aging-related transitions can affect emotional well-being, and how individuals, families, and communities can respond with compassion & practical support. Register here.
NAMI Westchester
The families and members of NAMI Westchester are here to help! They offer understanding to anyone concerned about mental illnesses and the treatment of mental illness. To view their calendar, click here.
Westchester Breathes is an ongoing program offered by the Westchester Library System offering an experience of gentle movement, breathing and relaxation exercises that reduce stress and anxiety and increase a sense of calm and well-being. These exercises are simple and evidence-based – which is to say…they work! They are free and on Zoom. Register here.