Alcohol and Underage Drinking: What you need to know
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about alcohol and teens, and it can have serious consequences. Learning the facts can open your eyes to how alcohol really affects the developing brain, decision-making, and your teen’s future. Whether you’re starting the conversation, noticing a change, or just want to be prepared, Power to the Parent gives you the tools, truths, and tips you need to support your child with confidence. Read more here.
Thanksgiving – Holiday Mental Health Toolkit
Thanksgiving in the U.S. is a major holiday that can include time with family, chosen family or friends. It’s all food, family, and gratitude, things that you wouldn’t think are immediate stressors right? Well holidays can bring surges of emotions that strain on our mental health, especially when you add in complexities of relationship dynamics and combine traditions with others you are celebrating with. Here, we have some Thanksgiving-specific tips to build your mental health toolkit in order to help navigate the challenges that might arise during this popular holiday. Read more here.
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.
Wyatt’s Story: A Message on Fentanyl
With his big and shining personality, 23-year-old Wyatt Williamson lit up every room he entered. “Wyatt really didn’t know a stranger,” his mother, Julie Hofmans, said. “Everybody loved Wyatt. He was my best friend.” Wyatt tragically passed away at age 23 after taking a pill he thought was Xanax, but was actually laced with the powerful synthetic opioid, fentanyl. By sharing Wyatt’s story, Julie hopes to save other families from tragedy and heartache. “Are you willing to take a chance with your life … to take a pill and you don’t know where it came from?”
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.
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
November 10 – Sweet, Minty & Addictive: How Flavors Shape Youth Nicotine Use
Parents Against Vaping will explore what science tells us about why flavored nicotine products attract young people, what happens when flavor chemicals and nicotine are inhaled, how flavors may affect nicotine reward and dependence, and what families should know as tobacco and nicotine products continue to evolve. Register here.
November 12 – Young People, AI, and Mental Health: What New Research Tells Us
Join JED as they explore what research tells us about young people and AI, the risks of turning to technology for emotional support, and how we can help protect the emotional well-being of young people when AI is so accessible. Register here.
November 16 – Powerful Words: Language to Build Children’s Self-Esteem
Social media can create unrealistic expectations that leave young people feeling discouraged, empty, and depressed — and parents and caregivers need to know how to respond. Learn what to say to help young people feel positive about themselves, regardless of challenges they may face or how others may view them. Register here.
November 18 – The Gift of Failure & The Addiction Inoculation: How Kids Learn from Mistakes, Develop Competence, and Resist Substance Use
Doing too much for our kids—even with the best intentions—can undermine their motivation, confidence, and resilience. Research shows that children who develop a strong sense of competence and self-efficacy are also less likely to turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with difficult emotions. For more information from our partners at KNOW 2 Prevent and to register, click here.
November 21 – Mindful Forest Bathing Retreat
Discover Shinrin-yoku, the peaceful practice of forest bathing that simply means taking in the forest atmosphere through your senses. This is a quiet, guided, slow-paced walk in the woods-not a strenuous hike-where you will slow down and embrace the stillness, tranquility and the quiet beauty of late autumn as the trees shed their last color. Led by Stef Carbone, LCSW, Certified Forest Therapy Guide. 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.