Every day, thousands of young people experience bullying from their peers at school, after school in their neighborhoods, and even when they are at home, through social media and texts. There are many ways to support bullying prevention as an individual or with friends, family, your school, or your entire community.
What Parents Should Know About Bullying
- Definition, Impact and Roles
- Laws and Policy
- Helping Your Child
- Working with the School
- Mobile and Online Safety
Red Ribbon Week: October 23 – 31, 2024
Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was a special agent who worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration. In 1985, he was kidnapped by drug traffickers in Guadalajara, Mexico. His murder and death brought anger to the community and was a catalyst for the Red Ribbon Campaign.
Together in Kiki’s honor, parents and youth in communities nationwide began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness around his killing and the destruction caused by drugs in America.
Talk to your children during Red Ribbon Week about information and activities that were shared at school. That will start important conversations and will support healthy decision making. Learn more.
Facts About Fentanyl
Buying Drugs Online – What You Should Know & How to Protect Your Kids
Where are kids getting drugs? Twenty years ago, the answer to this question would only have been: from classmates at school, from friends at a party, or from a medicine cabinet. Fast forward to today and you’ll find that young people are also getting drugs online perhaps now more than ever.
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.
October 3, 17, 31 – Yoga for Resilience
Do you have a loved one struggling with addiction? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Carve out time for yourself so you may respond to your loved one with a clear mind and an open heart. Join us on Zoom and we will come together in a safe space to practice somatic mindfulness, grounding and centering, containment and breath regulation. For more information, click here.
October 17 – 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. Register by email: ssal@drugcrisisinourbackyard.com
November 9 – Invitation to Change Workshop with CRAFT Strategies
CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) presented by Center for Motivation and Change and Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. Learn tools that can give you hope, help a loved one move away from substance use and apply better techniques to help you take care of yourself. Excellent workshop for anyone hoping to influence change in a loved one’s behavior. Register here.
Upcoming Events
October 7 – Bullying and the Impact on Children
Explore the types of bullying, risk factors for being bullied, and how bullying impacts children at different developmental stages with a licensed therapist. Examine how kids “become” bullies, how to help kids understand what bullying looks like, and signs that a child may be the victim of bullying. Register here.
October 8 – Screen Smart Parenting
K.N.O.W. 2 Prevent presents Adam Pletter, PsyD to discuss actionable tips for fostering a healthy relationship with technology, raising healthy, safe, and resilient children in today’s digital world. Register here.
October 8 – Effective Strategies for Balancing Family Screen Time
Join Operation Parent and Dr. Mandakini Sadhir, as she shares her frontline experiences of helping families manage digital life. Dr. Sadhir will offer practical strategies to overcome challenges while highlighting what really works when it comes to fostering healthy tech habits. Register here.
October 10 – Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training
Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Register here.
October 21 – Supporting Kids Who Have Experienced Bullying
Finding out your child is being bullied is confusing and painful. Explore the factors involved when deciding when to step in to support a child, and when to give them space. 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.