youth – Page 4

Missouri Red Ribbon Week Winners Selected

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Missouri Red Ribbon Week Winners Selected

Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31) is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. It serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand against alcohol and drug use by making a commitment to live alcohol and drug free lives. The mission of Missouri’s Youth/Adult Alliance (MYAA) is to provide a network of support empowering youth to make healthy decisions about alcohol and other drugs. In the spirit of Red Ribbon week, MYAA hosted its annual state wide art and video/music contest.

Twelve artwork winners and one video winner were chosen. Artwork will be featured in the 2015 Red Ribbon Calendar, and winners receive their choice of a prize valued at $100. The grand prize artwork winner will be featured on the cover of the calendar and the video winner will be featured on the ACT Missouri website. Both will receive their choice of a prize valued at $500.

“Red Ribbon Week encourages our entire community to adopt healthy, drug-free lifestyles,” said Chelsea Billeck of ACT Missouri .“The campaign brings together parents, schools, and businesses as we look for innovative ways to keep kids and communities drug free. Research shows that children are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs when parents and other role models are clear and consistent in their opposition to substance use and abuse.”

Grand Prize Artwork Winner:
10^th Grade: Statilly R., East Carter R-II Schools

http://ow.ly/DWDGp

Grand Prize Video Winner:
Isaac J., Mt. Vernon Intermediate School

First place Artwork Winners:

1^st Grade:Nyle K., Southwest Elementary

2^nd Grade: Savanna S., Scott City

3^rd Grade: Aaron M., South Callaway

4^th Grade: Alaina A., Skyline Elementary

5^th Grade: Keeley G., Holcomb Elementary

6^th Grade: Morgan P., Holcomb Elementary

7^th Grade: Britney H., Scott City Middle School

8^th Grade: Courtney E., Scott City Middle School

9^th Grade: Taylor A., East Carter R-II Schools

11^th Grade: Itream A., Jefferson City High School

12^th Grade: Hannah A., East Carter R-II Schools

To view the winning pieces and video, visit ACT Missouri on Facebook at www.facebook.com/actmissouri.

Contact Information:

Chelsea Billeck
MYAA Project Director
ACT Missouri
428 E. Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 635-6669
cbilleck@actmissouri.org

World Suicide Prevention Day 2014

Today, September 10, 2014, is World Suicide Prevention Day.

Source

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults (15-24). Risk factors for suicide include: mental illness, substance abuse, family history of suicide and previous suicide attempts.

So what can you and your community do to help prevent suicide? First of all, be sure to know the warning signs. Listen and get involved, directly. It is important to talk openly with the person and provide support to them. Most importantly, get help from a professional, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to reducing the national suicide rate 20% by 2025.

“Robin Williams’s recent death saddened our nation. It also prompted a much-needed conversation about this important health issue,” said Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Over the past few years, more and more people are speaking out about their personal experience with suicide. That’s a big change. And it’s why we believe that in the next ten years, by 2025, we can reduce the annual suicide rate by 20 percent. But to accomplish this, we need to take action – we need greater investment in research, education, and advocacy.”

The AFSP is asking that partner agencies use #EndSuicide on Social Media this week, and post their #SelfiesAgainstStigma on Friday.

2014 Red Ribbon Week Art Contest

In honor of Red Ribbon Week, the oldest national substance abuse prevention campaign, MYAA is hosting its annual art contest. You can submit still art for the calendar, or a video!

Please incorporate this year’s theme into your artwork: Stay true to yourself, stay drug free!

Last year’s still art Grand Prize winner was 4th Grader Olivia G. from Southwest Elementary in Lawson.

Post by ACT Missouri.

Last year’s Grand Prize video was: “My Life is Worth Framing” by the Lawson Middle School Character Club.

Check out the other 2014 winners!

Entries must be received by October 10th. Click here for contest rules.
Any questions? Give Chelsea a call at (800) 669-2280 or email cbilleck@actmissouri.org.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to share your creativity, win amazing prizes, and most importantly, help to keep Missouri kids drug and alcohol free!

Need ideas for your Red Ribbon Week celebrations? Give us a call, or click here!

Initial “It Only Takes One” Campaign a Success

The initial IT ONLY TAKES ONE campaign has concluded, with three groups winning top honors. To take part in this campaign, schools had to register in the fall. Then, students from 34 participating schools were presented a free t-shirt after submitting a completed parent-teen driving contract to their advisors. The t-shirts proved to be an effective tool to get students talking about the dangers of distracted driving, but many of the schools did not stop there. Students and advisors carried this message out into the community – with posters, thumb bands, belt checks, and other materials that sparked conversation between teens and adults about safe driving practices. Almost 1700 students were impacted by the campaign across Missouri.

For their participation, Campbell C2000 received 1^st place with a prize of $1,000, Platte County High School received 2^nd place with a prize of $750, and New Madrid County Family Resource Center received 3^rd place with a prize of $500. Campbell C2000 completed pre/post safety belt surveys, presented a distracted driving program to their high school and distributed It Only Takes One parent contracts and shirts to students in their community. The coalition also wrote for funding for two large billboard signs for the city and school ballparks promoting their IT ONLY TAKES ONE message. They have big plans for their award including a creating a float for the upcoming Campbell PeachFair Parade and hosting an information booth at the Peach Fair and at the Back To School Open House Event in Campbell. MacKenzie Metheny, a student of the coalition, stated “This campaign has been extremely empowering for us because we have already seen that we are actually making a difference in our friends’ lives and their families’ lives!”

2015 IT ONLY TAKES ONE Campaign information and applications will be available through ACT Missouri in Fall 2014. The IT ONLY TAKES ONE campaign has been made possible by grants received from the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety.

ACT Missouri is the statewide training and resource center for substance abuse prevention. Through free trainings, brochures, and education, ACT Missouri works with all areas of the state to combat drug and alcohol abuse, especially among Missouri youth. ACT Missouri also serves at the state representative for national organizations such as SADD and The Partnership at Drugfree.org.

Contact Information:
Chelsea Billeck
MYAA Project Director
ACT Missouri
428 E. Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 635-6669
cbilleck@actmissouri.org

Taking ACTion to Build a Healthy Missouri

Missouri Red Ribbon Week Winners Selected

World Suicide Prevention Day 2014

2014 Red Ribbon Week Art Contest

Initial “It Only Takes One” Campaign a Success

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