In connection with National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month (September) and Drug Awareness and Prevention Month (October), Five County Mental Health Authority, the school districts and local business partners are sponsoring a poster contest for children grades six through eight.
As you know, children and adults in our communities deal with various Mental Health issues on a daily basis and need to have a good understanding of how to get help for these issues. The poster contest is an effort to raise awareness of how to access Mental Health services through the Five County Mental Health Authority HELPLINE 1-877-619-3761.
Five County Mental Health Authority School Care Coordinators have developed as learning packet for teachers with instructions and guidelines for the poster contest as well as resource material that directly relates to the NC Standard Course of study. These material will be beneficial during the teachers instruction in the area of health, wellness and art education. The lesson plans have been designed to integrate the poster contest into the class instructional activities. To participate in the contest, contact the School Coordinators at 252-430-3028 (Cessel Boyd Rouse) or 252-430-3044 (Lynette Fuller) or more information.
The 1st place poster will be used to display Five County Mental Health Authority’s 24-hour Helpline number. The selected entry’s will be made into an 11 x 17 poster and then distributed throughout the county in various agencies, businesses, hospitals, schools and doctors offices. The winner will also receive a $200.00 gift card as well as other gifts. Participants who place 2nd will receive 75.00 and other gifts and 3rd place will receive $50.00 plus movie tickets.
All entries must be submitted by October 26th, 2007 to Five County Mental Health Authority. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and notified by November 9th, 2007. The winning poster will be used to promote Mental Health Services during 2008 and beyond. Winning children and their families will be invited to an award ceremony at Five County Mental Health Authority Administrative Building on November 16th. Winning entries will be on display November 9th-November 16th at various locations throughout the five county area.
Remember October is Drug Awareness and Prevention Month and this is a great time to make sure that parents, grandparents or caretakers of teens and pre-teens know what your children are up to when they are not with you. Here are some tips:
* Know where your child is when he or she is away from home.
* Have your kids check in with you regularly.
* Give them coins, a phone card or cell phone so that they can get in touch with you. Cell phones usually are not allowed to be used at school, but have your child keep one in his or her backpack and turn it on after they get out of school. If your child is not allowed a cell phone get the numbers of where he or she will be after school so that you can check in or have him or her call you at certain times to check in.
* Walk through your neighborhood and note where kids your child’s age hang out.
* Know your child’s friends.
* Make a point of knowing your child’s friend’s parents – find them at a PTA meeting, soccer practice, or wherever your kids hang out and introduce yourself.
* Work with other parents to get a list of names, addresses, phones and emails so that you can keep in touch with your child.
* Show up little early to pick your child up so that you can observe his/her behavior.
* Occasionally check to see that your kids are where they say they are going to be.
* Lots of kids get into trouble with drugs right after school from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Try to be with your kids then, but if you can’t, make sure your child is doing something positive with an adult around: sports, jobs, clubs, after school programs or church youth groups. If your kids have to be home, make sure they are doing homework or chores and not hanging out with friends at your home. Tell your kids that it is a house rule that no other children that are not from your family are in the house when there is no adult there to supervise.
Remember, this is not pestering, it’s parenting! For a free booklet, Keeping Your Kids Drug Free: A How To Guide for Parents and Caregivers, or for further information on parenting programs and youth drug prevention, contact Anne Williams, Prevention Specialist at Five County Mental Health 252-430-3077, or Gina DeMent at 252-430-3031.
For more resources call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol. and Drug Information at 1-800-788-2800 or go online at www.theantidrug.com