Normalize Healthy Fact-Checking

 

These days, we are constantly bombarded by news and information online, in the real world, and within our own lives.📱For this reason, it's even more important to be sure the information we are receiving is accurate information.

Media literacy and digital literacy are valuable skills to have in this always-connected world. It's a good idea to verify the information we receive with one or two more reputable sources to make sure it is legitimate and consider that it could possibly be altered - something that's very possible with AI becoming more prevalent.

Thanks to our friends @ Positively Present for this helpful graphic to remind us to check the facts. ✅ By taking some of these fact-checking questions into consideration, it can help us separate what's real and what's manufactured - this includes examining and evaluating our thoughts as well. 💡 

You Can Impact Positive Change!

 

Did you know that every dollar invested in prevention saves communities $7 in treatment costs? Your donation to celebrate InnerAct Alliance's 40th Anniversary will help to support substance abuse prevention education for students and multiply positive impact across Central Florida. From classrooms to communities, every dollar helps guide kids toward a safe, healthy, drug-free future! 🌟

We believe in the power of prevention. For four decades, InnerAct Alliance has chosen prevention over intervention, positively over scare tactics, and community investment over crisis management. Our mission is needed now more than ever - the results speak for themselves in the thousands of students who have grown up making healthy choices because someone believed prevention could work. 👪

If your means allow, please consider helping to empower the next 40 years of positive change - any gift, no matter the size, demonstrates that our community values prevention, supports young leaders, empowers family, and believes in the power of positive peer pressure to help kids grow up safe and strong. 💪

Visit https://www.inneractalliance.org/donations.html#donate or text IAA to 26989 to donate and get more involved.

Safe Social Media & Online Platform Use

 

November is Family Caregivers Month to salute those who nurture, guide, and support children. Caregivers need to stay informed so they can talk to kids about substance abuse prevention and it's equally important to communicate safety rules for the digital world we live in. 📱 💻

Young people use social media and other online platforms daily to communicate, learn about topics, and express themselves. In many cases, digital media can be beneficial for youth to help them build community and connect with others. Unfortunately, we know that kids can also be negatively impacted by online issues that can lead to harassment, cyberbullying, child abuse, and exposure to content that increases physical and mental health issues. Harms like these threaten the safety and wellbeing of young people.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers helpful resources for families to stay informed and share best practices with their children to help them navigate social media and online platforms safely. 

FREE educational resources for safe internet use 

https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/online-health-and-safety-for-children-and-youth

Inspiration for a Happy, Healthy Life

 

What's a better inspiration for a happy, healthy life than this?...Decide what kind of life you really want, then say no to everything that isn't that! And this can apply to anyone at any time in their life.

It really does begin with YOU. In order to change or transform anything in life, you have to decide what it is that you want, what direction you wish to head in, or where you'd like to end up. Often, we don't do this and we lose track or let something sway us off-track.

Be guided by your own intuitive knowing. You know what is best for you, what feels good. Stay connected with your goals and don't let anything - especially alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs - get in the way of living your best life and achieving your dreams!

Additional Project HOCO Shopping Day This Saturday Nov. 15

 

If you missed an opportunity to shop for FREE formal wear, Project HOCO has you covered! UthMpact is adding one more Student Shopping Day for teens to shop for formal wear this Saturday, November 15, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, at the Project Prom Store located in the Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 U. S. Highway 98N, in Lakeland (across from Rack Room Shoes).

Students with a Polk County School ID can sign a pledge promising to make healthy and safe choices during Prom and Homecoming celebrations and receive their dresses and suits for FREE! Over 6,000 prom and homecoming ensembles have been provided at no cost to young women and men in Polk County since 2013.

Community members may support the Project Prom and Project Homecoming efforts by donating gently-worn dresses, shoes, men's suits, ties, and accessories - anything to help complete the perfect look! Especially needed are ladies plus sizes (size 18+) and smaller size dresses (size 0-4), along with men's wear in smaller sizes. Your donations can help make someone's special night even more memorable!

Donations may be dropped off at the Project Prom Store on November 15 or at the InnerAct Alliance office, located at 621 South Florida Ave. in Lakeland weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm. A receipt will be provided for tax purposes. 

UthMpact's goal is to promote fun and safe Prom and Homecoming seasons. 

Reach out to Samantha Barwig at (863) 802-0777.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPromofPolk/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/uthmpact/

Empower Prevention on Giving Tuesday – December 2

 

Mark your calendar for Giving Tuesday on December 2.📅This year, Giving Tuesday means even more as InnerAct Alliance celebrates 40 years of building drug-free communities across Central Florida. This global day of generosity kicks off the charitable season and we're asking you to please consider InnerAct Alliance as you plan your year-end giving.✍

Why Your Support Matters:

*Free prevention education reaches thousands of students across Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties

*UthMpact teens become prevention champions, influencing their peers from within

*Evidence-based programs work - 87% of Polk students reject marijuana - 88% say no to vaping

*Every dollar invested saves our community $7 in treatments costs

3 Ways to Give:

*Make a one-time gift of $40 to honor IAA's 40th anniversary

*Become a monthly donor for year-round support

*Plan your year-end giving on Giving Tuesday

Join the global movement of generosity on Dec. 2 and help us enter our 5th decade with momentum

*Donate: https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

*Text IAA to 26989

*Learn more: www.inneractalliance.org

 
Thank You!

Show Appreciation for Our Veterans

 

Today is Veterans Day - a day set aside to honor all who have served honorably in the United States military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is a day set aside to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all who served, not only those who have died, have sacrificed and done their duty. 

Each year on November 11, Americans come together to celebrate Veterans Day with parades and other special gatherings to publicly thank veterans who have served in war or peace. Today, there are more than 23 million veterans across the U.S. We thank and appreciate all our Veterans for their courage, service, and bravery!