Family InnerActions - Prevention's First Steps

Family InnerActions - Prevention's First Steps

InnerAct Alliance proudly offers a program called Family InnerActions for families with babies and toddlers to come together in a friendly, supportive environment to enjoy adult conversation, learn and bond with their youngsters, and watch them play and grow.

The group started meeting at tba Church, located at 1815 County Road 540A in Lakeland in 2011. The newborn to 2 years of age groups meets for baby and toddler fun on Friday mornings from 10-11:30 am. Play time for 2 to 5 year olds is held on Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30 am.

Now the group is growing again to add a 3rd session on Thursday evenings, from 6:00-7:30 pm, for working families or anyone who may not be able to attend a daytime event. This new session will meet at Highland Park Church of the Nazarene, 4730 Lakeland Highlands Road in South Lakeland in the Family Ministries building. Families with children ages birth to five are welcome to attend.

Admission is FREE and pre- registration is not required for any of the 3 group sessions. Participants need only to bring their baby or toddler, a blanket, and toys to play with.

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, has worked diligently for over 25 years to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency serves as the fiscal agent for the StandUP Polk (adult-based) and UthMpact (youth-based) Coalitions for a Drug-Free Polk to help educate about the dangers of substance abuse and bring about positive changes for Polk County.

For additional information, please call InnerAct Aliance, at (863) 802-0777 or find us on Facebook at Family InnerActions – Non-Profit Organization.

UthMpact is Proud to Announce Its 2013-2014 Leadership Class III

UthMpact is Proud to Announce Its 2013-2014 Leadership Class III

Students from Polk County high schools have been nominated by their school principals or community members to participate in the 2013-2014 UthMpact Leadership Class III. Please see the following page for a list of the students who will participate.

This unique program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, UthMpact Coalition, and key business partners, is designed to help teens develop crucial leadership skills.  Beginning in September, these new youth leaders will travel throughout the county once a month to experience the inner workings of local government, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. The teens will meet with community leaders to discuss challenges faced in the community and suggest proactive solutions.

UthMpact is the dynamic coalition of teen leaders committed to helping educate and deliver key substance abuse prevention messages to teens by their peers. Coalition goals for UthMpact are to provide positive community engagement; change community stereotypes about teen drug use by volunteering, informing and being educated; set examples for other teens; increase coalition membership and involvement in youth clubs in high schools; and positively encourage alcohol and tobacco prevention and cessation.

The UthMpact Leadership Class II Graduation took place on April 18, 2013.  At the event, students sang a song, shared information about their social norming activities, presented videos on distracted driving and a year in review, and also performed a swing dance routine.  Each Class II graduate received a certificate and a T-Shirt commemorating their year together, and two $500 scholarships were awarded to Taylor Jones and Seth Stone. 

For additional information on the UthMpact Leadership Program, please call Timothy J. Percell at (863) 802-0777, or find UthMpact on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UthMpact and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/uthmpact

Congrats to 2013-2014 UthMpact Leadership Class III Participants

Madison Aldrich
Sania Ali
Isabella Basalone
Taryn Boyer
Jordyn Braaten
Elizabeth (Marla) Broom
Hank Campbell
Julia Canady
Tiffany Chantharasinh
Emi Davis
William Davis
Kevon Edmondson
Mackenzie Eliasen
Katy Ferguson
Isaiha Fields
Lydia Goodman
Rami Harb
Kobe Jones
Morgan Kendrick
Hannah Keyt
Katherine Lopez
Ali Malik
Marli McKown
Sidney Nelson
Shefali Patel
India Paul
Anna Plair
Jerry (Trey) Porter
Joshua Ragasa
Rene Respicio
Rachel Ringley
Michaela Sawyer
Kavi Saxena
Jessie Scarpa
Julia Schindler
Alexander Schulz
Anthony Seay Jr.
Neel Shah
Katherine Sherouse
Eugene Smith
William Sutton
Katie Thielen
Tierra Thomas
Rachel Trinklein
Alex William Trudeau
Ashlyne Wells
Michael Wiggs
Taylor Williams
Noelle Woods

Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Poetry & Essay Contests Winter Haven Area Winners Announced May 9, 2013

  Inne       InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry and Essay Contests for Fifth Grade
               Students in the greater Winter Haven/Haines City area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the
               Red Ribbon Rally on Thursday morning, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. at Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The anti-drug rally focuses on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to use their creative talents to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Overall winners in each category will receive cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Congratulations to the Winter Haven Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners

Poster Contest

1^st Place $100.00 - Yashierlys Vazquez from Loughman Oaks Elementary

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Zoie Whiting from Jewett School of the Arts
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Ariel Salgado from Elbert Elementary

                                   

Poetry Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Demetrion Mallett from Jewett School of the Arts

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Natasha Mull from Garden Grove Elementary          

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Ashley Vargus from Caldwell Elementary    

Essay Contest 
1^st Place $100.00 - I’yana Whittaker from J.H. Wilson Elementary

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Arianna Pels from Berkley Charter

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Deisy Cruz Garcia from Wahneta Elementary

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall - Berkley Elementary

Guest speaker for the Rallies is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout
North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of
“Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and “Teen Power and Beyond.”

Similar rallies for Lakeland area schools took place on May 2^nd at The Lakeland Center.

The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to offer substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug-free puppet shows, informative presentations and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Poetry & Essay Contests Lakeland Area Winners Announced May 2, 2013

InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry and Essay Contests for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Lakeland area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the Red Ribbon Rallies on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at The Lakeland Center.

The anti-drug rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to use their creative talents to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Overall winners in each category will be awarded cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Congratulations to Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners:

Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners for 9:30 AM RALLY

Poster Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Jenna Snyder from Lincoln Academy       
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Kyla Smith from Rochelle School of the Arts  
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Aiden Abbott from Dr. N.E. Roberts Elementary

Poetry Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Sheila Johnson from Lincoln Academy     
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Shelby Ricks from North Lakeland Elementary
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Collin Daniels from Kingsford Elementary

Essay Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Isabel Carrillo from Lincoln Academy
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Alexis Petry from McKeel Academy
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Anytsha Williams from Combee Elementary

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – Lincoln Academy

Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners for 11:30 AM RALLY

Poster Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Zachery Vincent from Winston Elementary
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Jaylynn Perez from Padgett Elementary  
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Cassandra Gomez from South McKeel

Poetry Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Tariah Demmings from Socrum Elementary  
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - David Fahlgren from South McKeel                
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Tyler Walsh from St. Paul Lutheran

Essay Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Austin Holden from St. Anthony
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Sophia Castrillon from St. Joseph
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Madison Finley from St. Paul Lutheran

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – South McKeel

Guest speaker for the Rallies is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and “Teen Power and Beyond.”

Another rally for Winter Haven and Haines City area schools will be held next week on May 9 at 10:00 a.m. in the Polk State College Gym. Contest winners for those schools will be announced next week.

The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to offer substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug-free puppet shows, informative presentations and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

For further information on the Fifth Grade Rallies, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777. 

Spring 2013 Prescription Drug Take Back Event Nets 1,388 lbs. of Pharmaceuticals

StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 27, 2013, and host our community’s Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications.

An estimated 1,388 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. Drop-off sites included Auburndale Police Department, Bartow Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

This latest event brings the total for prescription medication collections held in Polk County, FL to nearly 4,400 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals to date.

Citizens may bring unwanted medications to the county’s permanent drop sites: Auburndale Police Dept. (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City Police Dept. (35400 Hwy 27, weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred Police Dept. (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lakeland Police Dept. (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); or Winter Haven Police Dept. (125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, weekdays 8-6). 

Medications may also be safely disposed of at home by dissolving them in water, mixing with coffee grounds or cat litter, pouring into a zip lock bag, and putting them in the trash. To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dump any medications into the toilet.  

StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, is a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement, community and business leaders working together to take a stand against drugs and bring about positive change for Polk County. For more information, please contact Juli Davis, StandUP Polk coalition coordinator, at (863) 802-0777.