Celebrate People & Moments that Nurture Wellness

 

Our prevention partners at SAMHSA - the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - remind us of how important it is to check in with each other, especially with the young people in our lives. 

We know that youth today face very real pressures. Support from those around them can make all the difference. Parents & caregivers, encourage the young ones in your life and let them know that it's okay to talk about stress, emotions, and mental health.🧠

Here's a few simple ways to start:

Check in and ask how they are really doing 💭
Plan some screen-free family time 📵
Talk about healthy ways to cope 💡

The conversation you start today could be the support they need tomorrow - let them know you care and encourage them to communicate! 💬💜

UthMpact Class XV Etiquette Dinner with Leadership Lakeland Alumni

 

A good time was had by all who attended the UthMpact Leadership Class XV Business Etiquette Dinner hosted by Leadership Lakeland Alumni last week at the Lone Palm Golf Club. Our high school student leaders participating in Class XV had an incredible opportunity to meet and network with members of Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association and local community and business leaders while enjoying a fine dining experience together.

Our teen leaders learned the importance of proper dining etiquette in a formal setting and discussed informative topics with members of the Lakeland business community including advice about hiring practices for young people and sharing life and career insights, as well as a special presentation by IAA's humane educator, Michelle Bachmaier.

Our thanks and appreciation to all who attended this event, especially the Lakeland Alumni Association and Lone Palm for graciously hosting our group and providing wonderful service. 

UthMpact Hosts 2025 Project HOCO Shopping Days

Project HOCO's 2025 Student Shopping Dates are set and UthMpact is proud to continue providing formal wear for teens in need. Students with a Polk County School ID can sign a Project HOCO Pledge promising to make healthy and safe choices during Homecoming festivities and receive their dresses and suits for FREE! Nearly 6,000 prom and homecoming ensembles have been provided at no cost to young women and men in Polk County since 2013.

Student Shopping Days are scheduled for Saturdays: September 6 & 13 and October 4 & 11, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Project Prom/Project Homecoming Store located in the Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 U.S. 98N, in Lakeland (across from Rack Room Shoes). 

Community members may support the Project Prom and Project Homecoming efforts by donating gently used dresses, shoes, men's suits, ties, and accessories. Especially needed are ladies plus-size dresses (size 18+) and smaller size dresses (0-4), along with men's wear in smaller sizes. Donations my be dropped off at the Project Prom Store on shopping days or at the InnerAct Alliance office at 621 South Florida Ave. in Lakeland - weekdays from 8:30am-4:30pm. A receipt will be provided for tax purposes.

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

Visit us at 

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

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

Proof that Prevention Works!

 

InnerAct Alliance is proud to have played an integral part in building prevention foundations in our community for the past four decades. This school year, our prevention specialists will reach over 70 classrooms with science-based education programs that work. The proof is reflected in the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS), which shows that 83% of Polk Students in grades 6-12 choose alcohol-free lives, 88% reject vaping, and 87% say no to marijuana. 

When our nonprofit agency first began in 1985, we served just a handful of classrooms. Today, thousands of students benefit from peer-to-peer prevention offered through our UthMpact youth leadership program, interactive Red Ribbon Challenges each October, and positive messaging year-round that celebrates what is working in our communities.

Please join us in celebrating the fact that most kids ARE making good choices and support our efforts to empower the next generation of students to help them promote positive peer pressure!

Enjoy a Safe & Happy Labor Day!

 

Happy Labor Day 2025! Labor Day is a federal holiday celebrated in the United States on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement. Labor Day is unique in that it is a holiday that honors the contributions U.S. workers have made to the strength and prosperity of our country.

Labor Day Weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans and is usually celebrated with parties, parades, barbecues, and athletic events. We hope you enjoy a safe and happy Labor Day!

Parents Pack Health Kits with Narcan for College Kids

 

Back to School Prep has certainly changed in recent years. Now, some parents are packing health kits containing Narcan for their college students to take back to school to help combat overdoses and keep kids safe. Narcan is a popular brand name for naloxone, a medication that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose. Once available only by prescription, it is now available for over-the-counter use.

As parents, we talk to our kids openly about substance abuse to educate and encourage them to make good choices, but peer pressure can be a challenge especially with social media. In the college environment, the reality is that your teen may encounter new experiences while attending parties and living among other in the dorm so there is a chance they may be exposed to someone who has an overdose.

There is a bit of controversy associated with this issue - some studies show that few college students know how to correctly administer the Narcan nasal spray effectively to reverse the effects of opioids. There are also mixed opinions among parents - some believe that providing teens with Narcan may encourage drug use. Other believe that it's better to have Narcan on hand for emergency situations and not need it, than not to have it at all. It is important whichever side of the issue you may be on that you continue to educate yourself and have open conversations with your children about safety and healthy choices.

On a recent episode of the Fox News show "Outnumbered," panelists discussed the pros and cons of providing teens with Narcan. 

Here is a link to view the 5-minute segment: 

https://www.foxnews.com/health/parents-send-college-kids-back-school-narcan-combat-overdoses

Enjoy A Delicious Meal with Your Family & Support Prevention!

 

This year, InnerAct Alliance is celebrating four decades of serving the Lakeland and Polk County community with substance abuse prevention programs and events. During the 2025-2026 school year, our prevention specialists will reach students in over 70 classrooms to provide science-based education that is proven to work.

Please mark your calendar for Thursday, October 2 and join us for a special 40th Ruby Anniversary event. Plan to eat lunch with friends and co-workers or dinner with your family at either of Il Forno Italian Restaurant's two locations in Lakeland - Northside or Southside. In addition to enjoying authentic and delicious Italian cuisine at a great price, guests will have an opportunity to win fun raffle prizes.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will support InnerAct Alliance and its prevention programs and activities in our community such as the Annual Red Ribbon Run (coming up on October 25 at Lake Mirror), UthMpact Youth Leadership program, Project Prom & Project Homecoming, Annual Prevention Summit, as well as science-based prevention education programs that increase protective factors and decrease risk factors for nearly 15,000 students plus outreach to over 100,000 citizens in our community.

Hope to see you and your family at Il Forno on October 2 to celebrate healthy choices!