Florida Attorney General Will Attend Proclamation of Red Ribbon Month – October 3, 2011

Florida Attorney General, Pam Bondi, will be in town on Monday, October 3, 2011 to show her support for substance abuse prevention and accompany members of InnerAct Alliance to receive a Proclamation of Red Ribbon Month from Mayor Gow Fields at the Lakeland City Commission meeting at approximately 9 a.m. at City Hall. Attorney General Bondi is focused on protecting Floridians, and she has served as a champion in shifting the tide against prescription drug abuse by supporting the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and strengthening penalties against pill mills.

The official Red Ribbon Proclamation by the City of Lakeland will kick off a month of special Red Ribbon activities sponsored by InnerAct Alliance to raise awareness of substance abuse, and encourage communities to present a unified, visible commitment for a drug-free environment. The Red Ribbon is the universal symbol for alcohol, tobacco, and other substance abuse prevention. Similar proclamations will be presented to InnerAct Alliance by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners on October 11, 2011, and by the Polk County School Board on October 25, 2011.

The signature event to culminate Red Ribbon Month is the 20th Annual Red Ribbon Run and Kids Health & Wellness Carnival, on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at Tigertown’s Joker Marchant Stadium. Over 3,000 parents, educators and elementary school students will participate in the largest youth running event in Polk County. Students in grades K-5 can register free and receive a free Run T-Shirt. Adults and students in grades 6 and above compete in the Open Race for a $10 registration fee. Registration check-in begins at 7 a.m., with the first race starting at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded and the school with the largest percentage of students in attendance will win a special participation trophy.

Festivities also include the Kids Health & Wellness Carnival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate the importance of good health. Wristbands will be sold for $5 admission for kids age 3 & up to enjoy interactive activities and entertainment. K-5th grade participants will receive a free book to take home.

The Red Ribbon Campaign originated when Federal Agent Enrique Camarena was tortured and murdered by drug traffickers in 1985. The Red Ribbon became the symbol to reduce the demand for drugs. Today, the Red Ribbon symbolizes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle and red ribbons are worn and displayed by citizens committed to preventing alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems across America.
InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency established in 1985 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 agency provides substance abuse education programs in the Hardee, Highlands and Polk county areas, and also serves as the fiscal agent for the StandUP Polk (adult-based) and UthMpact (youth-based) Coalitions for a Drug-Free Polk. For more information on the State Attorney General’s visit, or Red Ribbon Campaign activities, please contact InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777 or visit our web site at www.inneractalliance.org.

Tonight: Eat Dinner With Your Kids!

Dinner makes a difference in the success of our children! Join families across the country today, September 26th, to celebrate Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children! Family Day is a national movement to inform parents that parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s children substance free.

InnerAct Alliance and StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, are proud to partner with Fred’s Market to celebrate Family Day! Fred’s Market locations in Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, and Plant City will offer a Family Day Special of a FREE KIDS BUFFET for every Adult Buffet purchased (children age 11 & under, limit one child per one adult in your party) from 4 PM until closing today, Monday, September 26th only.

Family Dinners are the perfect time for parents to talk to their children and to listen to what’s on their mind, so come on down to Fred’s Market tonight or cook up a delicious family dinner together at home to show support for your kids and for the prevention effort.

For more information about Family Day, visit www.CASAFamilyDay.org or call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.

Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children

Did you know that eating dinner frequently with your children reduces their risk of substance abuse? Research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has consistently found that children who have frequent family dinners are less likely to use marijuana, tobacco and drink alcohol.

Monday, September 26th will mark CASA’s 11th annual Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your ChildrenTM celebration. Family Day is a national movement to inform parents that parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s children substance free and reminds parents that “Dinner Makes a Difference!”

InnerAct Alliance and StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, are proud to partner with Fred’s Market to celebrate Family Day! All 4 Fred’s Market locations in Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, and Plant City will offer a Family Day Special of a FREE KIDS BUFFET for every Adult Buffet purchased (children age 11 & under, limit one child per one adult in your party) from 4 PM until closing on September 26th.

Family Dinners are the perfect time for parents to talk to their children and to listen to what’s on their mind, so come on down to Fred’s Market next Monday to show support for your kids and for the prevention effort.

For more information about Family Day, visit www.CASAFamilyDay.org or call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.

InnerAct Alliance's "Celebrate Drug Free" Red Ribbon Bus!

It's Red Ribbon Time!

Be on the Lookout for InnerAct Alliance's Celebrate Drug Free Red Ribbon Bus traveling on the roads throughout Polk County during September and October! Special thanks to Citrus Connection, Madden Brand Identity and Dixie Signs for their kind support and helpful assistance in making this a reality for our agency!

2nd ANNUAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG SUMMIT

Lakeland, FL – The Coalition Partnership of Hardee County Alliance for Substance Abuse and Pregnancy Prevention, Drug Free Highlands, and StandUP Polk is proud to present the 2nd Annual Prescription Drug Summit on Monday, September 19, 2011, at The First Baptist Church of Bartow. This collaborative event is being held to inform the community about the latest trends in prescription drug abuse, and develop proactive measures to prevent substance abuse in our families, schools and businesses.

Event check-in begins at 7:30 AM. The Keynote Speaker will be Sharon Kelley, MS, PMD, and CEO of Alliance for Global Narcotics Training, Inc., who will address attendees from 8:15-10:00 AM. Panel discussions and solution-planning groups facilitated by the coalition coordinators and partners will take place immediately afterwards.

The afternoon session includes a presentation by Circuit Leadership advocates for child welfare. A special workshop, entitled Everybody’s a Teacher, will focus on how individuals, leaders, and agencies in our community can work together to achieve better education outcomes and offer valuable support for the education of children in the foster care system.

Admission is FREE, but advance registration is required as seating is limited. Complimentary light breakfast and lunch will be served, and participants may earn free CEU’s, CME’s, or Certificate of Attendance.

Visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y7D9FX62ndannualPrescriptionDrugSummit to register online, or call Hardee County ASAPP (863) 773-6349 (to Suzanne Lambert); Drug Free Highlands (863) 382-2138 (to Amanda Sherley); or Stand UP Polk at (863) 802-0777 (to Lisa Jones).