Official Red Ribbon Month Proclamations

 

Special Thanks to the

City of Lakeland, Mayor Mutz, and Polk County Commission

for honoring InnerAct Alliance with official

Red Ribbon Month
Proclamations

Polk County Commission
October 1, 2024

City of Lakeland Commission
October 7, 2024

Have You Seen the Red Ribbon Run & Challenge TV Commercial?

 

Have you seen the Red Ribbon Run TV
Commercial running on Spectrum TV stations?

Register to Participate
 www.inneractalliance.org

http://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run-challenges.html

Post Red Ribbon Weekly Challenges on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/InnerActAlliance

Hashtag #RedRibbonChallenges

Register Today for the Red Ribbon Run on Saturday, October 26

 

Join Us for Week 3 of IAA’s Red Ribbon Challenges!

 

Families can support prevention of substance abuse by participating in the Annual Red Ribbon events and online Red Ribbon Challenges during the month of October that feature health-oriented challenges each week on InnerActAlliance.org for children to complete with family and friends.

RR Challenge Week 3 (October 14-20) sponsor, Florida Dairy Farmers, encourages everyone to eat smart, stay active, and practice positive self-care for a Healthy Mind & Healthy Body! Suggested activities for this week include trying different exercises, meals, and snacks. Try calming mind & body by practicing Yoga stretches and poses. Energize yourself with a cold glass of milk or make a yummy milkshake to build strong bones. Practice for the Red Ribbon Run by walking or running with your family, friends, and classmates. Most of all, be a good listener and good friend to support someone who may be dealing with a problem or experiencing sadness. We are all in this together!  

Everyone is invited to “Run the World” at the Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, October 26 at Lake Mirror in Lakeland. Students in grades K-8 can pre-register FREE before 10/26/24 at InnerActAlliance.org to participate in the Kids Fun Run ($5 fee on event day) – Adults pay $5 to run/walk with their children in the Family Fun Run. 

After the Run Heats, visit the

 Florida Dairy Farmers World Tour Vendor Area

 Healthy Snacks – Activities - Entertainment!

  Register to Participate
 www.inneractalliance.org

http://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run-challenges.html

Post Red Ribbon Weekly Challenges on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/InnerActAlliance

Hashtag #RedRibbonChallenges

Project Homecoming Student Shopping Day Cancelled for October 12

 

We hope everyone is safe in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. As many students and families are dealing with storm clean-up and Lakeland Square Mall is still without power at this time, a decision has been made to postpone the previously scheduled Project Homecoming Student Shopping Day this Saturday, October 12 at the Project Prom Store. Any updates about rescheduling the shopping day will be posted here and on our agency’s social media pages in the coming days.

Thank you for understanding!  

Weather Watch vs. Weather Warning

 

With Hurricane Milton forging a path towards Florida's Gulf Coast, we are all watching weather forecasts and making preparations for severe weather under hurricane warning conditions.

Do you ever get confused about the difference between a weather watch or a weather warning? Let's use Florida's official state pie, key lime, to illustrate the difference. 

WATCH - all the ingredients are here, key lime pie is likely

WARNING - key lime pie is here & coming to a table near you

Now who else wishes they had bought a key lime pie when they were out shopping for hurricane snacks and supplies? 💚 

☔ Praying that everyone will be safe!☔

Join Us for Week 2 of IAA’s Red Ribbon Challenges!

Families can support prevention of substance abuse by participating in the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign events and online Red Ribbon Challenges during the month of  October that feature different health-oriented challenge activities each week on InnerActAlliance.org for children to complete with family and friends.

RR Challenge Week 2 (October 7-13) sponsor, Regal Lakeland, encourages Kindness & Tolerance and urges us to look beyond differences to appreciate the person. Suggested activities for this week include participating in a kindness circle, finding opportunities to do a random act of kindness for someone, offering a helping hand at home or school, and researching or playing an international sport.

With schools closed the next few days for Hurricane Milton, why not complete one of the challenges as a family – weather conditions and safety in mind, of course!

Everyone is invited to “Run the World” at the Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, October 26 at Lake Mirror in Lakeland. Students in grades K-8 can pre-register FREE before 10/26/24 at InnerActAlliance.org to participate in the Kids Fun Run ($5 fee on event day) – Adults pay $5 to run/walk with their children in the Family Fun Run.

 
Kindness starts with YOU!

  Register to Participate
 
www.inneractalliance.org

http://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run-challenges.html

Post Red Ribbon Weekly Challenges on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/InnerActAlliance

Hashtag #RedRibbonChallenges

Hurricane Milton is on the Way!

 

It looks like Polk County is in the direct path of Hurricane Milton as it moves from the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida. Forecasters expect the storm to strengthen into a major hurricane and bring heavy wind and rain before making landfall on Wednesday, October 9.

Thanks to our friends at LAL Today for sharing the following information to help prepare for Milton's arrival:

*A state of emergency was declared for 51 counties, including Polk. *Sandbag sites are open across the county today from 8 am to 5:30pm *The Polk County Emergency Management Division’s Citizen’s Information Line is open from 8 am. to 7 pm to answer storm-related questions at 863-298-7500. *Polk County Public Schools will be open today, but closed Tuesday, Oct. 8-Thursday, Oct. 10. A decision about Friday is TBA. *Shelters will open tomorrow — due to high winds, the county urges those in mobile homes + RVs to evacuate. *Prepare for the storm with LAL Today’s resource guide: with our guide to local resources, home prep, and evacuation plans. Please Stay Safe! ⛆ 🙏

Be Mindful & In the Moment

 

In this colorful graphic from Positively Present, we are reminded that life is full of many different kinds of moments. It's beneficial that we try our best to appreciate them all - that includes celebrating exciting moments🙌, accepting doubtful moments😟, sitting with questionable moments❓, connecting with the ongoing moments💫, and respecting ending moments.

This all connects with being mindful - learning to focus on how you feel and what is happening around you. It is important to be fully present in what you do, where you are, and with whoever is around you. Start by giving full attention to the moment at hand. When you are truly invested, you are better able to fully engage in life's experiences. 

Some helpful tips to begin mindful practices:

*put your phone away when you spend time with others

*really listen to what others say in conversation and respond thoughtfully

*remind yourself that the task you're currently doing is the only task you need to focus on

*turn the TV off when you eat dinner or any other meal

Being mindful can provide health benefits, like improving sleep and reducing stress levels. Learning how to be mindful is a smart investment in yourself - both physically and mentally. You are worth it!

October is Substance Use Prevention Month

 

Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), InnerAct Alliance, and our partners in prevention to celebrate Substance Use Prevention Month during October. Major goals of prevention efforts are to delay the age of onset of substance use, prevent progression of use (to a potential substance use disorder), and reduce harm.

As a licensed prevention provider in the Polk, Highlands, and Hardee county areas, InnerAct Alliance works to empower youth to make smart choices and encourage adults to be stronger role models. Our team of prevention professionals provide substance abuse and anti-bullying education in nearly 70 schools, along with tools for youth tobacco, anger management, and other risky behaviors.

Recent statistics from the Annual Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey show most Polk Teens are making the right choices by choosing not to drink, smoke, or use substances - 84% of Polk Teens DO NOT use Alcohol - 87% DO NOT use Marijuana - 96% DO NOT use Traditional Tobacco - 88% DO NOT Vape or use E-Cigarettes.

Support local prevention initiatives to help us stay ahead of substance use by inviting a representative from InnerAct Alliance to share a free program with our school students, PTA, church group, community organization, or business lunch/learn. Please call (863) 802-0777 or visit www.inneractalliance.org

Ease Anxiety with a Calm Mind

 

These days everyone seems to be juggling many responsibilities at once. Teens especially may find themselves having to balance schoolwork, exams, duties at home, drama with friends + add in after-school sports, clubs, a part-time job, and that's a lot on their plates. It's no wonder our youth feel a little stressed and overwhelmed now and then.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges among teens. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the "We Think Twice" campaign, about 1-in-3 teens has an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

If life in general has you feeling overwhelmed, check out "Calm Minds: A Guide to Easing Anxiety" to learn the difference between stress, worry, and anxiety. This is a great resource for youth to learn practical tips on how to manage stress, challenge negative thoughts, and build healthy habits.

https://bit.ly/3ATV4ru

https://www.wethinktwice.acf.hhs.gov/calm-minds-guide-easing-anxiety?

FALL into the Habit of Supportive Self-Care this October!

 

October is the perfect time to "fall" into the habit of making time for supportive self-care to rejuvenate your own health and wellbeing! With life's busy days, sometimes it seems impossible to take time for yourself, but in order to do for our families and  others we must nourish our own mind, body, and soul too.🤗

Hope you'll feel inspired by the simple suggestions in this colorful graphic from Positively Present that paint a visual of good intentions for this month. Pause to do something that makes you happy - create your own magic 🪄, face a fear 👻, or harvest new ideas 🍂💡

🧡 We wish you the best October! 🧡