Best of luck to UthMpact Graduating Seniors - Class of 2026!

 

Feel Good Friday!

 

Everyone looks forward to Friday - the day that ends a busy school and work week with the freedom of the weekend ahead. Friday can be even sweeter when it comes with an unexpected special surprise that recognizes and supports the dedication and hard work we put forth each day!💪

One of InnerAct Alliance's prevention specialist teachers shared a personal story about the colorful graphic (above) that awaited her as she walked in to teach her fourth class of the day at South McKeel Elementary...

The regular 4th grade classroom teacher at South McKeel, Mrs. Robbin Harbison, had arranged a display of her own creative illustration of the Keep A Clear Mind (KACM) prevention program up in lights on the classroom smartboard as a surprise to welcome our IAA prevention specialist to class and show appreciation for the informative prevention lessons shared with her students each week!

Keep A Clear Mind (KACM) is an evidence-based drug prevention education program for students in grades 4-6 (ages 9-11) designed to help children develop skills to refuse and avoid use of "gateway" drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and tools to help avoid drug use. It also encourages parent-child interaction through take home activities to teach skills such as setting reasonable goals, making informed decisions, and communicating effectively.

IAA's prevention teachers are truly the best! Our teacher was touched and said it means so much to her and her fellow IAA prevention professionals to have the support of our host schools, teachers, and students.

40 Years–40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #21: Stop Bullying Behavior By Teaching Empathy & Kindness

 

40 Years-40 Stories | Story #21: Stop Bullying Behavior By Teaching Empathy & Kindness

Back in Story #5, we introduced one of IAA's newest prevention efforts. The Red Rover Humane Education Program is an evidence-based program that promotes empathy, kindness, and critical thinking in young children and plants seeds of how together we can stop bullying behavior.

In this empowering program, IAA's Red Rover Humane Educator, Michelle Bachmeier, uses engaging age-appropriate literature, critical thinking skills, and creative activities to teach PreK-3rd grade students about healthy ways to interact with peers, animals, and nature.

It's inspiring to see photos of Ms. Michelle teaching in elementary classrooms and hear stories about the children's enthusiastic responses as they learn to be kinder to everyone they meet. One look at the happy little smiles in the photos defines the joy of learning!

Michelle embraces her role helping young children learn to make positive choices:

"I enjoy reading stories, creating arts & crafts, and sharing real-life strategies that infuse animals and nature to teach kindness. It gives me great pride when I see a lightbulb moment occur within this special age group. It can't help but give us all hope for the future to see how kids and teachers respond so positively to this effort to reduce bullying behaviors."

If you believe every child deserves a safe, healing, drug-free future - without fear of being bullied by others - please donate to support prevention programs. 

Donate: https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate or text IAA to 26989. 

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #StopBullying #RedRoverProgram #EmpathyEducation #KindnessMatters #HumaneEducation #AntiBullying #PolkCountySchools #TeachKindness

Polk County’s Permanent Medication Drop-Off Sites

 

Last week, we shared that the Spring DEA National Rx Take Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 10am to 2pm, at participating Polk County Police Department locations. But, if you're not able to make it out that day, did you know that there are permanent drop-off sites located at several law enforcement locations throughout our area for citizens to turn in expired or unneeded medication? 💊

StandUP Polk and the partners in the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk remind our community that unwanted medications may also be taken to the Polk County PERMANENT DROP SITES, funded by GiveWell Community Foundation, at police department locations listed below. Please note: Permanent Drop Boxes can only accept medication in solid form - no liquids or syringes, please.

Auburndale - 2 Bobby Green Plaza - weekdays 8am-5pm
Haines City - 35400 Highway 27 - 24 hours, 7days
Lake Alfred - 190 N. Seminole Ave. - 24 hours, 7days

Lake Hamilton - 100 Smith Ave. - weekdays 8am-5pm
Lakeland - 219 N. Massachusetts Ave. - 24 hours, 7days

Winter Haven - 125 N. Lake Silver Dr. NW - weekdays 8am-5pm

Medications may also be safely disposed of at home by dissolving them in water or mixing with coffee grounds or cat litter. Please do not dump medications into the toilet to avoid harming lakes and ground water.

40 Years–40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #20: InnerAct Alliance’s Prevention Educators Make An Impact!

 

40 Years-40 Stories | Story #20: InnerAct Alliance's Prevention Educators Make An Impact!

Statistics show that when students are exposed to prevention instruction in school, safety factors increase and students are less likely to use substances. InnerAct Alliance offers evidence-based prevention programs at no cost to any school. Materials are also provided free of charge.

Meet "The Drug Ladies"

Lessons are taught by our team of prevention educators Amy Custred, Charlie Davis, Beverly Feddeler, and Deanne Labozzetta to 4th and 5th grade students. Together they bring over 50 years of teaching experience to their positions.

It's Heartwarming to Hear from Our Educators who say:

"On school campuses, many of our past and present students greet us with warm smiles and waves and the kids address us fondly as 'The Drug Ladies' which we love! It reminds us of the impact of our lessons and how the prevention messages remain relevant and useful to the students now and in the future."

To be welcomed back year after year speaks to the effectiveness of our programs and the value placed on impactful prevention education.

Please Donate to Assist Prevention Education by texting IAA to 26989 or visit our agency website at:  https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

#40Years40Stories - #InnerActAlliance - #PreventionEducators - #TheDrugLadies - #PolkCountySchools - #PreventionWorks - #FreePrograms

Register Today for the Annual Prevention Summit – May 4, 2026

 

InnerAct Alliance and the StandUP Polk Coalition are proud to present the Annual Own The Upside Prevention Summit on Monday, May 4, 2026, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the W.H. Stuart Center| UF/IFAS Extension Office, 1710 U.S. Hwy. 17 South, in Bartow, FL, to discuss important issues facing our community.

The Annual Prevention Summit presents an opportunity for teachers, school resource officers, administrators, counselors, social workers, prevention specialists, and concerned citizens to come together and share up-to-date information with a realistic view of current youth culture, emerging drug trends, social media and its connection to risky behaviors. Admission is $28.52 including a light breakfast and lunch. Register using the QR code below:

Own The Upside was initiated by the Drug Free Coalition partnership of Hardee, Highlands, and Polk counties in Central Florida and founded on the Positive Community Norms Theory. Negatives often heard in media and society may make us forget that there are many encouraging positives to celebrate the "upside."

Data collected annually via the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) reports that most youth do not engage in risky behaviors. Own The Upside (OTUS) believes in supporting youth through proactive prevention programs to reduce access, identify risky behaviors, change community attitudes towards alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, and empower young people to make positive healthy choices.

Please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777 for more information about the Annual Prevention Summit.

Happy Passover & Happy Easter Blessings from IAA 🌷

 

Happy Easter & Happy Passover

to all who celebrate from the

Board & Staff at InnerAct Alliance

 💜  🌷   💙