Today is Family Day & Day 1 of InnerAct Alliance's Red Ribbon Challenge!

Today is Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children, part of a national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to reduce youth substance abuse and other risky behaviors. It is also the First Day of the Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge, presented by InnerAct Alliance and our Title sponsor, Publix Super Markets, Inc. The goal of these initiatives is to raise awareness for prevention and help build drug-free youth and families.

We are happy to share an informative new video from the Drug Free America Foundation that highlights protective factors and what adults can do to help prevent youth from using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. It helps illustrate the many benefits of eating dinner and spending time together as a family and serves as an important reminder that family involvement can help reduce the early onset of engaging in risky behaviors.

Studies show that protective factors and knowing how to build strong healthy families can help prevent youth from experiencing adverse childhood experiences and initiating into substance abuse.

For more helpful information and resources, please visit https://www.dfaf.org/ and be sure to register FREE to take part in the Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge at https://www.redribbonrun.com/ 

2020 Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge Weekly Challenges

 

2020 Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge

 Weekly Challenges

We are excited to announce our Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge! Although we are not able to host an in-person event this year because of COVID-19, we are very excited for our new Red Ribbon virtual activities that begin on September 28 and continue during October. Join us each week for new challenges. EVERYONE can join in the fun - mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and even your pets! Register FREE on the event website www.RedRibbonRun.com and be sure to post your completed challenges each week with the hashtag #RedRibbonChallenge and you may be featured on the Red Ribbon Facebook page. Have fun!

2020 Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge Event Dates: September 28 – October 31, 2020

 

2020 Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge
Event Dates: September 28 – October 31, 2020

The Annual Red Ribbon Campaign is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs prevention awareness effort celebrated during the month of October to encourage healthy life choices. InnerAct Alliance and Title Sponsor, Publix Super Markets, in Lakeland, Florida, are proud to continue our community’s Red Ribbon tradition by presenting the 2020 Red Ribbon Challenge to support prevention of substance abuse and bullying. The event, which will be held virtually this year due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19, kicks off on September 28th with Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children and ends on October 31st. 

Children in grades K-8 can register for free on the event website RedRibbonRun.com, complete fun weekly challenge activities at home with family and friends, and post their challenge activities on the Red Ribbon Run Facebook page with the hashtag #redribbonchallenge for a chance to earn points and win a special prize. Anyone may register (free) and take part in the Red Ribbon Challenge activities; however, prizes will not be available for older students, adults, or non-registered participants. Challenges are based on elements of healthy living and a different activity will be featured each week during October with themes of Nutrition, Healthy Mind/Healthy Body, Kindness & Tolerance, Help Save The Planet, and Healthy Lifestyle. 

Statistics show that families who eat dinner and participate in activities together benefit in a variety of ways. Eating family meals and spending time together can help build stronger relationships and foster more effective communication. Children tend to be better students and become more well-adjusted teens so they may be less likely to abuse drugs. 

For registration and information on the 2020 Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge, please visit the event website at RedRibbonRun.com or call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.

Registration is Now Open to Participate in the 2020 Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge

 

The InnerAct Alliance Board of Directors Challenges YOU to participate in the Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge activities each week! Share your photos by using the hashtag #RedRibbonChallenge and you may be featured on our Red Ribbon Facebook page! 

The 2020 Red Ribbon Virtual  Challenge offers a series of activities to be completed over a 5-week period. Weekly challenges are based on elements of healthy living and ways to live your best life.

The Challenge kicks off on September 28th with Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children and ends on October 31st. A different health-oriented challenge activity will be featured each week during the month of October with themes of Nutrition, Healthy Mind/Healthy Body, Kindness & Tolerance, Help Save The Planet, and Healthy Lifestyle. 

Students in Grades K-8 can register for FREE on the event website www.RedRibbonRun.com and complete at least 15 challenges by October 31, 2020 to be eligible to earn a special prize. Anyone is welcome to register for free and participate in challenge activities, however prizes will not be available for older students, adults, or non-registered participants.

If you would like to be featured on our Red Ribbon Run Facebook page, please post a picture or description of your completed Red Ribbon Challenge activities and be sure to include the hashtag #redribbonchallenge 

Prizes for registered participants in Grades K-8 who have completed at least 15 challenges by 10/31/20 will be distributed after Winter Break. Come join us for lots of healthy family fun! 

Celebrate Family Day™ - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children on September 28, 2020

 

InnerAct Alliance and its coalition partners, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, are proud to join in the national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to reduce youth substance abuse and other risky behaviors. We encourage everyone to participate in Family Day™ – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children next Monday, September 28, 2020.

Family Day began in 2001 as a national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to help kids grow up safe, healthy, and drug free. Research from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University consistently finds that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they will be to smoke, drink, or use illegal substances. To sign the family day pledge and find helpful tips to talk with your children, please visit www.informedfamilies.org.

Another way to celebrate healthy living without harmful drugs is by participating in the 2020 Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge presented by InnerAct Alliance and Title Sponsor, Publix Super Markets, Inc. 

The Red Ribbon Challenge will kick off on September 28 and continue during the month of October with virtual weekly challenge activities featuring themes of: Nutrition, Healthy Mind/Healthy Body, Kindness & Tolerance, Help Save The Planet, and Healthy Lifestyle. Children in grades K-8 can register for FREE and complete the challenges with family members and friends, post pictures of their activities, and earn cool prizes!

Additional information and online registration for the Red Ribbon Challenge can be found at: www.RedRibbonRun.com 

Tips for Self-Care While Practicing Physical Distancing

 

How to Care for Yourself While
Practicing Physical Distancing

If you are feeling overwhelmed or mentally exhausted because of changes to our society brought on by COVID-19, you’re not alone. The pandemic has impacted millions of Americans physically, mentally and emotionally.

People across the country are experiencing increased levels of stress and fear because of the new disease as well as feelings of isolation brought on by physical distancing. Research from the Kaiser Family Foundation says 45% of adults report feelings of worry and stress related to COVID-19 that have negatively impacted their mental health. Feelings of anxiety are becoming more common as people are worried about themselves or their loved ones getting sick.

The Mental Health First Aid Blog (www.mhfa.org) offers these easy self-care strategies to help reduce feelings of depression and prevent anxiety while social distancing:

1.    Eat healthfully to keep your body in top working order.

2.    Exercise reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, whether we’re working out at home or taking a solo jog around the neighborhood.

3.    Practice relaxation therapy. Focusing on tensing and relaxing muscle groups can help you relax voluntarily when feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious.

4.    Let light in. Increased exposure to light can improve symptoms of depression. If you can, open the shades and let more sunlight in.

5.    Be kind to yourself! Treat yourself with the same compassion you would a friend.

6.    Stay connected. Even if you can’t get together face-to-face, you can stay connected to friends, family and neighbors with phone calls, text messages, video chats and social media. If you’re feeling lonely, sad or anxious, reach out to your social support networks. Share what you are feeling and offer to listen to friends or family members about their feelings. We are all experiencing this scary and uncertain time together.

7.    Monitor media consumption. While you might want to stay up-to the minute with COVID-19 news, too much exposure can be overwhelming. Balance media consumption with other activities you enjoy, such as reading, cooking or listening to music.

 

Helpful Tips & Tricks for Back to School Success!