Want to host an AmeriCorps member at your school or organization in 2015-2016?
Site Partner Applications and information will be released
May 1, 2015 and will
be due
May 31, 2015
Volunteers needed for
Teen Maze in Cortez
The teen maze is a life-sized health fair held at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds organized by the School Community Youth Collaborative for middle school students to learn about various topics in a fun and informative environment. Topics include: driving under the influence prevention, teen and adult violence prevention, sexual health and parenting, self esteem, healthy lifestyles, and acceptance of diversity. Over 30 community organizations and 200 volunteers come together, showing the youth that their community cares about them and their choices
in life.
EXTRA HELP IS
ALWAYS NEEDED!
For information, contact
Cindy Houston at
970-394-9183 or
Developmental Asset
of the month:
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Neighborhood Boundaries -
ASSET #13
Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior.
Essential Question: As a neighbor, how do I notice and support the young people in my neighborhood?
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Developmental Assets
are 40 research-based, positive qualities that influence young people's development, helping them become caring, responsible and productive adults. To learn more, visit the
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training offered in Durango June 2015
Date to be determined-
f
or more information.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is the initial help given to someone who may be developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis. The aid provided is not a substitute for professional help, but may help in stabilizing the person until appropriate professional or other assistance can be engaged.
This 8-hour course teaches people how to give first aid to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis situation and/or who are in the early stages of a mental health disorder. Participants learn the signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems, where and when to get help, and what type of help has been shown to be effective.
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RSAPP AmeriCorps Program turns a new leaf this fall
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Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Partners (RSAPP) has been providing the AmeriCorps Program to southwest Colorado for the last 6 years. We have supported student engagement and prevention programs with over 25 community partners, and through them, thousands of youth and their families. Our AmeriCorps program has truly made a difference because of the dedication of the AmeriCorps members, our Site Partner Organizations and our staff.
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Southern Ute Community Action Programs
steps up to host the
2015-2016 AmeriCorps Program Year
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We are sad to announce that RSAPP will dissolve as an organization after our program year (Oct. 1, 2015) due to the difficulty of fundraising and administering a Federal Program as a very small organization, but we are also pleased and fortunate that the Southern Ute Community Action Programs (SUCAP) has applied to host the AmeriCorps Progam in order to continue the services RSAPP has been providing in this region.
Eileen Wasserbach was an early member of RSAPP's board of directors, and is also the Executive Director of SUCAP, so AmeriCorps will still be under leadership that supports the mission of RSAPP. Kelsie Borland, RSAPP's current Executive Director, intends to remain with RSAPP through the transition this summer and into the new AmeriCorps Program Year with SUCAP. The shared goal is to sustain the amazing partnerships RSAPP has cultivated with school districts and youth serving organizations so that we may continue to serve the youth and families in southwest Colorado.
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Kick Butts Day a success in
SW Colorado!
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Pagosa Springs Middle School youth make a statement on paper,
" I am not a replacement, I am a Pagosa Pirate! " |
On March 18, hundreds of southwest Colorado youth were inspired to make a statement: that they are not replacement smokers. Tobacco kills 1,300 Americans every single day. So how do tobacco companies stay in business if all their customers are dying? According to tobacco industry documents, they aggressively market their products and seek "replacement smokers," specifically teens. Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. On Kick Butts Day, teachers, AmeriCorps members, youth leaders and health advocates organize events to:
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Raise awareness of the problem of tobacco use in their state or community;
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Encourage youth to reject the tobacco industry's deceptive marketing and stay tobacco-free; and
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Urge elected officials to take action to protect kids from tobacco.
 This year On Kick Butts Day, youth and adults alike stood up to Big Tobacco with one powerful message: "We're Not A Replacement" for the nearly half a million Americans killed by smoking each year. Youth throughout RSAPP's region were inspired to write what they are and stand up to the big tobacco companies. View http://www.kickbuttsday.org/ to see the nation's response to the Kick Butts Day campaign.
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EPIC Book Drive this April:
Find your local donation box!!
During the month of April 2015, the RSAPP AmeriCorps team will be collecting books at 70 donation sites throughout the five county region. Once all the books have been collected, the RSAPP team will sort and distribute all the books to appropriated organizations that need books for youth and families. Participating businesses such as grocery stores, banks and local businesses host donation boxes on site and encourage employees and customers to donate new and gently used children's books. The books are distributed to schools, libraries, doctors' offices and childcare centers in the local community.
EPIC collected and distributed 25,000 books statewide in 2013, the project's inaugural year. The second year of the book drive resulted in the collection and distribution of over 47,000 books throughout Colorado. RSAPP's AmeriCorps team is working hard to support EPIC's goal of reaching 500,000 books by 2017.
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Want to Support RSAPP?
Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Partners appreciates financial contributions of any size, and welcomes in-kind donations of needed goods or services. RSAPP is a nonprofit corporation exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3), and all donations are tax deductible. You can donate by using the PayPal button at www.rsapp.org, or do it the old-fashioned way by mailing a check payable to RSAPP to: PO Box 4378, Durango, CO 81302. For more information, contact
RSAPP
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Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Partners (RSAPP) works towards a vision of "engaged, thriving youth invested in strong communities throughout southwest Colorado." Thank you for being part of RSAPP! If you have any submissions for our next newsletter, please send them to us: [email protected]
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