Developmental Asset
of the month:
Family Boundaries:
Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors the young person's whereabouts.
Essential Question:
Have I had a conversation with my children at different ages to talk about family rules appropriate to their current developmental stage?
Tips to ensure healthy family boundaries:
* Always ask where your child is going, with whom, and when they will return home.
* Keep computers in the common area of the household, not in rooms where kids can spend hours of unsupervised time online.
* Learn to be flexible when setting boundaries and take the long view.
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 Search Institute's website.
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"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
-Ralph Waldo Emmerson
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Red Ribbon Week - SW Colorado Goes Big!
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Happy healthy habits
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October's Red Ribbon Week is the nation's largest drug prevention event, and RSAPP's AmeriCorps team brought loads of engaging, interactive, and creative RRW activities to kids of all ages across southwest Colorado.
In Durango, Kids' Camp staff used a poster-making contest and display to promote healthy habits and encourage drug-free pledges. Kids' Camp AmeriCorps member Chayse Romero says, "I realized it was also an assessment of what the kids knew. It allowed me to see how uneducated they are about healthy lifestyles." She is planning future activities that will help fill this education gap.
Dove Creek's STUDents Taking action against Underage
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"I MUSTACHE you not to do drugs"
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Drinking engaged the whole school district. Students and staff dressed up for each day's theme, including "Hairs to a drug-free life" (crazy hair day) and "I mustache you not to do drugs" (mustache day.) There were drug-free poster and poetry
contests (judged by local senior citizens,) a presentation from a D.A.R.E. officer, and the signing of many drug-free pledges.
At the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, AmeriCorps member Kelsey Bonar says, "I decided to infiltrate the Clubs' daily activities with drug prevention measures that were sure to get the kids involved. Each day was different, and provided the Clubs Members with fun, active, and creative ways to learn about drug prevention, loving yourself, and maintaining a drug free lifestyle." She brought in guest presenters, helped the Club's drama Club create a play about drugs and the brain, and encouraged kids to make drug-free bracelets, posters, and pledges. It was a resounding success!
AmeriCorps members also got together with youth to play drug-free kickball, make spooky-healthy treats, create and sign drug-free pledges, and hang drug-free posters and banners in local businesses and schools. It was a Red Ribbon Week to remember!
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Drug-free pledges at Mancos Middle School
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6th RSAPP AmeriCorps Team at your Service
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Back row, l-r: Jenny Smith, Molly Overton, Ryan White, Al Huckins, Jesse Mogler, Ian Lennox, Ian Tanner. Front row, l-r: Sadie Pace, Monica Slabodnik, Alissa Zissman, Kelsey Bonar, Teresa Jennings, Megan Curtis, Dylan Walls, Katie Simkovar.
Camera shy: Tyra Hughes, Chayse Romero
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On September 1, 2015, RSAPP deployed our 6th team of AmeriCorps members. They serve with schools and community organizations throughout the 5 counties of southwest Colorado, working towards RSAPP's goal of reducing substance abuse among our region's youth. During their first four months, these 17 exceptional citizens have served 822 youth and 386 adults by implementing 46 unique prevention programs, projects and activities. The Check & Connect team has established 149 mentoring relationships in 7 schools. The team is really embodying AmeriCorps' motto of "Getting things done. for America!"
To learn more about the team, where they serve, and how you can get involved, visit RSAPP's website
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Coming up: Snowdown SteamPunk Wipeout
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Inside Durango TV coverage
of the 2014 Wipeout
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Durango's Snowdown is an annual winter community celebration that is notorious for its many alcohol-related events. The Celebrating Healthy Communities Coalition decided to counter this by offering and promoting healthy alternative Snowdown activities. In 2014, the Coalition collaborated with Animas High School's Peers Owning Wellness to create an exciting Snowdown event for youth - the Serengeti Wipeout obstacle course. The first Wipeout was a blast, with 26 participants, more than 70 spectators, and local TV coverage.
CHC Coalition will sponsor the 2015 Snowdown Steampunk Wipeout on January 31 at Buckley Park. RSAPP staff and AmeriCorps members will help coordinate logistics and create fun and challenging obstacles. Spread the word to youth (ages 8-18) who may want to participate, and come for an afternoon of crazy entertainment, healthy Snowdown style.
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An Electrifying Funding Update
RSAPP accomplishes some very important work for southwest Colorado's youth, and does it on an incredibly lean budget. While our AmeriCorps grant and program income cover a lot of our expenses, we rely on the generosity of foundations, corporations,
and individuals in order to garner the financial support that we need.
Southwest Colorado is served by two electrical cooperatives, and each has recognized the value that RSAPP's AmeriCorps members bring to their communities. For the second time, the Round Up Foundation  of La Plata Electric Association has invested in our communities by supporting RSAPP's Check & Connect Program in La Plata and Archuleta Counties. And Empire Electric Association recently contributed (again!) to the support of the 5 RSAPP AmeriCorps members serving in Montezuma and Dolores counties. Thank you Empire Electric and LPEA - we couldn't do it without you!
And RSAPP has a new and very special friend: Alex Blackmer, the founder and Executive Director of the Atmosphere Conservancy, has made a very generous donation in honor of Erik Borland. Alex is truly passionate about serving youth and families and has been very supportive of RSAPP's efforts. We are deeply honored and appreciative.
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The Year in Review - 2013-14 Annual Report
Read all about it! RSAPP has released our 2013-14 Annual Report. RSAPP operates on an October through September fiscal year, so this Annual Report covers October 2013 - September 2014.
2013-14 saw RSAPP's biggest AmeriCorps team ever, and we accomplished a lot. We are proud of the progress we made towards our vision of "Engaged, thriving youth invested in strong communities throughout our region."
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Upcoming Opportunities:
Family Leadership Training Institute
and Mental Health First Aid
Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI): January-May, 2015 (20 weeks.) Cortez. FREE (including dinner and childcare!) FLTI is a proven curriculum that inspires, trains, and empowers individuals to become effective leaders and change agents on behalf of children, youth and families. Several RSAPP AmeriCorps members have participated in FLTI, and each one raves about the experience. Open to Montezuma and Dolores County residents, by application - due January 15. Go to the FLTI website for more information and to apply.
Youth Mental Health First Aid: January 26, 9:00-5:00. Durango. FREE (including 3-year certification and manual.) 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 stabilize the person until appropriate professional assistance can be engaged. For more information and to register, check out this YMHFA information.
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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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