Big Brothers Big Sisters Updates

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Twin Tiers (serving Tioga County, PA) has a fresh new look and is busier than ever! Check out their new website that tells, in real time, about active matches they've made between mentors and kids, how many children are currently waiting for a "Big", and how many have already been matched in 2018. Are you thinking about becoming a Big? This new resource will give you all the information you need! Check it out!

Visit BBBS's New Website

Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

In a past newsletter we featured a story about a local group, Grandsavers Are Lifesavers, a support group for retirees who find themselves caring for their grandchildren mostly due to the effects of the opioid crisis. Now, due to new legislation grandparents who raise grandchildren will hopefully get help and easier access to resources and services. It is called the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act. As stated in an AARP blog article "A federal advisory council will include a grandparent, an older relative raising a child and experts from federal agencies; it will be charged with locating established resources across the country, investigating best practices, researching how to raise children and finding useful information for older relatives raising children, with a special focus on those affected by opioid addiction."

Read More

Our Day at MU's Health and Wellness Fair

This past month, Program Coordinator McKenna Christman and Media/Outreach Consultant Stacy Kelley attended Mansfield University's Student Dietetics Association (SDA) and the MU Counseling Center Health and Wellness Fair 2018. Information about the Fit For Life program, WalkWorks in Tioga County, and the Tioga County Opioid Coalition were shared. Some Communities That Care workgroup giveaways, including "Look Up, Put the Phone Down" bracelets and family conversation-starter lollipops, prompted interesting conversations with the students. Thank you to Dr. Kathy Wright and Brooke Roys, student president of the MU S.D.A. for including us in this successful event! We met a lot of ambitious and engaged students and hope to see more of these future leaders again!

Test your knowledge about E-cigarettes

Although e-cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, they are still dangerous: Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, an addictive substance that can negatively impact adolescent brain development. One Juul pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. ( http://prowellness.vmhost.psu.edu/hazards-juuling-vaping )

Test your Knowledge about E-cigarettes: Take the Quiz

Read the FDA's Recent Statement (Nov. 15, 2018): Preventing youth access to flavored tobacco products and banning menthol in cigarettes by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D