April is filled with the excitement of prom and formal season, with graduation not far off. Planning ahead can make these events special, fun, and safe. Communicate with your date, friends, and family: look out for each other, use the buddy system when walking at night, and have a designated, sober driver ready to help get everyone home.

For students in recovery, graduation is an especially poignant symbol of their success--these students balanced recovery and their education. This milestone can also mark a new concern, with many students leaving local support networks. Check in with your recovering population this month to learn more about their plans for recovery post-graduation, suggest ways to find support in a new location, and encourage them to stay in touch to share their successes and continue to support your recovery programs.
Gordie Center Ideas and Updates
GivingToHoosDay is April 12th!

The Gordie Center is participating in the University of Virginia's 2nd annual 24-hour giving day: GivingToHoosDay. We have a $15,000 matching challenge gift from a generous donor: gifts made now through 11:59pm on the 12th will be matched 1:1 up to $15,000. Our goal is to raise $30,000 for our work with UVA students and nationwide. Please help us reach our $30,000 goal with a gift now through April 12th!
 
There are many other ways to support the work of the Gordie Center besides donating: share Gordie's story through our Kindness Cards, purchase educational materials from our GORDIEstore, or host a Gordie staff member to facilitate a showing of HAZE on your campus and in your community!
Spring Break Safety Contest
We have been enjoying learning about your efforts to promote spring break safety for your schools and communities through the entries that have been submitted to our Spring Break Safety Contest. There's still time to enter if you haven't yet--the deadline for entry is April 14, 2017! Visit our Contest Entry Form to submit information about your campaign. Each submission will be entered into a drawing to win a Gordie Center prize pack valued at $130! The prize pack includes 100 GORDIEcheck BAC cards, 50 4"x6" GORDIEcling vinyl mirror clings, 20 GORDIEmagnets, 15 GORDIEposters, and 10 GORDIEkoozies (you can learn more about these products in our GORDIEstore). We will announce the winner in our May newsletter, and feature some of your submissions--we can't wait to hear more about your campaigns!
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

There are many ways to incorporate sexual assault prevention education on your campus and in your community. The NCAA Sport Science Institute has developed a Sexual Violence Prevention Tool Kit for student-athletes. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers great tools for a successful awareness campaign. Alcohol use can impair the ability to give affirmative consent to sexual activity. Check out the tools offered by It's On Us and One Love to get tips on what consent means, what relationship violence might look like, and how to help if you sense a problem. By using the no-cost Step Up! Program materials, you can develop a comprehensive bystander intervention program for your campus. Training resources address alcohol, sexual violence, and other health and wellness topics.
Until next month,
 
Susie Bruce,  Director, Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Jill Maurer, National Development & Program Coordinator

 
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter