|
|
| |
National Guard Achieving Personal Balance Program
Cheryl Torres, Director of Programs and Kristen Schiro, Director of Health and Wellness, completed the first ever Achieving Personal Balance program with soldiers of the Army National Guard during their monthly drill weekends from January through June. This pilot program, funded by New Jersey Prevention Network, focused on active stress management strategies. The skills taught in this program
enhance the soldiers' mental health readiness for deployment and also provide practical day to day stress management techniques. One participant commented "[The program is] applicable to the civilian side of our lives, as well as military."
Another soldier shared "I have learned to open up to others, take a break and evaluate situations."
Fourteen soldiers completed the program which included sessions on
: problem solving, social support networks, effective communication, rethinking the problem, healthy living, and refusal skills. The soldiers shared positive feedback when reflecting on their experience in the program. One participant commented,
"The program has helped me to be more aware of stress and think about issues to resolve. The skills help me to think of strategies to relieve stress." The soldiers' feedback also highlighted the benefits of the program in helping to build a positive social support network.
"I think not only of my own stress but I can see when others close to me are stressing and look into my binder and give good advice."
EmPoWER Somerset looks forward working with the New Jersey National Guard and New Jersey Prevention Network to provide ongoing Achieving Personal Balance cycles. In explaining the program to future participants, one soldier stated, "The benefits are -you get to know your battle buddies, you learn about stress coping and problem solving." The next cycle of the program will run from August to December.
|
SCHOOL HEALTH
CADCA Youth Leadership Training
One hundred fifteen Somerset and Hunterdon county students participated in New Jersey's first Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Youth Leadership Training on June 28 and 29
|
Young Men's Conference
Over 250 young men from high schools throughout Middlesex County gathered at Middlesex County College for the 4th annual Young Men's Conference, "Man Up." The mission of the conference is for young men to be empowered in wellness, leadership and drug and alcohol prevention. The interactive workshops are designed to provide valuable knowledge, resources and tools to take back to their peers and to teach these young men about setting and achieving goals that will better their lives. The conference featured nationally known Should Could Dream Tour whose purpose is to "inspire students to work hard, never settle and dream big."
|
Middle and high school students from across the state gathered at the Lindley G. Cook 4-H camp for the annual school health youth leadership camping trip. Students participated in outdoor team building exercises, canoeing, archery, karaoke and dance. They were inspired by "All In" motivational speaker, Gian Paul Gonzalez, and peer leaders from previous camping trips ran all of the activities. To end the weekend, students worked together to create skits on different leadership qualities such as respect, integrity and courage. A fun time was had by all.
|
EmPoWER Somerset was pleased to team up with the Somerset County Wellness Committee once again on the 3rd annual 5K Race to Wellness. The event was a great success and runners enjoyed competing at the beautiful Skillman Park in Montgomery Township. Four-Time Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs helped warm up the crowd before the race, led the runners to the starting line and cheered them on as they finished the race. For the second year in a row the Somerville High School team won the school's competition with nine racers competing for the Ville! They were presented with a plaque and box tickets for an upcoming Patriot's baseball game. We appreciate the support of all of our partners as well as our generous sponsors and supporters RWJUH- Somerset, Unity Bank, Carrier Clinic, Anew Wellness, Summit Medical Group, Hillsborough Massage Therapy, Somerset Patriots, and Wegmans in making this event possible!
|
|
A community gathering place that brings families together through free events & local activities and connects families to helpful resources in Somerset County...
The Somerville Elks hosted the 3rd Annual Flag Day Festival on the grounds of the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville.
Attendees enjoyed live music,
moving ceremonies such as the Iwo Jima flag raising reenactment, tributes to our military and veterans, revolutionary reenactors firing muskets, and patriotic songs and awards.
The EmPoWER Family Success Center (FSC) hosted carnival games while other local agencies and businesses provided bounce-houses, airbrush tattoos, virtual reality goggles, and interactive exhibitors. Children who completed the Flag Day Festival scavenger hunt by visiting all of the exhibits got to take home an American flag! Over 65 families enjoyed the EmPoWER FSC's tent and went home with carnival prizes and information about EmPoWER events and services.
The EmPoWER Family Success Center is a community gathering place that provides free family fun activities, workshops, and connects families to local resources. The EmPoWER
FSC holds at least one free family fun night each month throughout Somerset County.
Check out the links below for more
Family Success Center happenings:
|
We invite you to view EmPoWER Somerset's 2015 annual report detailing our diverse programs and services including School Health, EmPoWER Family Success Center, County Council for Young Children, Safe Communities Coalition and a spectrum of evidence-based prevention education programs for individuals, families, veterans and active military.
|
|
| |
|
