Celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month with SAPCA!
Each April, communities across the country celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month to share information about the facts and consequences of alcohol use and to raise awareness about the causes and effects of substance use disorders. SAPCA invites everyone in our community -- youth, parents, and caring adults -- to join us in recognizing and participating in Alcohol Awareness Month by:
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Checking out SAPCA's "I don't drink because..." prevention campaign. Alexandria City High School students created these short videos to encourage youth to be alcohol free. The videos also reinforce and raise awareness of the social norm that the majority of youth in Alexandria do not drink alcohol, a trend to get behind.
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Solving clues in SAPCA's Alcohol Awareness Month Scavenger Hunt by April 29 to receive a SAPCA swag bag and be entered into a raffle for a $50 Target gift card!
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Spreading the word about SAPCA's Alcohol Awareness Month Art Contest. Entries are due by May 6 at 11:59 p.m. Three winning entries will be selected to receive a SAPCA swag bag and a $25 gift card!
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Together, we can ensure that youth in Alexandria have the information and tools to make informed choices about their health and future so they can thrive today, tomorrow and in the future.
To learn about other ways to support local efforts to prevent youth substance use and misuse, contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov
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Volunteer Opportunity: Facts and Consequences Presenter
SAPCA is recruiting adults interested in delivering Facts and Consequences workshops to middle and high school youth. These presentations share information about the health and legal consequences of using alcohol, marijuana, tobacco products, and prescription medications. The next series of presentations will take place on Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27 between 7:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
No previous experience is required and all volunteers receive training before presentations take place. Interested in getting involved or learning more? Contact April Pavis-Shroeder at april.pavisshroeder@alexandriava.gov
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Get Involved: Today is Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action
Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action is back – and this year, youth advocates across the country will join together to call Big Tobacco’s bluff and expose them for who they really are: jokers who gamble with people’s lives. It’s time to raise the stakes on Big Tobacco. Here are several ways to get involved today and every day:
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Register for the Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit 2022
Registration is open or the the Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit 2022. This year’s summit will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 20, followed by the Virginia State Summit on Thursday, April 21.
The Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit welcomes a variety of professionals working in institutions of higher education, from research to practice, within the domains of cessation, prevention and policy. Community and non-profit partners dedicated to eliminating tobacco use also attend the summit.
Click here to learn more about this event and to register today!
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Help Spread the Word: 2022 Young Adult Survey Launches
The Virginia Young Adult Survey (YAS) is a statewide survey that will collect data at a local level to support prevention planning and help meet local needs and target strategies more effectively.
This survey is completely anonymous and will be open for participation until May 30, 2022.
To take the survey, you must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years old and a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Students attending colleges and universities in the state of Virginia are considered residents of Virginia for the purposes of this survey. When taking this survey, you will be asked to select the county or locality you live in.
To access the survey, text Virginia to 855-632-2201. You will receive a message with a link that you can open directly from your phone or copy to a web browser. This link can only be used once.
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View this flyer in English and Spanish and help spread the word about this important event!
Interested in volunteering for this April's drug take back day? Volunteers share information and distribute resources about the importance of safe medication disposal at one of the four drop-off locations. Contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov to learn more or to sign up.
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Click here to learn more about this funding opportunity and to complete the mini-grant application.
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Upcoming Events & Resources |
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Register for Free Two-Day Resilience Workshop
Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Virginia (NAMI) for a free virtual Resilience Workshop on April 6 and 7 from 6-8 p.m. During this two-day workshop, youth and young adults ages 13-29 will learn about resiliency by connecting with peers and participating in activities and group discussions. Click here to register for this event.
Learn more about NAMI Virginia here.
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Resource Spotlight: "It's Real: Teens and Mental Health"
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has developed "It's Real: Teens and Mental Health" to provide young people with mental health education and resources. This 45-minute program raises awareness about mental health issues, how to start a conversation about mental health, the importance of self-care, and how to reach out for help.
To learn more about this program and find upcoming "It's Real" events, click here.
To explore tips for coping with fear and uncertainty, click here.
To learn more about suicide prevention and to find available resources to help yourself or someone else in crisis, click here.
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National Contest Encourages High School Students to Write Short Essays Exploring Mental Health
Applications are open or the Speaking Up About Mental Health! This Is My Story” national essay challenge.
This contest aims to start conversations about mental health and encourage young people to seek help for mental health issues. U.S. high school students ages 16-18 are invited to submit a short essay.
Topics may include resilience, ending stigma, improving communication among peers and adults, and more. Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2022 and winners will be announced in September 2022.
Multiple winners will be chosen to receive cash prizes! More contest details are available here.
This contest is sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
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Celebrate National Volunteer Week: Sign Up for SERVE-a-thon
Sign up for SERVE-a-thon, an annual event for individuals, businesses, and families to come together to complete service projects for nonprofits across the City. From building vegetable gardens to alleviate food insecurity, to sorting food at a food bank, to landscaping a shelter, every hour contributed on this day improves the lives of Alexandrians.
SERVE-a-thon activities will take place during National Volunteer Week, April 18-23. To learn more about this event, including how to participate, click here.
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Alexandria Sportsman's Club Scholarship Application Opens
The Alexandria Sportsman's Club scholarship is accepting applications for the class of 2022. Completed applications are due May 10, 2022. All applicants must have played at least one season of a varsity sport and be enrolled as a senior at one of the four high schools: Bishop Ireton High School, Episcopal High School, St. Stephens & St. Agnes School or Alexandria City High School.
For more information about this scholarship, including how to apply, click here.
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Save the Date: 2022 All-Night Grad Party
This year's All Night Grad Party (ANGP) will take place on June 4 from 10:30 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. This annual tradition, sponsored by the ACHS PTSA, is made possible by the generous support of local businesses, citizens, community organizations, and alumni and sends a clear message that the Alexandria community values the academic achievements of our students and cares deeply about their safety and well-being. Since our community began this tradition in 1989, there have been no drug or alcohol-related graduation night fatalities.
During this drug and alcohol free party, ACHS graduates will enjoy activities, food, and lots of prizes. Tickets for this event are $40 and will be available on the PTSA website under the ANGP tab.
The ANGP committee is also selling yard signs for families of seniors and community members to fundraise for this event. Learn how to purchase a sign here.
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COVID-19 Reminders
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) strongly urge everyone to help end the pandemic by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated. Approximately 1 in 20 Alexandrians who have tested positive for COVID-19 have required hospitalization, so without these critical steps, additional lives may be at risk. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Every Alexandrian can take precautions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about how to protect yourself and those around you at alexandriava.gov/coronavirus
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Emma Beall, MPH
SAPCA Coordinator
O: 703.746.3670
C: 571.302.1022
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Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
123 N Pitt St, Suite 225
Alexandria, VA 22314
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