Parent Alerts

How Emojis Are Used for Drug Activity The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) released a public safety bulletin in March to alert parents about emojis being used for drug activity. Emojis are fun to use in our text messages and social media posts, but they carry more meaning in 2023 than when they first came out in 1999. These…

February was Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) was held throughout the month of February as a way to bring together teens and those who support them in a national effort to raise awareness to teen dating violence. Organizations and schools across the country combine efforts every year to create…

Navigating Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is depression that affects someone only at a specific time of year.  That time of year mostly occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less light during the day.  SAD can be difficult to manage because many people who experience this depression are not…

Fun Family Winter Activities Holiday Break is upon us!!! This time of year offers many opportunities for the whole family to spend time together.  Going sledding, drinking hot cocoa while enjoying a movie, and checking out what event the city is putting on are just a few of the many great things can be done…

The Benefits of Being Grateful John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”  Gratitude is an important part of life, and a simple thank you goes further than you realize.  Multiple studies have shown that…

Fun Family Fall Activities I love fall.  The colors, the sweater weather, the hot chocolate, and getting together with family and friends for a bonfire or high school football game.  There is so much to do this time of year from going to school events, preparing the yard for the inevitable foot of snow that…

Back to School: Keeping Students Safe from Counterfeit Pills It is that time of year again! Students are flooding back into classrooms and our commutes are being interrupted waiting for the bus to pull their stop sign back in.  As our students get back into the day to day routine of homework and after-school events they…

Youth Connectedness is an Important Protective Factor for Health and Well-being Connectedness is an important protective factor for youth that can reduce the likelihood of a variety of health risk behaviors. Connectedness refers to a sense of being cared for, supported, and belonging, and can be centered on feeling connected to school, family (i.e. parents and…

The school year is over, and summer is just around the corner. Kids are excited about their well-deserved break, and while you might be just as excited, you’re probably thinking about how to keep them occupied over the next few months. Teens are often struggling to assert their independence, so it’s tempting to just let them…

The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties partners with several local agencies that provide mental health and substance use services, including prevention and treatment. Learn more about their funded partners here. Mental Health America’s Youth Mental Health toolkit helps adults recognize the signs of mental illness and gives them options for what to do next. They…

HERE WE GO… After two years of COVID restrictions, proms, graduations, and graduation parties can be held again with friends and family. But this season, COVID may not be the biggest risk to our youth. In fact, one of the biggest risks to our youth is right in your own homes. Part of my job…

Helping Your Busy Teens Is Your Teen Too Stressed? Spring is a notoriously stressful time for students. A certain level of stress is normal, but how can you tell if your teen is too stressed, and what can you do to help them?  Watch for these signs of severe stress: 1. Lack of sleep: Many experts say that…