Understanding connections between mental health, diseases, and social problems are the underlying icebergs (frequently created by our own behavior) that stop us from seeing the problem correctly and taking appropriate action.
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Topics: President's Message, marijuana legalization, marijuana, Informed Families, cannabis
President's Message - February 2023
How Do You Show Love to Your Brain and Heart? By Staying Drug-Free!
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Topics: President's Message, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse
President's Message - January 2023
Let me start by wishing all of you a happy and healthy new year! And to thank you all for the work you’ve done over the last year to help keep our children safe from drugs of all kinds. We’ve accomplished some good things together, and I want to urge you to keep up the fight.
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Topics: President's Message, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse
President's Message - December 2022
As we enter the “official” season of giving, we all start to think about appropriate gifts for each of our loved ones. We may forget, however, that the gift of ourselves is the best gift of all. The following essay is one which we have published before, many times, but it never fails to touch my heart and helps me realize anew how important its message is. I hope you enjoy it too. Happy Holidays!
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Topics: President's Message, holidays, Informed Families
President's Message - November 2022
I had intended my article to be about an Attitude of Gratitude, Thankfulness, and Celebration but the news media doesn’t cover any of those topics only Death, Destruction, and Debacle. Maybe that is why we have just a large drug problem we focus on the negative and forget how to Live a Healthy Life.
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Topics: President's Message, college students, teenagers, Informed Families, teens, drugs
President's Message - October 2022
Red Ribbon is about creating herd or community immunity to the alcohol and drug problems America is facing.
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Topics: President's Message, teenagers, alcohol, Informed Families, teens, drugs
President's Message - August 2022
Over the years, it has been interesting to me that parents consistently think Informed Families is not talking to them but to some other family with problems. Denial is a trademark of addiction!
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Topics: Family Day, President's Message, teenagers, Informed Families, teens, Family Table Time
National Family Day is on the Fourth Monday of September - that's September 28, 2020 this year. It’s a great opportunity for families to eat dinner together. Watch this 1 in video to learn more about why you should engage in regular family dinners.
Parents are often surprised to hear that something as simple as eating dinner together 4 times a week can reduce the likelihood that their kids will engage risky behavior. Parental engagement is the single most potent weapon in preventing substance use among youth. Check out our Family Days Activity Guide for ideas on how to turn dinner time into something everyone looks forward.
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Topics: Family Day, tips, parent involvement, positive parenting, communication, family bonding, children, Informed Families, drug prevention, Family Table Time
Orlando resident Ms. Jones is helping to care for four of her grandchildren this summer. Parents have to return to work, but most summer camps have to limit the number of children they accept as a result of the pandemic and CDC social distancing guidelines. Ms. Jones has taken on the responsibility of being there for her grandkids. She enjoys doing fun activities with them.
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Topics: orlando, Informed Families, summer, grandparents, grandchildren, orange county
Orginally published in Miami Kids magazine.
Summer is finally here! We are all ready for a much needed break from homeschooling, and looking forward to some fun. However a less structured day, and minimal supervision can spell trouble for some kids and teens.
“It’s hard to keep tabs on your kids in the summer. Having family rules are essential all year, but perhaps even more so during the summer. They help keep kids, especially teens, out of trouble and give parents a little bit of peace of mind that their kids know guidelines exist and hopefully will be followed,” said Peggy Sapp, Informed Families President and CEO.
Establishing family rules are important. What are your rules? If you want to learn how to set and establish rules, contact Mery Dominguez at mdominguez@informedfamilies.org or 305-856-4886 about joining an Informed Families’ Parent Peer Group.
Spending time together as a family is great too. If you are looking for some ideas, don’t worry we have got you covered. Check out the list of activities of family-friendly summer activities below.
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Topics: tips, parent involvement, positive parenting, communication, family bonding, children, Informed Families, family rules, drug prevention, summer, healthy kids
