Catalyst

Informed Families Catalyst

President's Message - October 2020

Posted by Peggy B. Sapp, President & CEO on October 1, 2020 at 8:00 AM

Help Us Lead the Red Ribbon Week Herd   

Red Ribbon Week helps to create Herd Immunity. Red Ribbon is about creating herd or community immunity to the alcohol and drug problems America is facing.

Herd or Community Immunity is where a large part of the population are immune to a specific disease.

While currently the public is hearing about and focusing on Covid-19, Herd immunity applies equally to alcohol and drug use.

In all populations across the world about 10 % of people have a predisposition to alcohol and drug addiction. PREDISPOSITION DOES NOT MEAN PREDETERMINED!!! There are PROTECTIVE FACTORS that mediate the disease - the biggest are the communities’ beliefs, their messaging and role modeling about alcohol and drugs use and misuse.

 

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Topics: President's Message, red ribbon, red ribbon week, drug use, alcohol use, Covid-19

2020 Red Ribbon Theme

Posted by Informed Families on February 3, 2020 at 12:00 PM

“I really would like the theme to inspire others for use as their mantra. Bravery is not just for superheroes."

Meet Tricia Nelson, the everyday hero behind the 2020 Red Ribbon theme: “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.”

The Red Ribbon Campaign unveiled its new 2020 Red Ribbon Theme, “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free. ™” today. The theme will be highlighted during Red Ribbon Week®, the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program, taking place each year from October 23 through 31st.

Submitted by Tricia Nelson, a first year Physical Education Teacher at Locust Corner Elementary School in Cincinnati, the theme will help amplify the campaign’s mission to encourage children, families and communities to live healthy, safe and drug-free lives.

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Topics: red ribbon, red ribbon week, red ribbon theme, drug free, drug prevention

President's Message - February 2020

Posted by Peggy B. Sapp, President & CEO on February 3, 2020 at 9:54 AM

People Participate in What They Help to Plan  

The 2020 Red Ribbon theme is “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.” So many of our youth are fascinated by superhero culture from Superman and Wonder Woman to Captain Marvel and Spiderman. It’s only fitting that this year we encourage them to be “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.” To be an everyday hero.

People sometimes ask why the Red Ribbon theme changes each year.  Understanding the history of Red Ribbon is key to understanding this important feature of the campaign. Red Ribbon has always been a grassroots movement.  After DEA agent Kiki Camarena was murdered in 1985, communities across America began displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. People united and took a visible stand against drugs.

We change the theme each year to give the individuals that help spread the Red Ribbon message an opportunity to shape the campaign in a way that is relevant to our communities. Our mission to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a drug free America remains the same, but we must deliver it in a way that resonates with the youth and culture of 2020 if we want to be heard.

I love to see students “Sock it to Drugs” in wacky socks or wear sunglasses because their future is too bright for drugs during Red Ribbon Week. I encourage you to incorporate the official 2020 Red Ribbon theme “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.” into your spirit week activities as well. Together we can honor the history of Red Ribbon and present a unified message in support of keeping kids safe, healthy and drug free.  

Peggy

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Topics: President's Message, red ribbon, red ribbon week, red ribbon theme, drug free, drug use, Kiki Camarena

2019 Red Ribbon Photo Contest Winners

Posted by Informed Families on December 2, 2019 at 9:00 AM

 

The National Family Partnership announced the winners of the 2019 National Red Ribbon Photo Contest on December 2. Several Florida residents and schools were included among this year’s winners.

Natalia Solares from Hialeah, FL won a Judges Award in the Home category for Best Use of the Theme. Ms. Solares’ $1000 prize money will go to Youth Co-Op Preparatory Charter School.

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Topics: red ribbon, red ribbon week, red ribbon photo contest, red ribbon theme, Florida, drug free, photo contest, drug prevention

U.S. Postal Service Reveals New Drug Free USA Forever Stamp

Posted by Informed Families on November 1, 2019 at 3:54 PM

The U.S. Postal Service revealed the new "Drug Free USA
Forever” stamp yesterday in conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program taking place each year from October 23 through 31.

Earlier this year, the National Family Partnership and Drug Enforcement Administration submitted a joint letter to the U.S.Postal Service’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, to propose a stamp to raise national awareness about the dangers of drug misuse.

“We are delighted that the U.S. Postal Service is committed to supporting our efforts to promote drug prevention, education and awareness,” said Peggy B. Sapp, President and CEO of Informed Families and the National Family Partnership. “We all must continue to play our unique roles in spreading the word to communities about how individuals can make healthy choices.”

The Drug Free USA Forever stamp features a white star with lines of red, light blue, and blue radiating from one side of each of the star’s five points, suggesting the unity necessary at all levels to effectively address drug use. The stamp will go on sale in October 2020.

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Topics: red ribbon, red ribbon week, prevention, Peggy Sapp, dea, drug prevention, Kiki Camarena

President's Message - November 2019

Posted by Peggy B. Sapp, President & CEO on October 31, 2019 at 12:00 PM

Building Healthy People & Healthy Communities  

Informed Families hosted a celebratory rally and lunch to wrap up 2019 Red Ribbon Week. The event celebrated all those who value prevention as a way to stop destructive behaviors.

I am delighted to announce that Informed Families has been awarded a three-year grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to strengthen schools and communities. To kick off that effort we invited filmmaker Erahm Christopher to speak at the rally.  I first saw Mr. Christopher’s movie, “Listen”, at a Florida School Boards Association meeting and believe it offers a way to address many issues in a holistic manner eliminating the “Cause De Jour” mindset that plagues the media, and thus societal perceptions.

Many destructive behaviors have the same root causes. This is a first step toward educating the public about these behaviors, while reducing the stigmas that keep people from speaking up and asking for help.

“Listen” highlights the need for parents, teachers, everyone to really learn to listen to youth. Informed Families will host a screening of the film and a post-film workshop led by Mr. Christopher in February 2020. He has successfully executed these screenings and workshops in other cities across the nation.

While the media focuses on opioid use, school shootings and tragedies, Informed Families focuses on how to prevent opioid use, school shootings and promote good mental health. More and more people are turning off the news because they are tired of wringing their hands, feeling impotent and lamenting one tragedy after another.

I invite all of our Informed Families friends, supporters and Ambassadors to join us in being part of the solution in promoting good mental health.  Stop whining about the problems, come and learn how to get involved and be part of the solution; it is healthy for you! Email us if you would like to get involved.

Peggy 

 

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Topics: President's Message, red ribbon, media, mental health, Erahm Christopher

2019 Red Ribbon Certified Schools Recognized

Posted by Informed Families on October 15, 2019 at 12:00 PM

Informed Families newly-designated 2019 Red Ribbon Certified Schools include: Brownsville, Citrus Grove and Homestead Middle Schools in Miami-Dade County, FL; West Orange and Cypress Creek High Schools in Orange County, FL; and North Atlanta High School in Fulton County, GA.

The Red Ribbon Certified Schools in both Miami-Dade and Orange Counties received special recognition during the October School Board meetings in their respective counties.

 

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Topics: red ribbon, high school, orlando, middle school, red ribbon certified schools, drug prevention, christine stilwell, recognition, miami, orange county

DEA National Red Ribbon Rally

Posted by Informed Families on October 14, 2019 at 12:30 PM

On October 7th, Informed Families' President & CEO Peggy Sapp had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the DEA’s Red Ribbon Rally. The rally served to drive messaging around Red Ribbon Week, our nation-wide campaign dedicated to encouraging Americans to live healthy and drug-free.

The event recognized the accomplishments of several young people who have excelled in calling attention to the benefits of a drug-free lifestyle through their artwork. The DEA’s Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon was in attendance, as was the First Lady who delivered remarks about the dangers of vaping and the need to eliminate drug use among our youth.  

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Topics: red ribbon, red ribbon week, dea, drug prevention, nancy reagan, Kiki Camarena

President's Message - October 2019

Posted by Peggy B. Sapp, President & CEO on October 1, 2019 at 7:00 AM

Celebrating Red Ribbon Week   

I’m excited to head to the DEA's headquarters for this year's National Red Ribbon Rally. I invite everyone to watch the live webcast of this kickoff event at www.dea.gov on Oct. 7th at 11 a.m.

During Red Ribbon Week (Oct 23 – 31), youth in schools and communities across the nation pledge to live drug-free by wearing red ribbons and participating in anti-drug events.

This year’s Red Ribbon theme “Send A Message. Stay Drug Free™” really resonates with today’s youth. With the rise of smart phones and social media, sending messages has become a favorite past time for many.  But what kinds of messages are we sending? Are they empowering? Do they encourage those around us?  This year’s Red Ribbon theme certainly fits the bill.  It is a call to action to speak out in support of healthy choices. The theme is also a reminder that by staying drug free, you are sending a message to yourself and others about how much you value yourself, your overall health, your community and your future.

Help us amplify this message. Enter the National Red Ribbon Photo Contest. Encourage others to take the Red Ribbon pledge. Spread the Red Ribbon message on social media by using the hashtags #SendAMessageStayDrugFree, #RedRibbonWeek2019 and #RedRibbonWeek.

We can all play a role in encouraging youth to remain safe, healthy and drug-free.

Peggy 

 

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Topics: President's Message, red ribbon, red ribbon week, drug free, dea, photo contest, drug prevention

Red Ribbon Photo Contest 2019

Posted by Informed Families on September 30, 2019 at 5:00 PM

Win an iPad & $1,000 For Your School

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Topics: red ribbon, red ribbon theme, photo contest

About Us

We teach people how to say no to drugs and how to make healthy choices. To reduce the demand for drugs, Informed Families has focused its efforts on educating and mobilizing the community, parents and young people in order to change attitudes. In this way we counteract the pressures in society that condone and promote drug and alcohol use and abuse. The organization educates thousands of families annually about how to stay drug and alcohol free through networking and a variety of programs and services .

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