It's back to school…are you ready?  Informed Families’ summers are busy, as we prepare campaign toolkits and drug prevention resources for our statewide programs for the new school year.

As the school year begins, we look forward to hearing from our esteemed supporters, Ambassadors and dedicated parents. Our very first message was from a wonderful Ambassador, Anne Lewis of Baker County, who really re-energized all of us with her note. Here's what she wrote:

Christine,

I am so excited for the new school year and it is because of Informed Families!  I completed my order for materials today and then went to the website to check out everything there.  I LOVE the Family Dinner info and activities there. I have downloaded all of it and began planning and organizing that very minute. This has always been one of my favorite events and I plan to make it huge in my schools and community this year.

Parents at Freeport Middle School generally respond to Informed Families Ambassador and All Star Safe Healthy & Drug Free School winner Laura Estes quite positively. Not to anyone’s surprise, the majority of parents are very appreciative of her dedication to the health and well-being of her students, demonstrated by her delivery of year-round prevention programs.

“One mom told me she was walking by her daughter’s room and heard her daughter say, ‘no, we can never get involved with anything like that because you remember what Ms. Estes said,’” said Laura. “I love to hear stories like that or run into former students who tell me that they never tried drugs after going through my program.”

However, not all responses are immediately positive, especially among parents who are smokers or heavy drinkers.

“One parent who smoked cigarettes said, ‘if I have to hear about the harmful effects of tobacco products one more time, I’m going to strangle you,’” said Estes, with a smile. “Several of my students have inspired their own parents to break out of bad habits. They tell me all the time, ‘my mom hasn’t had a cigarette in three weeks’ or ‘my dad isn’t drinking as much anymore.’”

2 Florida Schools Selected & Honored For Prevention Success During 2015-2016 School Year

Freeport Middle School in Walton County, thanks to the efforts of Ambassador Laura Estes and the support of Principal Charlie Morse, and Olympia High School in Orange County, thanks to the efforts of Ambassador Molly Sidwell and the support of Principal Guy Swenson, were chosen among hundreds of schools participating in Informed Families’ Ambassador Program for their demonstrated dedication to year-round prevention activities and for their success in actively engaging students, parents and faculty in prevention.

“We are thrilled to recognize the outstanding efforts of Freeport High School and Olympia High School,” said Peggy B. Sapp, President and CEO of Informed Families. “Our All Star Safe, Healthy and Drug Free Schools know the importance of spreading healthy, drug-free messages to help students and families make smart choices surrounding alcohol and other drugs, ultimately saving lives. Our programs are designed to curb underage drinking, substance abuse and other risky behaviors - and the impact is real, thanks to the participation of our Ambassadors in schools across Florida – and especially our All Star Schools.” 

Informed Families named Christine Stilwell the incoming Statewide Director of Programs, starting July 1st after current Program Director Dr. Valmarie Rhoden retires at the end of June. Stilwell, who has served in various capacities for Informed Families since joining the organization in 2000, is excited to take on a larger role. 

“Our mission of helping kids grow up safe, healthy and drug free is just as important than ever for Florida’s future,” said Stilwell. “I’m honored to serve as Program Director and delighted to continue to build upon the successes of several existing programs, most notably the Statewide Ambassador Program, which allows us to reach students, families and communities across Florida with year-round prevention messages through a network of dedicated volunteers.”

Stilwell attended Pennsylvania State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. She is a Certified Prevention Professional and Former Community Vice-President of Junior League of Greater Orlando. She will be transitioning from her job as Central Florida Regional Director.

Generations of drug prevention supporters and Joe’s Stone Crab enthusiasts united to celebrate Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership’s 31^st Annual Dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab on Monday, May 16^th.  Following the generations theme, the illustrious event was co-chaired by generous philanthropists Nancy & Jon Batchelor and Anna & Jon Batchelor, Jr. Close to $200,000 was raised to support Informed Families’ statewide prevention programs and initiatives designed to help kids grow up safe, healthy and drug free.

Over 400 guests attended the dinner, which was complete with local celebrity sightings, a pre-dinner social and of course Joe’s signature stone crabs, coleslaw, hash browns, key lime pie and legendary service. Several attendees who haven’t missed a Joe’s dinner were recognized with a special pin to commemorate their commitment to Informed Families and helping kids grow up safe, healthy and drug free.

Some notable event attendees include: State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Tammy & (Coach) Butch Davis, Jeff & Meg Wright, Dale Chapman Webb, Dorothy & Aaron Podhurst, Mary & Joel Eaton, Judge Robert Luck, Margarita & Armando Codina, Judge Norma & Eugene Lindsey, Dr. Larry Feldman, Penny Shaffer, Anita & Ron Shuffield, Ruth & Steve Marcus, Ginger Mead, Susan & Robin Shelley, Sherri & Doug Bartel and Judge Jason Bloch.

“Each year, we benefit from an outpouring of generosity from families who care about helping kids grow up safe, healthy and drug free,” said Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership President & CEO Peggy Sapp. “As a founder of the organization, it’s inspiring to see many of our supporters passing down the message to the next generation. This year, we honored those families.”

Aside from Informed Families, the big winner of the night was Steve Calderon, who won the grand raffle prize: dinner for 20 guests at Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant. 

Informed Families Thanks The Following Generous Event Sponsors:

Diamond Claw Sponsors: Peter L. Bermont, Richard B. Bermont, Adam E. Carlin, Michael D. Gold; EWM Realty International/Christie’s International Real Estate; Health Foundation of South Florida

Pearl Claw Sponsors: Nancy Batchelor Team and Gulliver Schools

Valet Sponsor: Coral Gables Trust Company

Sapphire Claw Sponsors: Avison Young; Dale Carnegie Training; Tammy & Butch Davis; Ginger Mead; Podhurst Orseck, P.A.

Silver Claw Sponsors: Betty B. Chapman, Dale Chapman Webb, Kristy Webb Figueras; Codina Partners; Fowler White Burnett, P.A.; The Garner Family Foundation; Goldsmith Family Foundation; Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen; JMH Development; Robert M. Levy & Associates; Markham & Stein; Police Officer Assistance Trust; Dr. Andrea Heuson-Sharp & Dr. Greg Sharp; Dr. Linda Neider & Dr. Paul Sugrue; Rick & Margarita Tonkinson; TUUCI

Invitation Sponsor: Jack & Natasha Lowell

Gift Sponsor: Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables

Friends of Joe's: Peggy Sapp; Village of Miami Shores Police Department

Special thanks to our long-time supporters, Baptist Health South Florida and Florida Blue.

Melanie Williams, a mother of four and an active PTSA volunteer in Orlando, wants to do everything she can to protect her children and others in the community from the devastating consequences associated with drug abuse and addiction.

“Drug prevention is so important because drug abuse is so silently dangerous,” said Williams. “It’s easy for kids to get involved with drugs and it’s so damaging to the body; it destroys lives.”

Williams, a mother of four boys ages 10, 13, 15 and 16, became involved with Informed Families after being invited by a school guidance counselor to attend an Informed Families Parent Peer Group Leader training in Orange County last November.  

“The material at the training was mind boggling,” said Melanie. “I learned so much. I’m an involved parent with kids in three different schools. And yet some of the stuff from the training, I really had no clue about. I asked my 16-year-old son, ‘do you know about this?’ He said, ‘yes.’ Attending the training was truly transformative for me. I realized that I need to pay more attention to what my children are learning and what they are exposed to.”

It’s never too early to promote safe, healthy and drug free living for kids. Just ask Ambassador and early childhood specialist Jacynta House, who serves as director of the Beautiful Mindz Preschool in Miami Gardens.

“I think everyone needs prevention education,” said House. “If we educate children when they are young, they will be less likely to do drugs. My goal as an early childhood educator is to give children the best life possible.”

When asked whether she thought that children in preschool are too young to be exposed to drug prevention, Jacynta quickly replied with a definitive “no.”

“They see drug abuse everywhere because our school is in a low income, high crime environment,” said House. “Every morning, I have to clean the playground because there are bags and wrappers everywhere from drug use. I want our children to seek a different, healthier life for themselves.”

Many of the students who attend the preschool have parents who work long hours, some of whom pick up their children as late as 8pm, and many come from insecure home environments. Jacynta dedicates herself to creating a stable and safe learning environment for these young children, ages zero to five, every day.

Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School in Sanford, Florida struck gold when they recruited Wing Isom to join the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) over seven years ago. Now, Isom serves as the school’s PTA President and more recently, she has taken on a new role: Informed Families Ambassador.

Calling Isom “an involved parent” is a vast understatement – and calling her an average Informed Families Ambassador would be equally incorrect. Since the fall of 2015, in her short time as an Informed Families Ambassador, Isom has delivered all three Informed Families campaigns (Family Day™, Red Ribbon Week®, and Lock Your Meds®) with great thought, energy and enthusiasm to the children and families at Goldsboro Elementary.

“We all talk about issues facing our children, but I love doing something about them,” said Wing. “As an Informed Families Ambassador, I connect parents at our school with wonderful prevention resources and I try to do it in a way that works best for our particular school.”