Catalyst

Informed Families Catalyst

Illuminating the Path Forward: Informed Families' Year of Impact

Posted by Informed Families on December 26, 2023 at 10:09 AM


As we culminate our 2022-2023 Year in Review, we at Informed Families are overjoyed to share some standout statistics that encapsulate the hard work and dedication of our team and community partners over the past year.

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Topics: Family Day, holidays, family bonding, Give Miami Day 2023, crafts

Fostering Family Connection: Creative Ideas for Holiday Traditions

Posted by Informed Families on December 18, 2023 at 9:46 AM


The holiday season is a special time for family bonding and creating lasting memories. As we navigate this festive period, it's important to find ways to strengthen our family connections and instill positive values in our children. 

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Topics: Family Day, holidays, family bonding, crafts

Generational Leadership

Posted by Peggy B. Sapp, President & CEO on December 9, 2023 at 7:25 PM

President's Message - December 2023

With deep sorrow, I announce the passing of Colonel Frank Borman, a founding member of Informed Families.
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Topics: President's Message, holidays, Informed Families, leaders

Crafting Connections: 5 Easy Festive Holiday Activities

Posted by Informed Families on December 2, 2023 at 1:56 PM


Creating holiday crafts with kids is more than just a fun activity; it's an opportunity for family bonding, which is crucial for the healthy development of children and teens. At Informed Families, we understand the significance of family togetherness in reducing the risk of substance abuse among young people. Parental involvement is indeed the most potent weapon in preventing substance abuse among youth.

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Topics: holidays, lock your meds, family bonding, safe homes smart parties, alcohol use

Gratitude Journals for Families: Strengthening Bonds

Posted by Informed Families on November 26, 2023 at 9:27 AM


As we exit the Thanksgiving season, it's crucial to keep the spirit of thankfulness alive in our families, especially among our children. It's a vital time to remind them not to forget the blessings they have and to continuously recognize and appreciate the good in their lives. This ongoing practice of gratitude can profoundly impact their perspective and overall well-being, making every day a chance to see the world through a lens of thankfulness.

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Topics: holidays, family bonding, thanksgiving, family dinner

Easy and Healthy Holiday Recipes

Posted by Informed Families on November 19, 2023 at 5:11 PM


The holiday season is a special time for family, warmth, and creating lasting memories. One of the most cherished traditions in many households is cooking together. It's more than just preparing food; it's an opportunity for bonding, sharing stories, and reinforcing family ties.

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Topics: holidays, family bonding, safe homes smart parties, alcohol use, family dinner

Creating a Safe Home for the Holidays

Posted by Informed Families on November 11, 2023 at 8:17 PM


The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and connection. However, amidst the festive spirit, it's crucial to ensure our homes remain safe and welcoming for everyone. Drawing inspiration from Informed Families' "Safe Homes Smart Parties" campaign, this blog aims to provide you with practical tips to make your home a safer place during the holiday celebrations.

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Topics: holidays, lock your meds, safe homes smart parties, alcohol use

People Are Gifts

Posted by Peggy B. Sapp, President & CEO on December 9, 2022 at 5:43 PM

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 - May 2020

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

Why Do We Turn Everything Into a Reason to Drink?

Social gatherings, bars and dining in restaurants are off limits for Cinco de Mayo this year, but many of us still plan to celebrate in some fashion - probably with a Mexican beer or margarita in hand. Have you ever stopped to think about why we turn everything into an opportunity to drink alcohol? Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.

How did Cinco de Mayo (which commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862) turn into a bigger celebration day in the United States than Mexico? It’s all about selling you something of course. Cinco de Mayo really took off when beer companies started sponsoring Cinco de Mayo celebrations to promote and sell beer. Is this really that different from the advertising tactics employed by Big Tobacco?

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Topics: President's Message, holidays, alcohol, social norms, alcohol use

President's Message - February 2018

Posted by Peggy B. Sapp, President & CEO on February 26, 2018 at 3:09 PM

Have We All Lost Our Minds?

It certainly seems like it from the news!

School Safety is the topic du jour for good reason: the loss of 17 innocent lives.  We don’t educate our children for 16 years just to have them senselessly gunned down on school property and this is the 25th fatal, active school shooting at an elementary or high school since Columbine.

Have we learned anything?  I don’t think so when I listen to the news. The script is the same with people suggesting half-baked answers (it is like whack-a-mole) rather than holistic answer which recognize the complexities underlying the problem.  Is this because we allow media to set the agenda with blaring headlines, tight deadlines and sound bites? Problems can’t be solved on TV before the close of the show; it requires hard work, time and HONESTY about who we are as a people. What are our beliefs and values? Our true beliefs and values define our Behaviors.

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Topics: President's Message, holidays

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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