May/June 2025
Finished Too Good For Drugs in the Elementary
Drug Free Event-Free movie at the Burwell Rodeo Theater for all students after their last day of school
Started our Summer Girls (Making A Difference Program)
APRIL 2025
Too Good For Drugs and Violence continues in the high school and the elementary school at Taylor and Burwell.
Burwell TOP students volunteer at KAMP KALEO
JANUARY 2025
JANUARY 2025
DECEMBER 2024
Cabins that were decorated at the end of Nov/early Dec. were utilized for Kamp Kaleo for the Santa Express as well as an evening dinner that was open to community members.
BHS/GLWCC youth finished their hat and scarf project and sent them to the homeless shelter located in Kearney, NE.
TGFD continue in both Greely, Taylor, and Burwell.
GLWCC staff are continuing to grow their knowledge in Prevention.
NOVEMBER
TOP class (Teen OutReach Program) and GLWCC youth helped decorate out at Kamp Kaleo for the Santa Express.
TOP class and GWLCC youth made tie blankets to donate and deliver to Community Memorial Nursing Home.
Program Coordinator McKenna Gurney continued her Too Good For Drugs curriculum in grades 4th and 5th.
Director Sally Peters and Fiscal Officer/Director Assistant went to a Sexual Risk Avoidance Training in Phoenix Arizona to expand their knowledge on how to help on prevention.
OCTOBER 2024
October 4th Burwell High School held a life camp. GLWCC spoke on the topic of vaping using one of our resources called Catch My Breath.
Garfield, Loup, Wheeler, and Greeley Elementary all participated in Red Ribbon week. The High School at Burwell helped the elementary with Red Ribbon Week. They went into classrooms K-6 and presented on drug misuse.
AUGUST 2024
7th Grade Retreat
Youth Advisory shared their time and knowledge on their time at HPP. Made paracord lanyards.
GLWCC Youth Advisory Board Meeting at Burwell High to discuss this years plan and sign up for fall concession stands
Worked with the Health Department on their “back to School Bash”-provided them with cotton candy!
GLWCC Board Meeting- If you’d like to join the board please contact us!
JULY 2024
Deterra bags and lockboxes were taken to Community Memorial Health Department and the Assisted Living/Plaza
GLWCC and MAD summer girls program help with Nebraska Big Rodeo Parade!
THEME: DREAM LIKE A CHAMPION-Champions Stay Drug Free
WINNERS: Best Youth Entry
MAY 2024
On May 22nd and 23rd the GLW Children’s Council took a group of young students from Burwell Jr. Sr. High School to a two day overnight HPP (Human Performance Project) leadership summit held in Burwell, Nebraska at Kamp Kaleo. GLWCC also invited area schools to attend the summit. John Underwood is the founder of Life of an Athlete Human Performance Project. Which is a project that uses science based evidence. He is a former NCAA All-American, International distance runner and World Master Champion. John has also coached and advised more than two dozen Olympians including World and Olympic Champions. He was also extremely instrumental in designing the HPP for the US Navy SEAL Teams.
The idea of Human Performance Project (HPP) youth development curriculum is based on the belief that high school students in America, if given the choice to be awesome, would choose awesome. It is teaching kids and adults on HOW to create a culture we don’t just survive in, but thrive in.
The HPP summit in Burwell was a chance to immerse ourselves in the outdoor environment while we were able to learn from US Navy SEALs as well as athletes and coaches from Olympic and professional sport teams. The two days were designed to give students and administrators the best tools and information to make the best choices for optimizing mental/physical health performance for students and peers in and out of school.
The two seal team members, Jason and Anthony shared their deep understanding of training, recovery, and everyday lifestyle factors that drive elite performance on the court, in the field, in the classroom, and at home.
The topics of the sessions were Physiology of elite performance–sleep management, nutrition, effects of alcohol/tobacco/other drugs, The changing nature of marijuana products, Vaping: facts vs fiction, The opioid crisis, Building resilience and managing stress, Communication, Conflict resolution, Peer intervention, Creating a culture of championship, Teamwork and leadership, Team Building physical training, How to implement HPP programming in your organization or school.
Other speakers included: Hunter Church and Former Navy SEALs Anthony and Jason. Hunter Church was the youngest member of the USA Bobsled team in the 2022 Olympic Games. Hunter shared what it took for him to make the journey from small-town high school athlete all the way to the Olympic Games.
After the HPP summit conference our students and staff who attended sat down to talk about what they interpreted. The students were asked what they want to see change or continue within our community and school system. Students talked about wanting to implement a “Pure Performance” program in the school. This would include students who aren’t just role models on the court and in the classroom but in all aspects of life. These students want to reach out and do certain activities such as help with the new program implemented this last year for 1st-6th grade girls called Power Hour. Power Hour is an afterschool program held from 3:45-5pm. This last year it was held during March at the school in the midst of pee-wee wrestling. Power Hour may be subject to change and begin sooner and go through March giving the “Pure Performance” students more opportunities to make an impact. These students hope to generate more ideas on HOW they can impact others. They will present their ideas and what they have learned at the HPP Summit to the school board sometime this summer. As staff, peers, etc, we advocate for these students yet we don’t let them participate in much decision making, we have learned it is important to hear these students and allow them to participate in creating the “culture”.
GLWCC would like to thank Burwell Public Schools, Kamp Kaleo staff, and ALL who participated in purchasing from the kids’ fundraiser. We would also like to share the we are on Facebook at GLW Children’s Council and our website is www.glwchildrenscouncil.squarespace.com
April 2024
GLWCC employees went to the health fair that Burwell Public Schools put on.
HPP meeting was held to go over the agenda for the May summit.
GLWCC put up pinwheels in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month
GLWCC also put together senior bags to be delivered to the seniors come May. These bags included a shower caddy, towel, pen, chapstick, and a pamphlet on dating violence, drugs, alcohol, other ATOD and resources.
http://www.nctsn.org/
This is a link to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
March 2024
The GLW Children's Council Burwell Youth are raising money to attend HPP - Human Performance Project being held in Burwell this year. HPP is a youth leadership camp that instructs students on healthy living, making good choices, and leadership skills.
Last day is March 31st to order!
FEBRUARY
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
National Nutrition Month
GLWCC held a meeting on upcoming events such as the HPP summit. They also discussed the “ZYN” nicotine pouches that are now a hot commodity.
ZYN
JANUARY 2024
SAMHSA's 20th PREVENTION DAY, Jan. 29th
SAMHSA's 20th PREVENTION DAY, Jan. 29th
SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day!
Register for SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day!
SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day (SPD) takes place on Monday, January 29, 2024, in conjunction with CADCA National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
Join us for the largest annual national gathering dedicated to advancing the prevention of substance use and misuse. We'll celebrate the 20th anniversary of SPD, explore current innovations, reflect on past accomplishments, and chart a course for the future of prevention.
Get ready for an engaging and inspiring day packed with presentations, activities, networking, and more.
This day-long event is free ― but registration is required.
NPW 20th prevention day
Download the Registration Form (PDF | 139 KB)
Download the Registration Form (PDF | 139 KB)
Registration Tips
Questions about SAMHSA's Prevention Day? Contact Us
Sign up for SAMHSA email updates about prevention.
Learn more about CADCA National Leadership Forum and SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day
DECEMBER 2023
GLWCC TOPS (teen outreach program) worked in the class room to provide beautiful decorations for nursing home patients. They finished these projects they started in November.
GLWCC employees and students worked with the UCC church and put together Christmas boxes to go to several families in the surrounding area.
NOVEMBER 2023
NOVEMBER TOP (Teen Outreach Program) started on their projects for the local nursing home.
GLWCC employees attended an Opioid training at Region 3 with Dr. Zoucha.
October 2023
GLWCC worked to fill Halloween prevention candy bags during the scare on the square. Bags were also taken to Loup County and Wheeler public schools for the elementary kids to enjoy during trick or treating.
Red Ribbon week-Red Ribbon prevention items such as wristbands, cups, and frisbees were taken to the elementary. High school students all took a drug-free pledge in order to put their name in a drawing for a prize.
September 2023
Marcie Smith’s 8th grade class created fall hats to deliver to the Community Memorial Center.
Friday Night Done Right Campaign has STARTED for the home football games. This campaign has stretched to Loup and Wheeler counties. The campaign deals with social norms and learning to do Friday night with no drugs, no alcohol.
AUGUST 2023
7th grade retreat-On August 22nd, and 23rd GLW Children’s Council collaborated with Burwell, Wheeler Central, and Taylor public schools to send their 7th graders to a Smart Start Retreat at Kamp Kaleo in Burwell. During these two days the 7th graders were able to participate in a variety of fun prevention activities, make new acquaintances, and take home some prizes!
On the first day, students broke down into 4 different groups. Each group then went to a specific station for approximately 30 minutes. These stations included Rollover Simulator by State Trooper, Go Kart Simulator by Garfield County Deputy Paul Cox. During this activity, students were handed a pair of “drunk goggles” and “THC goggles” that showed them how dangerous and difficult it is to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The other two activities were Archery Tag by the National Guard, and a Marijuana course by Shawny Hicks who helped the students understand the importance of how dangerous the drug can be.
After these sessions were completed, students had some down time to meet with one another and play some games that were provided by GLWCC and Kamp Kaleo. Students then went back to eat supper which was provided by Brad Hindsley Director of Kamp Kaleo.
Next on the agenda was the Youth Advisory Board from Burwell Jr. Sr. High school. This group received the opportunity to share their experiences being a part of the GLW club such as community service opportunities, the Human Performance Project, and the Summit Conference in Lincoln held by former Navy Seals Anthony Page and Jason Larson, Hunter Church, and former NFL star Brandon Bair. The topics that the students shared were Physiology of elite performance–sleep management, nutrition, effects of alcohol/tobacco/other drugs, the changing nature of marijuana products, Vaping: facts vs fiction, Opioid crisis, Building resilience and managing stress, Communication, Conflict resolution, Peer intervention, Creating a culture of championship, Teamwork and leadership, Team Building physical training, and HOW to implement HPP programming in your organization or school. This year, the GLW students shared some exciting news that there will be a “summit” from the Navy Seals and GLWCC here at Kamp Kaleo next year! After the students shared their experiences the 7th graders began outside games and s’mores.
Day two consisted of the same itinerary, just different activities.These activities included Tobacco/Vaping by Michelle Halpine with CNCAA (Central Nebraska Council on Alcohol and Addiction), Kayaking by Nebraska Game and Parks, Budgeting by First Interstate Bank, Mental Health Jeopardy by Midwest Country Clinic, and Alcohol Awareness by Michaela Perry who is the prevention project coordinator of CNCAA. Students then drew some great prizes, said their goodbyes and headed home.
JULY 2023
GLWCC group put together a float for NEBRASKAS BIG RODEO PARADE.
GLWCC won Best Organization!
JUNE 2023
MAD (Making A Difference) Summer Girls: The girls learn to build relationships and communicate effectively. The girls meet about 10 times during the summer. Within the 10 times they meet they do a couple community service projects.
Too Good For Drugs Training: Cindy Swartzwelder from the Mendez-Foundation came for a two day training.
MAY 2023
SENIOR BAGS- GLWCC ordered bags for the 2022-2023 seniors in Garfield, Loup, and Wheeler. They were filled with water bottles, gift cards and information on Alcohol, Opioids, Tobacco, Vaping, Relationships, Depression, Internet Safety, Hotlines, etc.
MARCH-APRIL 2023
Health Fair at Burwell High School
Life Skills Day on March 13th GLWCC talked on Vaping
TGFD continued..
Pin Wheels and signs put around the community for Child Abuse Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Prevention services and supports developed by this collaboration can help to protect children and strengthen families.
JANURARY-FEBURARY 2023
TGFD was still being taught in the Elementary for 2nd, 4th, 5th grades.
Deterra Bags were delivered to Garfield, Loup, and Wheeler Schools during PT Conferences.
The Deterra® Drug Deactivation and Disposal System is a safe medication disposal pouch or container that can be used at home or in a clinical setting. It is the safest, most effective choice used to destroy and properly dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medications with the simple addition of tap water.
DECEMBER 2022
GLWCC worked together with the churches and other community members to deliver Christmas boxes loaded with necessities and toys for families in need.
NOTE: Never be afraid to reach out and contact GLWCC if you are in need of certain items. (308)346-4284
Snow Globes were hand crafted by the BHS students and delivered to the Nursing Home.
Hats and Scarves were also handmade and sent to the homeless shelter in Lincoln.
November National Health Observances: Diabetes, Lung Cancer, and More
Posted on October 25, 2021 by ODPHP
Each month we feature select National Health Observances (NHOs) to highlight important health issues that affect Americans every day. In November we’re raising awareness about diabetes, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and antibiotic resistance.
Below, we’ve listed some resources you can use to join the conversation. We hope you’ll promote these NHOs and help us advocate for better health nationwide!
American Diabetes Month
The American Diabetes Association promotes American Diabetes Month in November to raise awareness about diabetes and share helpful resources. Check out and share these NHO resources from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It’s also a great time to explore the Healthy People 2030 Diabetes objectives, which aim to reduce the burden of diabetes and improve the lives of people living with the condition. Finally, be sure to share our consumer-friendly MyHealthfinder diabetes resources.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
The American Lung Association recognizes November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month — a time to unite the country against lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Get involved by sharing our easy-to-understand MyHealthfinder lung cancer-related resources with your networks. And be sure to read up on the Healthy People 2030 Cancer topic, which includes objectives to increase lung cancer screening and reduce the lung cancer death rate.
COPD Awareness Month
Every year the American Lung Association and other organizations use the month of November to raise awareness about COPD. Use these COPD Awareness Month resources from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to help spread the word on your platforms. In the United States, smoking is the leading cause of COPD — so you can also share our MyHealthfinder resource to encourage people to quit. And use Healthy People 2030 to track national progress toward objectives to improve respiratory health.
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sponsoring U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week from November 18 to 24 to raise awareness about combatting antibiotic resistance. Use CDC’s Be Antibiotics Aware Partner Toolkit to spread the word about the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. You can also check out the National Action Plan to Prevent Health-Care Associated Infections to learn about federal efforts to slow the development of resistant bacteria.
NOVEMBER 2022
OCTOBER 2022
Scare around the square took place October 31st in Burwell, NE. After school students put on their costumes and headed downtown to work their way around the square. Business and volunteers set up candy spots around the square so students could show off their costumes and trunk-or-treat at the same time. GLWCC put together candy bags and say boo to drugs bracelets to hand out as the kids were walking. We also took bags over to Taylor public schools and Wheeler Central public schools so students could enjoy them there as well.
Red Ribbon Week in Garfield, Loup, and Wheeler counties
National Family Partnership, formerly the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, was established as a grassroots, nonprofit organization in 1980 by a handful of concerned and determined parents who were convinced they should begin to play a leadership role in drug prevention. Since its founding thirty years ago, NFP has devoted its efforts to the well-being of youth. Today, NFP is a national leader in drug prevention education & advocacy. Our mission is to lead and support our nation’s families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug free youth.
Back-to-School Bags
On September 19th, parent bags were handed out at the parent teachers conference along with lockboxes for prescription drugs.
Inside the bags were handouts that gave parents inside information on opioids, marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs. It also consisted of suicide prevention information, human performance project, stress balls, pens, and how to get a long with your teen at home.
We do have extra bags. Feel free to message us or reach out if you want a bag or extra information.
SEPTEMBER 2022
7th Grade Retreat
On August 25th, and 26th GLW Children’s Council collaborated with Burwell, Wheeler Central, and Taylor public schools to send their 7th graders to a Smart Start Retreat at Kamp Kaleo in Burwell. During these two days the 7th graders were able to participate in a variety of learning activities and make new acquaintances. On the first day, students broke down into 4 different groups. Each group then went to a specific station for approximately 30 minutes. These stations included Rollover Simulator by State Trooper Okomoto, Go Kart Simulator by Chief Ben Hughes. During this activity, students were handed a pair of “drunk goggles” and “THC goggles” that showed them how dangerous and difficult it is to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The other two activities were Hungry Hippo Competitive Simulator by the National Guard, and WRAP by Gina Hubbard who helped the students understand the importance of mental health.
After these sessions were completed, students had some down time to meet with one another and play some games that were provided by GLWCC. Students then went back to eat supper that was provided by The Spot. Next on the agenda was the Youth Advisory Board from Burwell Jr. Sr. High school. This group received the opportunity to share their Human Performance Project and their experiences with attending the Summit Conference in Lincoln in May with John Underwood, Hunter Church, Brandon Bair, and former Navy Seals. The topics that the students shared were Physiology of elite performance–sleep management, nutrition, effects of alcohol/tobacco/other drugs, the changing nature of marijuana products, Vaping: facts vs fiction, Opioid crisis, Building resilience and managing stress, Communication, Conflict resolution, Peer intervention, Creating a culture of championship, Teamwork and leadership, Team Building physical training, and How to implement HPP programming in your organization or school. After the students shared their experiences the 7th graders began outside games and s’mores.
Day two consisted of the same itinerary, just different activities.These activities included Tobacco/Vaping video by Trooper Okomoto, Kayaking by Nebraska Game and Parks, Marijuana Course by Shawny Hicks (GLWCC), and Alcohol Abuse by Jaci Walrath. Students then said their goodbyes and headed home.
GLWCC would like to thank the schools, The Spot for the meals, and all the volunteers that assisted with the group activities. GLWCC would also like to extend an extra thank you to First Interstate Bank, Farmers and Merchants, and Union Bank and Trust for their gracious donations.
August 2022
Saturday July 30th, GLWCC rode in the parade promoting “Start the Rodeo, Stop the Drugs”. GLWCC kids threw out candy, and GLWCC promotional items such as beach balls, arm rollers, stress balls, wood airplanes, etc.
RODEO PARADE
JULY 2022
JUNE 2022
GLW Takes local kids to Lincoln for HPP.
On May 23rd the GLW Children’s Council took a group of young students from Burwell Jr. Sr. High School to a two day overnight HPP leadership conference held in Lincoln Nebraska at the University. HPP stands for Human Performance Project that was created by John Underwood and his staff using science based evidence. Human Performance Project (HPP) youth development curriculum is also based on their belief that high school students in America, if given the choice to be awesome, would choose awesome. It is teaching kids and adults on HOW to create a culture we don’t just survive in, but thrive in.
HPP Nebraska Regional Training was a chance to immerse ourselves in the UNL environment while we were able to learn from US Navy SEALs as well as athletes and coaches from Olympic and professional sport. The two days were designed to give students and administrators the best tools and information to make the best choices for optimizing mental/physical health performance for students and peers in and out of school.
John Underwood is the founder of Life of an Athlete Human Performance project/ former Olympic coach and world champion athlete/human performance consultant to the US Navy SEAL Teams. He has also worked with nearly all sports federations including NCAA, NBA, NHL, NFL, and the Olympic Committee. John shared his deep understanding of training, recovery, and everyday lifestyle factors that drive elite performance on the court, in the field, in the classroom, and at home.
The topics of the sessions were Physiology of elite performance–sleep management, nutrition, effects of alcohol/tobacco/other drugs, The changing nature of marijuana products, Vaping: facts vs fiction, The opioid crisis, Building resilience and managing stress, Communication, Conflict resolution, Peer intervention, Creating a culture of championship, Teamwork and leadership, Team Building physical training, How to implement HPP programming in your organization or school.
Other speakers included: Hunter Church, Brandon Bair, and Former Navy SEALs. Hunter Church who was the youngest member of the USA Bobsled team in the 2022 Olympic Games. Hunter shared what it took for him to make the journey from small-town high school athlete all the way to the Olympic Games. Brandon Bair is a recently retired NFL player who discusses why the quality of one’s character trumps talent and how his ability to make good choices as a teenager allowed him to play for a national championship title in college and for multiple NFL franchises.
After the HPP summit conference our students and staff who attended sat down to talk about what they interpreted. The students were asked what they want to see change or continue within our community and school system. Students talked about wanting to implement a “Pure Performance” program in the school. This would include students who aren’t just role models on the court and in the classroom but in all aspects of life. These students want to reach out and do certain activities such as help with the new program implemented this last year for 1st-6th grade girls called Power Hour. Power Hour is an afterschool program held from 3:45-5pm. This last year it was held during March at the school in the midst of pee-wee wrestling. Power Hour may be subject to change and begin sooner and go through March giving the “Pure Performance” students more opportunities to make an impact. These students hope to generate more ideas on HOW they can impact others. They will present their ideas and what they have learned at the HPP Summit to the school board sometime this summer. As staff, peers, etc, we advocate for these students yet we don’t let them participate in much decision making, we have learned it is important to hear these students and allow them to participate in creating the “culture”.
Students who attended were: Avery Mann, Jessica Dawe, Ericka Larsen, Cy Feeken, Hagen Hodges, Holden Hodges, Gracyn Hicks, Kayley Jeffres, Brookelyn Gideon, Kason Larson, and Garrett Hasenauer.
Sponsors/Staff: Marcie Smith, Faith Simone, McKenna Gurney
We would like to extend an extra thank you to Marcie Smith, those who bought trash bags for the GLW fundraiser, Lee Jeffres with Jeffres Sand and Gravel, and Warren White with Burwell Livestock.
The summer girls program has been busy this summer with various community service projects as well as learning about who they are.
Again, GLW Children’s Council runs an evidence based program called MAD. MAD stands for “Making A Difference”. This summer program reaches out to our local teen girls in hopes to meet several times a summer to partake in fun activities and community service all while learning about sexual risk avoidance and making a difference in their lives.
The MAD girls have been very busy this summer working on a great project for Burwell Public Schools. Bev Brown and Burwell Public Schools funded “fence cups” that read “LONGHORN POWER” and were put in the fence north of the school. We want to extend an extra thank you to these girls for their work, Bev Brown and Burwell Public Schools for donating these cups that show our love and pride. Go Horns!
The girls also received a baking kit from KING ARTHUR BREAD CO. and learned how to bake two different kind of loaves in which they shared one with their family and one with a community member.
MAD Summer Girls
MAY: Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health
Mental health awareness is something that can help the millions of people who are impacted by mental health issues throughout the United States. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults have had or currently have symptoms of a mental illness. These statistics show just how prevalent living with a mental illness actually is.
The goal with a whole month of mental health awareness is to help people with mental illnesses understand that they are not alone in their struggles—and that getting treatment can make all the difference. If we applied this approach to mental health every day of the year, more and more people could benefit from knowing about these common illnesses.
Some common disorders that need more awareness include:
Generalized anxiety disorder
Substance use disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Though all of these mental health conditions have different symptoms, they can impact every aspect of your life. In truth, your mental health influences the way that you think, feel, and behave. This means that your social, professional, and personal life can be greatly impaired.
Many people who have mental health conditions aren’t sure how to cope with their symptoms and resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms to push away their emotional discomfort. As a result, you might also have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Additionally, if you have one mental illness that goes untreated, you actually are at a greater risk for developing co-occurring disorders and you will need dual diagnosis treatment to fully heal.
Mental health awareness makes all of this information available to you so that you can assess your own risks and find help for any conditions you might have.
APRIL: National Child Abuse Prevention Month
For families that need preventative services or are looking to get involved in Child Abuse Prevention month, visit BringUpNebraska.org to connect with the community collaborative in your area.
Bring Up Nebraska partners want individuals to understand that small actions can make a big difference in a child and parent’s life. Anyone can help families and communities thrive by recognizing and incorporating some of these action items:
Find ways to support your local community collaborative and encourage others to do the same.
Spread the word to people who may be feeling overwhelmed that they can reach out to their local collaborative to get connected to resources and support to meet their goals.
Encourage sharing stories about how they take small but impactful steps to support children and families in their communities.
Follow NCFF and DHHS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share our posts widely—and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Use the hashtags #BringUpNebraska and #CAPMonth to let us know you're committed to helping children, families, and entire communities to thrive.
To help spread awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Bring Up Nebraska partners will be organizing other events and spreading information about how to spot child abuse on social media.
Other Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month events in Nebraska include:
Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council and Families 1st Partnership
Mayoral Proclamation, Friday, April 1, North Platte.
Wear Blue Day every Friday in April.
Pinwheel planting at Courthouse with Guardians of the Children.
Columbus Area Child Abuse Prevention Council and Community and Family Partnership
Blue quart jars with pinwheel bouquets distributed to local businesses and service providers on April 1.
Wear Blue Day on April 8 with a prize for the most creative Facebook post.
Diaper changing pads with information on child development provided to parents of all infants born at the hospital in April.
Bikers and Bobbers event on April 2, hosted with Guardians of the Children.
Distribution of bags with products and information at YMCA Healthy Kids Day, April 30.
Sandhills Community Collaborative with Loup City Sixpence
Kids Fair with meal and prizes, April 2, Loup City.
Dawson County Family Partners
Healthy Kids Night on April 29 in Lexington. Distribution of baby care items.
Growing Community Connections
Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation at South Sioux City Council meeting, April 11.
Community Impact Network of Adams, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster
Reusable grocery bags with products and activities provided to CASA families in April.
Diaper changing pads distributed through child care programs.
Fremont Family Coalition
Party in the Park with the distribution of materials on April 2.
Dodge County Board of Supervisors proclamation of April 2-8 as Week of the Young Child.
Facebook and website posts on prevention.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Nebraska Child Abuse Prevention Fund Board (NCAPF), the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF), and Bring Up Nebraska Partners encourage all Nebraskans to get in involved in their communities to highlight the need to prevent child abuse.
To kickoff Child Abuse Prevention Month in Nebraska, DHHS along with NCFF and First Lady Susanne Shore is inviting the media to participate in an event to plant blue pinwheels in front of the Governor’s mansion. Pinwheel planting will take place in the front grass of the Governor’s mansion at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4 and a proclamation signing ceremony will be held at 11 am in the Capitol.
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America started using blue pinwheels to signify a vision where all children can grow up in supportive families and communities. Children who grow up with nurturing relationships and supportive communities are more academically successful and more likely to grow up to be productive members of society. Blue pinwheels are a reminder of the role we all play in children’s lives.
What is child abuse and neglect?
Child abuse and neglect are serious public health problems and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). They can have long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and wellbeing. This issue includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (such as a religious leader, a coach, a teacher) that results in harm, the potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child. There are four common types of abuse and neglect:
Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force that can result in physical injury. Examples include hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or other shows of force against a child.
Sexual abuse involves pressuring or forcing a child to engage in sexual acts. It includes behaviors such as fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual activities. Please see CDC’s Preventing Child Sexual Abuse webpage for more information.
Emotional abuse refers to behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth or emotional well-being. Examples include name-calling, shaming, rejecting, withholding love, and threatening.
Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. These needs include housing, food, clothing, education, access to medical care, and having feelings validated and appropriately responded to.
For more information about preventing child abuse and neglect definitions please see Child Maltreatment Surveillance: Uniform Definitions for Public Health and Recommended Data Elements pdf icon[4.12 MB, 148 Pages, 508].
QR code for more information CDC Child Abuse and Neglect.
How big is the problems?
What are the consequences?
How can we prevent neglect?
MARCH: NUTRITION MONTH
March is National Nutrition Month, an entire month dedicated to the education, information, and awareness for healthy nutrition and dietetics. National Nutrition Month focuses on helping people make informed food choices and promotes healthy eating habits
Why does Nutrition have its own month? Here are a few reasons…
Typical American diets exceed the recommended intake levels or limits in four categories: calories from solid fats and added sugars; refined grains; sodium; and saturated fat.
Americans eat less than the recommended amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy products, and oils.
About 90% of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet.
Reducing the sodium Americans eat by 1,200mg per day on could save up to $20 billion a year in medical costs.
Since the 1970s, the number of fast food restaurants has more than doubled.
More than 23 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in food deserts – areas that are more than a mile away from a supermarket.
Facts come from HHS.gov.
One of the biggest challenges for families of all sizes and income levels is eating a healthy diet every day, 365 days a year. American families have access to more food than families in any other country in the world. And much of our food costs less as a percentage of income than in most other nations, too. We excel at producing cheap food. Unfortunately we’re terrible at producing cheap healthy food. Still, there are a number of food choices every family can make.
Low income families may qualify for government assistance with their groceries. These programs make it easy to buy groceries through electronic debit card accounts.
There are also local food pantries that can assist ANYONE who is need.
If that it not available, let us not forget that there are still a number of healthy cost effect choices every family can make.
On a Budget
Quick Tips for Staying Healthy on a Budget
One of the biggest reasons people can’t maintain a healthy, nutritious diet is because of the failure to reconcile more expensive, whole food against plentiful, processed, unhealthy foods. However, by applying four practical criteria to your food purchases, you can keep costs and calories down while upping your nutritional value.
Look for Sales and Seasonals
Buying at the right time of the season means that a bountiful harvest can net you bountiful savings. Let supply and demand work for you. When vegetables and fruits are in season, buy them up. Look for recipes that incorporate plentiful and seasonal foods so you can make the most of them. Additionally, you can cook, can, and freeze some to make them go further.
2. More Whole, Less Processed
If you want to get healthier, buy better ingredients. You can also think of this as addition by subtraction. Cut out the processed food and replace it with a healthier or option, or, if it’s not a necessity, consider going without it altogether
3. Don’t Buy What You Won’t Eat
Sometimes we buy on autopilot. Sometimes we buy with best intentions, but then don’t end up eating what we bought. Sometimes our freezers fill up with things we meant to eat but never do. Don’t do this! Make a plan before you go to the grocery store. Map out your meals for the week and make a list of ingredients. Then go into the store and buy only what you need to make your meals. Buying fewer items, but with a sharper focus on what you need to eat, helps you cut unnecessary calories and save money.
4. Pass on the Junk
It is okay to treat yourself every once in awhile but, this should go without saying: pass on junk food! You don’t need it, you don’t need to pay for it, and there is also almost NO nutritional value. If you have already done your shopping and made your healthy choices, don’t deviate once you hit the check out line and are tempted by glossy packages with well-known brand names. All they will do is increase your expenses and your calorie intake and not in a healthy way.
Basic, Inexpensive foods that are healthy to buy:
Fresh fruits and vegetables and canned vegetables are everyone’s first choices for inexpensive foods. Assuming you compare labels and only purchase foods with the fewest additives, you’ll quickly find you have limited choices. Eating 3 meals a day can not only become boring, you’ll also spend more time preparing your meals than if you could just throw a fast meal in the microwave or run down to the local fast food restaurant.
One of the best inexpensive meal items you can buy – and one that is now available at most major grocers – is a fresh-cooked whole chicken. You can buy then for anywhere from $5-7 per chicken. The quality of the chickens varies from chain to chain but in general these roasted chickens are much healthier and less expensive their fried alternatives. And you don’t have to cook them as you would if you bought a cheap package of legs, thighs, or chicken breasts.
Eggs are another great source of protein. . We now know that eggs not only don’t raise your bad cholesterol, they may even help reduce it.
Eggs are a versatile food. They can be fried, scrambled, and hard-boiled. You should not eat them raw, not even for “workout” plans.
Alternating between eggs and roasted chicken as a source of protein creates a little variety in your diet. Of course, that won’t be good enough for everyone.
Other good sources of proteins include nuts (and natural nut butters), legumes (including peanuts and peanut butter), quinoa, and oats. Although some nuts are expensive to buy you can usually find inexpensive natural nut butters. By “natural” I mean there are no additives.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES:
The Cheap Grocery List (not everything is healthy but the list contains many good ideas)
Nutrition and Brain Health
Brain Health
Brain health can be defined in many ways, but the Guidelines focuses on the following areas:
Youth—brain maturation and development and academic achievement; Older adults—dementia and cognitive impairment; and Across the lifespan—cognition, anxiety and depression, quality of life, and sleep.
Some of the benefits of physical activity on brain health occur immediately after a session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (acute effect), such as reduced feelings of state anxiety (short-term anxiety), improved sleep, and improved aspects of cognitive function. With regular physical activity (habitual effect), improvements are seen in trait anxiety (long-term anxiety), deep sleep, and components of executive function (including the ability to plan and organize; monitor, inhibit, or facilitate behaviors; initiate tasks; and control emotions)
Resource: Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (health.gov)
So, what does physical activity, brain health and function have anything do with our nutrition?
Your brain is always “on”. It takes care of your thoughts and movements, your breathing and heartbeat, your senses - it works hard 24/7, even while you’re asleep. This means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That “fuel” comes from the foods you eat - and what’s in that fuel makes all the difference!
DOA (Dead On Arrival)
Death delivered to your doorstep. Deceptive drugs made of fentanyl are killing young people across America at an alarming rate. Fentanyl is infiltrating our communities through counterfeit pills, cocaine and any other street drug you can name. Anonymously sold through social media and delivered within minutes. Learn about it now before it kills you or someone you love.
For more information visit: https://stopthevoid.org and/or https://anfhelp.org
A film by Dominic Tierno and Christine Wood. This film is free of any copyright and may be used for any educational or informational purposes.
CREATING A HEALTHY LIFE/RECOVERY
A Guide For Creating a Healthier Life! SCAN ABOVE OR A LINK BELOW
CREATING AHEALTHIER LIFE, A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO WELLNESS (samhsa.gov)
In summary, wellness is about how we live our lives and the joy and fulfillment and health we experience. When we worry about money (for example, debt or being able to afford what we need), we sometimes experience anxiety (emotional). This can lead to medical problems (physical), and trouble at work (occupational). When this happens, we may even question our own sense of meaning and purpose (spiritual). At the same time, when we are not working (occupational), we may lose opportunities to interact with others (social), and may not be able to afford the good food and medical care we need to stay well (physical). We may even need to move our home to a place that feels less safe and secure (environmental).
Recovery:
The process of recovery is supported through relationships and social networks. This often involves family members who become the champions of their loved one’s recovery. Families of people in recovery may experience adversities that lead to increased family stress, guilt, shame, anger, fear, anxiety, loss, grief, and isolation. The concept of resilience in recovery is also vital for family members who need access to intentional supports that promote their health and well-being. The support of peers and friends is also crucial in engaging and supporting individuals in recovery.
Recovery services and supports must be flexible. What may work for adults may be very different for youth or older adults. For example, the nature of social supports, peer mentors, and recovery coaching for adolescents is different than for adults and older adults. Supporting recovery requires that mental health and addiction services:
Be responsive and respectful to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse people and groups.
Actively address diversity in the delivery of services.
Seek to reduce health disparities in access and outcomes
