"Each year we bring our fifth graders to experience the Adventure Learning Center's alpine tower, giant swing, and team building exercises. They always come back energized, proud, and united! I believe it is one of the best field trips for kids! The staff is always positive, encouraging and totally dedicated to the kids. "

— 5th Grade Counselor, New Hanover County Schools

Family Day

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Family Day – Monday, September 28th 2015

Family Day is a national movement that began in 2001 by CasaColumbia. Hands-on parenting has been shown to decrease the likelihood that their children will smoke, drink, or use other drugs. Family Day is a time for communities to come together and promote simple acts of parental engagement. Building communication by talking, listening, and offering guidance starting at an early age creates a strong basis for parental engagement.

“Every child deserves to grow up healthy and happy with an adolescence that is free from addiction. Parents, one of the best ways you can help keep your kids substance free is to be engaged in their lives – that includes being there for them at dinner,” says Jeffrey B. Lane, CASAColumbia’s Chairman. “The conversations that take place during family dinners give you a window into what your kids are going through and helps you keep the lines of communication open with them.”

Take the Pledge

            Become a Family Day STAR!

I commit to:

S– Spend time with my kids

T– Talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs

A– Answer their questions and listen to what they say

R– Recognize that I have the power to help keep my kids substance free!

Pledge Now

Recovery Month Celebration 2015

Recovery_Month_2015_bannerMillions of lives in America have been transformed through recovery. Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate individuals that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life as well as an opportunity for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments.

The Cape Fear Recovery Month committee will host the annual Recovery Month Celebration on Sunday, September 20 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Wrightsville Beach Park. The theme for Recovery Month 2015 is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Visible, Vocal, Valuable!” This year’s theme highlights the value of peer support in educating, mentoring, and helping others. Join us to celebrate healthy family fun!

With more than 600,000 people who self-identify as in recovery in North Carolina this annual celebration in our community allows us to recognize those who are in recovery, and share with others that recovery is possible. The event will feature local speakers discussing personal experiences with recovery from mental and substance use disorders, resources and provider booths, and live music. This is a community-wide event for a community-wide topic. And all are invited to celebrate and learn more about recovery.

Questions? Contact Tammy at Coastal Horizons Prevention Services.

International FASD Awareness Day – September 9, 2015

FASD_Awareness_Day

September 9th is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day. FASD Awareness day is the ninth day of the ninth month as a way to remind everyone that during the nine month of pregnancy a woman should not consume alcohol.

According to the National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum, NOFAS, an estimated 40,000 babies are born each year with FASDs, which can result in birth defects, intellectual or learning disabilities, behavior problems, and trouble learning life skills. FASDs are completely preventable if a woman does not drink during pregnancy. Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the placenta and the umbilical cord. When a woman drinks alcohol so does her baby, so there is no known safe amount or type of alcohol to drink during pregnancy.

FASD: What Everyone Should Know – General Information about FASD

FASD Identification – How to recognize FASD and guidelines for screening.

FASD Prevention – Strategies for reducing alcohol use during pregnancy and challenges for FASD prevention.

FASD: What School Systems Should Know About Affected Students

FASD: What the Justice System Should Know About Affected Individuals

FASD: What Young People Should Know

For more information please visit NOFAS.