UthMpact Polk

Happy fall, y'all!

Sometimes the bed just hits different.

Mental wellness is not a fight club. We can talk about it.

Su***de Hotline: 9-8-8

Project Hoco, run by our UthMpact students, has it's opening day tomorrow at 11AM at Lakeland Square Mall. Come out and support a wonderful cause and see the amazing job our students do in helping the community.

Help is everywhere. No one wants you to suffer.

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health and are a su***de risk, speak up. Let's work together so we can get you help.

Su***de Hotline: 9-8-8

Whether they're your biggest support, or you only see them during the holidays, make sure you take a moment to call your grandparents today and thank them for being a part of your life.

In the vein of it being Su***de Prevention Month, let us review from statistics from the CDC and NAMI.

You are not your mental illness.

September is Su***de Prevention Month. Let us raise awareness and share messages of hope. Remember that you matter and you aren't alone.

Su***de Hotline: 9-8-8

Last night, our UthMpact students were treated to a fine dining experience at Grasslands Golf & Country Club, where they learned the importance of proper dining etiquette in a formal setting. During dinner, they were able to mingle amongst themselves as well as speak with members of the Lakeland Alumni Association. Discussion topics included "what do you look for when hiring someone?" and "if you could change anything about your life so far, what would you change?"

Thank you so much to Grasslands for hosting us and the wonderful service, to Leadership Lakeland for joining us, and to Alliance's Michelle Bachmeier for presenting!

Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish. There are many ways you can practice self-care, from eating better and journaling about your day, to exercising and making sure you’re staying hydrated. Whatever methods you choose, make sure you take time to love yourself a little extra today.

We all have the tendency to get wrapped up in social media. Today, take a step back and re-evaluate your online presence. Unfollow pages and accounts that no longer spark joy. Don’t hang onto them because you feel obligated to.

Instead of constantly keeping up with breaking news, try listening to a TED Talk podcast. Getting daunting news all day is sure to bring you down and damage your mental health.

Cater your own online experience and take control of the content you consume.

Doing anything fun this weekend?

UthMpact and their parent coalition, InnerAct Alliance are non-profit organizations that strive to bring awareness to the use and abuse of substances in Polk County and be a driving force in the community. We hold several events throughout the year, including Project Prom and Project Hoco, and the Red Ribbon Run around Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland.

Without the help of donations and sponsors, we are unable to provide the community with events and programs such as what we offer, and that’s where you can help! If you would like to donate, please call our office at 863-802-0777 and ask how you can be a part of helping us make a difference.

Hawaiian Shirt Day is celebrated on the third Friday in August and this year, the day falls on August 16. The celebration marks the official day that Hawaii joined the U.S., making it the fiftieth state in the U.S.A. The day commemorates a long-standing effort to gain statehood for the nation of Hawaii and is also celebrated as National Statehood Day on the island.

Students, how are you doing after the first day of school? Anything you’re looking forward to? Or not? Think you’re going to need help with anything? Let us know in the comments and we’ll post some tips that might be helpful to you pertaining to your concerns!

Welcome back to school, UthMpact! Let’s make it the best year yet!

Only one more sleep until the first day of school. Make it count and get to bed early so you’re fresh for the start of the new school year.

Part of the message that UthMpact promotes is that most teens ARE NOT abusing substances.

The FYSAS (Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey) shows some pretty promising numbers in Polk County, and through social norms messaging, we hope to continue to spread awareness and education so that today’s youth can continue making well-informed choices.

Maybe the journey is the friends we made along the way.

National Friendship Day celebrates the importance of loving, platonic relationships. Friendships are the purest type of human relationships. For more than a century, we’ve celebrated the strength of friendship, and thanks to social media, we’re able to continue celebrating with our friends no matter where they are in the world.

The start of the school year is just around the corner. Why not pick up a planner ahead of time and layout your class and extra-curricular schedules so you know how to best balance your time?

And make sure you give yourself time for some self-care!

With the month of August serving as the golden hour of summer, expect to make the most of it by surrounding yourself with your loved ones and enjoying their company. After all, no one has your back more than family does, so it’s best not to take for granted the wonderful messiness of family relationships. Family Fun Month is there to remind you to take a break, so we bring you some ideas for how you can fully utilize the last month of summer.

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) has released a “cheat sheet” of emoji slang that teenagers are using to buy and sell drugs.

InnerAct Alliance was fortunate to have three interns from UthMpact this summer helping around the office and out in the community! Meet Serena, Angelly, and Tristan, three bright lights for the future of Polk County and the rest of the world!

Yesterday was Class XIV's Retreat! This group came in with so much energy and really gave their all into everything they did yesterday!

The first thing they did for that morning was dive deeper into their Clifton Strengths test results with Elena Pastore. They learned more about their strengths and how to enhance them. Then, everyone had lunch and some time to bond by tie-dying shirts together as one big group. Later in the afternoon, they talked with Patrick Grady, did their Team Tasks, and presented their very professional and put together team banners.

Tax Free Day is coming soon! Get ready to do that back-to-school shopping!

Lakeland Mom has all the details you need to know!

2023 Tax Free Week in Florida - No Tax on School Supplies July 24 to Aug 6 The Back-to-School Tax Free Week in Florida is 14 days long in 2024. Find out when you can save money on clothes, uniforms, computers, shoes & school supplies.

We know our kids have the best summertime jams queued up! What are you listening to?

Today is World Listening Day. Listening is an active activity that involves paying attention to the sounds and the voices that constantly surround us. It is important to listen actively to not just the people in our lives but the causes that require our attention as well.

What has everyone been up to this summer? Let us know in the comments!