Impact Communities

Today we celebrate International Overdose Awareness Day, a time to honor those we have lost and raise awareness about the importance of overdose prevention. Let's come together to support one another and work towards a world free from the stigma of addiction. 🕯️🙏

What a gift at the beginning of this school year!

"The 'Only Murders in the Building' star has been vocal about her own bipolar diagnosis. In a Monday blog post, Gomez said she knows firsthand that 'caring adults' can make a big difference for teenagers.

“'As young people find their way through the world, it’s crucial that they get guidance in building healthy, positive and productive mental health habits,'” Gomez wrote. “'Few people are in a better position to help do this than teachers.'”

Google and Selena Gomez partner to fund teen mental health in the classroom The unprecedented mental health crisis for children in the United States often surfaces where they spend much of their days: school.

Five predictions for the 2024-2025 school year. Do you have any of your own? https://ow.ly/9EFe50SMGGG

"We found that children in families with low economic resources were getting less sleep at night and going to sleep later compared with children in families with higher economic resources. In turn, shorter sleep and going to sleep later were associated with reduced amygdala size and weaker connections between the amygdala and other emotion-processing brain regions."

Late bedtimes and not enough sleep can harm developing brains – and poorer kids are more at risk Less sleep and later bedtimes are linked to a section of the brain involved in emotion regulation suffering reduced growth, along with weaker connections to other brain areas.

Watch your young athletes as they return to sports practice.

Sports in extreme heat: How high school athletes can safely prepare for the start of practice, and the warning signs of heat illness An athletic trainer explains why bodies need time time to acclimatize, and the risks to watch out for.

"I wanted to believe everything was fine, of course I did, but somehow I missed the subtle signs that were taking place right under my nose. Signs, which had I seen them, may have allowed me to intervene earlier, possibly preventing his shift from experimentation with ma*****na, va**ng and alcohol downward into a full spiral, which ultimately required us to seek professional intervention."

Seven sneaky signs your teen might be using drugs Did my son really need a backpack every time he left the house? By Sherri Sacconaghi

"Harm reduction emphasizes risk reduction and health promotion among people who use drugs. This community-driven approach, designed to foster incremental change toward treatment and recovery, is a cornerstone of the Department of Health and Human Services' Overdose Prevention Strategy."

Fentanyl test strips save lives, so why are they illegal in some states? Ophelia explored which states ban fentanyl and xylazine test strips, using Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association and CDC data.

"Certified peer recovery support specialists not only provide referrals for services as patients leave the ER, they also offer follow-up support for up to 90 days. That includes teaching patients how to prevent an overdose, helping them overcome barriers to treatment and recovery, and encouraging them to stick with it."

Trained Peers as Good as Social Workers at Preventing Opioid Overdoses THURSDAY, July 11, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Support provided by someone who has personally lived with addiction is an effective way to follow-up with ER patient

With just over four months before the 2024 elections, here is your guide to candidates who prioritize issues affecting teens, families, and communities. https://www.cadca.org/resource/cadca-congressional-election-guide-2024/

CADCA Congressional Election Guide 2024 | CADCA The CADCA Election Guide gives you the tools you need to raise and address prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery issues at campaign events around the country.

A thought-provoking article out of Australia with this risky antidote to the : "Better a broken bone than a broken spirit." Could this fly in the U.S.? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-09/risky-play-teen-mental-health-crisis/103939412

A century ago, a Danish architect noticed kids avoiding his parks. His solution? The risky playground Experts say emerging research shows a link between risky play and less psychological distress in adolescent years. Could this be part of the solution to the current teen mental health crisis?

Please join us for lunch or dinner today at Fish City Grill in Waxahachie!

We're excited: TODAY is our First Tuesday benefit event!

We're partnering with Impact Communities to support their mission to ignite communities to work together to protect and strengthen the resiliency of youth.

Here's how you can help: Come out and dine with us on First Tuesday!
We will donate 15% of all our sales to Impact Communities to support their mission.

🚙 Don't have time to stop by?
Order your food to-go, and it will count toward our donation.
Together, we can make a difference in our community and help those who need it most. See you on First Tuesday!

Before we end the week that celebrated Earth Day, here's some new information about youth and nature. "A recent study looked at the psychological and physiological health benefits of structured forest therapy programs for children and adolescents with mental health disorders. The study involved children and youth (aged 9–14 years) participating in two one-hour guided forest therapy experiences using slow mindful and sensory communication with nature. They found that positive mood significantly improved, negative mood (tension, depression, anger) was significantly reduced, and mindfulness and physiological health were significantly boosted with the intervention."

Connecting Children with Nature to Improve Mental Well-Being Children and teens face a variety of stressors and concern about youth mental health has increased in recent years. These issues were highlighted in the Surgeon General’s advisories on Protecting Youth Mental Health, Social Media and Youth Mental Health and Loneliness and Isolation. One approach g...

Sen. John Cornyn says, "'The fentanyl crisis is devastating communities in Texas and across the country, and those who fund and profit from it must be held accountable,'” said Sen. Cornyn. "'By targeting the financial assets of Chinese precursor manufacturers and Mexican cartels, this law will kneecap the supply chain of this deadly drug and help save American lives.'” https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-tim-scott-bill-to-crack-down-on-fentanyl-supply-chain-signed-into-law/

Cornyn, Tim Scott Bill to Crack Down on Fentanyl Supply Chain Signed into Law | Senator Cornyn News AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act, led by U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and cosponsored by Sen. Cornyn to crack down on the fentanyl supply chain by financially targeting op...

"The fentanyl crisis is a call to action – a plea for compassion, understanding and sensible policy. It’s time to listen to the pleas of health care, civil rights and justice reform advocates and respond with policy that treats addiction as a public health issue, not a criminal act." https://ow.ly/MV1u50RbPuJ

Impact Communities Red Oak's Impact Street Team recently hosted a lunchtime info table educating their peers about the harmful effects of va**ng.

Do you agree or disagree with this ruling in the fentanyl deaths of four Carrollton teens?

Woman only sentenced to 20 months for fentanyl overdose deaths of 4 North Texas teens A woman who admitted to selling pills laced with fentanyl leading to the overdose deaths of several teenagers is headed to prison.

Session topics will include harassment, sexting, human trafficking and bullying. Sign up today!

Impact Communities Navarro was honored to accept the Non-profit of the year award. It has been a blessing to be the hands and feet, serving Navarro County. Thank you for letting us serve you.

We're celebrating and honoring Black Americans this month, especially through the arts. Check out our blog post: https://impactcommunities.org/news-events/dpr-blog.html.

https://ow.ly/qem350QwsWF

North Texas to celebrate Black History Month 2024 The 2024 theme looks at the Black American impact on on the arts.

Thanks for the reminder, Cathy Taughinbaugh!

Positive communication connects you both, and that connection is vital. You will create the opportunity to be on the same page as your child, to solve the problem together rather than fight against each other. ~ The Compassion Antidote

Huge thank you to our friends at Community National Bank & Trust for supporting healthy and resilient youth! We are so grateful for your generous donation for Impact Communities Waxahachie!

Here's to sharing in MLK, Jr.'s dream, and to believing in the equality of all people. Please enjoy reading his classic piece of American history and literature.
https://ow.ly/749h50QqZu0

"In the EdWeek Research Center survey, conducted Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, 2023, 68 percent of principals and district leaders said their district does not use universal mental health screenings," despite recommendations from the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Center for School Mental Health, and psychologists and mental health researchers.

Experts Recommend Mental Health Screenings for Students. Most Schools Aren't Doing Them School leaders in districts that use mental health screenings say they help identify students in need of extra care.

New beginnings, fresh starts, and great opportunities. Where shall we start?

The Impact Communities offices will reopen on January 8. Many blessings in 2024!

It's the Friday before Christmas and
All through the town
Lights are twinkling
And there's so much sound!

Last-minute shopping,
Carolers be-bopping,
The sight of it all is so jaw-dropping!

So finish your treats,
Have something yummy to eat,
Hug your loved ones
Then put up your feet,
Because . . .

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

"Dr. (Vivek) Murthy cited research showing that adolescents who spend more than three hours daily on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety, and other research showing most kids today are already there, with daily use currently averaging around four to five hours."

Parental concern over social media use unites unlikely allies in Congress Progressive Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal and conservative Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn introduced the Kids Online Safety Act in May.

A major study published today points to only one indicator for the surge in youth suicides: "the 'reformulation' of opioid medications such as prescription Oxycontin into more abuse-proof pills." Because people have been forced to use illicit fentanyl and he**in, household environments and entire community cultures have changed. Kids' and teens' mental health suffers in direct proportion. https://ow.ly/ssQ350QfF1l