OCTOBER 2018-PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE TAKE BACK DAY

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On October 27, 2018, the Indian Valley Character Counts! Coalition, Franconia Township Police Department and the Souderton Area School District-Franconia Elementary School partnered together on a Prescription Medicine Take Back Day and “Cookies with a Cop.”

Despite the wind and rain, community members dropped off their unwanted prescription medicines.  Youth in the community stopped by with their parents to have a “Cookie with a Cop,” and if they were from Franconia Elementary School, Principal Laura Heineck, who was there for the event, handed out homework passes!

Youth enjoyed apple cider provided by Zeigler’s and delicious chocolate chip cookies from Landis Supermarket.

We are appreciative of all who helped get the word out about the event including our newest partners at Franconia Cafe & Market and Landis Supermarket.  Flyers were distributed to patrons at each of these business locations.

The coalition also acknowledges and thanks the participation of it’s Board Members in helping to distribute the event information and the volunteers from the committee who helped at the event!

Franconia Police Department who were our partners for this event are featured in the video below.

 

Clearing the Air About Vaping

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October 9, 2018

Our partners at Souderton Area School District will provide an informative presentation, “Clearing the Air About Vaping.” You must register to attend. Please see flyer for details. This is one of the newest issues we are seeing in our community and this presentation will provide you with important information about the potential hazards of vaping.

For more information click this link:  Clearing the Air about Vaping

 

Town Hall-Community Efforts to Protect our Youth From the Risk of Substance Use

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Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Join the Indian Valley Character Counts! Coalition in Collaboration with Penn Foundation, Sellersville Pharmacy and the Souderton Borough Police Department for a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. The Town Hall is being presented to provide our community with important details about the state of the Heroin Health Crisis in the Indian Valley. Information will be provided by professionals from our own community! The coalition will preview a Community Action Plan addressing the coalitions priorities on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues.

For more information and location details click this link:  Community Town Hall Meeting

Character Counts! Week – Oct 22-26

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Monday-Friday, October 22 to October 26

WEAR YOUR COLORS-HAVE A CONVERSATION

Character Counts! Week begins on October 22nd through October 26th. Join us by wearing colors that represent the attributes of Citizenship, Responsibility, Respect, Honesty and Caring. Use this week as an opportunity to start a conversation with a child. You’re wearing, blue, you see a child, wearing blue. Why not ask them, “Why are you wearing blue?” If they say, I just am, or I don’t know, reply with, “Did you know that the color blue represents the character trait of honesty! ” From there the conversation can extend into what the word honesty means and why you are wearing your blue shirt. It’s a simple way to educate our youth about character attributes and to start a conversation! Who knows, you might even make a few new friends!

For more information click this link:  Character Counts! Week

Prescription Medicine Take Back Day and Cookies with a Cop!

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Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 10:00am-2:00pm

Saturday, October 27, 2018 “EMPTY YOUR HOUSE OF RX DRUGS!” The Indian Valley Character Counts! Coalition along with the Franconia Police Department will host a Take Back Day event, along with our hosts, Franconia Elementary School (Souderton Area School District). This is your chance to get your unwanted/unused prescription medicines out of your home and safely disposed of. Help keep our community a safer place for our YOUTH.

After your drop…bring your child for COOKIES WITH A COP! (cookies provided by our friends at Landis Supermarket.)

For more information click this link:  Presciption Medicine Take Back Day October 27, 2018

Screenagers-Growing Up in the Digital Age

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SCREENAGERS-NOVEMBER 19th

You are invited to attend a showing of “Screenagers-Growing Up in the Digital Age.” This event is being presented by Community Health & Youth Foundation and sponsored by: Abington Jefferson Health, Christopher Doc, Penn Foundation and Shop Rite. It is free to attend and will be held at Dock Mennonite Academy. Must register on Eventbrite to participate.

For more information click this link:  Screenager Flyer

 

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

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FREE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

The Indian Valley Character Counts Coalition, in collaboration with LCBC Branch Creek, will be sponsoring a Free Family Movie Night. Showing: The Incredibles. Join us for a night of free family fun at the LCBC Branch Creek 100 Main Street, Harleysville, on Saturday, June 30 from 6-8:30pm. Snacks are provided. In addition, check out the set of Alice In Wonderland with photo opportunities and more. FREE!

Strengthening Families Program Session III

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UPDATE-Space is filling up quickly.

Strengthening Families Program Session III-Tuesdays-Beginning September 18, 2018

Registration Form: SFP Souderton Fall 2018

Session III Class Dates:  Tuesdays, September 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 from 5:30pm-8:00pm

The Indian Valley Character Counts! Coalition in partnership with the North Penn YMCA, the Souderton Area School District and Family Services will deliver their third session of the internationally recognized Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14.  The program will be offered to families in the Indian Valley for 7 weeks beginning September 18, 2018.  The program will be held at the Indian Crest Middle School, 139 Harleysville Pike, in Souderton.

Parents will build on their strengths in showing love and setting limits.  This impactful family program, developed by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will help our youth develop skills in handling peer pressure and building a positive future.

The Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) has been evaluated with many hundreds of families by research institutes at Iowa State University. Analysis of data has shown positive results for both parents and their children.

  • Youth had significantly lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use compared to youth who were not in the program.
  • Youth had significantly fewer conduct problems in school.
  • Parents improved skills including building a positive relationship with their youth, setting appropriate limits, and following through on consequences.

In addition, research has shown that the skills learned and the parent-child relationships that were strengthened continue to have great influence on youth for years after they have completed the program. Many businesses and organizations in (community name) may have families participate in the SFP 10-14 program sessions, which results in more effective employees, more involved youth and a stronger community.

Do not miss the opportunity to be part of this excellent program that we are offering families in our community.   For more information feel free to contact DonnaLea Pyrz at 215-723-3569, ext. 116 or e-mail donnap@northpennymca.org

We are excited to bring this program to the families in our community for a second session.

Indian Valley Character Counts! Coalition Town Hall-May 30, 2018

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The Indian Valley Character Counts! Coalition Town Hall Meeting was held on May 30, 2018 at the LCBC Church, located at 100 Main Street, Harleysville.

This important event is held every two years and gives us an opportunity to share with the community the goals and accomplishments of the Coalition. Some highlights of this year’s Town Hall included:

  • Keynote Speaker – Sue Simon, District Director for Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.  District Director Simon spoke on the the current opioid crisis in Montgomery County, a crisis that last year claimed over 240 lives.  Montgomery County reports one of the highest opioid death rates in our state.  The use of heroin is also on the rise and there are over 30,000 deaths that are related to the use of this harmful substance.  District Director Simon believes that a solution is possible, if we all work together.  She encouraged those in the room to continue their efforts in addressing the current crisis and stated the commitment of her office to support prevention efforts in our community.
  • Dr. Christopher Hey, President of the Coalition provided a snapshot of the 2018 Indian Valley Character Counts! Support Card-The Support Card includes results from recent surveys of young people in the Indian Valley regarding risk and protective factors in their lives, and frequency of drug and alcohol use and abuse.
  • Students from the Souderton Area School District were on hand for a facilitated conversation with youth from the Indian Valley.

 

The Indian Valley Character Counts would like to thank the Montgomery County Department of Drug and Alcohol for providing the Coalition with a Prevention Program Mini Grant to support our breakfast.

We would also like to acknowledge our Community Partners who consistently support our efforts to help keep our youth healthy, safe, and drug free; Abington Jefferson Health, Faith Bible Fellowship Church, the North Penn YMCA, LCBC Branch Creek Campus, K. J. Doors, Harleysville Bank, Harleysville Jaycees, The Weimer Group, Godshall’s Quality Meats, Rotary Club of Harleysville, Souderton Area School District and the Souderton Telford Rotary.