MARCH 2023
Upcoming Events
March 9, 6:30 PM: WCSD Charity Basketball Game – Schroeder vs. Thomas at the Thomas HS gym, benefiting the Dreams From Drake non-profit that supports kids and teens in Monroe County who have lost a sibling or parent. Stop by the WHEN table for loads of fun free stuff, and pick up a card with details about how you can enjoy a treat at Yolickity and 20% of your sale will benefit Dreams From Drake 3/9-12. Many thanks to Yolickity for their support, and to WC PTSA for inviting us to participate in this event.
March 20, multiple times: Laura Crain will present "Marijuana & Beyond" throughout the day. Please take an hour to attend one of her sessions. Marijuana has changed dramatically in recent years and parents need accurate and current information to guide their kids. PLEASE NOTE: No children/students will be admitted due to content - no exceptions. Click each time below for details and free registration.
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9:15 AM Parent Breakfast Presentation / Conversation in the Spry MS Professional Development Center, first floor (limited to first 75 registrants)
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12:00 PM Coalition Training at NEQALS for Coalition (limited to first 30 registrants)
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Private afternoon presentation to WCSD administrators.
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6:30 PM Community Presentation in the Spry MS Cafetorium (limited to first 200 registrants)
March 29, 6:30-7:30 PM: Family Game Night at DeWitt Road Elementary School – Free Candy Bar BINGO! DeWitt Rd families, please join WHEN and DeWitt Rd PTSA for an evening of fun. Details and free registration here.
April 12, 12:00 PM: WHEN Coalition’s Annual Meeting – We will review our Annual Report from Epiphany Community Services (our evaluator), get status on current projects, and vote on updated policies. All coalition members are encouraged to attend if possible, either in person or online. (Lunch will be provided to those attending at NEQALS.) Please register here.
April 15, 10:00-4:00: Stop by Webster Central PTSA’s Community Arts Day and visit our table where we will not only have loads of prevention information to share, but also a fun, free, “Seeds of Change” craft. Kids can make and decorate a paper bird feeder to take home along with coloring pages. As the seasons change, this is a great time to notice our feathered friends, and bird watching together is a great opportunity for families to build protective factors by bonding over shared activities and experiences.
April 22, 10-2:00 PM: DEA National Drug Take Back Day is April 22 and our local collection location is the Holt Road Wegmans. We’ll share more details about how you can help to keep Webster safe by properly disposing of unused medication in next month’s newsletter, so stay tuned!
April 24, 6:00-7:00 PM: Free Online Naloxone (Narcan) Training - register here and your naloxone kit will be mailed to you upon completion of the training session.
Webster Headlines
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WHEN is partnering with Webster Central PTSA on their “Locker Love” program. We are working with them this month to share positive messages with middle and high schoolers.
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Research is underway to begin a WHEN youth coalition. More information will be available soon!
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Protective Factor signs are being developed for use on school grounds in partnership with the Webster School District.
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We have a lot going on! If you are not already a WHEN member, please join us and support our work. If you are a WHEN member, but haven’t volunteered in a while, please consider picking a project that speaks to you and email Jen to find out how you can lend a hand.
PSA: URMC is offering Nicotine Dependence Treatment for all ages. In-person appointments, telehealth, and free Commit to Quit group sessions are all available. This is an amazing resource for our community and has the potential to help so many struggling with nicotine addiction. It's particularly beneficial to our youth population who have seen an increase in nicotine dependence, but have had few resources to help them quit.
Family Matters
Protective Factors: Attachment and Bonding to Family , Opportunities for prosocial involvement in the community and in the family.
By WHEN member, Judi Swanson, LCSW~R
“Everyday moments make the best memories.” - Unknown.
This quote speaks to unexpected memory-making family moments…those experiences that create a shared bond and a great story. Family bonding plays a significant role in positivity impacting all members of a family, especially children and teenagers. An article by Anchor Light Therapy states, “ Research on adolescents shows that those with positive family dynamics are less likely to engage in risky behaviors and more likely to have higher levels of self-esteem. Children and teens with a strong family bond have fewer problem behaviors and increased resiliency.”
“It’s not about having time. It’s about making time.” - Unknown
Sometimes, as the adults in a family, it can seem like there is no time to bond with members of our family unit. There is time to bond if you make time to bond. Studies have shown that eating dinner together as a family, playing games, reading books, and heading outdoors for activities are bonding opportunities. Car rides can produce the most magnificent moments of conversation with your kids. Even chores give everyone a shared responsibility in caring for the family space. The article further states, “Interacting with the family in a positive way allows for children and teens to have an increased sense of self that will pave the way for heightened levels of confidence, which will make decision making and problem solving much simpler for your child down the road.”
“We didn’t know we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun.”
- Unknown
Prioritize family bonding. Involve children and teenagers in identifying family activities. Have regular family game nights, breakfast for dinner, create new recipes, go and explore a new hiking trail or park. Try having family “surprise days”, when one person chooses the activity keeping all details a secret until that day arrives.
Be sure to keep an eye on the WHEN newsletter as it regularly includes events and opportunities that can be enjoyed as a family! You can also read more about strengthening family bonds at anchorlighttherapy.com.
Spotlight
We are ever grateful for the support of our many community partners. Yolickity on Hard Road has been particularly generous and flexible in their willingness to offer new newsletter subscribers a coupon to Yolickity when they sign up at selected events, as well as helping us support Dreams for Drake at the upcoming Charity Basketball Game. This partnership has helped to expanded our readership and awareness of WHEN throughout the community.
Use code word: WHEN at the Hard Rd Yolickity 3/9-12 and
20% of your purchase will go to Dreams From Drake.
Thank you, Yolickity!
Upcoming Meetings
We meet in person AND online via Google Meet the second Wednesday of each month at noon.
Register for the March 8 meeting.
Register for the April 12 Annual Meeting.
NOTE: The April coalition meeting will be our Annual Meeting – an opportunity to review accomplishments of the past year, note plans for the coming year, and vote on any business matters. Please attend (virtually or in person) if you are able to. Lunch will be provided for those attending in person at NEQALS.
Reminders
We need all of Webster’s support to keep kids safe and healthy. Please join us, share our newsletter, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or ask how your business can get involved. Together, we can make a difference for the amazing kids right here in our hometown.