SEPTEMBER 2026
Upcoming Events
September 9 at noon - Join our monthly coalition meeting in person or online! Here’s how.
Coalition Sustainability Training (online):
Monday, September 14, 9:00 a.m.
Monday, September 28, 9:00 a.m.
WHEN’s Board of Directors and Steering Committee will be taking part in this ONLINE training, which will include two online sessions (each with different content) and WHEN members-at-large are invited to join as well. If you would like to take part in the online training sessions, please contact Janine for the meeting login information.
Oct 23-31, Red Ribbon Week: Use WHEN’s 100% FREE Red Ribbon Week Tool Kit to plan easy and fun activities perfect for schools, camps, scouts, youth groups and more, broken out by age group! Pick one activity, or select one for each day of the week. Mix it up between games, reading, physical activities, etc. for an engaging and meaningful prevention week appropriate for your age group and setting.
Webster Headlines
Happy birthday to these WHEN members celebrating in September:
Ozlem K., Christine C., Lexi P., Amie K., Dustin B., Chelsea K., Lynn P., Brandon M., Holly M., and Danielle G..
WHEN took part in Webster HOPE’s back-to-school event where HOPE distributed school supplies, backpacks and clothing to Webster families in need. WHEN handed out reusable bags, pens, and other merch with our contact info so participating families can easily access our resources when they need them. It was a great time and we loved meeting so many wonderful Webster families. Thank you to all who volunteered.
Did you know that a group of local churches and organizations provide a free weekly dinner to community members through their Churches Offering Meals for Everyone (C.O.M.E.) dinner initiative? We applaud the nurturing care they are providing, and we were thrilled to attend a recent dinner to talk about the resources WHEN provides, and to hand out narcan and deterra bags. It was such a pleasure to meet another cross section of residents and introduce them to WHEN’s mission. Shout out to the very generous congregations offering this service: Gracepoint Global Methodist Church, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, as well as The Gathering Place.
Family Game Nights are already being scheduled at our Elementary schools! Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to volunteer at these fun events!
Back to School Jitters
“Protective factors are conditions or attributes in individuals, families, and communities that promote the health and well-being of children and families.” - ChildWelfare.gov
By WHEN member, Dana Buccieri, MEd
There are some words in the English language that once said, not sure exactly why, just sound funny! Jitters is one of them.
Say the word a few times and maybe you will agree. However there may be nothing funny about them when those jitters are being emoted by our children (and possibly by us parents too) these first few weeks in September with the start of another school year upon us.
The word jitters is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as: a feeling of being nervous that you experience before something important happens. The origin or meaning of the word dates back about 100 years ago and the Online Etymology Dictionary indicates that the word is a noun and defines it as “extreme nervousness”. Most of us think of having “a case of the jitters”, making it a state of emotion.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
– Benjamin Franklin
I like the idea of analyzing and breaking apart this word versus possibly pathologizing something that is very normal and most likely universal in our school-aged children. The transition back to school can feel rather enormous as the entire family shifts into a period of time when our lives are dictated by the minute of each day. The rush and push of getting out the door, making that bus or the homework deadline can feel just dreadful and is shared by both parent and child.
School represents a major social adjustment of seeing hundreds of people 5 out of 7 days of each week, a big change from for our children who previously spent 2 months nestled in the comfort of their own homes. For those introverts and empaths, facing these crowds can feel more than overwhelming and actually create a feeling of extreme resistance. My son was one of these individuals, begging me to home school him to avoid the entire process. It is no wonder that the month of September can feel so daunting.
The stage I am setting is beginning to overwhelm me and I no longer have school aged children! While I may not remember all of the specific details of the preparation, it is so easy for me to remember the feelings emoted in me as “the general in charge” of steering this ship and shift. My intentions in recalling these heightened emotions are to reassure you that they are indeed, all normal.
The best approach in helping your children manage them is a calm approach, one in which you listen to all of their worries and validate their feelings. Try not to go into it as a situation you need to fix, because nothing needs fixing. A message such as; “I remember having the jitters each year and being nervous just like you” is such a normalizing and reassuring message that they are not alone. Or reminding them that you remember them feeling the exact same way last year at the beginning of school and then highlighting some of their favorite moments of that year; like a new friend they met, how much they enjoyed a teacher, special field trips or enjoyable grade related events and experiences.
“The goal of healthy emotional development is not a childhood without uncomfortable feelings. It is helping children build the skills, security, and confidence to navigate those feelings when they arise”. – Partners in Pediatrics 2026
Try and keep those first weeks (or months) back to school as simple as possible. Spend more time listening than talking, validating intense emotions and being a calm general in this seasonal storm. Although they may not express their heartfelt gratitude, because kids rarely do, know that there is a quiet thank you for your understanding and quiet presence.
“I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time.”
– Charles M. Schultz
Spotlight
Many thanks to Webster Central School District's Superintendent, Brian Neenan and Deputy Superintendent, Erin Land for their continued support and partnership in our efforts to empower Webster kids to grow up strong and substance-free. Many community coalitions struggle to gain the respect and partnership of their schools, but we have long enjoyed full cooperation and we know how lucky we are for it! So many opportunities to reach families and young people with our message of prevention have been made possible by this partnership. Thank you both!
Upcoming Meetings
Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 9 at noon. Register here to receive details for both in-person and online options.
We meet in person AND online via Google Meet the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Many of us join during our lunch break. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. In fact, our goal is to have representation from all walks of life, to better meet the needs of the whole community.
Read last month's Coalition Meeting Minutes.
Quick Resources
Additional resources for back-to-school:
Child Mind Institute offers expert articles detailing how to do school test runs, validate children's fears, and model healthy stress management.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides free downloadable caregiver toolkits, crisis plans, wellness guides, and transition advice
Young Minds offers a guide on School Anxiety and Refusal.