Families

ADMH and partners to celebrate Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Monday, May 7th, 2012, 10:30am

ADMH and partners to celebrate Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

Governor Bentley will soon proclaim May 6-12, 2012, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week in Alabama, coinciding with both National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and National Mental Health Month, observed annually in May. The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health sponsors Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week each year in an effort to increase public awareness of the triumphs and challenges in children’s mental health. According to Dr. Tammy Peacock, associate commissioner for ADMH’s Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, adds, “Mental health is essential to children and adolescents overall well being and development. ADMH supports access to care for those who need help, but we also want to increase awareness of the need for mental health promotion within the family and the child’s environment.”

In recognition of this observance, ADMH, Alabama Family Ties and Alabama Youth M.O.V.E.

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Family Fun Day is coming up!

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Friday, April 27th, 2012, 8:09am

The Dothan Police Department’s Community Watch Program is sponsoring a Family Fun Day for the residents of District 2 at Gussie McMillon Park on April 28, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. There will be food, games for the kids, music to include live entertainment, police demonstrations with a K-9 demo and Helicopter landing, and numerous vendors from within the local business community.

The purpose of this event is for the residents of District 2 to take a stand and fight back against crime in their neighborhoods. The residents are partnering with the Community Watch Program to become trained in crime prevention.

Gussie McMillon Park is located at the corner of Shirley Street and Pryor Street, where the old East Highland School was once located.

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Family Fun Day set for April 28th

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Friday, April 13th, 2012, 9:49am

Gussie McMillon Park is located at the corner of Shirley Street and Pryor Street, where the old East Highland School was once located.

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April is Autism Awareness Month

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Monday, April 2nd, 2012, 12:40pm

Governor Robert Bentley is set to declare April as Autism Awareness Month in Alabama. The Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council and the Autism Society of Alabama are partnering to promote National Autism Awareness Month. The month-long campaign held annually in April, sponsored since the 1970s by the Autism Society of America, seeks to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism spectrum disorders.

Events will be held statewide celebrating the observance, including a series of Walks for Autism in more than 15 locations around the state. The walks are sponsored by the Autism Society of Alabama, and proceeds benefit ASA, which works to improve the quality of life of persons with ASDs and their families through education, advocacy and support. Also co-hosted by ASA, the 3rd annual HELP Autism/ASD Workshop will be held on April 27 in Huntsville. This one-day training is free to the public, and targeted at parents and professionals.

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Help make the next generation tobacco free

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Thursday, March 15th, 2012, 11:00am

Help make the next generation tobacco free

More than $1 million is spent each hour to market tobacco products in this country--and 99 percent of all new smokers are youth and young adults who are enticed by this marketing. According to a new Surgeon General’s report, Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, far too many young people use tobacco.

In the U.S., more than 600,000 middle school students and 3 million high school students smoke cigarettes. In Alabama, surveys indicate that an estimated 18.6 percent of high school students smoke and 10,000 Alabama youth under 18 become new daily smokers each year.

More than 1,200 people die every day in the U.S. due to smoking. For every death, at least two new youths or young adults become regular smokers. About 90 percent of these replacement smokers smoke their first cigarette before age 18.

Smokeless or spit tobacco is also a concern. In Alabama, 19.1 percent of high school males use smokeless or spit tobacco.

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Family Fun Day set for April

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, 9:49am

Gussie McMillon Park is located at the corner of Shirley Street and Pryor Street, where the old East Highland School was once located.

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Are you an Alabama Saver?

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012, 2:40pm

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System and its Alabama Saves Coalition members are preparing for Alabama Saves Week Feb. 19 through 26.

Alabama Saves Week coincides with the national observance of America Saves Week. Extension Consumer Science and Personal Financial Management agents conduct events and activities to encourage financial literacy throughout the year.

During Alabama Saves Week, there is an expanded effort to increase awareness of the need to save money, reduce debt and build wealth with a primary focus on taking financial action – making commitments to save, invest and build wealth. Activities are conducted through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, companies, government agencies, educational institutions, religious institutions, community groups and others.

This year's theme is "Set a Goal, Make a Plan, Save Automatically". Saving automatically is the best strategy for savers.