On March 2nd, local Page County programs will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s Birthday and the Launch of Reach Out and Read!

Reach Out and Read is a national program which provides an age appropriate book at every well child check.

The celebration will include stories, snacks, and a dramatic reading by Blue Ridge Youth Theater and will be held from 5:30p.m.-7p.m. at Page Health Care Associates.

It’s that time of the year again!

Mark your calendars for Saturday March 24^th at 4:00! We will be having our 4^th annual Lucky Duck Race Fundraiser at Massanutten WaterPark! Great prizes include:

1st and 2nd Place – $500 cash OR 3 day/2 night stay at Massanutten with waterpark tickets for four.

3rd Place: $250 cash

You don’t have to be present to win but with each purchase of a duck you receive $15 off waterpark admission for the day (what amazing savings!).

Ducks are $5 each, $12 for a family of 3 ducks, $24 for a flock of 6 ducks.

Our generous sponsors for the event include: Massanutten WaterPark, Cargill, CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union, Farm Credit & Country Mortgages, the Daily News Record, My Valley, Valley Fox, DIGICO and Massanutten Realty. Thank you to each of these businesses!

 Call Jennifer at 540-568-2559 or email reajl@jmu.edu for more information and to reserve your tickets today!

James Madison University art students are centering their camera focus on five IIHHS programs to be shown in the exhibit featured in the Prism Gallery.  The exhibit highlights a selection of the many services and programs IIHHS provides for the people of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County. IIHHS allows for JMU students to play a contributing role in giving back to the community, and in return JMU students gain valuable insights and formidable skills which become transferable to careers after graduation and beyond. These services and experiences will be captured by photos taken by Art History students in the program Digital Photography in the School of Art and Design.  The Office on Children and Youth’s programs, the Reading Road Show/Gus Bus and Youth Council were two of the five programs chosen to be featured in the exhibit!

The exhibit will be held from February 2, 2012- March 2, 2012 in the Prism Gallery on James Madison University’s campus.

The official reception for the exhibit is Friday, February 24, 2012 from 4:30p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  The reception will also include refreshments. So mark your calendars for February 24^th to stop by the reception to see in an artistic forum the wonderful work the programs at IIHHS do for the community!

They are collecting coats, socks, gloves, hats and shoes. You can find donation boxes in Warren Hall, Grafton-Stovall Theatre, Memorial Hall, and the ISAT building on JMU’s campus.

If you have further questions, e-mail:  EtaDeltaService@gmail.com or jmuaposervice@gmail.com

Today’s teens live in a world where social media influences have changed the way they communicate with their friends, families, and dating partners. With the introduction of social media outlets such as Facebook and the ever increasing use of texting as a form of interpersonal communication, teens have 24/7 access to the people in their lives. In response to the technological surge, there has been an increase of awareness of teens in abusive dating relationships (i.e. physical, sexual, emotional/verbal, and digital). It is important for educators, parents, and young people to educate ourselves on the devastating statistics that surround teen dating violence, to become aware of the warning signs of teen dating violence, and to help prevent teen dating violence.

FACTS

-Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.  (loveisrespect.org)

-Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence—almost triple the national average. (loveisrespect.org)

-54% of parents admit they’ve not spoken to their child about dating violence (Do not be a part of that 54%). (clotheslineproject.org)

- 20% of surveyed male students report witnessing someone they go to high school with physically hit a person they were dating. (clotheslineproject.org)

In response to the increase in teen abusive dating relationships, Congress has dedicated the entire month of February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

According to teendvmonth.org, “For years, young people across the nation have organized to put a stop to dating abuse. With their adult allies, they achieved a major victory in 2005 when the importance of addressing teen dating abuse was highlighted in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

The following year, Congress followed the lead of dozens of national, state and local organizations in sounding the call to end dating abuse. Both Chambers declared the first full week in February “National Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Week.” In 2010, Congress began dedicating the entire month of February to teen dating violence awareness and prevention.

Now in its third year, Teen DV Month is celebrated by leaders in government, student bodies, schools, youth service providers, community-based organizations, parents and more.”

OCY’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention program (TPP) has focused on this issue and continues to develop new program materials for middle school students addressing teen dating relationships, focusing on educating young people about relationships, promoting healthy teen dating relationships, and preventing the cycle of abuse. The activities engage the students in discussion, educating them on physical, emotional/verbal, sexual, and digital abuse. It is important to focus attention on middle school aged children because they are at a point in their young, adolescent lives where dating is becoming the norm of “being a teenager”. In order to successfully prevent the dangers of abuse, educators and parents need to begin the conversation before it is too late.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, listed below are some information rich resources about teen dating violence:

Loveisrespect.org

Clotheslineproject.org

Thatsnotcool.com

Loveisnotabuse.org

Redflagcampaign.org

Athinline.org

Breakthecycle.org

Written by Carrie Robinson

The Office on Children and Youth would like to recognize and thank the RMH Foundation for their generous donation of $3,000, which will surely help make this year’s Teen Health Fair an educational success! The Teen Health Fair is all about providing information to teens regarding their health in such a way that promotes their inquiry on the topics, rather than rote memorization. This method allows students to better retain vital information, as well as help spark their interest to learn more about healthy lifestyles in general. Local agencies and organizations provide interactive booths and games covering topics that range from proper hand-washing to the risks of having sex as a teenager, dating abuse, the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and even nutrition.

The Office on Children and Youth will be hosting its 14^th Annual Teen Health Fair on April 10, 2012 at Turner Ashby High School and on April 11, 2012 at Spotswood High School and will have interactive workshops, exhibits, and a focus on health careers.

A look into how teen pregnancy affects the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community and what local organizations are doing to create better outcomes for our youth.

OCY would like to recognize and thank RR Donnelley and the Book Manufacturers’ Institute Inc. for a generous $1,000 donation to the Reading Road Show – Gus Bus! We appreciate your support of this great literacy program.

Gary Calleo, VPM at RR Donnelley Harrisonburg presents the Reading Road Show – Gus Bus with a $1,000 check from the Book Manufacturers’ Institute Inc. Special Projects Grant.

Where: Weyers Cave Community Center

When: Saturday December 10th. Doors open at 3:00 and games start at 5:00

How much: Pre-sale tickets = $10 (for 1 card); Tickets at the door = $15 (for 1 card)

*Each person only needs on ticket. Additional bingo cards can be purchased at the door for $5 each or 5 cards for $20.

**Special pre-sale only games and door prizes!

Call (540) 568-2559 or email reajl@jmu.edu for more information and to order tickets today.

Thursday, May 12th: Cold Stone Creamery of Harrisonburg, 5:00-9:00pm

Youth Council students and leaders will be behind the counter, helping to make your ice cream and, yes, singing! Stop in for a nice cold treat!

Tuesday, May 17th: Chick-fil-A Spirit Night, 5:00-9:00pm

Dine-in at Chick-fil-A to support Youth Council! You can also take  a spin on the “Spinning Wheel” to win coupons and prizes!

Saturday-Sunday, May 21-22nd: Car Wash, Exxon at Rt. 42 and Mt. Clinton Pike

Come and get your cars washed buy Youth Council students! Tickets will be sold in advance for $5 each or you can give a donation during the two days of the car wash. You can get your tickets ahead of time by calling Michael Maurice at (540) 568-6007.

Car Wash Hours:

Saturday, May 21^st: 9:00am-3:00pm

Sunday, May 22^nd: 9:00am-12:00pm

We really hope you can make it to any or all of these fundraising events! Your support will allow the Youth Council to continue its community service and youth leadership devlopment activities throughout Harrisonburg-Rockingham.