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Facts You Need to Know About Counterfeit Pills and Our Teens

Author: Alva Tovar

Posted on 8/18/2021

Marissa received a call from a family member telling her a picture of her 15-year-old son Issaiah is circulating on Snapchat, and he’s passed out. The post said he took a Percocet. She got a call informing her what hospital her son was at, and when she arrived at the hospital, the doctors said we...

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Back-to-School Tips

Adjusting After the COVID-19 Chaos of 2020

Author: Alva Tovar

Posted on 7/31/2021

It’s that time again, time to hear the morning rush. “Time to get up! Where is my backpack? Did you brush your teeth? Did you pack your lunch? Let’s go, we are going to be late!” Yup, it is time to prepare for Back-to-School. This school year will be the first day back in school...

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ACEs

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Author: Joe Tracey

Posted on 7/1/2021

What if I told you the new gateway to addiction is something that cannot be smoked, swallowed, snorted, or injected; and your child may have been exposed to it and not even know it. The cartels cannot make it and dealers cannot sell it, but it is still prevalent in society. You as a parent...

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This is Why I Carry

Author: Joe Tracey

Posted on 6/1/2021

I carry it because my friend was not a junkie. I carry it because the doctor said it was safe. I carry it because others do not. I carry it for your child. I carry it for over 70 Arizona youth that died last year and wished someone carried it. Plain and simple, I carry...

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Catch Me

Proactive Involvement in Youth's Lives

Author: Joe Tracey

Posted on 5/11/2021

The WOW Coalition and Youth4Youth are working with 8th graders at multiple local schools helping youth develop social-emotional life skills. The program called THRIVE, is a resiliency program designed to empower teens with knowledge and tools to divert high-risk behavior and thrive in today’s culture.  Today’s lesson was “Identifying Emotions,” teaching youth how to name what...

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Parental Alert

Social Media, the New Drug Dealer

Author: Joe Tracey

Posted on 4/1/2021

What was your world like when you were ten or fifteen years old? How did you spend time with friends? What was neighborhood safety like? Did you have a cell phone? Did you have a smartphone? Was there even anything such as internet safety? Was there an app for that? As parents, we must make...

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Were We Ever Their Age?

Author: Joe Tracey

Posted on 2/15/2021

When my sons wanted another gaming system, I instantly tried to justify why it was a bad idea based on my opinions on what they should spend their money on. After they walked away disappointed, my wife told me to remember what it was like to be their age again. As a parent, I never...

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The EXIT Plan

Author: Alva Tovar

Posted on 1/29/2021

Last September, we helped parents understand the importance of having “The Talk” with their children. Today, we want to expand on bullet point #5 — Build your child’s strategies and skills to avoid alcohol and drug use and talk about The Exit Plan. You and your family need to develop some strategies and skills to help...

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Better & Stronger

Resilience

Author: Alva Tovar

Posted on 1/1/2021

We made it through 2020, and I think we can all say 2020 was not without its fair share of hardships. Life can be hard all on its own, but then you mix in a global pandemic and all the aftermath that comes with it, things can feel very overwhelming. Some ask, where does it...

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Question & Silence

Get in the Way Tip #8

Author: Joe Tracey

Posted on 12/9/2020

Through the years, I have learned a very productive habit when helping people solve problems on their own. The habit is – Ask a great question and then shut up! People are more likely to do something when it is their idea. Asking a great question, followed by silence, allows the receiver time to think...

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