Governor Murphy announced that all New Jersey schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.  The announcement comes at the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week, which is a fitting time to recognize how hard all of our teachers have been working to adapt to the virtual teaching they have been doing for the last two months, and will be continuing for the remainder of the year.

At the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), we also have adapted our programs to be made available virtually and continue to communicate important substance use prevention messages to educate today’s youth to lead a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.  Our school-based programs are a great tool for educators to supplement their curriculum or an additional resource to offer parents as well.

If you are looking for an engaging activity for students or resources for parents, PDFNJ has a number of programs that are available to you during this time at home.

• Our Third Grade Healthy Choices Activity Book is available for parents or educators to download.  It offers an engaging and fun ways to learn about leading a healthy drug-free lifestyle.  
• Our 5^th Grade Parent Alert is available online for parents.  It provides tools and resources to educate parents to talk to their children about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
• The Middle School PSA contest deadline was extended until May 22nd, and we have expanded our entries to include solo submissions, so children can create them during this time at home. Students can submit a 30-second video about the dangers of substance abuse.  The winning video will be distributed throughout the tri-state area.
• The 2020 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs concert has also been made available for high school students to listen to all of the finalists original songs that share powerful substance abuse messages that resonate with today’s youth.
• K – 8^th Grade students can also take part in our Share Your Silver Linings campaign, to share a story about a new healthy and positive family ritual, habit, activity or a healthy tip they have discovered while social distancing for a chance to win one of five $100 Amazon gift cards.

As I mentioned last week, PDFNJ’s  15 Minute Child Break program is available either as an interactive 30-minute Zoom webinar or a prerecorded presentation. It informs, encourages and empowers parents, grandparents and educators about how to communicate effectively with children about drugs and alcohol abuse and misuse.

Additionally, PDFNJ and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey are continuing the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall webinars.  The next one to be held on May 14^th at 11 a.m. will be discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and the trauma impacting our children.

Please feel free to share this informational with any organizations you think might be able to make use of our programs, and also please let us know how we can help during this difficult time.

Thank you and continue to stay safe and well.