SADD chapters across the country have been supporting National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week the first week of every February since 2006.  This year, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), a longtime supporter of this issue, sponsored legislation (which passed) to designate the entire month of February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM).

The National Resource Center for Teen Dating Violence and Awareness Month was created to coordinate efforts.  You can find this resource center at teendvmonth.org, and we encourage you to check it out!  It's full of fact sheets, templates, program curriculum and activity ideas, and links to additional resources.  What is your chapter doing for TDVAM?  Visit the resource center for an idea today!

Check out our Contests section below for information about an opportunity to address teen dating violence and to possibly win a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the NFL players gala!

The National Association of School Nurses partnered with PBS to create some programming around the issue of teen prescription drug abuse.  Called "Smart Moves, Smart Choices," the program consists of a five-part video and a planning kit containing information about how to host a school assembly on the issue and other materials.  Click here to learn more.

Need the SADD logo?  It's available in high-resolution versions in a variety of formats on the sadd.org website.  Chapters are free to use the logo in compliance with the Graphic Standards Manual, including in print and on t-shirts, websites, etc.  Click here to download the logo!

If you hurry, there's still time to implement the Drug-Free Action Alliance's Super Bowl Survey.  This simple three-question survey is designed for you to administer next Monday morning after the Super Bowl to measure the impact of alcohol advertising.  This survey can be a good way for your SADD chapter to gain exposure and call attention to alcohol advertising.  To download the kit, click here.

Avon Park SADD is one of a number of SADD chapters in Highlands County and beyond participating in a social norming campaign organized by the Heartlands Educational Consortium.  Social norming is a prevention effort that seeks to educate students about the actual numbers and percentages of alcohol and other drug use, because students frequently overestimate the number of their peers engaging in this behavior and therefore feel more pressure to use alcohol and drugs.  Social norming has been proven to be an effective way to reduce alcohol use among students.

Heartlands Educational Consortium Program Coordinator John Varady reports that Avon Park SADD students (pictured above with advisor Melodie Davis) worked very hard to spread the word about this campaign.  They used video PSAs and other tools to educate their classmates about the actual level of alcohol use, sharing the latest county statistics from the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey.  Beyond that, they reached out to the community at large, educating adults with the same passion by attending a community fair and helping adults understand why they shouldn't provide alcohol to youth.  Congrats to Avon Park SADD and all the SADD chapters in central Florida working on this important project!

If you'd like to see YOUR chapter featured in the Spotlight, be sure to let us know what you're doing!  Send news and pictures to Chris Egan, SADD National Director of Field Services, at cegan@sadd.org or the mailing address at the bottom of this newsletter.

Register Today!
Registration is filling up for the 2010 SADD National Conference, Under the Sea: Changing the Tide.  Make your plans to join us at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in sunny Orlando, Florida, June 27-30.  Space is limited, so register today!  Click here for more information and to register.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day
You may have seen that Disney is offering free admission to its parks for a day for people who complete a volunteer opportunity.  If you're coming to conference and considering this opportunity, be sure to read the offer's fine print, because there are a number of restrictions.  Most opportunities are for adults, and if you're under 18 you'll need to bring a parent/guardian to volunteer at those venues that will accept youth.  But if this is something you wish to explore if you're arriving early or staying later after the conference, visit the Disney website for more information.

Exhibit Hall
At the SADD National Conference, the Exhibit Hall is a terrific resource for your chapter.  We anticipate exhibitors from a broad array of nonprofits and corporations who will offer valuable information about programs, contests, funding opportunities, and more!  Don't miss this important feature of the conference.  Know an organization or company that might be interested in exhibiting?  Download the Exhibitor Prospectus.

 
For more information about any SADD Store product, visit saddstore.org, call 1-800-394-0090, or e-mail saddstore@workflowone.com.