an action guide for new hampshire red ribbon week … · red ribbon week is the nation’s oldest...

October 23-31, 2015

AN ACTION

GUIDE

FOR NEW

HAMPSHIRE

RED RIBBON

WEEK ACTIVITIES

For more information, call 1-800-804-0909, press 2

CELEBRATING RED RIBBON WEEK

Table of Contents

The History of Red Ribbon Week 1

Celebrate with the “Plant The Promise” Campaign 2

“Show Me The Bunny” Campaign 3

PSA Contest 4

Red Ribbon Formations 5

Curriculums for Teachers 6

More Ways to Celebrate in School 7

New Hampshire Governors Proclamation 8

Additional Resources 9

Press Release Template 10

Social Media Campaign 11

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THE HISTORY OF RED RIBBON WEEK

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention

program in the nation, reaching millions of Americans during the last

week of October every year. By wearing red ribbons and participating in

community anti-drug events, young people pledge to live a drug-free life

and pay tribute to DEA Special Agent Enriqué “Kiki” Camarena.

Special Agent Camarena was an

11-year veteran of the DEA assigned to

the Guadalajara, Mexico, office where he

was on the trail of the country’s biggest

marijuana and cocaine traffickers. In

1985, he was extremely close to

uncovering a multi-billion dollar drug

pipeline.

On February 7, 1985, he was kidnapped

and murdered by Mexican drug

traffickers. His tragic death opened the

eyes of many Americans to the dangers

of drugs and the scope of the

international drug trade.

Shortly after Kiki’s death, Congressman

Duncan Hunter and Kiki’s high school

friend Henry Lozano launched “Camarena Clubs” in Kiki’s hometown of

Calexico, California. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the

sacrifice made by Kiki Camarena.

These pledges were delivered to First Lady Nancy Reagan at a national conference of parents

combating youth drug use. Several state parent organizations then called on community groups

to wear red ribbons during the last week of October as a symbol of their drug-free commitment.

The first Red Ribbon Week celebrations were held in La Mirada and Norwalk, California.

In 1988, the National Family Partnership (NFP) coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week

with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons.

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“PLANT THE PROMISE”

CAMPAIGN Each year, thousands of tulip bulbs are planted

around the country in honor of Red Ribbon Week.

Individuals and organizations plant these bulbs in

the fall, which then bloom in April the following

year, during National Alcohol Awareness Month.

This serves as a reminder that prevention is an

ongoing and year-round endeavor.

In 2012, the Partnership for a Drug-Free NH is

proud to be able to provide organizations, coalitions and school groups

FREE tulip bulbs for the purpose of hosting a “Plant The Promise”

event! Quantities are limited. You can also contact your local garden

supplier to purchase or to

possibly donate the bulbs. They

are also easy to purchase at

www.tulipworld.com.

PREREQUISITES:

The organization should contact

their Regional Substance Misuse

Prevention Coordinator (SMP) to obtain the necessary

order forms and receive their tulip bulbs, if available.

The submitting organization should provide details of

the event to their SMP for media purposes.

Photos of the event should be provided to the SMP and

shared on social media for further documentation and promotion of the event.

To contact your SMP, visit www.drugfreenh.org and enter your zip code under “Connect with

your community.”

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The intent of this campaign is to raise awareness regarding the impacts of

influences on youth, either positive OR negative. Upon completion,

participants will have identified sources of influence on their lives,

helping them embrace the positive and reject the negative influences.

“Show Me The Bunny” campaign can be assigned as an overnight

endeavor, or it can be extended to include a week of observation

by the participants.

What do participants have to do?

1. Begin by identifying a group that can benefit by this type of campaign.

The target audience is middle school-aged youth. They can be part of

any organization (i.e., school, church, camp)

2. Visit the DrugFreeBunnyNH.org website and download the two

posters located at the “Show Me The Bunny” page.

3. Students should be assigned to individual teams.

4. Each student will be assigned a digital camera, a camera phone, or

some other means of recording their team’s efforts. They will also

need copies of bunny posters.

5. Students will then go out to an assigned area, and document the negative influences

by writing in the type of influence they are recognizing on the negative bunny poster,

attaching that poster temporarily to that influence, then photographing the influence

with the statement. The same can be done with any positive influences, using the

positive bunny poster. Students should be advised that vandalism is of real concern,

and that at no time should a flyer be permanently attached to any public or private

property, unless it is their own. 6. Students will report back to their respective classes and photos can be posted and discussed.

7. Submit photos to [email protected] to be posted on drugfreebunnyNH.org

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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

CONTEST

Using the media is an

important step in

delivering the message of

prevention to the most

people possible. Why not

get your local youth

involved in being the

voices for those messages

by hosting a radio PSA

contest! Here are a few

steps you can take to get

this initiative off the

ground.

• Develop a relationship with a local radio station in your region.

• Speak with the Promotions Director about setting up a contest where submissions

will be judged and the winning PSA played on the air.

• If possible, see if the station will allow use of their studio to actually record a PSA

for you.

• Engage a school, club, and/or find a group of young people willing to commit the

time to research, write and record PSAs with adult supervision.

• You will need to delegate a neutral group of individuals to judge the entries. It’s

important to make everyone feels appreciated, despite the outcome of the contest.

If possible, feature the winner, but request the station to play ALL of the entries on

the air. (Possibly suggest a “listener contest.” Stations are always looking for ways to

give away tickets they have for their sales clients. A great way to create additional

partnerships with business and community members).

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AT YOUR SCHOOL

RED RIBBON FORMATIONS The school environment is an ideal place to target young people with

the message that drug prevention starts with them! Included here are a

few ways that you can encourage a Red Ribbon event at your school,

whether you’re a parent, teacher or just a concerned citizen that wants

to get involved.

RED RIBBON FORMATION

On a designated day of the week, encourage as many students and

faculty as possible to wear red shirts. In advance, staff or volunteers

can mark out a huge ribbon formation with chalk or a collection of

safety cones. Anyone in red is then brought out at once to create the

formation. Do this near a high vantage point for a photo, or perhaps ask

a local contractor to volunteer a “cherry picker” for a high-level

photograph.

If your school is

planning on significant

participation explore

potential partnerships

with your Regional

Network and/or with

local businesses to make

your event even better!

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AT YOUR SCHOOL

CURRICULUMS FOR TEACHERS

In addition to a single event, teachers can elect to incorporate drug

and alcohol education into the curriculum. Modules are available to

students of all ages through the

National Institute on Drug

Abuse (www.nida.nih.gov).

Select the link titled

“Parents/Teachers” and follow

the instructions to download

short, concise curriculums that

will give students some base-

line information on everything

from drugs in the media to

understanding addiction.

Most of these modules consist of one-day lessons that can be used to

embellish whatever Red Ribbon Week events you may already have

planned.

“NIDA's mission is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and

addiction. This charge has two critical components. The first is the strategic support and conduct

of research across a broad range of disciplines. The second is ensuring the rapid and effective

dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve prevention,

treatment and policy as it relates to drug abuse and addiction.”

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AT YOUR SCHOOL

MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE!

• Wear red ribbons and distribute them to your friends, family,

volunteers, staff, and employees. You can purchase red ribbons or

buy a roll of red ribbon, cut in 3-4” pieces and pin!

• Sponsor a Red Ribbon Week activity (i.e., fun run, bike-a-thon,

bookmark, poster or essay contest, classroom door decorating

contest).

• Incorporate drug prevention facts and tips in your school-wide

announcements throughout Red Ribbon Week.

• Create a bulletin board display about Red Ribbon Week and post it

in a high traffic area of your school.

Have a Red Ribbon Rally with performances by local talent and/or

school groups.

• Have a school assembly (everyone can wear red) and invite a law

enforcement officer to speak about the dangers of drug abuse.

• Do a drug prevention and refusal skills skit for your classmates.

• Promote Red Ribbon at your school's sporting events by handing out red ribbons, providing

information about Red Ribbon Week, and have the parents and student say a drug free

pledge.

• Sponsor an in-service training on drug prevention education for school administrators,

teachers, counselors and the school nurse.

• Start a Red Ribbon Club that meets regularly to promote drug prevention throughout the

year.

• Sponsor a health fair and invite health and safety workers from the community to set up

educational materials for students and parents.

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NOMINEE: ______________________________________

GOVERNORS

PROCLAMATION

Red Ribbon Week

October 23-31, 2015

WHEREAS, alcohol and drug use represent formidable challenges to all

New Hampshire communities; and

WHEREAS, drug and alcohol problems are preventable and treatable; and

WHEREAS, persons at risk for alcohol and drug problems, in recovery or

in need of treatment, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect; and

WHEREAS, cooperation and coordination among New Hampshire’s

schools, communities and families are key to reducing alcohol and drug

abuse; and

WHEREAS, partners across New Hampshire are joining with the New

Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Drug and

Alcohol Services to declare their support for healthy lifestyles free of

alcohol and drugs, including local businesses, law enforcement, media, the

New Hampshire National Guard, religious groups, service clubs, sports

teams, young people, seniors and many more; and

WHEREAS, The State of New Hampshire is dedicated to promoting

healthy lifestyles free of drug and alcohol abuse and encourages citizens to wear and display red

ribbons and participate in Red Ribbon Week events;

NOW THEREFORE, I, MAGGIE HASSAN, GOVERNOR of the state of New Hampshire, do

hereby proclaim the week of OCTOBER 23-31, 2015 as RED RIBBON WEEK in New Hampshire,

and recognize the work of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of

Drug and Alcohol Services, the NH National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Partnership for a

Drug-Free New Hampshire, each of the State Regional Networks, and Coalition members, as well as

all New Hampshire’s young people and adults who are committed to creating a State in which our

youth may live healthy, alcohol and drug-free lives.

Read this Proclamation at any of your events to emphasize the State’s support in substance

abuse prevention and treatment initiatives.

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The following is a list of additional resources that can be

used to order supplies or obtain information on

Red Ribbon Week activities.

WWW.DRUGFREENH.ORG

User-friendly NH website

WWW.DRUGABUSE.GOV

Website for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Offering information and curriculums.

WWW.NFP.ORG

National Family Partnership website. Offering information

on substance abuse prevention awareness.

WWW.PREVENTIONRESOURCES.COM

Website offering a huge variety of Red Ribbon promotional items.

WWW.CHECKTHESTATSNH,ORG

Offering NH data and stats, tips on talking to your kids, prevention strategies and more.

A special thank you to the NH Regional Networks and Coalitions, the Partnership for a Drug-Free NH,

the NH National Guard, the NH Charitable Foundation, and the NH Department of Health and Human

Services’ Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services in supporting this project.

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Contact: Date [Your Organization] [Your Name] [Your Phone Number]

[YOUR ORGANIZATION] BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO PROMOTE DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE

BY [ACTIVITY] Join us and help keep the kids in [your region/town] drug and alcohol free! [Your organization] Is teaming up with [Partners] to [kick-off/celebrate] Red Ribbon Week 2014 by [activity] on [date]. Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31) is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. The week is an opportunity for communities to come together in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers drug abuse and encourages parents, educators, business owners, and other community organizations to promote drug-free lifestyles. This year’s celebration will include [include kick-off event or activity here] at [location]. Activities scheduled throughout the week include [include list of activities here]. “Red Ribbon Week encourages our entire community to adopt healthy, drug-free lifestyles,” said [Contact Name, Leader of Your Organization]. “The campaign brings together parents, schools, and businesses as we look for innovative ways to keep kids and communities drug free.” The red ribbon symbolizes a continuing commitment to reducing the demand for illicit drugs in our communities. In 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique S. "Kiki" Camarena was killed by drug traffickers. Shortly after Camarena's death, citizens from his hometown of Calexico, California, began wearing red ribbons to remember him and commemorate his sacrifice. Congress established Red Ribbon Week in 1988. “Red Ribbon Week gives us the opportunity to work together visibly within the community. This week is our chance to speak as one in our efforts to achieve a drug-free community,” said [representative of your organization].

[BOILER PLATE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION GOES HERE. TRY NOT TO GO OVER ONE PAGE]

XXX

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2015 Red Ribbon Week

Social Media Campaign

Why should my organization participate? Besides giving your organization a fun and easy way to spread the Red Ribbon Week message to the

community, you will get to practice using social media and engaging with the public via this platform. It will

also allow us to spread this message to a broader audience.

Data from this exercise will be used to evaluate the success of the campaign. This data will be shared with all

participants.

How time consuming will this be? This campaign has been designed specifically to use as little of your time as possible. Once you sign up to

participate, you will receive all of the Facebook posts and tweets for Twitter.

How do I sign up? Email Jennifer Cusato, Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free NH at [email protected].

Please include your name, contact information, organization name, and Facebook and Twitter url’s.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Cusato at the Partnership for a Drug-Free NH at [email protected] or

603.496.7481.

Facebook Posts A few notes about hyperlinks:

1. Custom links have been created for the following websites using a free tool called Bitly. This allows us to

track how many people click on the links in the posts in order to measure the effectiveness of various

channels during this exercise.

2. Please avoid clicking on these custom links yourself, as this will affect the data we collect on reach of the

messages. Each post with a custom link has the non-customized link in the column to the right so that you

can see where the custom link directs your readers to.

3. When posting a link on Facebook, you do not actually have to have the link in your message in order to link

people to the website. Just copy and paste or type the link into the “Update Status” box. Wait a few

seconds. Once information about the website shows up under the text box, you can delete the link and type

your message. The information below will remain and will still link viewers to the website.

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Facebook Posts for Red Ribbon Week

Suggested Post Link for you to test

It’s Red Ribbon Week! Looking for activities to

bring your community members together? Find

the Red Ribbon Week Toolkit here:

http://bit.ly/1fm6nT2

http://drugfreenh.org/resources/media-

room

It’s Red Ribbon Week and I am taking a stand

against drugs. Join me. Take the pledge:

http://bit.ly/15ngcKP

www.redribbon.org/pledge

I'm joining teens, parents, teachers, and other

citizens across America in celebrating Red Ribbon

Week, the oldest and largest drug prevention

program in the nation. http://bit.ly/17oUrgH

www.redribbon.org

Need help talking to your kids about alcohol? Find

the words at: http://bit.ly/1txvnlH

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/diy-

prevention/

Where can you find treatment in New Hampshire?

Take a look at the treatment locator:

http://bit.ly/1zKVUKl

http://nhtreatment.org/

Painkillers are among the most commonly abused

prescription drugs. Short- and long-term use of

prescription painkillers can lead to dangerous side

effects, including accidental overdose and death.

For more information: http://bit.ly/15jkWbc

http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/dr

ugspresciptionrx

Kids who learn a lot about the risks of alcohol and

drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely

to use than those who do not.

Why does your teen do that? Who is this kid and

why do they make risky decisions, like deciding to

take a drink? Turns out, it's all in the brain!

http://bit.ly/Y0s2a5

http://teenbrain.drugfree.org/

Did you know? NH 12-17 year olds rank in the top

10 in the nation when it comes to past month

marijuana use! Find out more:

http://bit.ly/1n6tOTy

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/

You can make the difference! Talk to your kids

about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

http://bit.ly/1LU4B0F #Pledge2Talk

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/resolution

-2015

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the text box anywhere in the document. Use the Drawing Tools tab to change the formatting

of the pull quote text box.]

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Tweets for Red Ribbon Week

Suggested Post Link for you to test

It’s Red Ribbon Week! Looking for activities to bring

your community members together? Find the

#RedRibbonWeekNH Toolkit here:

http://bit.ly/1fm6nT2

http://drugfreenh.org/resources/media-

room

It’s Red Ribbon Week and I am taking a stand

against drugs. Join me #RedRibbonWeekNH. Take

the pledge: http://bit.ly/15ngcKP

www.redribbon.org/pledge

Join us! Celebrate Red Ribbon Week, the oldest and

largest drug prevention program in the nation.

http://bit.ly/17oUrgH #RedRibbonWeekNH

www.redribbon.org

You can make the difference! Talk to your kids

about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

http://bit.ly/1LU4B0F #RedRibbonWeek

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/resoluti

on-2015

Videos, infographics, and more you can share to

make others aware! http://bit.ly/1fV0gw3

#RedRibbonWeekNH

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/media-

center/

Curious about drinking or drug abuse rates among

kids in NH? You may be surprised by what you find:

http://bit.ly/1koio32 #RedRibbonWeekNH

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/new-

hampshires-stats/

Need help talking to your kids about alcohol? Find

the words at: http://bit.ly/1txvnlH

#RedRibbonWeekNH

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/diy-

prevention/

Did you know? NH 12-17 year olds rank in the top

10 in the nation when it comes to past month

marijuana use! Find out more:

http://bit.ly/1n6tOTy #RedRibbonWeekNH

http://www.checkthestatsnh.org/

Where can you find treatment in New Hampshire?

Take a look at the treatment locator:

http://bit.ly/1zKVUKl #RedRibbonWeekNH

http://nhtreatment.org/

The many misconceptions about a deadly disease.

Addiction: The disease that lies

http://bit.ly/14YDdqo #RedRibbonWeekNH

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/15/health/

addiction-relapse-cory-

monteith/index.html?c&page=1

Addiction, the teen brain, and early intervention.

http://bit.ly/17xZvn8 #RedRibbonWeekNH

http://intervene.drugfree.org/2013/05/re

nowned-psychiatrist-dr-john-sharp-on-

addiction-the-teen-brain-and-early-

intervention/

an action guide for new hampshire red ribbon week … · red ribbon week is the nation’s oldest...

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