A U G - S E P T 2 0 1 4 H O L L A G R A M V O L 7 - 1 4

Girlfriends' Health and Safety Tips Having friends is an important part of life. Celebrate female friendship and

support your girlfriends by helping them stay safe and live well.

Eat healthy when hanging out. Whether you’re gathered at home, book club, a birthday celebration, or a girls’ night out, make healthy choices in what you eat and drink. Eat less junk food and foods high in calories, saturated fat, or added sugars or salt, and don’t crash diet. Choose drinks with no calories, such as water, sparkling water, or unsweetened iced tea. A healthy weight contributes to good health now and as you age.

Be active while having fun. Exercising with friends is fun and important for good health! Adults should be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Kids and teens should be active for at least 1 hour a day. Talk and enjoy each other’s company while you walk, bowl, swim, dance, play tennis, and more. If your fun activity is outdoors, don’t forget to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun.

Help your girlfriends through hard times. A friend with a chronic illness, abusive relationship, mental illness, or care-giving issue may lead a complicated life for a period of time. Do what you can to be supportive and encouraging, and recognize that it may be challeng-ing for you and your friend. Be informed, and understand how these issues affect your friendship. Advocate for her when appropriate. Maintain your own mental and physical health.

Empower each other to take control. If your girlfriend is not taking care of her or her family’s health, is being careless, or is putting herself or others at risk, let her know, or tell someone who can help. Realize that she may need professional help; don’t try to be something you’re not. Help her get the help she needs when appropriate.

Because Your Health Matters August 1st was National Girlfriends Day

Be a great role model. Get exams and screenings, vaccinations, and other health care you need. Manage stress from work, children, marriage, commuting, and life! Get enough sleep. Lower your risk for injury and disease. Take steps to live a healthier life.

*Source: http://www.cdc.gov/women/girlfriends/index.htm

Holla!!!! Here’s What’s Coming UP!

List of important GHB dates:

Wednesday September 10th Yoga for your Mind, Body, and Soul (Wear T-shirts, and comfortable cloth-ing, bring yoga mats if you have one)

Wednesday September 17th Slide Dancing/Stepping Lessons (Wear T-shirt and comfortable shoes)

Wednesday September 24th Interactive Drama Session

Thursday September 25th Graduation— (Wear T-shirts and make sure you bring your ss# for your 2nd incentive gift card. * Also, invite your family and friends to the gradua-tion celebration. *Note, graduation begins at 7:30pm,

please make sure your guest arrive

no earlier than 7:15pm.

Maxine Birdsong, our Behavioral Health Therapist is available for You! Ms. Birdsong is available to assist families in working through issues during the Girls Holla Back! sessions, and she is available to you through August 2, 2015 at no cost to your family. Feel free to contact her to make an appointment for counseling services at 314-367-2010.

Here to Help!

Don’t forget to “Like”, “Follow Us”& “Holla!”

on our website & Social Network Pages!

Twitter: Twitter.com@GirlsHollaBack_

Facebook: UMSL Girls Holla Back

Website: www.girlshollaback.org

Look at some of what YOU’VE done so far!!! Scenes from Summer-Fall 2014 Cultural Bonding Activities

Girls Holla Back! is an Intergenerational Approach to substance abuse and HIV/AIDS Prevention Program for African American Females. It is sponsored by the Missouri Institute of Mental Health and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

If you have questions regarding this program contact us at 314-877-6487 or girlshollaback@mimh.edu. Check out our web site at www.girlshollaback.org, search UMSL Girls Holla Back on Facebook and like our page, or follow us on twitter @GirlsHollaBack_.

HOLLA NOTES

Ho

lla!

!!!....

.Sp

oken

Wo

rds

Corn

er

Girls – I am bold, I am smart and I know how to say NO

I am aware of the consequences that could possible follow

From the choices I make and the paths I take I choose life over peer pressure for my own sake

I will not be afraid to discuss my feelings about sex Even though I know being abstinent is best

I love the skin I’m in and I won’t be ashamed to edu-cate my friends

By hollering…… AIDS KILLS BUT IT WON’T KILL ME!.....AIDS KILLS BUT IT WON’T KILL

ME! Mothers –

As your mother I promise to always listen Whether it’s during our morning commute or while

I’m cooking in the kitchen You are my diamond and it’s my mission to always

help you shine You can talk to me about anything that’s on your

mind I might not always like what you have to say

But know that I will never turn you away This program has educated me to love and teach you

better Together we can survive any stormy weather!

Everyone- AIDS KILLS BUT IT WON’T KILL ME!.....

AIDS KILLS BUT IT WON’T KILL ME! ~Kristy “Lightning” McKeown~

Girls Holla Back! Class of Summer-Fall 2014 Graduation Celebration

We Want YOU!

On Thursday, September 25th we will have a graduation presentation of certificates for YOU,

participants of Girls Holla Back!. Show us your talent and what you have learned about HIV and/or

Substance Abuse prevention.

Each class needs to have a person or group present a piece focused on HIV and/or substance abuse prevention for the

graduation. Class representative(s) will have a maximum of 3

minutes to do their piece for the other group participants. Please see Mrs. LaToshia Boyd-Lee or Ms. Shannon Hicks

to sign up. Holla!!!!