Harvey, ND

Now days, simply teaching your children to veer away from strangers simply isn’t enough. More then 90% of sexual abuse perpetrators are someone the child knows and trusts. Fortunately, there are some precautions you can take to reduce the chance of your child becoming a victim. Make talking to your child about personal safety an ongoing dialogue than a single event that might scare them.

1. Communicate! Talk toy your child about their relationships with other people, and how they feel towards them. Open dialogue will encourage them to talk to you about positive and negative situations.

2. Teach your child the difference between a welcome and unwelcomed touch.

3. Teach your child that the parts covered by their bathing suit are private parts. Explain that while it’s ok for a doctor to touch their private parts (when Mom or Dad are watching) in order to keep them healthy, it is NOT ok for someone else to touch them.

4. Teach your child that if someone is touching him/her and you’re child doesn’t like the touch, to shout, “NO!” or “STOP! I’m going to tell!“

5.Encourage your child not to keep secrets from you.

6. Help children Identity trusted adults in their lives who they can talk to about an uncomfortable situation or an unwelcomed touch.

7. Remove the embarrassment your child feels in talking about their private parts.

8. ALWAYS believe your child if they report to you that someone touched them inappropriately. Children rarely lie about sexual abuse (less then 3% are falsified)

It’s getting to be that time of year again, when fevers run rampant and children immune systems are at their weakest. One of the more serious illnesses to worry about for your child is Meningococcal disease.

What is meningococcal disease?
Meningcoccal is an infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, as well as causes blood infections. About 2600 people get meningococcal disease each year in the US. And of those, 10-15% die. Of those who live, 11-19% lose their arms, legs, become deaf, become mentally retarded, or suffer seizures and strokes.

Who should get the meningoccocal vaccine and when?
The vaccine is recommended for all kids 11-12 years of age. Although it should be noted that a meningococcal vaccination is required for high school entry. Anyone at risk to get meningococcal should also get the vaccine, these people include college students, military recruits, anyone planning on traveling to a foreign country, and anyone who have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak. Children 2-10 and adults 55 and older are also at risk.

What are the risks of meningococcal vaccines?
Vaccines, like any medicines, have a chance to cause serious allergic reactions. however, the risk of the vaccine causing serious harm is tiny compared the damage the actual disease can cause.

How can I learn more?
Ask your doctor or nurse, and they should be able to give you vaccine information.
Or call 1-800-232-4636
or visit http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial/faqs.htm

Every 16 minutes, someone in the United States dies by suicide.

On Sunday, October 5th, join the ‘OUT OF THE DARKNESS’ walk to prevent suicide at the Capitol Grounds in Bismarck.

Check in time is at 2:30PM to 3:30PM, while the walk itself starts at 3:30PM.

The walk itself will only be 3-5 miles, and all money raised will go towards suicide prevention, education, research, and survivor support.

For more information, contact Dorcas Kunkel @ 710-333-8881, or email dekunkel@umary.edu.

More information can be found at http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

At the start of each week, we at the St. Aloisius Community Volunteer Program release something we like to call the ‘Word of the Week’.

This week, the word is , “Self Concept: How you think and feel about yourself”

“love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Rom. 13:8b”

Take this week’s word to heart, and feel good about yourself, and show others how much they mean to you!

At some point in nearly every teen’s life, they’ll be offered alcohol. It’s not the question that’s important, but rather, how they respond. Sometimes, having a rich vocabulary of ‘one liners’ is all a teen needs to resist a drink and avoid making a scene. Here’s a list of possible comebacks you can teach your teen to use in if they’re ever put in that situation!

1. I’d rather OD on pizza.
2. No thanks, I’m driving.
3. I become so witty no one can stand me.
4. No thanks, I don’t drink
5. I drink no wine before my time.
6. No thanks, I’m in training.
7. For all i do - I don’t need brew.
8. No thanks, if I drink I may lose my privileges.
9. Chocolate and alcohol don’t mix.
10. No thanks, what else do you have?
11. It makes me look stupider.
12. No thanks, I’m on a diet.
13. It’s not worth the hangover.
14. No thanks, I usually end up embarrassing myself.
15. It’s never as much fun as it looks in the commercial.
16. If I were any more mellow, i’d melt.
17.No thanks, I want to stay in control.
18. I’m high on life.
19. I might forget where I parked my mind.
20. i think, therefore, I’m not going to drink.

Can you believe we’re already in the 9th month of the year? This August felt as if it simply blew on by! Of course, that didn’t stop us from having a busy busy month full of events and activities!

On the 9th, the ‘Annual Al Swanson/KHND Fishing Derby’ was held at Shroeders Park. it was open to all kids 12 years old and younger; there was free food, prizes, and all around good family fun! We had an amazing turnout, with nearly 100 kids attending!

On August 18th we had our ‘Second Annual Community Bash’! Everyone in the community was invited to enjoy the free hamburger supper, attend a Community Forum over the Sources of Strength, and compete in the AMAZING race bike race / scavenger hunt!
The Sources of Strength presentation included information on suicide prevention, alcohol use and prevention.