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Welcome Faith Community��2026 Faith Community Breakfast�Hosted by �Lowcountry Alliance for Healthy Youth ��

Please help yourself to breakfast refreshments.

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INVOCATION

FAITH COMMUNITY INTRODUCTIONS

Pastor Lawson

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INTRODUCTION TO LOWCOUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH

PASTOR LAWSON

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“Uniting the Community to Promote Positive Choices”

and

“Healthy Lifestyles for Our Youth”

LCAHY History

December 2011, alcohol-related tragedies involving local youth (Hilton Head) occurred.

At the December community meeting, Dr. Sean Alford, former Beaufort County School District Chief, urged the group to organize a community coalition.

January 2012 a steering committee was organized.

February 2012, LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth, a non-profit, was established.

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LCAHY’S Mission/Purpose

To bring together representation from all sectors of the community to develop and implement a comprehensive solution to promoting positive youth development by preventing and reducing

youth substance use

and

“Uniting the Community to Promote Positive Choices”

and

Leading to youth mental health and wellness

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DFC Coalitions Across the United States

Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program

Grant Awarded 9/17-9/27

In 1998, Congress enacted the DFC Support Program (DFC) to provide grants to community-based coalitions to serve as catalysts for multiple sector participation to reduce local youth substance use problems and related risk behaviors, leading to improving youth mental health and wellness.

LCAHY’S Mission Statement Supports

Multi –Sector Participation

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Why Should the Community Care?

Youth Substance Use/Mental Health: A Pediatric Public Health Issue

(MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION)

90% of adults with substance use/abuse problems began use before the age of 18.

SOURCE: NIH & SAMHSA

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Website &�Community Resources�

YOUTH
PARENTS
EDUCATORS
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
COMMUNITY AT LARGE
TEEN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT/RECOVERY
LATINO RESOURCES

MONTHLY E-NEWS ALERTS

https://www.lcahealthyyouth.com/

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HIGHLIGHTS OF INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED BY �LOWCOUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH�

WEBSITE/COMMUNITY RESOURCES
TRANSLATION OF RESOURCES & FACT CARDS INTO SPANISH
PUBLIC HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN/TV/RADIO/SOCIAL MEDIA
LCAHY E-NEWS ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOPICS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH
COMMUNITY FORUMS

WE ID THE LCAHY WAY TRAINING
RX MEDICINE DISPOSAL CAMPAIGN
PROCLAMATIONS/CHANGE IN POLICIES ORDINANCES (E-CIGARETTES/VAPING)
LCAHY INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES (High School & College)
TEENS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH (THY) CHAPTERS
FAITH COMMUNITY BREAKFAST

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National Evaluation of DFC Coalitions Shows…. OUTCOMES ARE CONTRIBUTED TO THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THE COALITION.

National and local data show:

A decrease in 30-day use of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco/e-cigarettes, and misuse of prescription drugs
An increase in perception of risk/harm of use
An increase in reported perception of parental disapproval
An increase in reported perception of peer disapproval.

Source: DFC & ONDCP

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INTRODUCTION TO TEENS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH (THY)

LCAHY INTERNS/THY MEMBERS

VICTORIA De ARMAS

AND ALEX GARCIA

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Teens for Healthy Youth (THY) �An Initiative of LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth

Leadership
Positive Youth Development
Peer-to-Peer Education
Advocacy
Community Service

The mission of Teens for Healthy Youth (THY) is to promote positive teen health through:

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Teens for Healthy Youth (THY) �An Initiative of LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth (LCAHY)

Teens for Healthy Youth is in 5 area middle schools:

Bluffton Middle School
H.E McCracken Middle School
Hilton Head Island Middle School
Hilton Head Prep
River Ridge Academy

Teens for Healthy Youth is in 6 area high schools:

Bluffton High School
Cross Schools
Hilton Head Christian Academy
Hilton Head High School
Hilton Head Prep
May River High School

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THY Addresses Related Risk Factors

-depression/suicide

-teen dating violence

-bullying/cyberbullying

-internet safety/social media

-stress/anxiety

-violence

and more

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Mental Health & Wellness/Faith as a Protective Factor

Call to Action

Teens for Healthy Youth call all churches and synagogues in Southern Beaufort County to help Teens for Healthy Youth with our vision of promoting faith-based protection.

Addressing Youth Mental Health and Wellness: Address mental health and wellness through scripture and educate youth on the topic.

Support: Churches and synagogues can create welcoming environments for the youth to address mental health and wellness.

How to Help: Pastors, Rabbis, and Youth Ministers can use scripture to pull children to God and share faith-based ways of supporting mental health and wellness

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SEE RESOURCE PACKET FOR

FACT CARDS CREATED BY LCAHY INTERNS

Please see the Resource Packet for the fact cards, below, designed by LCAHY Interns for youth in synagogues and churches:

“What God Says about Wellness”

“Strength and Scripture”

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Challenges Our Youth Face Today

FAITH COMMUNITY ATTENDEES

FACILITATED BY PASTOR LAWSON

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INTRODUCTION TO IN GOD’S IMAGE CURRICULUM

PASTOR LAWSON

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Ask Youth to Complete the Following Spiritual Wellness Behaviors Screening Survey

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On most days of the week, do you take time and place yourself in a quiet environment without distractions to pray, read or study the Bible or other holy scripture, or practice deep breathing, meditation, or similar spiritual health or religious activities?

❑ Yes
❑ No

On most days of the week, do you practice spiritual virtues such as looking at challenges as opportunities, avoiding judging others, and focusing on God as a model for how you live your life, and showing gratitude for what you’ve received from God and others?

❑ Yes
❑ No

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On most weeks of the month, do you participate in religious services or activities with others that are supportive of you living a spiritually healthy lifestyle?

❑ Yes
❑ No

On most weeks of the month, do you reach out to help others by volunteering your time or sharing your skills or talents.

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Spiritual Wellness Behaviors

Spiritual Wellness Behaviors:

1.Pray, read scripture or practice other spiritual practices

2.Practice spiritual virtues
Participate in religious services

3.Reach out to help others in need

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Benefits of Spiritual Wellness

Regularly practicing spiritual wellness behaviors will help you be more:

1. Focused, peaceful & relaxed
2. Confident & composed to friends, family & teachers
3. Centered & closer to God
4. Peace of mind, positive attitude & happiness
5. Kinder, gentler, loving & accepting
6. Likely to handle life’s problems & challenges

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�Wellness Behaviors Support Spiritual Growth

60 minutes of physical activity on most days

8 or more hours sleep most nights

5 or more servings of fruits & vegetables every day

Increases confidence, discipline & fitness

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Some behaviors harm spiritual wellness

Substance use harms spiritual wellness, causing anxiety & worries

Alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, prescription drug misuse, marijuana & illegal drugs

Reduces happiness, peacefulness and connectedness to God & others

Increases feelings of sadness & hopelessness

Increases mental & spiritual stress

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How Substance Use Interferes with Spiritual Wellness

Drives a wedge between you and friends & family

Robs your ability to stay in control, positive & solve life problems

Increases stressful events, angry outbursts & violence

Increases feelings of regret and reduced confidence & happiness

Robs you of reaching goals of being a good and loving person

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Recommendations for spiritual wellness

Take time to pray, read scripture or practice other spiritual activities on most days

Practice spiritual virtues like having faith in God most days

Participate in religious services most weeks

Reach out to help others in need most weeks

Avoid substance use every day to stay spiritually strong

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Ask youth to Complete a Spiritual Wellness Goal Plan & Contract

Think about the habits that promote your being spiritually strong and healthy as well as those that interfere with reaching your spiritual wellness goals. To become a better, happier and more stress-free person, select at least one goal.

In selecting goals to work on next week, consider those that will help you become more like the type of person you want to be in the future, or how you want to be seen by God and others.

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To be more spiritually strong, healthy and happy, I ____________________ (Print name) will avoid alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and other drugs, and I will also (Choose at least one):

1. ❑ Take time and place myself in a quiet environment without distractions to pray, read or study the Bible or other holy scripture, or practice deep breathing, meditation, or similar spiritual health or religious activities on most days this week.

2. ❑ Practice spiritual virtues such as looking at challenges as opportunities, avoiding judging others, and showing gratitude for what I’ve received from God and others on most days this week.

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3. ❑ Participate in religious services or activities with others that are supportive of me living a spiritually healthy lifestyle on most weeks next month.

4. ❑ Reach out to help others by volunteering my time, and sharing my skills or talents on most weeks next month.

5. ❑ Increase my physical activity, sleep or healthy eating most days of the next week.

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Ask youth to answer the following questions for each spiritual wellness-promoting behavior checked off above:

1. Type of activity (e.g., praying for others):______________________

2. Which days this/each week (e.g., M, W, F):______________________

3. How long each time (minutes):________________________________

4. Where (location):__________________________________________

5. With whom (e.g., a friend):___________________________________

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Ask youth to sign the contract:

Youth’s signature: ______________________ Date: ___________

Co-signature: __________________________ Date: ___________

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Congratulations! You’ve taken the first and most important step toward improving your spiritual wellness.

Post your plan where you will see and tract it each day (e.g., wall, mirror or desk) as a reminder of the goals you’ve set to achieve this week.

Improving yourself is a life-long process. It takes committing to small changes. You must be willing to keep working toward improving yourself. Focus on and celebrate the small gains you make each day, week and month. You can do it! Keep trying. Never quit!
Also never forget that God loves you, is always with you, and smiles on your in every effort to make the best YOU possible! Have faith in God. Ask Him for strength and perseverance to keep trying and be successful. And always give thanks to God and show your love of God, yourself and others in the world!

POST YOUR PLAN/GOALS

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