Winona County ASAP

Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention

Summer End Challenge 2022

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The Summer End Challenge is back for a second year! Registration instructions and this year’s challenges are below.

General Instructions:

Before registering, please read all of these instructions. The challenges/activities listed below are open to any middle and high school student and family member in Winona County. You may complete any or all of them, but you are not required to complete all four. The window to complete and submit activities online (tracker form provided) is July 25th – August 20th, 2022. Once you complete a challenge, you will need to enter it online using the tracker form that will be emailed to you.

Each person who completes an activity must submit it online to receive a small prize. All submitted activities will be verified by staff first, then prizes will be awarded within a day. An email confirmation will be sent to you, and prizes can be picked up at the front desk of the Winona Family YMCA (902 Parks Ave) during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 5:00AM-8:00PM or Saturday 6:00AM-5:00PM).

This year’s prizes include:

  • Blooming Grounds gift cards
  • Kwik Trip car washes
  • Nate & Ally’s gift certificates
  • Winona Family YMCA Day Passes

Hike the Sugar Loaf Trail or climb the Garvin Heights stairs! Take a picture at the top and upload it to the activity tracker to earn a prize.

Prize: Winona Family YMCA Day Pass

Sugar Loaf Trail is a dirt and sand trail.
Garvin Heights Trail starts out on a dirt trail then becomes stairs.

Read any book from the Winona Public Library Summer Reading Prize Program book list for your grade. Then, submit the title and your favorite part on the activity tracker to earn a prize.

Prize: Free Car Wash from Kwik Trip (Homer Road)

Reading List Grades 6-8

Reading List Grades 9-12

You can also earn prizes through the Winona Public Library Summer Reading Prize Program, but please know that it ends on August 13th.

To register for a free library card, you can stop in the building at 151 W. 5th Street in Winona during any of the open hours (Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM and Saturday 9AM-2PM), or you can apply online at winona.lib.mn.us/about/library-cards/. If you have questions, please feel free to call 507-452-4582 or email [email protected].

Visit the Minnesota Marine Art Museum to see the amazing exhibits they have OR tap into your artistic side and create your own artwork (for example: sidewalk chalk). Submit a picture on the activity tracker to earn a prize.

Prize: Nate & Ally’s Gift Certificate

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum has a Seasonal Saturday Event on August 13th with a day full of activities (Admission is $1). Students also have FREE admission every Tuesday.

Free transportation to and from the Minnesota Marine Art Museum is available through Winona Transit Service’s Dial-A-Ride. Call 507-454-6666 to schedule your ride a few days before you plan to visit, and MMAM will pay your fare upon arrival and provide you with return fare.  

Go swimming at the Bob Welch Aquatic Center in Winona, and submit a picture on the activity tracker to earn a prize.

Prize: Blooming Grounds Gift Card

Seeking Youth Interns!

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Training
National Youth Leadership Initiative
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National Leadership Forum
School Assembly

We are looking to fill 5 Youth Intern positions for the 2022-2023 school year.

It is an excellent opportunity for students to gain volunteer and leadership experience AND make a real impact in their community! The program was created so students can take the lead but still receive guidance from community leaders. This program is excellent for college applications, resumes, and obtaining service hours.

Youth Interns promote healthy choices and spread positive messages through various activities (see below). Interns can earn gift cards, funding for projects, and scholarships to conferences. Ideal candidates are students in Grades 8-11 who want to gain experience.

Youth Interns lead and participate in the following activities:

-Outreach & advocacy
-Campaign development
-Community service projects
-Leadership skills development

Interested students must fill out an online application by 9/22/22.

APPLY NOW

Day at the MN Capitol 2022

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Middle and high school students from Winona and Martin County recently met with their elected officials along with other legislators who are passionate about helping students and preventing substance misuse. The Day at the Capitol was held on April 27th for students to take the stage and talk about the vaping-related issues they see in their schools/communities and present solutions to their legislators – including a state level ban on flavored tobacco products and increased funding for tobacco prevention work.

Officials in attendance were Senate Majority Leader, Jeremy Miller (Winona County), Senator Julie Rosen (Martin County), Senator Andrew Mathews (Sherburne County), and Representative Dave Baker (Kandiyohi County).

Special credit to Christie Ransom, President of the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce for organizing the event!

In addition to meeting with legislators, students also participated in a Capitol Tour and received lunch in the Capitol Cafe.

 

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Handouts

Flavored Tobacco Presentation

Flavored Tobacco Fact Sheet

Take Back Day Spring 2022

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April 30th is the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Take Back Day.

The Winona County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), local law enforcement, and other partners will host this national event at the Winona YMCA from 10:00am-2:00pm on Saturday, April 30th. It will be an outdoor, drive-through event to drop off prescription medications and e-cigarette devices, follow the neon green signs. 

The Winona Police Department and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. They will also collect vaping devices and cartridges at the drop off location, provided lithium batteries are removed. Check out this Disposal of Vaping devices Guide.

Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps will not be accepted but can be taken to the Winona County Hazardous Waste Facility (225 W 2nd Street). Their hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm.

If not disposed of properly, prescription drugs (RX) can harm the water supply (from being flushed) or become misused. Help prevent the misuse of RX drugs by safely disposing of them at National Take Back Day.

It is also important to properly dispose of e-cigarettes, as they are considered hazardous waste. E-cigarettes and e-liquids should not be thrown in the trash to protect the environment. Almost all e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is extremely poisonous. Disposing of e-cigarettes properly is important to avoid accidental exposure to young children and dogs, as it can be fatal. 

Winona County ASAP and its partners are in need of volunteers to help put on this event. We are looking for people to volunteer from 9:30am-12:00pm or 12:00-2:30pm. 

If you can help with this event, email [email protected] or call (507) 474- 9825

Winona County ASAP has held 10 Take Back Day events since 2016 collecting over 850 lbs. Helping people dispose of prescription drugs and e-cigarettes is just one-way ASAP is working with local partners to reduce and prevent youth misuse. We have seen reported prescription drug misuse among 11th graders drop from 10% to 3% from 2013 to 2019, and we will do what we can to keep this trend down. 

Learn more about the event by calling 507-474-9825.

Take Back Day 2021

Pre Prom Checklist

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Prom is a special time where alcohol can get mixed in, so we put together some tips and advice to help parents and teens stay safe. The longer children delay alcohol use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it.

Winona Police Departmert
Winona Area Chamber of Commerce
Restorative Justice
attorney

General Advice

  • Show you care: Even though teens may not always show it, they still need to know that they are important to their parents. 
  • Draw the line: Set clear, realistic expectations and consequences for your child’s behavior. Share your views, so they know where you stand.
  • Ask open-ended questions: Encourage your teen to tell you how they think and feel about the topic. Avoid simple “yes” or “no” questions.
  • Control your emotions: If you hear something you don’t like, try not to respond emotionally. Instead, take a few deep breaths and share your thoughts or feelings in a constructive way.

Tips For:

Meet the parent

  • Contact the party host and introduce yourself and your teen.
  • Offer your phone number to the party host.
  • Ask if any alcohol will be served or allowed to be brought in.

Talk with your teen

  • Agree on the curfew.
  • Make sure your teen knows that is never acceptable to get into a car with someone who has been drinking or using drugs.
  • Discuss what you both will do if alcohol, tobacco or other drugs are present at the party.

  • Agree to ground rules ahead of time. Examples: No alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs; some rooms are off limits, know the guest list.
  • If any guests arrive at the party acting like they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, notify their parents immediately.
  • Plan to have plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks.

  • Take inventory of your alcohol and prescription medications, and store them in a secured place.
  • Have a responsible adult live in your home during your absence or have your teenager stay with a responsible adult. Explain to them your family policy and rules for parties.
  • Inform trusted neighbors that you are out of town and to call you or the police if any suspicious activity is witnessed. Let your neighbor know that teen parties are not allowed.

Did you know?

It is illegal to allow anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol on your property. You can be held liable both civilly and criminally if any person under the age of 21 has been drinking in your home. Discuss this with you teen as well.

Sources:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Informed Families

Join our next Coalition Meeting

The ASAP coalition meets monthly to create strategies for addressing the drug and alcohol issues in the Winona area. These meetings are open to the public, and we invite your input and ideas!
Learn More

Our partner:

CADCA

Funded by:

Drug Free Communities

Community Partners:

Advocacy Center of WinonaWinona County AttorneyDFCFamily & Children's CenterGoodview Police DepartmentHiawatha Valley Mental Health CenterLive Well WinonaTreatment Court of Winona CountyWinona Area Public SchoolsWinona Area Chamber of CommerceWinona County SheriffWinona HealthWinona Police DepartmertWinona YMCA