The Courage to Speak® Foundation June 2012   Welcome to Our Summer 2012 Newsletter! BOOK A PRESENTATION FOR FALL OR WINTER TODAY! The 14th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race, July 28, 2012   Tip of the Month Keep Your Kids Drug Free This Summer The Courage to Speak Foundation has a New Website & Blog! Sunny’s Story: How to Save a Young Life From Drugs IN THE NEWS: Parent tells of son’s struggle with drug abuse New Online Course for Prevention Facilitators Be a Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101® Facilitator WE ARE NOW BOOKING PRESENTATIONS FOR FALL AND WINTER! Presentations bookings for 2012-2013 are now being scheduled. Ginger Katz has delivered approximately 1000 prevention presentations nationwide to schools (elementary through college), parents, civic organizations, law enforcement forums, medical forums, provider and prevention organizations, corporations, conventions, conferences and other forums throughout the country. A testimony from a student at Conard High School: “Honestly, I didn’t think that I could ever in my life find somebody that I can relate to. This assembly today will always stick with me throughout my journey in life. It’s a reminder of what I have, what I need, and what I love in my life”. Learn how you can possibly save a life today! Please fill out the form on our website, email [email protected], or call 1-877-431-3295 to schedule your presentation today. Learn more about the Drug Prevention Presentation and to view the presentation schedule click here. BECOME A SPONSOR OF OUR EVENT! On September 10, 1996, Ginger Katz’s son Ian lost his battle with drug addiction. He was 19. In the 16 years since Ian’s death, she and her husband have operated the Courage to Speak Foundation with a single goal: to do everything in our power to spare other families this tragedy. We invite you to join us in this important work. On Saturday, July 28, 2012 at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, CT, we will celebrate Ian’s life and the work of the Courage to Speak Foundation at the 14th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race.   Please Support us by becoming a Sponsor, Volunteer or a Participant in the race! CLICK HERE TO BECOME A SPONSOR!   View the flyer for Ian’s Race.   For information about sponsoring the race, running in the race and volunteering, please call Ginger Katz at 1-877-431-3295 or e-mail [email protected], or visit our website www.couragetospeak.org. For more information about the race click here!

BRAND NEW: The Courage to Speak® Foundation WEBSITE & BLOG Make sure you don’t miss these exciting new features at www.couragetospeak.org Your Donation Could Protect a Child’s Future Tip of the Month “Keep Your Kids Drug Free This Summer” Every summer while many parents are still part of the workforce kids are left unsupervised and more likely to try drugs or alcohol in their absence. Here are a few tips to keep them on the right track: Encourage teens to volunteer at local organizations or find a summer job so they can gain knowledge as well real life experience Signing them up for summer camp or a sport they love allows them to engage in fun, but age appropriate activities with peers Be conscious of what’s in your home. Teens abuse substances that are readily available and often times found in the home. Store chemicals and household cleaning products in locations only you know where and be certain to properly secure, remove, or dispose any medications in your medicine cabinet. Open Door Policy: Make teens feel comfortable approaching you and encourage them to talk about their feelings and what they do on a daily basis. Sunny’s Story A compelling drug prevention story for children, parents and educators, narrated by Sunny, the family beagle who needlessly lost his best friend, Ian, to drug abuse. Sunny’s Story is read at many dinner tables across the country, in schools, libraries, as part of the Courage to Speak® Drug Prevention Curricula and as a stand alone book for children of all ages, parents, grandparents, teachers and professionals in the field of treatment and prevention. Read more… Order your copy now!

IN THE NEWS: Parent tells of son’s struggle with drug abuse   Written by Eleanor Joyce Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Colchester- Ginger Katz talks about her son, Ian, at “The Courage to Speak” May 9 at Bacon Academy   As Ginger Katz spoke, pictures of her son, Ian, playing sports and attending his prom were projected onto a screen May 9 at Bacon Academy. Katz said Ian “was captain of the soccer team, and girls just wouldn’t leave him alone.” Ian, a college student, died in 1996 from an accidental drug overdose at home in Norwalk at the age of 20. “His doctor told us to tell people Ian died of a heart attack, but that was a lie,” Katz said. “If this is happening to us, this is happening to other families.” To read the entire article, click here. Be a Part of our Team Online! Become a Facilitator of Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting101® Calling ALL Socials Workers, Drug Prevention Specialists, Health Class Teachers, Law Enforcement, Guidance Counselors, Youth and Family Services Directors, Prevention Coalition Members and More!   CLICK HERE go to apply to take the FACILITATOR TRAINING ONLINE   Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101: Offered free of charge, this multi-session substance abuse prevention education program (English and Spanish) is designed to help parents understand the impact of drug abuse on youth and give them the knowledge required to communicate more effectively with their children about the dangers of drugs and other risky behaviors. This course covers: -Teen drug use trends and party culture -Protective factors and developmental assets -Communication and listening strategies -Why kids use drugs -How to help your child handle stress -Parenting styles and enabling -The adolescent brain -Setting boundaries -Practical steps if use or abuse is suspected -Warning signs -Sources of help and more Evaluated by the Yale University School of Medicine: According to the evaluation performed by Yale University, parents who have taken this course reported statistically significant increases in: * General communication with their child * Communication with their child about drugs * Their knowledge about their children’s lives * Their knowledge and ability to recognize warning signs and reported that they were fairly confident in their knowledge of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs   LISTEN to Ginger Katz, CEO & Founder, and Larry Katz, M.S. Nutrition & B.S. Psychology, discuss Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101 with Radio Personality, Wendy Corey.   See the flyer for this training Fill out the application to attend this training Learn more about Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101®   For more information call Program Director, Carol Troy at (203) 831-9700 or email [email protected] Visit us on Facebook and follow us on twitter to see daily updates and information about the Courage to Speak Foundation as well as current events! The Courage to Speak® Foundation “Saving Lives by Empowering Youth to be Drug Free and Empowering Parents to Communicate Effectively with their Children About Drugs” 161 East Avenue, Suite 14 Norwalk, CT 06851 (203) 831-9700 [email protected] www.couragetospeak.org www.sunnysstory.com   The Courage to Speak® Foundation | 161 East Ave., Suite 14 | Norwalk, Connecticut 06851 | (203) 831-9700