St. Mary Parish Youth Prevention Coalition

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St. Mary Parish Youth Prevention Coalition Uniting youth, families, and community leaders to reduce underage substance use and promote mental health awareness in St. Mary Parish.

Sponsored by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority.

🗳️St. Mary Parish, let’s talk about our community’s future!With local Election Day right around the corner, it’s a good ...
30/10/2026

🗳️St. Mary Parish, let’s talk about our community’s future!
With local Election Day right around the corner, it’s a good time to think about what matters most to the people who call our parish home.

COMMUNITY POLL: What should be a top priority for our community’s future?
💚 More mental health resources for youth and families
🏫 Stronger support for schools and youth programs
🎯 More positive activities and safe spaces for teens
🤝 Better access to prevention, counseling, and community resources

Drop your vote in the comments! What would you add to the list?
No political arguments, no candidate endorsements—just a conversation about the needs of our community and the future we want to build for the next generation. 🧡

Your voice matters. And being involved in your community matters, too!
Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

🎃👻 Don't let prevention myths come back to HAUNT you! It's time to separate the tricks from the facts! 🕸️ Some myths abo...
29/10/2026

🎃👻 Don't let prevention myths come back to HAUNT you!
It's time to separate the tricks from the facts! 🕸️ Some myths about substance use and prevention are scarier than anything you'll find in a haunted house.

🧟 MYTH: “Vaping is just water vapor.”
🦇 FACT: V**e aerosol can contain ni****ne, harmful chemicals, and tiny particles that can harm your lungs.

🧛 MYTH: “Everybody is doing it.”
🦴 FACT: Just because it seems like everyone is doing something doesn't make it true — or make it a good choice for you.

🧙 MYTH: “You can always tell when someone is struggling with addiction.”
🕷️ FACT: Substance use problems don't always look the way we expect. You can't judge someone's struggles by their appearance.

👻 MYTH: “One time can't hurt.”
⚰️ FACT: Even one risky decision can have serious consequences. Knowing the facts helps you make informed choices.

Don't let misinformation cast a spell on you! Question what you hear, check your sources, and don't be afraid to speak up when something doesn't sound right.
💬 Which prevention myth have YOU heard before? Drop it in the comments — let's bust some myths together!


Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

❤️ Red Ribbon Week is about making choices that protect our health, our future, and one another!We’re proud to recognize...
28/10/2026

❤️ Red Ribbon Week is about making choices that protect our health, our future, and one another!

We’re proud to recognize the staff and clients at St. Mary Behavioral Health for taking a stand by pledging to live drug-free and stand against bullying on the St. Mary Parish Youth Prevention Coalition’s pledge banner. ❤️
Every pledge represents a commitment to a healthier, safer, and more supportive community. Together, we can promote substance use prevention, kindness, and respect for everyone.
Thank you to SCLHSA St. Mary Behavioral Health for helping us spread the message: Be drug-free. Be kind. Stand against bullying.


Sponsored by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

👻 REAL TALK WEDNESDAY: What does Halloween have to do with PREVENTION? More than you might think!Let's take a little tri...
28/10/2026

👻 REAL TALK WEDNESDAY: What does Halloween have to do with PREVENTION? More than you might think!

Let's take a little trip back in time. 🕸️

Halloween traditions trace back centuries, including Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season. But here's a piece of American Halloween history you might not know: in the early 1900s, Halloween pranks sometimes escalated into vandalism and dangerous behavior. Communities responded by creating organized celebrations, parties, and eventually the trick-or-treating traditions many of us know today.
And THAT is prevention in action.

Instead of simply telling young people what NOT to do, communities created safer, positive ways to celebrate. They gave kids something fun to participate in and brought people together.
That's what prevention is all about. It's not just saying no to risky behaviors. It's creating opportunities, building connections, teaching healthy coping skills, and making sure young people have positive places to belong.

Whether we're talking about substance use, bullying, mental health, or risky decisions, the question shouldn't ONLY be, “How do we stop the bad stuff?”
We should ALSO be asking, “What can we build that makes the healthy choice easier, safer, and more appealing?”

St. Mary Parish, that's our challenge. Let's keep creating spaces where our youth can have fun, feel supported, build friendships, and make memories without putting their well-being at risk.

💬 REAL TALK: What is one positive activity or opportunity you'd love to see more of for young people in our community? Drop your ideas below.

Prevention works best when the whole community gets involved!

Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

Keep the costumes spooky and the choices SAFE! 👻Before you head out for Halloween fun, make sure you and your crew have ...
27/10/2026

Keep the costumes spooky and the choices SAFE! 👻

Before you head out for Halloween fun, make sure you and your crew have a safety plan!
🦺 1. Be seen. Carry a flashlight, wear reflective gear, and stick to well-lit areas.
👯 2. Stick together. Stay with your friends, let a trusted adult know your plans, and set a check-in time.
🍬 3. Check your treats. Have a trusted adult inspect candy and treats before eating them.
🚗 4. Plan a safe ride. Never ride with someone who's been drinking or using other substances. Make a plan to get home safely BEFORE the fun starts.

👊 Here's the challenge, St. Mary Parish! Be the friend who looks out for the whole crew. Speak up if something feels unsafe. Don't get in a car with an impaired driver. Help your friends find a safe ride, and never let anyone pressure you into something that puts you at risk.
Real friends don't let friends risk their lives for a good time. You can be the reason everyone makes it home safely.

🔥 Tag your Halloween crew and challenge them to make a safety plan before Saturday night! Who's taking responsibility for getting everyone home safe?
Have fun, make memories, and look out for each other. We want the only scary thing this Halloween to be the decorations.


Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

THE REAL HORROR STORY IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.Think about Carrie White. The outcast. The girl mocked, humiliated, an...
26/10/2026

THE REAL HORROR STORY IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

Think about Carrie White. The outcast. The girl mocked, humiliated, and treated like a joke.

Her story is fiction. The cruelty? The public humiliation? The way people gang up on someone for being different? That part is painfully real.

And before anyone says, “It's just kids being kids,” think about the children who dread walking into school. The ones who eat lunch alone, get targeted in group chats, or get recorded while being humiliated. Somebody's child is living through a horror story, and it isn't happening on a movie screen.

We've heard from local parents concerned about bullying right here in our community. We need to pay attention.

Sometimes the scariest thing isn't the person struggling. It's the crowd laughing, the bystanders staying silent, and the adults dismissing it. It's parents refusing to believe their child could be causing harm.

Let's be clear:

Being different is not an invitation to be cruel.
Calling it a joke doesn't erase the damage.
“Toughen up” is not a bullying prevention plan.

Loving your child means correcting harmful behavior, not defending it at all costs.

We cannot preach kindness while excusing cruelty.

Parents, ask your kids who gets picked on—and whether they've ever joined in. Adults, speak up when you witness cruelty. Students, you don't have to laugh, share the video, or stay silent just to fit in.

This Halloween, we're talking about monsters, but real harm doesn't always wear a mask.

St. Mary Parish, are we raising kids who stand up for others—or stand around laughing while someone gets torn down?

We need to talk about bullying NOW. What needs to change so our children feel safe, seen, and respected? Let's have the conversation—and then do something about it.



Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

Festival season isn’t over yet, St. Mary Parish! 👀🎉Our Sober Space at the Shrimp & Petroleum Festival brought people tog...
25/10/2026

Festival season isn’t over yet, St. Mary Parish! 👀🎉
Our Sober Space at the Shrimp & Petroleum Festival brought people together for substance-free fun, and we’re ready to do it all again!

Next stop: Berwick Lighthouse Fest, November 6–8!

Come find the St. Mary Parish Youth Prevention Coalition for:
🎨 Face painting
🎁 Giveaways
🧵 Keychain making

Make us part of your festival plans! Stop by our Sober Space November 6–8, bring your friends, get your face painted, make a custom keychain, and enter for some goodies. Tag the friend you’re bringing with you! 👇

Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

A healthy garden needs more than good soil. It needs care, protection, and the right conditions to thrive.People are a l...
24/10/2026

A healthy garden needs more than good soil. It needs care, protection, and the right conditions to thrive.
People are a little like that, too. Supportive friendships, safe spaces, healthy coping skills, and trusted adults help young people grow into their potential.
Prevention isn't just about avoiding risks. It's about building the support that helps people thrive.


Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

Red Ribbon Week is here! ❤️This year's theme is “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.”Being a hero doesn't requ...
23/10/2026

Red Ribbon Week is here! ❤️
This year's theme is “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.”
Being a hero doesn't require a cape. It can mean making healthy choices, looking out for your friends, speaking up when something isn't right, or encouraging someone to get support.

Every choice matters. Every voice matters. And prevention starts with all of us.


Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

Have you watered your plants today? 🌱 And by plants, we mean yourself, too.Drink some water. Take a breath. Eat somethin...
22/10/2026

Have you watered your plants today? 🌱 And by plants, we mean yourself, too.
Drink some water. Take a breath. Eat something nourishing. Step outside. Take a break from your screen. Reach out to someone you trust.
Self-care doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Sometimes it's just giving yourself what you need to get through the day.


Funded by South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority

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70538

Telephone

+19858556111

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