I CARE

We’re honored! 💛 ICARE received the Lifesaver Award from the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP) in recognition of our su***de prevention work across EBR Schools.

The award was presented this weekend at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, where our team also joined the Out of the Darkness Walk to help raise funds for AFSP’s mission.

Thank you to AFSP for this recognition, and to everyone who walked with us. Every conversation and every step matters. 💛

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

***dePrevention 988 BatonRouge

It’s Red Ribbon Week! ❤️🎗️

Since 1985, the red ribbon has stood for a simple choice: living drug-free. This week we’re honoring DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena and celebrating every student who chooses healthy.

Here’s how you can show up:
🔴 Wear red to school
✋ Take the drug-free pledge
💬 Talk with your kids tonight
🤝 Lift up a friend who chooses healthy

Swipe through, then show us your red! Post your photos and tag I CARE so we can share them all week long!

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, and here at I CARE, prevention is what we do every single day. ❤️

Prevention isn’t a one-time talk or a single assembly. It’s built over time through the small, everyday moments that help young people feel connected, confident, and supported. Research consistently shows that kids who have strong relationships with caring adults, clear expectations at home and school, and healthy ways to cope with stress are far less likely to experiment with alcohol, va**ng, or other drugs.

So what can you do?

🗣️ Talk early and often. Conversations about substance use work best when they start young and keep going. Short, casual check-ins in the car or at dinner can matter more than one big lecture.

👂 Listen more than you lecture. When kids feel heard, they’re more likely to come to you when something is wrong.

📏 Set clear expectations. Let young people know where you stand on alcohol, va**ng, and drug use, and explain why.

🧠 Build coping skills. Stress, anxiety, and peer pressure are real. Help kids find healthy outlets like sports, art, music, journaling, or simply talking it out.

👀 Know the signs. Changes in friends, grades, sleep, mood, or interest in activities can signal that something more is going on.

And with Red Ribbon Week kicking off October 23, it’s the perfect time to start the conversation. Ask your student what they’re learning at school and what they’d do if someone offered them something.

Prevention works best when families, schools, and communities work together. Let’s keep showing up for our students this month and all year long. ❤️

Prevention doesn’t start in a crisis. It starts in a classroom, at a dinner table, in a hallway conversation. 💛

For over 40 years, I CARE has partnered with East Baton Rouge Parish schools to help students make healthy choices about drugs, alcohol, and violence, and to give the adults around them the tools to support those choices.

This October, during National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we’re celebrating every student choosing their own path. 🎗️

👉 Follow along all month for tips, resources, and Red Ribbon Week highlights.

A message from Sharon Hills Elementary School:

Sharon Hills Elementary School would like to invite you to partner with us for our 2026 Trunk-or-Treat Community Celebration on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 1:30–2:30 p.m. Community partners may begin arriving at 12:45 p.m. for setup.

We welcome local businesses, organizations, churches, community leaders, and donors to support our students by decorating a vehicle, distributing treats, providing giveaways, volunteering, or making a donation. All candy and treats must be individually wrapped and nut-free.

Please use the link below or scan the QR code on the attached flyer to let us know how you would like to participate:

Community Partner & Donor Sign-Up Form⁠ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdG-fyxTVai8sGDknoW6nFvUEE3eTJa0baUov6Boda_hoTxLw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=107818636104338909776

We truly appreciate your partnership and commitment to helping us create positive and memorable experiences for our students. Heroes build brighter communities, and we would love to have you join us!

Behind every I CARE student is a prevention specialist who shows up. ❤️

Our specialists are in EBR classrooms and hallways every day, building trust, teaching real skills, and helping students make healthy choices around drugs, alcohol, and violence.

Because prevention works when someone cares enough to be there. To our specialists: thank you for being that someone.

Tag a specialist who made a difference in your school! 👇