The Mom Pledge Blog

Take the Pledge!

Coming together to end cyber bullying and foster respect among moms. That is our mission. This is our community.

The Mom Pledge is about bloggers standing up, speaking out, and coming together to eradicate online bullying of moms by other moms. The time has come for us to take the power back and own this issue. Taking The Pledge is easy. 

All you have to do is: 

1) Read The Pledge and commit to its principles 
2) Post the Take the Pledge badge prominently on your blog 
3) Add your site to the blogroll on The Community page 
4) Write a post about what The Pledge means to you 
5) Spread the word and encourage other Mommy Bloggers to Take the Pledge!


Join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Communities in Schools: Empowering Students to Stay in School and Achieve in Life

Communities In Schools works within the public school system, determining student needs and establishing relationships with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers, and parent and volunteer organizations to provide needed resources.

Many children face challenges both inside and outside the classroom. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools strategically aligns and delivers needed resources so that students can focus on learning.

The Communities In Schools network is active in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Our nearly 200 local affiliates serve the lowest performing schools and the students most vulnerable to dropping out. Check our list to see if there is an affiliate near you.

Find your affiliate:  Click here.

Raising Cyberethical Kids: How a Family Acceptable Use Policy Can Help

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By Frederick S. Lane

In an era when 2-year-olds routinely use iPads and nearly every high school student carries a cell phone, the need to teach our children cyberethics has never been greater. In "Raising Cyberethical Kids," author and attorney Frederick S. Lane explains how a Family Acceptable Use Policy can reinforce your household values and educate your children on how to avoid the risks of online misbehavior.

As virtually every parent realizes, the combination of electronic devices and the Internet has proven nearly irresistible to children of every age. Increasingly, however, parents are wakening to the fact that those same wonderful resources can pose significant risks to the academic and professional careers of their children. In some extreme instances, online misbehavior can even result in civil litigation or criminal prosecution.

Raising Cyberethical Kids will be available from other major outlets (Amazon, B&N, Sony, etc.) in the next two weeks. If you can't wait - you can download it for only $4.99.  Click here!

DoSomething.org - Powering Offine Action

Who We Are?

We love teens. They are creative, active, wired…and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about.. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign.

The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn’t require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the U.S. for teens and social change.

Find out what's on our minds and what's going on behind the scenes by checking out our DoSomething.org blog. or taking a peek at our Culture Book.
 
Have you heard? Do Something is now a member-based organization:

By being a member of DoSomething.org:

1. You make a real impact on causes you care about.
   • We help you be part a social movement with others like you.
   • We give you ideas because it can be hard to think of something specific to actually do.
   • We send you stuff like posters, stickers, banners, etc.
   • We recognize you for the good stuff you do (so that you can put it on your college app, impress a girl, or give it to your mom to hang on the fridge).
2. You get cash. That's right. We're talking $$.
   • We give money for social change projects.
   • We award money for school.
3. You get SWAG you can actually use.
   • Movie tickets, food, etc. (Send us your wish list!)
   • Celeb-signed goodies
4. You have access to invite-only things.
   • We invite you to exclusive events (like the Do Something Awards, movie premieres, etc).
   • We give you the chance to meet a celebrity.

Learn more by visiting DoSomething.org.

HEY, BACK OFF! Tips for Stopping Teen Harassment

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By Jennie Withers and Phyllis Hendrickson

Because of the recent alarming increase of tragic suicides among youths, the direct result of repeated harassment and taunting of school children, the United States Department of Education (DOE) released a nationwide appeal to Boards of Education addressing the growing harmful issue in our schools: bullying. Many states have now signed the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” to help ensure the physical and emotional well-being of today’s youth. Approximately 160,000 students in America and more worldwide avoid school each day because of the fear of bullying and 60 to 80 percent of schoolchildren face harassment intimidation.

For More Info: Website – Facebook – Twitter and 4 Teachers

Listen to CyberhoodWatch recent BlogTalk Radio Show with Jennie Wirthers!

Order today on Amazon!

National Association for Children of Alcoholics: Honoring Children of Alcholics Week

February 12-18 is the week that will honor children of alcoholics.

An estimated 25 percent of all children in the United States are affected by or exposed to a family alcohol problem. SAMHSA supports the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) during its Children of Alcoholics (COA) Week. COA Week celebrates the recovery of the many thousands of children (of all ages) who have received the help they needed to recover from the pain and losses suffered in their childhood, and it offers hope to those still suffering from the adverse impact of parental alcohol and drug addiction.

During COA Week, we acknowledge the millions of children affected by a parent's substance use disorder and celebrate that there is hope and healing for these children now and throughout their lives. This week—and throughout the year—remember to ask, "What about the children?" when speaking about recovery from substance use disorders.

Learn more at NACoA (National Association of Children of Alcoholics) and join them on Facebook.

Home Drug Test Kits: Teensavers

Do you suspect your teen is using drugs?

Teensavers Diagnostics Inc. is proud to announce that CVS Pharmacy and CVS.com has added the entire family of Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kits.  

"CVS.com and the CVS/Caremark family are absolute leaders in the home health care industry.    Families rely on the CVS family for every day products and life saving prescriptions.    We value the support that CVS.com has shown the Teensavers® family, including our family branded drug tests in their diagnostics category.   We share the importance and enthusiasm for families looking to lead a healthy life," said Teensavers Diagnostics Inc. President Steve Stahovich.    

Teensavers Diagnostics Inc. created the Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kits with the family in mind.   Government statistics show that 4,000 teens try drugs for the first time every day.   2,500 of those kids are experimenting with pills.    Many parents are seeing the explosion of teen prescription drug use in our community.    But they don't know what to do about it.    The Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kits can help detect possible opiate use.    It can help deter kids from taking pills, prescribed for a legitimate patient, from the medicine cabinet to use recreationally.

"We are proud that parents can find our total family solution, from the same chain where they are getting their prescriptions.    Just as any health ailment requires immediate attention, potential teen substance abuse requires the same immediate attention and care.   Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kits provide more than a positive or negative result.   Our complete kit helps parents understand through the entire process, whether it's diagnosing the drug use, or finding the best solution for your family," said Stahovich.

There are five different Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kits available on CVS.com ranging from a 1-panel (THC only) test to a comprehensive 12-panel test.     The prices range from $16.99 to $39.99.

Stahovich says choosing the right test is based on alert and informed parenting.  Stahovich says, "Choosing the right drug test kit not only depends on your family and the child's exposure to drugs, but the drug culture of the community.    It is critical for parents to be proactive by talking with other parents in the neighborhood, finding out about drug issues in the schools, and within the community.   Some communities have marijuana and cocaine problems.    We are seeing an explosion of prescription drug abuse across most of the country.   Parents may want complete tests for popular pills.     Proper home drug testing involves pro-active parenting"

The Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kit is 99.9% accurate, made in America, and approved for over-the-counter sales by the FDA. The test is endorsed by America's Parenting Coach, Tim Chapman, a 30-year treatment veteran.   The Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kit was recently named a 2011 “Top Products” Winner by Parent Tested, Parent Approved, one of the most reliable and valuable online resources for parents.

===Product Specs===

-- 1-panel ($16.99) Marijuana (THC) test.
-- 3-panel ($21.99), screens for Marijuana, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine.
-- 5-panel ($25.99) screens for the previous three drugs, plus Oxycodone and Opiates.
-- 7-panel ($29.99) screens for the previous 5 drugs plus Benzodiazepines and Ecstasy (MDMA.)
-- 12-panel test ($39.99) is the most comprehensive Teensavers® Home Drug Test Kit. It screens for Marijuana, Cocaine, PCP, Opiates, Amphetamines, Methamphetamine, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Oxycodone, Methadone, Ecstasy (MDMA), and Tricyclic Antidepressants.
# # #

Founded by President Steve Stahovich, a long time recovery and addiction specialist, Teensavers Diagnostics Inc. (http://myteensavers.com) is an ally to parents who suspect their teen may be using narcotics. We are the latest generation in home drug testing kits, offering a total solution, and not just results. We are endorsed by America's Parenting Coach, Tim Chapman, founder of Chapman House.
To contact Teensavers Diagnostics about our total solution home drug test kit, or if you are a pharmacist or medical distributor, call 866-728-7833 or visit our website at HTTP://Myteensavers.com

Teensavers Diagnostics sister company Independent Drug Testing Supply, manufactures business drug test kits and has been supplying hospitals, jails, and corporations for years. If you are a company interested in our business model drug test kits, contact us at (949) 727-3750.

lol....OMG!: What Every Student Needs to Know About Online Reputation Management, Digital Citizenship and Cyberbullying

By Matt Ivester

The ease with which digital content can be shared online, in addition to its many benefits, has created a host of problems for today’s high school and college students. All too often, students are uploading, updating, posting and publishing without giving a second thought to who might see their content or how it might be perceived.

lol…OMG! provides a cautionary look at the many ways that today’s students are experiencing the unanticipated negative consequences of their digital decisions – from lost job opportunities and denied college and graduate school admissions to full-blown national scandals.

It also examines how technology is allowing students to bully one another in new and disturbing ways, and why students are often crueler online than in person. By using real-life case studies and offering actionable strategies and best practices, this book empowers students to clean up and maintain a positive online presence, and to become responsible digital citizens.

Order today on Amazon!

Dear Dr. Wes: Real Life Advice for Teens

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This is a unique book of advice and commentary for teenagers, co-written by teenagers. It combines Dr. Wes Crenshaw’s nineteen years of clinical experience as a board certified family psychologist with the natural wisdom and empathy of eight really sharp sixteen- to eighteen-year-olds, each of whom spent a year writing for the Double Take advice column.

Though humorous and entertaining in tone, the book offers serious, honest and practical advice on real world issues including: sex, contraception, pregnancy, sexual identity, mental health, cutting, falling in love, breaking up, friendship, divorce, the future, conflict with parents, teen technology, suicide, foster care, school success and failure, fear and hope, and all the other issues you wake up and face each day in the middle and high school years. Most of the advice was written in response to letters sent to ask www.dr-wes.com, many written by teenagers themselves.

The rest were written on topics selected by the authors based on teen trends and current events. In addition to specific suggestions on each problem, the authors share their thoughts on how the world influences your generation, and vice versa.  Order this book today on Amazon.

Be sure to have your parents check out: Dear Dr. Wes: Real Life Advice for Parents of Teens.

Education Matters

Call me “Ed Matters.” I am a professional educator, literacy tutor, and education advocate for students with mental health concerns and other disabilities. My background includes three years’ teaching experience; a B.A. in English; an M.A. in Instruction; an A.A.S. in legal studies; volunteer work in the legal and public service arena; a brief stint in higher education administration; professional development in the areas of mental health and disabilities, including training in LSCI and CPI, involvement with MACMH as a family catalyst, and training from Heather Forbes (Beyond Consequences) and Bryan Post (BC and Post Institute). I am also a member of my local district’s PBIS committee.

I try to stay informed regarding legal issues affecting education and have completed coursework in school law; I keep abreast of issues regarding children’s mental health in general, especially concerning pediatric bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorders, and I am informed regarding PBIS and mental health issues in the school. As I am located in Minnesota, I am most familiar with what is happening in my state and am most certainly not an expert on everything. There will likely be a “Midwestern flavor” to the blog with most information coming from surrounding states.

While my primary focus here will be regarding promising practices for schools especially in the areas of mental health, PBIS, and literacy–the areas in which I am most qualified to comment–I will provide some legal updates; links to interesting articles, and I am open to and will include discussion on a variety of topics involving education. The primary purpose is to inform; however, debate is encouraged, and I do have my own biases. I hope this space will become a well-visited and useful resource.

One disclaimer: While I have substantive legal training with extensive experience researching and writing legal briefs, I am not an attorney and cannot give legal advice. Any advice given is not intended to be construed as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking counsel from a licensed attorney.

You can follow Ed on Twitter and his Blog.  

Be Brave....for those hurt by another

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By Karen Rochester

“Every single person on the planet has to be brave at least once in their life, no matter who they are, how old they are, or how strong they are.  Being brave is about having the courage to do the best thing, even when it’s hard and especially when you’re scared to do it."  from 'Be Brave'.

‘Be Brave’ is a book of encouragement, understanding, learning to trust and bravery.  The book explains to readers (suggested ages 8 yrs +) that if they have been hurt by another person at some time in their lives, they may experience a wide range of thoughts, emotions and behaviours that can be very difficult to manage.  The book explains that although these reactions maybe scary, they are normal when someone has been hurt this way. 

Using simple language and concepts, children (and adults) are able to relate to the thoughts, feelings and emotions being described.  ‘Be Brave’ doesn’t specify the trauma type thus allowing the reader to apply their own feelings and reactions to the text and their particular set of circumstances. 

‘Be Brave’ speaks to the reader directly as they consciously and unconsciously apply their own experiences to the narrative.  Readers see themselves being described in the text and become more aware of some of their own emotions and behaviours that have resulted from experiences where they have been hurt.  The book then directly applies understanding to their situation and helps them to realise that although it takes a lot of courage to seek help, they can do it if they are brave enough. This is the central message. 

Obviously, there are many different ways to get help in a given situation, so ‘Be Brave’ assists the reader by helping them understand that there are various avenues for them to take to find the help they need and at the same time as encouraging them to do this, applies constant understanding and empathy for the reader’s individual situation.

‘Be Brave’ is a very unique book and should be in the hands of every child, parent, teacher, carer and school counsellor, as well as children's mentors, therapists, psychologists and medical professionals.  It is also beautifully and sensitively illustrated by Kat Chadwick.

“This book has the potential to empower many people, both children and adults, to finally disclose secrets that may have paralysed them for years and allow them to start on their own journey of healing and recovery. Highly recommended” - Anne Macdonald, Clinical Psychologist

For more information visit www.bebravebook.com and for sales inquiries please contact the publisher Jojo Publishing www.jojopublishing.com

The Humanist Approach to Happiness

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The Humanist Approach to Happiness was written as a way to encourage young people to think about and discuss their personal ethics and values in the context of every day decision making. In other words, how can they be the best most ethical person they can be. 

How can and why should they be ethical with their friends? What values should they be considering when they are deciding whether or not to try drugs and to drink alcohol? How and why should we be ethical while dating, and breaking up? How can we apply our values to ourselves when we are grieving? And most importantly, why all this matters.

The best way to use this book is to read a chapter and discuss it's contents with your child. What do you agree with? What advice do you disagree with and why? The best way to prepare your child to think through ethical dilemnas on their own is to encourage them to think for themselves by asking them questions and playing devil's advocate with them. Remember, you and your child don't have to agree with what is in the book. It is only a starting point for your discussions about how you as their parent have chosen to live your life and how your child might want to start thinking about how they want to live theirs. 

The overarching theme of the book is that your actions have consequences, so choose your actions wisely. The primary question you and your child should be asking is, what do I think the consequences of my actions will be in any given situation and do I want that consequence or not? What could I do different to get a better outcome?

To learn more and to read what other parents and experts are saying about the book visit: http://happiness.jen-hancock.com/parents.html

You can follow author Jennifer Hancock on Twitter and order your copy today from Amazon!