The New York State PTA Wellness Team has developed these materials to help your unit, council or regions plan programs, advocacy and fundraising efforts.

Review the different monthly events are related to all areas of health, wellness, safety and environment. Each month connects to events and websites where you can gather information for activities or to research an article for your members.

In this section you will find:

• Wellness Calendar
• Substance Use Disorders Resources
• Health and Mental Health Resources
• Safety, Juvenile Protection Resources, and Domestic Violence Resources
• Environment Resources

Wellness Calendar

JANUARY
Cervical Health Awareness Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month

FEBRUARY
American Heart Month
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

MARCH
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Cheerleader Safety Month
National Kidney Month
National Nutrition Month
National Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Save Your Vision Month

APRIL
Alcohol Awareness Month
National Autism Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
National Donate Life Month
National Minority Health Month
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

MAY
Arthritis Awareness Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Clean Air Month
Food Allergy Action Month
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Healthy Vision Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
Mental Health Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Bike Safety Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

JUNE
Fireworks Safety Month
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month
National Great Outdoors Month
National Safety Month

JULY
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
UV Safety Month

AUGUST
Children’s Eye Health and Saety Month
National Immunization Awareness Month

SEPTEMBER
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Fruits & Veggies–More Matters ® Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Food Safety Education Month
National Head Lice Prevention Month
National Sickle Cell Month
National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
Sports Eye Safety Month

OCTOBER
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Health Literacy Month
Home Eye Safety Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month

NOVEMBER
American Diabetes Month
COPD Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Epilepsy Awareness Month

DECEMBER
Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Substance Use Disorders Resources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
US Drug Enforcement Agency
National Institute on Drug Abuse:

• Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
• Drugs, Brains and Behavior: the Science of Addiction
• Opioid Facts for Teens

National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
New York State’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program
Talk2Prevent
Combat Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse
Friends of Recovery New York
Partnership for Drug Free Kids
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Campus Drug Prevention
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health

Mental Health Resources

• Mental Health Association in New York State
• Family and Caregiver Resources 2021
• NYS Office of Mental Health
  National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Project Hope
• Resources and Tools for Families and Caregivers from the Mental Health Association in New York State– New!
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (PBS)
• Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource (Natl Assn of School Psychologists)
• Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Child Trend)
• How to Talk to Your Child About COVID-19 (Kids Health)
• Multilingual Resources for Schools on COVID-19
• Happy and Healthy at Home: 10 Student Mental Health Resources (Gaggle)

Health Resources

National Institute of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Parent Engagement in Schools
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Parent Engagement Strategies for Involving Parents in School Health
World Health Organization
US Department of Health and Human Services
US Health Resources and Services Administration
NYS Department of Health
USDA Choose My Plate
Coalition for Healthy School Food
National Association of School Nurses
NYS Nurses Association
NYS Center for School Health
Feeding America
Be Tobacco Free
Foundation for a Smokefree America
NYS Smokers’ Quit Line
NYS HPV Coalition

Safety, Juvenile Protection Resources, and Domestic Violence Resources

NYS Office of Children and Family Services
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services
NYS Office of Victim Services
Prevent Child Abuse NY
US Administration for Children and Families
NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Center for Juvenile Justice
Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence
Harvard Youth Violence Prevention Center
National Safe Routes to School
Stop Bullying
National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids
National Runaway Safeline
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Human Trafficking Hotline

Environment Resources

US Environmental Protection Agency
NYS Department Environmental Conservation
NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Healthy Schools Network
Center for Environmental Health and Justice
NYS Health Department on Asthma
WHO Information Series on School Health