Health and Human Sciences

The Strengthening Families Program: For Parent and Youth 10-14 is an evidence-based program that can help prevent teen substance abuse and other behavior problems, strengthen parent/youth communication skills, increase academic success in youth, help teach youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure, prevent violence, and aggressive behavior at home and at school. Ranked as the #1 prevention program out of 6,000 analyzed by the World Health Organization, the Strengthening Families Program consists of 7, 2-hr. long classes comprising of youth, parent, and family sessions.

Session topics included:

• Love & Limits
• Dreams & Goals
• House Rules
• Appreciating Parents
• Encouraging Positive Behavior
• Dealing with Stress
• Following Rules & Using Consequences
• Peer Pressure

For more information, visit https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/strengthening-families-program-for-parents-and-youth-10-14-post-editable/

Each year, about 659,000 people in the United States die from heart disease, that’s 1 of every 4 deaths (CDC)! Purdue Extension’s Be Heart Smart Program helps individuals learn information to prevent and reduce their risk of developing heart disease. Over the course of four lessons, participants will learn about the risk factors associated with heart disease, important numbers to know, heart-healthy eating, and how to make sustainable heart-healthy lifestyle changes.

Be Heart Smart cost $15 to attend. For more information, visit:  https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/program6/

According to Gallup, only 1 in 3 Americans use a budget and 30% have a long-term financial plan involving savings and investments for the future. Where Does Your Money Go? Program is designed to help consumers better understand how to spend their money. Taught over two, one-hour sessions, participants learn about financial management practices such as needs vs wants, writing goals, tracking expenses, identifying spending leaks, and how to develop a spending-savings plan. Furthermore, program activities help participants increase their knowledge of money management practices that promote financial stability and adoption of new habits that can lead to financial control.

According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020, 34.2 million Americans have diabetes and another 88 million have prediabetes (CDC). Furthermore, people who have diabetes are 2.3 more likely to have greater healthcare cost than people who don’t have diabetes.

The Dining with Diabetes Program is a designed to assist and support individuals who have diabetes as well as their families to help reduce the burden of diabetes by increasing knowledge of healthy foods, tips to prepare quick, healthy, and tasty foods, demonstrating proper cooking techniques, promoting physical activity, building confidence, and providing opportunities for participants to learn from one another.

The cost to attend Dining with Diabetes is $40 per individual or $65 per couple. To learn more about Dining with Diabetes, visit: https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/programs-food-0/#dining-with-diabetes

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

 Hello ladies and gentlemen,

 Hello ladies and gentlemen.  I hope you all had a wonderful summer!  I’m not sure where all the time went, but I’m excited about this next year for IEHA. 

Hopefully you all have had your first meeting and went over all the information that came out in the August newsletter.  If you have any questions, please get in touch with me.

Be sure to check our website: www.extension.purdue.edu/vigo and our FB page: Vigo County Extension Homemakers for news and updates.

 Dates to Remember

 September 2, 2025 Vigo County Vocal Chords Picnic

September 15, 2025 Council Meeting

Members are invited to join us at noon for the Leader

Lesson presented by Gail Wright.

September 25, 2025 Sewing Day

October 1, 2025 District Meeting (see attached flyer)

October 13, 2025 Past Presidents Meeting

October 14, 2025 Sewing Day

October 20-24, 2025 IEHA Week

October 25, 2025 Make a Difference Day

November 3, 2025 International Day & Extension Craft Day

November 10, 2025 Council Meeting

Members are invited to join us at noon for the Leader

Lesson presented by Gail Wright

December 8, 2025 Past Presidents Meeting

 Opportunity to Give

 Union Hospital is still accepting donations of sleepers.  Be sure to write the quantity donated on your Volunteer Community Support Reporting Form.  Check last month’s newsletter for specifics

 Remember 14 & Chestnut items needed

 Refer to 14 & Chestnut’s 2025 Seasonal Shopping List that was included in last month’s newsletter.

 Thank you for Giving

 Several members have donated socks and bloomers (underwear) to Lost Creek Elementary School and a nursing home.  They were very appreciative of the donations.  Let me know what you and your club are doing for our State President’s project this year.

 Past Presidents Meeting, August 11th

 The Past Presidents meeting in August was at the South Culver’s.  Georgia Hunt, Janet Kleptz, and Julia Reed were the Hostesses and decorated the tables with pineapples, chocolates, and a placemat for a tropical theme.  The pledge, creed, and song were said and sung. Games were also played; let’s just say that I didn’t come close to finishing first, second, third, or anywhere near the middle!  But I had fun.

The next Past Presidents Meeting will be October 13, 2025.  Time and place to be determined and will be published in the October newsletter and posted on our website and FB page.

 Follow-up on the Vigo County Fair

 One of our members was left off the previous list of Exhibitors: Carol Hawn.  I’d also like to ask all members to check your item(s) you picked up at the end of the fair; also check with people you know who contributed to the Open Class/Hobby and Crafts Department.  Not only did I leave Carol out of the Exhibitors list but her necklace entry was lost and she did not get it back on check-out day.

 Sewing Days

 Our first Sewing Day is fast approaching; September 25^th (Thursday).  We have fun working together getting receiving blankets and burp cloths for Union Hospital sewed.  We will also be working on Christmas Stockings for the December babies at Union Hospital.  Come at 10am..stay as long as you can (some stay until noon; some stay until around 2pm or longer)—bring a sack lunch if staying longer. Time spent on this day should also be listed on the VCSR Form.

 Vocal Chords Annual Picnic

 Don’t forget the Vocal Chords Annual Picnic on Tuesday, September 2^nd from 6:30 – 8:30pm at Central Christian Church, 4940 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana.  For more information, contact:  DeDe Schindel, text: 812.239.5423 or email: malldede@aol.com

 District Meeting

 District Meeting, October 1, in Sullivan County.  Sullivan County Extension Homemakers are the Host; Sullivan Civic Center, 344 N Main St, Sullivan, IN

Registration begins at 9am;

Meeting begins at 10am. 

See the attached flyer. The Flyer says to list names on the back of the form and mail to them in Sullivan;

BUT

Vigo County always sends the Clubs attending information and money (club checks made out to Vigo County Extension Homemakers) to our County Treasurer:  Make the Club checks to Vigo County Extension Homemakers and mail to:

Ruth Ridener, 940 N 2200^th St., Paris, IL  61944.  She will send a total count (the flyer with names for each club) and a check from our county to Sullivan.  Deadline to have information to Ruth is September 17^th.

Educator Spotlight

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

 Suicide affects millions of people every year and the truth is we all know someone that has been affected by suicide. Yet, we never talk about it.

 This month, I just want to take a minute and consider how we might be able to help those millions of people that suffer in silence and briefly provide information on recognizing the warning sides for suicide and how to encourage open conversations about mental health, But first a few facts. When you look at suicide statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you do find that more men commit suicide than women. When you look at the age groups committing suicide though—the numbers are surprising. People ages 85 and older had the highest rates of suicide in 2023. The second highest was 75-84 year olds—which is slightly higher than the “middle ages” from 25-64 that are all broken down and relatively equal. If you would like more information, there are many more resources available on the SAMHSA website:

https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/suicide-prevention-month

 This infographic notes the number of people that consider suicide every year.

There are warning signs (most of the time) to look for in adults and youth. For adults some of those warning signs might be:

• Talking about or making plans for suicide.
• Acting anxious, agitated, or behaving recklessly.
• Talking about being a burden to others.
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
• Sleeping too little or too much.
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
• Displaying extreme mood swings.
• Chronic illness or serious physical health conditions.

 How to encourage conversation:

 * REMEMBER you can ask: Are you thinking of killing yourself? Do you have a plan?? If they answer yes, if you feel it is a crisis—call 9-1-1.

1. Ask Open ended questions—NO Judgement
2. Be Supportive
3. Show You Are Listening (Ask Questions, Ask if you are understanding them)
4. Bring It all Together (Let them know you will help them find support)

 For more information, use the website above or contact Gail at (812) 462-3371.