 Happy Red Ribbon Week, Iroquois County! Join the millions of people celebrating the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness campaign.
Why was Red Ribbon Week started? Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985. In honor of Camarena’s memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions embraced Camarena’s belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena’s memory, the red ribbon. In 1988, the National Family Partnership sponsored the first Nation Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. Source: Red Ribbon Campaign  Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated the week of October 23rd-31st. It’s an ideal way for schools and communities to unite to take a visible stand against drug misuse. This year’s theme is “Celebrate LIFE. Live Drug Free.”
The Juvenile Justice Council of Iroquois County together with I-KAN ROE and the Pledge for Life Partnership would like students and families to show their creativity in honor of Red Ribbon Week by participating in our Coloring Contest! The coloring contest was designed in a unique way to include a wide range of ages. It will be featured in the weekend edition of The Daily Journal on October 15th-16th or you may print it out from this post. Entries are due by November 3rd and may be dropped off at the Watseka Public Library or dropped off or mailed to the I-KAN ROE. Good luck to all!  The JJC’s mascot is gearing up to make a debut and reveal the name that kids throughout the county chose… what do you think it is?
In the meantime, the mascot has been traveling around Iroquois County spreading underage drug and alcohol prevention messaging with some friends! Check out the fun! Juvenile Justice Council Meeting Minutes 9-16-22
The Juvenile Justice Council is devoted to improving the lives of Iroquois County youth. The minutes from their last meeting will provide updates on both their accomplishments and plans for the future.  The Juvenile Justice Council’s owl mascot enjoyed meeting everyone at Harvest Daze! The Kid Zone was always busy with visitors partaking in fun games and activities, such as TIP the Scale’s Spin the Wheel and a Coloring Contest sponsored by the JJC and the Watseka Kiwanis! Judging the contest was difficult, as there were MANY colorful, creative entries. Congrats to the winners! We encourage all to continue making healthy life choices and enjoying all the fun that autumn brings!
 October is National Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Month. The Juvenile Justice Council of Iroquois County partners year-round with parents, schools, businesses, and community organizations to prevent underage substance use. This work is extremely important for area families of today and tomorrow.
“Preventing substance use during adolescence has been shown to significantly reduce the chance of developing a substance use disorder later in life. For every dollar we spend today on effective school-based prevention programs, we save $18 in the future by avoiding potential medical costs and boosting productivity on the job. Prevention programs also make young people less likely to one day have children who use substances, highlighting the far-reaching value these efforts have across generations.” – Proclamation from The White House |
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