April Awareness Observances

Posted by Rachael Ballard Filed under: *Hot Topics*

Between the April showers, there are many “observances of the month” events that your school may wish to promote. The below web links provide access to FREE resources such as fact sheets, activities and tools, to make it easier for educators to create awareness in their schools, Autism Awareness Month

• Eighth World Autism Awareness Day (April 2^nd)
• Autism Society resources
• Autism Speaks resources
• Autism.com help for schools

Child Abuse Prevention Month

• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services resources, including  a free 2015 resource guide, an activity calendar in English and Spanish, a packet consisting of 19 tip sheets available in both English and Spanish and two examples to learn about protective factors, conditions or attributes that, when present, mitigate or eliminate risk for individuals, families, communities, or the larger society.
• Prevent Child Abuse statistics and facts
• U.S. Department of Ed Homeroom Blog for ideas
• Resources from Safe Supportive Learning

Alcohol Awareness Month (this year’s theme is early education on alcoholism and addiction)

• National Center for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence information on youth use has free resources including a 23-page Organizer’s Guide, a list of NCADD state affiliates and other informational materials.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network facts and tools for educators

Food Health Awareness Month (April 7^th is World Health Day)

• The 2015 theme of World Health Day is “Food Safety.”
• Facts on food safety and technical resources

Mathematics Awareness Month

• Mathematics Awareness Month for Activities Taking Place
• The Math Forum for Puzzles, Discussions, and Tools
• American Mathematical Society Resources

Youth Sports Safety Month & Sports Eye Safety Month

• STOP Sports Injuries for free tip sheets, local resources, and more
• Participate in a Twitter Chat on April 10^th and 24^th using #SportsSafety
• Youth Sports Safety Alliance
• EyeSmart prevention tips, facts, myths, and product information from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
• PreventBlindness for prevention, first aid, facts, and tips for buying protectors

Coming in early May

• May 1-7: National Physical Education and Sports Week
• May 2-8: Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
• May 2-8: North American Occupational Safety and Health Awareness Week