Since 2016, Warrick County Cares has collaborated with Warrick County middle schools and high schools to reward over 1,800 students for doing good deeds or having kind behavior. Warrick County Cares, an affiliate of Youth First, is made up of community members dedicated to providing healthy youth development in Warrick County. The coalition works to address and prevent problem youth behaviors such as delinquency and substance abuse. Warrick County Cares started Positive Ticketing to recognize and motivate students to do the right thing. Teachers and school staff keep an eye out for student’s positive actions and behaviors such as returning lost keys to the office, helping another classmate in need, or volunteering to help teachers in the classroom. Once the student is recognized for their positive behavior, they are given a ticket that states the positive action. A letter signed by the school principal and Warrick County Cares chair is sent to the parent/guardian recognizing the student’s action. Up to 10 students a month per school/630 Warrick County students a year are awarded a Positive Ticket, and they are publicly recognized on Warrick County Cares’ social media and in school announcements. In reward for the Positive Ticket, the students receive a gift card, thanks to our many sponsors. Our sponsors include: The Tecumseh PATHS Organization, New Hope Christian Church, Warrick County Drug Free Council, and the Women’s Club of Newburgh. A 2004 Journal of School Health article showed the importance of bonding to school for healthy youth development. Bonding to school is “shown to increase positive developmental experiences, and buffer the effects of risk.” Pearce Bartley, a teacher and our point of contact from Boonville High School, said this in response to what the main benefit of Positive Ticketing is for their school: “A lot of times, our eyes are on the bad things and improving those. Positive Ticketing allows us to stop and take a second to see all the good around BHS.” Positive Ticketing is also a great way for parents to see the good that their children are doing while in school, as in the past those things may have gone unnoticed. Positive Ticket recipients this year did many amazing deeds such as helping teachers in class and helping other students who were struggling in certain subjects. During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, students also continue doing positive actions that include helping teachers with virtual lessons and helping peers navigate breakout rooms on virtual lessons. We thank all of our sponsors who help make Positive Ticketing possible, as well as school administration and staff. Lastly, we thank our wonderful students who choose kindness each day and exemplify what it means to set a good example.

Pictured, from left, are the leadership participants at the final session when they met in person for the first time (kneeling) Kendra Hatfield, St. Vincent’s, Jo Gilreath, Purdue Extension; (standing) Lisa Myer, St. Vincent’s, Taylor Droste, Heritage Federal Credit Union, Daniel Smith, Newburgh Chandler Public Libraries, Chuck Lackey, Heritage Federal Credit Union, Paula Strahle, CASA Volunteer; (not pictured) Tim Long and Lynn Pierce, Warrick County School Corporation, Amy Payne, Lasting Order, Lindsey Susott, Community Member.

“Our coalition, Warrick Country Cares is an affiliate of Youth First, which is our lead fiscal agent. Warrick County Cares’ vision is to be a community of healthy, productive families, free of drug and alcohol-misuse that engages in community and educational activities to present ourselves as positive role models,” said Margery C. Gianopoulos, Assistant Director of Programs, Youth First and Warrick County Cares Coordinator. “We were awarded the DFC grant in 2013 and are getting ready to enter Year 9! From the beginning, one of our key strategies was to celebrate our accomplishments.” “This was our eighth I Care Awards, but due to COVID, this was the seventh time we’ve held it in person, so that’s why we refer to it as the 7th I Care Awards. We thought we needed to celebrate the community and celebrate what we’ve been able to accomplish, especially given all the challenges the last year has given us in the country. This year, for the first time, we had multiple honorees for each category. We decided to have a gathering with local stakeholders, government, and all the sectors and community members represented. Our aim is simple – we look to recognize individuals, organizations and youth that go above and beyond their call to duty by giving back to the community.” “This year we had 3 individuals, 3 organizations, 2 middle-school and 3 high-school teens nominated; the most we’ve ever had. It then comes to our coalitions and our members to vote on the recipients of the I Care Awards. We make it a point to highlight all nominees though. At the end, we also award a Coalition Member of the Year, to an individual or group within our coalition that was integral in the successes of the past year. This year it went to our local library, who helps us coordinate and conduct all our meetings, which was paramount this past year.” “Due to the pandemic and working our way back to normal as a community, we decided to hold this year’s event outside. We had law enforcement, several county council members, the superintendent of schools among the members of the community who attended. Our coalition chair said “It’s so nice to have a meeting and not to have to worry about muting your mic on Zoom!” She introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Ronald Rochon, CADCA Board of Directors member and President of the University of Southern Indiana. He spoke so authentically about how substance use disorders affect those who suffer from it and their family members but can also teach us so many lessons from those experiences that can help in the long-term. He also spoke directly to teenagers and was so engaging and supportive of them and how they are able to look beyond the negativity we hear about so often and focus on positive change.” “A huge part and reason for this event is capacity building through promotion. We want to let others in the community know what we’re doing, how we are affiliated with all these other organizations and how we’re making an impact, so that we raise awareness and participation in our coalition’s efforts. This year, among other initiatives, we were able to distribute hand sanitizers, continue our social norms campaign - even when schools shut down -and continued our Positive Ticket campaign which has teachers honor their students with tickets, equating to a $10 Amazon gift card and a letter home, signed by the coalition chair and the school principal. In fact, over 2,000 kids in the last 7 years have received a Positive Ticket.” “I then read the bios and achievements of all the nominees. We hear so many negative things these days in the media that it’s nice to have some positivity spoken so people know that are good things happening in this world.” Overall, this is such a great opportunity to speak to the great things that are happening in our county. It really brings us all together. There is no other event that gives our community the chance to come together like this. Last year obviously brought challenges to holding an event like this, but we were able to pivot and share information about the nominees and recipients through an email campaign, which worked out really well. That being said, it just felt good to be back together in-person and this was our first opportunity to hold an in-person event such as this. We are already looking forward to next year’s nominees!”

Due to COVID-19, Warrick County Cares was unable to hold our annual recognition breakfast, but that didn't mean we couldn't honor those people who work to make our communities the best they can be. We are proud to recognize: Youth Recipients Ethan Cecil and Hannah Fehlinger Individual Recipient Kristin Riddle Organization Recipient Love the 812 ! Thank you to our sponsors - Heritage Federal Credit Union, Bayer Plumbling, Newburgh Smile Center, Inter-state Studios and the Warrick County Prosecutor's Office Check out our Facebook page to see videos about these impressive people.

In this age of social media it's hard for parents and adults to keep up with the almost daily changes. New apps are constantly being developed! Children and teens are starting to use social media at younger ages, opening them up to any number of scary things. Warrick County Cares wants to help parents, caregivers and youth workers understand social media, screen time and how to keep kids healthy and safe. Cyberparenting - Youth in a Digital World will take place on Monday, September 10, 2018 at the Newburgh Chandler Public Library, 4111 Lakeshore Dr, Newburgh, 5:30- 7 pm. This event will include a panel discussion of area experts which include Ashlee Bruggenschmidt, Sharon Elementary School Principal, Abbie Redmon, former Boonville Middle School Principal, Josh Susott, Tecumseh High School Principal, Laura Keys, Youth First Director of Social Work, Terra Clark, Youth First School Social Worker, Warrick County Deputy Sheriff and School Resource Officer Mike Dietsch, Deputy Prosecutor Parker Trulock, and Dr. James Schroeder, a Pediatric Psychologist with Easterseals Rehabilitation Center. Dennis Jon Bailey, WIKY radio DJ will guide the panel to share their experience and insight of screen time, what they see in their areas in influence, and how social media is affecting children, teens and families. Then the real experts of social media, area teens, will help parents navigate the top social media sites such as Snap Chat, Instagram, You Tube, Twitter, and Musically. There will also be information provided on safe ways kids can use these apps and parents can stay in the loop and keep control. Dr. Schroeder has done some important and informative research on screen time and social media and you can learn more about his work at: http://www.james-schroeder.com Registration is needed to attend and can be done by emailing Margery Gianopoulos - mgianopoulos@youthfirstinc.org This event is provided by the Indiana Youth Institute, Warrick County Cares, Youth First, Inc., and Warrick County School Corporation