Solutions when the kids say “I’m bored”
Do you ever have that feeling of you don’t know what to do? Have your kids come to you saying, “I’m bored?” These past few months have been a challenge for most people who are typically used to being active. We may not be able to do some of our normal activities that we have enjoyed in the past.
New Opportunities has been encouraging people to find healthy alternative activities during this trying time. Alternative Activities promote skills or knowledge that might cause participants to refrain from future alcohol and drug use. They occupy free time that may otherwise be idle or unstructured. Typically, alternative activities can provide meaningful involvement in the community.
New Opportunities is here to help. Over the past year New Opportunities prevention consultants have been gathering resources and ideas from area communities to help fill that gap of “not knowing what to do.”
The result of these efforts is an Alternative Activities Guide which includes available alternative activities listings by county to include contact information to get more information or get involved. This directory can be found on the New Opportunities website. Go to www.newopp.org to find the directory with the county resource directories under the county resources tab.
The Alternative Activities Guide was made possible by being a part of the IDPH Integrated Provider Network, with services funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health and the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Interested persons can learn more about this project by visitingwww.newopp.org and selecting Integrated Provider Network (IPN) under the Prevention tab.
New Opportunities substance abuse treatment and prevention departments offer information, education, and consultation services to schools, businesses, and community based groups, many of which are free of charge.
Persons who have updates or suggestions for the Alternative Activities Guide and/or are interested in learning more on this or other substance abuse topics, can contact Nancy Rowedder, prevention consultant, at nrowedder@newopp.org. or call 712-792-9266.
