It’s National School Counseling Week! School counselors support their students in many ways, from addressing their academic questions to helping them manage emotions to empowering them to make healthy and responsible decisions.

It’s a new year and we are thrilled to share some encouraging news about youth health and well-being. The newly released 2025 Monitoring the Future Report shows underage drinking rates have declined for the fifth year in a row, and most teens continue to say “NO” to using cannabis, too.

As winter begins, we’re reminded of the simple joys of childhood. And one of our favorites is building a snowman. What starts as a single snowball can grow into something much bigger—a perfect metaphor for how we can build the foundations of meaningful conversations.

October 23-31 is Red Ribbon Week and this year’s theme is “Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free.” Since there are many pieces of the prevention education puzzle that need to come together to keep kids alcohol- and substance-free, here are 5 pieces to focus on to teach kids to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to risky behaviors like underage drinking and underage cannabis use.

As a part of the We Are Teachers Teacher Picks program, fifth and sixth grade ELA teacher and school librarian, Amy Brownlee,  endorsed Ask, Listen, Learn’s newest lesson on the Impact of Alcohol and Marijuana on Mental Health.