School counselors are such an important part of the Ask, Listen, Learn community, and we love seeing and learning from their passion for student well-being—both in schools and from afar. They are truly making a big difference in students’ lives. School counselors help parents, students, and educators everywhere see that we are certainly better together.

For your classroom, we are pleased to launch new Social-Emotional Learning resources created in partnership with Discovery Education—the leading provider of standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. These two classroom activities focus on what it means to be responsible and how students can make responsible choices in their everyday lives. We know that not every conversation or lesson is about alcohol, but learning about responsibility and making healthy choices builds the foundation for good decision making in the future.

5 Conversations to Have at Home During Red Ribbon Week

Check out the resources below that you can use with your students to encourage them to say YES to a healthy lifestyle and NO to underage drinking.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is not just a series of lessons to focus on at school, the lessons, goals, and fundamentals can also belong in the conversations and values, and behaviors that continue at home.

One essential partner in schools that can tie these efforts together is school administrators. These educators are such an important part of establishing a school culture that fosters development. So from all of us to you: THANK YOU, PRINCIPALS.

Recent data shows that the conversations that parents are having with the kids about alcohol have increased. Compared to levels from 2003, more kids and teenagers report talking to their parents about underage drinking in the past year. This means more parents around the country are engaging in these conversations and keeping these conversations going. This is especially important since parents have been found to be the leading influence on kids’ decisions about drinking (and NOT drinking)– even more than their friends and peers.

The urge to venture outside is growing stronger. Parents may feel more lenient with rules this summer, and kids may feel like they “deserve” a little more freedom. With this in mind, we want to remind you to engage in plenty of discussions with your kids as summer gets underway.

Each year, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recognizes National School Counseling Week to celebrate the unique and important work of school counselors across the country. Not only do school counselors support students in achieving academic and career success, but they play a critical role in helping students stay safe and healthy.

Working together, we can teach our students to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking during the school year and beyond.