Why Family Meals MatterYouth today live in a fast-paced whirlwind. They have school, extra-curricular activities, homework, jobs, and more. Parents and caregivers struggle to balance the busy lives of their children with demands of financial and work obligations, relationship maintenance, and personal well-being. At the end of each long day, adults and children retreat into their own worlds, aided by the availability of technology. Rather than coming together to share concerns and enjoy family time, they plug in and check out. A busy, stressful and checked-out approach to living can lead to poor physical and mental health, substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships, and low community connectedness.
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Studies show a link between regular family meals and positive personal, social, and academic development. Kids whose families maintain the habit of eating together typically have higher grades, greater resilience, and stronger self-esteem. Family meals are also a strong protective factor against high-risk behaviors: children whose families dine together regularly are shown to have lower rates of depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy.
Who We Are:We are a group of grassroots volunteers and civic leaders. Most of us live and work right here in Anderson County. Our goal is to raise awareness about substance abuse and build relationships with key partners to reduce substance abuse and help keep youth safe from its impact. We develop and implement programs to address areas of concern in our community, such as underage drinking, tobacco use, and abuse of prescription medications. To learn more about our ASAP Board, please visit our Facebook page!
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Questions? Comments?We'd love to hear from you!
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