The holiday season can be filled with joy and celebrations. This time of year can also trigger difficult emotions, thoughts, or behaviors—which can affect your mental health and use of substances (including alcohol). Let your friends, family, and communities know that confidential support is available 24/7 for both mental health and substance use. Click below to see what resources and information Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is sharing this holiday season.
You don’t have to travel to the artic or high altitudes to feel the effects of cold temperatures. Learn how to avoid cold weather injuries and what to do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation due to the cold.
The U.S Department of Agriculture'sHealthy Holidays page offers tips and resources for maintaining a healthy and stress-free holiday season. It includes budget-friendly meal planning, recipes for Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, and strategies for accommodating dietary restrictions.
The page also emphasizes healthy eating choices, such as selecting nutritious options with less sugar, fat, and sodium. Additionally, it provides food safety tips to prevent foodborne illnesses and guidance for safe meal storage and handling during celebrations.
The winter season can be a challenging time to stay active, with colder temperatures, slippery conditions, and fewer daylight hours. But staying physically active is one of the best ways to improve your mental and physical health and keep on track with your fitness goals.
Drive Smart Virginia: Designate BEFORE You Celebrate
Drinking and driving is never acceptable. It’s dangerous. You could injure or kill yourself, your passengers, or others on the roadway. So, if you’re going out and you plan to drink alcohol, you also need to plan to have a sober, designated driver bring you home.
Choosing a designated driver could be one of the most important decisions you make.
CDC's Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign was designed to motivate adults to make clean hands part of their daily lives. The campaign resources were designed to help raise awareness about the importance of handwashing at key times in both homes and public settings, such as before cooking or after using the bathroom. Download and share them to help spread the word and encourage handwashing within your community.
Handwashing is important for everyone! Learn about CDC's new handwashing campaign and download free materials to remind people in your life about the importance of handwashing. #KeepHandsClean
Learn How Sleep Affects Your Health
Getting a good night’s sleep every night is vital to cardiovascular health. Adults should aim for an average of 7-9 hours, and babies and kids need more depending on their age. Too little or too much sleep is associated with heart disease, studies show.
Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Babies and kids need even more.
Sunday, December 1 marked the 37th World AIDS Day. This annual observance is an important reminder that we must remain steadfast in our commitment to prevent new HIV infections and provide essential services to all people living with HIV globally.
This year’s theme, Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress, highlights the significant progress that has been made in addressing HIV and AIDS through global and domestic HIV programs over the last four-plus decades, working to ensure that no communities are left behind.
World AIDS Day serves as a day for voices to unite by sharing experiences and standing together in the fight against HIV. Join HIV.gov and its partners to help increase awareness about the HIV epidemic and share resources for health care providers and communities throughout the year.
You can also find sample messages and shareable graphics in HIV.gov’s partner social media toolkit to help you promote World AIDS Day and its related activities.
Reflection and Gratitude: A Simple Way to Reduce Stress
As the year comes to a close, taking time to reflect on what you’re grateful for can be a powerful way to reduce stress. Focusing on positive moments, no matter how small, helps shift your mindset and brings a sense of calm. Try setting aside just a few minutes each day to write down one thing you’re thankful for. This simple practice can improve your mood, increase resilience, and make it easier to handle life’s challenges.
Virginia Quit Stories
Virginia Department of Health has launched a new campaign to spotlight inspiring quit stories from individuals who have successfully quit tobacco and nicotine. These personal stories are powerful reminders that quitting is possible and can motivate others to take that important first step toward a healthier life. Whether it's through overcoming cravings, finding support, or celebrating milestones, these stories show that everyone’s journey to quit is unique—and worth sharing. If you have a quit story, consider sharing it and help inspire others in their journey.
Virginia Partners in Prayer & Prevention: Partner Resource Webinar Series
Date: December 19, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Defining Human Trafficking & Dispelling the Myths
In recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month this January, we invite you to join our upcoming VAP3 Partner Resource Session, Defining Human Trafficking & Dispelling the Myths, on December 19. This session will feature Cassandra Carter, a Survivor Advocate with FreeKindVA, who will provide an overview of what human trafficking is, debunk common myths, and share practical ways we can support survivors and combat trafficking in our communities.
This is a powerful opportunity to deepen our understanding of this critical issue and learn actionable steps to make a difference!
As we observe HIV/AIDS Awareness Month this December, we take time to reflect on the global impact of HIV/AIDS and the ongoing efforts to reduce stigma, improve education, and expand access to treatment and prevention. It's a reminder of the importance of staying informed and supporting those affected. To learn more about HIV/AIDS, its prevention, and the latest global initiatives, visit the WHO website.
Who Needs a Flu Vaccine
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza. Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor's offices, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Families, educators, health care providers, and community leaders are invited to promote responsible decision-making and encourage young people to live free of drugs and alcohol. By talking about the risks and setting clear expectations, parents and other caregivers can help their children stay safe, sober, and focused on the road.
Healing Faith Ministries
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Healing Faith Ministry hosted a successful Mammography event in partnership with Sentara Health at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple in Hampton, VA. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Sentara 3D Mobile Mammography unit provided convenient, high-quality mammograms to community members, with financial assistance available to those in need. This collaboration underscored a shared commitment to promoting accessible healthcare and empowering individuals to prioritize their wellness.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Many people go through short periods when they feel sad or unlike their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. Many people feel "down" or have the "winter blues" when the days get shorter in the fall and winter and feel better in the spring when longer daylight hours return.
This flyer from VDH shares the message, "Protect yourself and others from respiratory illnesses." It details core prevention measures, additional prevention measures, what to do if you're sick, and how to get treatment.
2-1-1 Virginia is a free service that can help you find the local resources you need. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Text CONNECT to 247211, Message and data rates may apply
Virginia P3 recognizes that faith-based and community partners eagerly and actively step in to fulfill the needs of their community, especially during a crisis. As a result, we aim to equip our partners to respond to the present opioid health crisis with Opioid Response Toolkits.
Are you planning a community event? Would you like us to share your event flyer with the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Partners in Prayer & Prevention? Would you like to request support from VAP3 for your event? Please complete this request form.
Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home tests.
Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping. Want to know when your tests are coming? Sign up to receive email alerts when you order!
The Ben & Jerry Foundation's National Grassroots Organizing Program (NGO) offers unrestricted, general operating support grants of up to $20,000 to community-based, grassroots organizations confronting social and environmental injustice.
Emergent Fund is a national rapid response fund created to explicitly support Black, Indigenous and People of Color-led (BIPOC) social justice movements. Emergent Fund grantees are BIPOC organizers and directly impacted communities responding to the biggest crises of our time by boldly fighting to build the world we all deserve.
Emergent Fund is a rolling, monthly rapid response and emergent organizing grant for movement and frontline communities responding to urgent and specific unanticipated crises or opportunities to build power.
SBB Research Group Foundation awards up to $5,000 in grant funding to non-profit organizations in solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG) resolved to continue its support and engagement with nonprofit organizations by initiating its COVID-19 Grant Program, which helped to address the needs of organizations and communities affected by the pandemic. After two years of meaningful impact through this program, the Foundation is committed to continue supporting ambitious nonprofit organizations by providing monthly grants through the SBB Research Group Foundation Grant Program.
The TJX Foundation: Delivering great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future. At this time, in addition to our support for current national and local nonprofit partners, we are accepting letters of inquiry from nonprofits seeking grant support in the following areas only:
Basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter)
Access to opportunities outside of school that enable school success for at-risk youth (pre-kindergarten to grade 12)
Workforce readiness training for at-risk youth (ages 16-24)
Safety from domestic violence (shelter, prevention, and services)
