Southborough Youth & Family Services asked me to share news about it’s latest bi-monthly newsletter. The March & April letter includes this month’s focus on Women & Girls and the annual community invitation to “Unplug”.
The Unplug invite came too late to promote the Global Day of Unplugging earlier this month. But, SYFS is taking a different approach this year anyway.
This time, the focus isn’t on taking of a full 24 hours. Instead they’re encouraging the community to make an effort to spend less time on screens:
Simple ways to unplug:
- Try one device-free hour each day
- Make mealtimes screen-free
- Swap scrolling for a calming activity
- Put phones away 30 minutes before bed
Taking intentional breaks from screens supports better focus, improved sleep, reduced stress, and overall mental health for both kids and adults.
To engage the community in the offline practice, they’re inviting people to submit Unplugged photos that SYFS can promote online this month:
To encourage healthier habits, we’re inviting community members to share a photo of how they unplug. Click here to print the Unplugged sign, fill it out, take a picture with it or of it, and send it in to be featured in the month of March.
Below are a few examples they posted in past years:
(Read more about unplugging in the spotlight image above right or in the newsletter.)
As always, SYFS’ newsletter is written to inform the community about:
- Prevention initiatives and community highlights
- Information on financial and need-based supports available to residents
To register to get future issues directly, visit: tiny.cc/SYFS-US
The newsletter opens with a welcome intro from Director Sarah Cassell. The following pages are broken into these sections and “Spotlights”:
Mental Health Programs & Resources
- Brief description of the range of SYFS’ Mental Health support services
- March Spotlight: Women & Girls’ Mental Health
- April Spotlight: Spring Cleaning for Your Mind
- Prevention Programs & Resources
- March Spotlight: Unplug With Us
- April Spotlight: National Public Health Week
- Southborough Spotlight
- Community Conversations: Healthy Relationship Building with Algonquin
- Community Calendar (Spring Update on the Community Needs Assessment)
- Financial and Need-Based Services
- Appendix
- Details on SYFS’ Mental Health Services
- SYFS Info Sessions (topics they cover and “delivery options” for getting their information/training)
- More resources and details for Financial Needs support
- Info on the Youth Commission and Friends of the Youth Commission (including a plea for volunteers)
You can read the full newsletter here.
