The Bridge Center for Health Education

Parents and caregivers, va**ng has changed, and knowing what kids are being exposed to is more important than ever.

Join us for 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙞𝙧: 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙑𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜, a FREE virtual conversation designed to give you the facts and practical tools you need to talk with the young people in your life about va**ng and to***co-free choices.

We'll talk about:
• What today's va**ng products look like
• What's really inside a v**e
• How ni****ne affects the developing brain
• Signs parents should be aware of
• How to start the conversation without lecturing or accusing
• What to do if you discover your child is already va**ng

We’re offering 4 different virtual sessions, so choose the date and time that works best for you!

FREE | VIRTUAL | OPEN TO PARENTS & CAREGIVERS

🔗 Ready to join the conversation? Click the link in our bio to register!
Presented through the HYPE Breathe Free Initiative, a program of The Bridge Center for Health Education.

**ng **ngPrevention

We had a great time last night at Booker T. Washington High School’s Back to School Open House! 💜💛

It was wonderful connecting with students, families, faculty, and staff as everyone gets ready for a new school year. We were excited to share information about both our HYPE Program and HYPE Breathe Free Initiative and the ways these programs support young people in making healthy choices, building life skills, and staying to***co-free.

Thank you to Booker T. Washington High School for welcoming The Bridge Center for Health Education and allowing us to be part of such a great evening. We’re looking forward to another great year of working with the BTW family! 🦅

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬

A new school year is a fresh start. It is a chance to learn, grow, and make choices that support your future.

One of the best decisions you can make is to stay 𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗽𝗲-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲.

Va**ng companies often make their products look fun or harmless, but ni****ne can affect focus, memory, mood, and the developing brain. Your future is worth protecting.

This year, choose to:
𝘍𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴.
𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘴.
𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴.
𝘉𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.

Let's make this school year one of confidence, healthy choices, and reaching your full potential.

We're still reflecting on Wednesday morning's incredible 𝙉𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 and 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 session at 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱 '26.

Campers learned about the many places Nurses can work and the wide variety of career opportunities within the Nursing profession. They also discovered how Medical Laboratory Scientists play a vital role behind the scenes by providing the testing and results that help healthcare providers diagnose, treat, and care for patients.

The session was packed with hands-on learning as campers practiced collecting and testing a urine sample, learned how to use a windlass rod tourniquet, and discovered how blood is tested to determine blood type.

Thank you to our presenters for providing another engaging experience and helping campers see the many ways they can make a difference in healthcare!

One of the most impactful experiences of 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱 '26 was participating in a 𝙋𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 alongside Auburn University Nursing students.

Through this interactive activity, campers experienced some of the real-life challenges individuals and families may face when trying to access healthcare, transportation, food, housing, and other essential resources. The simulation encouraged participants to think critically, work together, and better understand how social and economic factors can affect a person's health and well-being.

A heartfelt thank you to the Nursing students, staff, and volunteers for leading this meaningful experience and helping our campers gain a deeper appreciation for empathy, compassion, and patient-centered care. Experiences like these help shape not only future healthcare professionals, but future healthcare leaders.

Yesterday morning, our campers had an incredible opportunity to visit the 𝙀𝙙𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙑𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙊𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚 (𝙑𝘾𝙊𝙈)!

Campers heard firsthand from VCOM medical students about what it's really like to pursue a career in medicine, including the path to medical school and the key differences between DOs and MDs. They also toured the campus, explored the learning environment, and stepped into the role of a medical student through hands-on experiences, including intubation and practice with a surgical simulator.

A huge thank you to the VCOM students and staff for giving our campers an inside look at medical education and inspiring the next generation of physicians!

Discovery MedCamp '26 got off to a great start yesterday with our first session on 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙝-𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮!

Campers explored how speech-language pathologists and audiologists help people of all ages improve communication, hearing, and overall quality of life. They also heard from our presenters about their personal journeys, including the education, training, and experiences that led them to pursue these careers.

A big thank you to our Auburn University student presenters for sharing their knowledge, experiences, and passion while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals!

The wait is over—Discovery MedCamp '26 starts today!

We're excited to welcome this year's campers for a week of hands-on learning, healthcare career exploration, and unforgettable experiences. From meeting healthcare professionals to discovering new career possibilities, it's going to be an incredible week!

Stay tuned as we share highlights and behind-the-scenes moments from Discovery MedCamp '26!

We enjoyed spending time with the members of the 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 in Fort Mitchell last week as part of our HYPE Breathe Free program!

During our 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙏𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤-𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚 presentation, we discussed how to***co and va**ng products have changed over the years, why young people are especially vulnerable to ni****ne addiction, and how parents, grandparents, and other trusted adults can have meaningful conversations that encourage healthy, to***co-free choices.

Prevention is most effective when entire families are involved, and we're grateful for the opportunity to equip older adults with the knowledge and confidence to help guide the next generation.

Thank you to the Russell County Senior Center for welcoming us and for your commitment to building healthier communities!

Spread the word!

Join us for a special men's health event hosted by the ADPH Office of Community Affairs! Enjoy engaging activities, connect with others, and receive a free lunch on Friday, June 12, from 10:30 AM to 1 PM. The event will take place at 11 South Union Street, Room 200, Montgomery, AL. This event is exclusively for men and is open to the public. Reserve your spot now at: form.jotform.com/260604892252053. Don't miss out!