Spring is an exciting time for teens. The weather improves, there are proms to attend and outside activities abound.

With consideration for safety and good judgment when it comes to proms, HCI is proud to sponsor a Teen Driver Safety Event at Penncrest High School on Friday, April 18th.

The presentation is funded through a grant from State Farm Insurance Company to Riddle Memorial Hospital. Utilizing Riddle EMT’s, local Fire Companies, PA State Police, County Emergency Staff, and Penn Star Helicopter Services, students will be witnessing a Mock Crash with all the bells and whistles as well as the emotions. Kids in the HCI Club, SADD and Physical Education Classes will have roles as actors and provide tech support. The event is designed to be powerful, emotional and real enough to get teens to think long and hard about the choices they make when driving and getting into a car when the driver is ‘under the influence’. Of course, prom time isn’t the only opportunity for teens to make good decisions about driver safety- every single day they face these choices and this event will drive home that message.

There are plenty of outside activities coming up and HCI wants to make sure you mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26 th when the HCI 1 st Annual Music Fest will debut at Penncrest with bands performing all day and entertaining attendees at the Laxapalooza Games. The HCI Club is hosting this daylong music event and invites everyone to come by to see and hear the best bands, individual singers and artistic performances our youth have to offer! The fun begins at 11am and runs till 7pm.

HCI is dedicated to the safety of our community with a focus on youth and the choices they make when it comes to risky behaviors. Everyone in our community has a role to play in sending this message of thoughtful and careful decision-making. Building assets in youth must happen daily- starting in their homes and continuing in classrooms, on sports teams, in clubs, and of course, in the community where they shop, work, and live. By providing programs and events to promote positive development and behaviors in our teens, HCI demonstrates how to build assets and communicate compassion and concern for youth.

HCI can’t do this alone and the message is loud and clear with any incidence of violence, drug or alcohol abuse, bullying, or car crashes- our work is never done and must continue every day.

For information on HCI and the 40 Developmental Assets, visit www.hci-rtm.org