It is Prom and Senior Dinner Dance season, but along with that comes responsibility. G. Ray Bodley’s students had the opportunity to talk with multiple organizations that work toward making prom season safe for everyone. On May 1 and 2, the commons area in front of the auditorium was packed with tables of many resources so all students know what is available for them.

Among the many organizations was Services to Aid Families. SAF presenter Alise Tallents said, “I think the resource fair is important because a lot of times younger kids just don’t know how much they can access as minors. For example, students don’t need parental permission to use most of our services. Some examples of what SAF provides for students are general counseling services, rape crisis services, safety planning in school, a shelter, and a 24-hour crisis hotline.

OCO Health Education was represented at the fair by Sarah Bartholomew and Mackenzie Wilton. They were not only handing out information but also t-shirts to help spread the word about what they can offer to students. Bartholomew told students attending prom, “Make smart choices, remember not to drink and drive, and if you’re going to make adult decisions, make sure you’re being safe.” Health Education can provide transportation to appointments for birth control, condom deliveries, STD testing, support for the LGBTQ community, and more.

Teen Health Issues Educator Chelsea Spier, who coordinated the event, said, “I wanted to provide as many resources beyond just what I can provide for students and I wanted to make them accessible to all students, despite their schedule or grade level.” She also mentioned how important it is to make healthy decisions throughout the rest of the school year and summer, too.

The other organizations that were present were Farnham, OCO Homeless Services, Liberty Resources, Fulton Fire Department, Fulton Police Department, Reality Check, OCO Center for Reproductive Health, Youth Bureau, Oswego County Mediation Program, and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Hopefully students took advantage of the resource fair, but remember there are a lot of services within our school and the community that can ensure everyone makes healthy decisions.