Healthy habits, new legislation, valentines and scholarships

health services. Recommended by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council due to high rates of substance abuse, House Bill 1009 would create statewide recommended best practices for schools to help students abusing substances.

Send valentines from Loveland be postmarked on the day received. Learn more at loveland.org/programs/ valentine-re-mailing-program.

Scholarship for high school seniors

5210+ Challenge this month

With February comes

UCHealth’s annual 5210+ Challenge where elementary students, staff and families are encouraged to develop healthy lifelong habits. Prize money is awarded to schools with the highest percentage of participants. The program challenges participants to accomplish the following each day of the month: eat five (5) servings of fruits/vegetables; watch two (2) hours or less of screen time; get one (1) hour or more of physical activity; drink zero (0) sugary drinks; plus (+) sleep nine or more hours. Participating schools will send information home with students and families can learn more at www. healthykidsclub.org.

New legislative bills address youth mental health & substance abuse

Colorado’s 2023 legislative session began with several new bills addressing youth mental health and substance abuse:

Senate Bill 4 (leg. colorado.gov/bills/sb23004 ) would remove the requirement for school mental health professionals to have both a professional license and a state education license.

House Bill 1003 (leg. colorado.gov/bills/hb231003) would create a voluntary state health department program to provide mental health assessments/referrals for students in grades 6–12.

House Bill 1007 (leg.colorado.gov/bills/ hb23-1007) would require colleges/universities to include suicide prevention hotlines on student ID cards and/or distribute information as each semester begins to ensure students know how to access mental

For 77 years, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Postal Service have provided the Loveland Valentine Re-mailing Program, where more than 120,000 valentines are sent each year worldwide with a Sweetheart City postmark. Purchase the official 2023 card for $5 at the Loveland Visitors Center (5400 Stone Creek Circle) or online at loveland.org/purchasevalentine-cards, or drop your own valentines off by February 2 for International; February 7 for Continental U.S.; and February 9 for Colorado destinations. All valentines dropped on or before February 4 will be postmarked and mailed February 4. Every day after February 4, valentines will

Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) increased its annual scholarship to $6,000 for students interested in pursuing careers in the electric energy industry. The Roy J. Rohla Memorial Scholarship is offered through the RMEL Foundation and is open to students enrolled in a four-year university or working toward an associate degree, as well as graduating high school seniors interested in pursuing electrical energy studies. Applications are due by February 24. All applicants must have a permanent home address within PRPA’s four owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont or Loveland. Learn more at www.prpa. org/news-releases/platteriver-increases-annualscholarship-offering.