The UTMB Nursing Staff of Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a Pink Out Celebration on October 12th.  Nursing staff organized educational activities for the girls as well as staff to teach them the importance of lowering risks and early prevention of breast cancer.  TJJD and UTMB staff dressed in pink ribbon t-shirts that were sold by the Employee Appreciation Committee and a percentage of the sales was given to the American Cancer Society.  The entire campus was decked out in pink for the event.

Decorations lined the street leading up to the facility.  The girls and any staff that wore pink were given pink bracelets in honor of breast cancer awareness month.  The satellite clinic in the school was decorated with pink balloons, crepe paper, and all sorts of pink banners.  All of the girls and staff on campus were invited to come in small groups to the clinic for pink ribbon cake, pink cookies, and pink punch.  The youth were educated about the risks of breast cancer, as well as signs and symptoms of cancer, and preventative measures.  As part of the pink ribbon celebration, the girls played educational games to test their learning.  Prizes were given to individuals who answered questions correctly.  All attendees were given a demonstration of a self breast exam and encouraged to do them monthly.

Prior to the celebration, each dorm was given a blank poster board with instructions to create a poster that was creative as well as showing an emotional impact that demonstrates the theme “Stand Up to Breast Cancer”.  The posters presented were then judged by these criteria.  Winners will receive a pizza party and all who presented a poster will be invited to an ice cream float party.  The posters were all sensational and left an impact on the staff with the stories that they told of lives of people they knew who had been affected by breast cancer.

The staff and youth seemed to all enjoy their day, but more importantly they learned about breast cancer and what they can do to lower the risks of this terrible disease.

Pictured at top – Ron Jackson Employees are Proud in Pink

Pictured below – Health Services Administrator, Debra D. Dean RN, FNM, CCHP; Thomas Adamski, Superintendent of Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex; and Director of Clinical & Administrative programs , Sandra Ferrara, RN, MBA