FBI HOPE PSA CONTEST 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

 PITTSBURGH DIVISION

 

Speak Out to Save Lives!

Public Service Awareness

Video Contest

2020-2021 School Year

FBI Pittsburgh H.O.P.E. (Heroin Outreach Prevention and Education) Initiative

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2020-2021 WINNING ENTRIES!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2019-2020 WINNING ENTRIES!

 

BACKGROUND

Heroin use and the misuse of prescription opioids are increasing in pandemic proportions everywhere, especially here in Western Pennsylvania. Overdose deaths in our area are among one of the highest in the country, and although overdose deaths have made a slight decline in our area, reported overdose rates have not!

 This is a public health crisis that knows no demographic barriers, and we must do all that we can to EDUCATE each other about these dangers, and HELP all who are suffering (including friends and family members!)

 

ABOUT THE CONTEST:

In today’s society, social media is one of the quickest and most efficient ways to raise awareness, especially among teens; so who better to get a message across teens themselves? The FBI Pittsburgh Division’s Community Outreach Program and the FBI Pittsburgh HOPE Initiative has formulated a strategic working group comprised of representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement, education administrators and key community leaders to address solutions to this issue and are focused on reaching all students in Western Pennsylvania. We are striving to formulate proactive solutions through the working group, specifically in Education, Prevention and Awareness methods.

We seek to message the dangerous threat that opioid use poses to the teenage populace by inviting teens in grades 9-12 to form a team, create and submit a 1-3 minute video that focuses on the dangers and consequences of choosing to use opioids.

Please help us Speak Out to Save Lives!

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT!

 

“The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation is proud to support this important initiative in our schools!”

Levitt Legacy Fund

CentiMark Corporation

Please help us Speak Out to Save Lives!!

 

PRIZES INCLUDE:

SIX CHANCES for your team to win in TWO CATEGORIES!

Veteran Winners (Teams who have placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in either category in prior years)

Rookie Winners (Teams who have never placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in either category)

• Levitt Legacy Fund – financial donation to six winning teams
• Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation** – merchandise prize packages of the six winning teams
• CentiMark Corporation – $200 Target & Walmart gift cards to the teachers of the six winning teams

**Prizes sponsored by the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. All monetary prizes to the teachers will be given directly to the winning school district to be earmarked towards enhancement of Teacher Sponsor departmental needs.

 

CONTEST THEME FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR: 

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our world in unpredictable ways. As a result, virtual schooling and social isolation has had a catastrophic effect on mental health and has increased the risk for substance abuse. Overdoses and mental health crises are worsening, and our world continues to present challenges that require us all to reinvent our daily lives, routines, and goals. For this reason, we have decided to tackle a few deeper questions for the contest theme: Through these unsettling times, what are the everyday challenges young adults face this academic year, and why do young adults choose to self-medicate? How can young adults choose a safer coping method? One important message, that is much needed, is the fact that anyone can turn their bad decisions into good ones at any given moment. Here are some categories of general stressors that researchers have found may lead young adults to make bad choices through the pandemic. Teams may choose one of these categories, or choose one not listed below:  

-Increased sense of isolation (Zoom fatigue, screen time fatigue) 

-Anxiety/Depression/Other mental health conditions 

-Break in continuity of learning (delay in accessing resources, therapies, academic supports) 

-Loss of control (lost expectations with school, sports, and activities)  

-New responsibilities (child care, job, housework) 

-Fear of getting sick/family member getting sick 

-Permissive Environment, Family/Domestic Stressors, Economic uncertainty 

 

IMPORTANT DATES/DEADLINES:

Contest Opens: January 19, 2021        

Registration Deadline: February 5, 2021 

Entry Submission: March 12, 2021 

Entries Uploaded to YouTube: March 12, 2021    

Winning PSAs announced: March 26, 2021

 

HOW TO ENTER:

1. REGISTER! Fill out the TEAM REGISTRATION FORM for School/Individual or Team and notify school designated Teacher Sponsor, and turn in by March 12, 2021.
2. READ the OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS If you have any questions, please contact us at 412-432-4488.
3. RESEARCH! 
4. Watch the winning videos from last year to become familiar with the project. Research the topic. Think about the dangerous consequences of opioid use, how the effects can be immediate and fatal, even if the user only tries it one time. Think about how fast addiction can happen when using an opioid, and how rehabilitation is a lifelong struggle. Talk to others about what the best way is to tell people how serious a problem this is, and what type of message would be most effective to stop people from taking this risk, and work to fight the stigma and stereotypes that may stop others from being open to seek help.
5. CREATE your PSA video! It should be at least one minute long, but no more than 3 minutes. You can be as creative as you’d like within the Official Rules and Regulations.
6. UPLOAD! Teacher Sponsors will upload all videos to YouTube by March 12, 2021.

Links to relevant forms:

TEAM REGISTRATION FORM

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

PARENT-GUARDIAN RELEASE FORM

MEDIA RELEASE FORM

ACTOR RELEASE FORM

STANDARD LOCATION RELEASE FORM