For July key dates and events, we supply links to helpful resources from event sponsors or topical experts. Some links include tool kits with social media messages and graphics that could be used in newsletters, intranets, or other employee communications,
National Park & Recreation Month
The National Park & Recreation Association is celebrating its 40th year of sponsoring National Park & Recreation Month. This year’s theme, “Build Together, Play Together, ” is a reminder of the contributions of more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — who maintain our country’s close-to-home parks.
Check out this year’s toolkit with fact sheets, social media posts, and more.
Don’t forget about our wonderful network of national parks and state parks!
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
For Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. the Arthritis Foundation says, “Juvenile arthritis refers to rheumatic diseases in children aged 16 and younger. These diseases are not just adult diseases in children; they have many distinctions and are treated differently than in adults. The most common is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (previously known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis), and they include juvenile psoriatic arthritis, pediatric lupus and a number of others.”
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of chronic, or long-lasting, arthritis that affects children. It happens when the immune system attacks healthy joint tissues. JIA may last a few months or years, or it may be a lifelong disease. JIA broadly refers to several different chronic disorders involving inflammation of joints (arthritis), which can cause: Joint pain, swelling, warmth, stiffness, and loss of motion.
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
July’s commemorates the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, who was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities.
MHA’s 2025 BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit is available for download in English and Spanish. It is designed to help individuals and organizations in communities of color turn awareness into action. Whether you’re looking for ways to feel better or do better, you’ll find resources that support action in three key areas:
- Taking care of yourself
- Finding and taking care of your community
- Advocating to make mental health a priority.
Independence Day
July 4 is a national holiday that launches the summer. In all the holiday celebrations – barbecues, beach days, and backyard gatherings – we can sometimes forget the true meaning of the day. Check out Independence Day from the Library of Congress for the true meaning of the day with historical context. In terms of celebrations,
AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Independence Day holiday period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019.
UV Awareness Month
Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. If you have skin cancer, it is important to know which type of skin cancer you have because it affects your treatment options and your outlook (prognosis). Take the Skin Cancer Quiz to learn more. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends that the public Practice Safe Sun year-round by following three simple steps while outdoors: 1. Seek shade when appropriate. 2. Wear sun-protective clothing 3. Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. They offer information on what to wear to protect your skin from the sun and how to decode sunscreen labels.
ESI EAP Member Webinar for July
How can parents make sure kids are using social media safely and appropriately? In Social Media for Parents, learn how to keep an open line of communication regarding your child’s activity online, ensure privacy, establish boundaries, and monitor healthy usage. To access this Webinar and related resources, simply log in to the member Self-Help Resource Center at www.theEAP.com during July to view the webinar and explore related resources.
Other Key July Dates & Events:
- Healthy Vision Month
- Sarcoma Awareness Month
- International GBS Awareness Month!
- July 22 – World Brain Day
- July 25 – World Drowning Prevention Day
- July 26 – ADA 35th Anniversary
- July 27 – National Parents Day
- July 28 – World Hepatitis Day