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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 8 May 2019

Melania Trump unveils steps

to make 'Be Best' even best-er

WASHINGTON (AP) — A with her second interna- clude children of all ages,
year after launching her tional trip to promote its instead of just babies born
first major initiative, Melania goals. She withheld the dependent on opioids and
Trump unveiled plans Tues- destination, however, say- other addictive substanc-
day to make her "Be Best" ing the "details are still com- es, and their mothers. The
children's program even ing together." social media aspect will be
best-er. Mrs. Trump launched "Be expanded to add online
New steps in the first lady's Best" a year ago to focus safety to the emphasis on
second-year push include on child well-being, social bullying and good citizen-
First lady Melania Trump speaks during a program for her "Be broadening the program's media use and drug abuse. ship online.
Best" initiative in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday,
May 7, 2019, in Washington. focus on drug abuse and She said she has spent the In the past year, the first
Associated Press social media use, along time since listening to and lady promoted "Be Best" in
learning from parents, med- 15 states and nine coun-
ical professionals, teachers, tries, including during a
leaders in the fields of tech- weeklong Africa tour last
nology and social media fall. She has visited hospi-
and many others, and de- tals and schools, partici-
clared that she is ready for pated in children's events,
more of that give and take. participated in 18 round-
In a short video that played tables and policy briefings
on monitors in the Rose Gar- and met with more than 30
den before she emerged foreign officials, she said.
from the Oval Office to kick She said the U.S. Agency
things off, the first lady said for International Develop-
many children have writ- ment, which partnered
ten her to express concerns with her on last October's
about drug abuse and on- stops in Ghana, Malawi,
line safety. Kenya and Egypt, appoint-
"I'm ready for all of the work ed a "Be Best" ambassador
that is still to be done," she in March, and she called
said in the video. on federal government
She also invoked her twin agencies that collaborate
roles as first lady and moth- with her to follow suit.
er of a 13-year-old. She did "My hope is that together
not mention her son, Bar- we can be the best at help-
ron, on Tuesday, but has ing children and families
said in the past that she find effective ways to edu-
has conversations with him cate themselves and be-
about the harm caused by come part of the solution
drug abuse and addiction. to so many problems and
Mrs. Trump celebrated "Be issues," the first lady said.
Best's" anniversary in the Stephen Balkam, founder
sun-splashed Rose Garden, and chief executive of-
the same place where she ficer of the Family Online
launched the initiative in Safety Institute, applauded
May 2018. President Don- the first lady's shift to focus
ald Trump watched from a on online safety, calling it
front-row seat and left the a "smart move" that could
spotlight to his wife. He did draw attention to a larger
not speak. Guests included set of issues, ranging from
Cabinet secretaries who the amount of time children
support the initiative, White spend in front of screens to
House officials, representa- "sexting."
tives of social media com- "I am encouraged," said
panies and others. Balkam, whose internation-
Mrs. Trump said she has al nonprofit group tries to
broadened the program's help children and families
focus on drug abuse to in- avoid dangers online.q