The National Family Partnership has begun its 27 annual Red Ribbon Week.

The week, which runs from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31, is the nation’s largest drug prevention campaign in the country. It began in 1985, after the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique Camarena brought parents, youth and teachers together to raise awareness regarding the destruction caused by drugs. They began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to the cause.

This year, families can get involved by entering a contest to promote awareness in their own neighborhoods and win a drug prevention grant for their schools.

Families can enter Red Ribbon Week’s contest to win a $1,000 grant for their school and a new iPad for their home. To particpate in the contest, families and student must decorate the front of their homes with this year’s message: The Best Me is Drug Free.

Studies show that substance abuse risks lessen when parents talk to their children about the dangers of drugs, and the goal of this year’s contest is to encourage families to talk about prevention.

Students can bring the Red Ribbon Week message home by working alongside parents to decorate their front door, mailbox, fence and other portions of the house with the theme. Take a photo with the family and the decorations, then parents, or children over the age of 18, can upload the photo to www.redribbon.org/contest or www.facebook.com/RedRibbonWeek by Nov. 2 to be eligible in the voting process.

Anyone can vote, between Nov. 2 and Nov. 16, by visiting www.redribbon.org/vote. 10 winners be selected and announced at events at their winning schools in December.