Dear Friends,

Last Wednesday, Prevention Links and many of our partners gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Rise Up Community Center in Plainfield, NJ, marking a significant milestone in our mission to foster a stronger, healthier community.

As a chronically underserved part of Union County, Prevention Links has been working toward establishing a home base in Plainfield for several years but struggled to secure funding and to find an accessible location for those we serve. 

This dream became a reality thanks to generous funding and unwavering support from the County of Union, the County Commissioners, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Their contributions have provided the foundation for a center that will serve as a vital resource for individuals and families in need. The Rise Up Community Center represents the power of collaboration and community support.

Our ribbon-cutting ceremony was a celebration of the many supporters and partners who have played a crucial role in making this vision a reality. We are deeply grateful to NJ4S Union, Senior Center of Plainfield, City of Plainfield, Second Street Youth Center, United Family & Children’s Society, Community in Crisis, Proceed INC., Organization for Recovery, Urban League, NJPN, Atlantic Health System, Trinitas/RWJ-BH, NJ State Parole Board, and the City of Elizabeth. Your support and collaboration have been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing our work together to positively impact our community.

The Rise Up Community Center is more than just a building; it is a hub of hope, healing, and support. We offer a wide range of services and programs designed to meet the needs of our community, including:

• Peer Support
• Drug User Health Resources
• Case Management
• Naloxone Distribution
• Transportation and Linkage to Substance Use Treatment
• Recovery Support
• Mental Health Services

Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming space where individuals can find the resources and support they need to thrive.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Open House and to all our supporters who have believed in this vision from the beginning. Your commitment and passion make this possible.

Let’s continue to rise up together and create a brighter future for all.

P.S. You can read the official press release by clicking here

Red Ribbon Day

Save the date for October 12, 2024! Red Ribbon Day is already in the works and we need your help to reach out $55,000 fundraising goal!

Whether you're walking for the Prevention Awareness Walk, starting a peer-to-peer fundraiser, sponsoring, or spreading the word - we want you to join us in our mission.

Everyone Knows Someone, Help Prevent the Next One.

Program Highlights

Overdose Awareness Vigil & BBQ

🗓️ TOMORROW August 2nd 4pm-8pm

📍 Johnson Park, Picnic Grove 2, River Rd, Piscataway

Join our Vision of Hope Recovery Center TOMORROW for an Overdose Awareness BBQ, followed by a vigil memorial as we come together to honor lives lost and support those affected by overdose. Let's unite in remembrance, spread awareness, and promote healing.

RSVP by emailing visionofhope@preventionlinks.org

Our NJ4S Union Hub partnered up with Good Grief, Inc to train our team with their Foundations Training, Advanced Clinical Training, and Good Grief Groups Training. These trainings equip our team with the tools and knowledge to support grieving individuals and families in our community.

Together, we are building a stronger, more compassionate network to ensure that no one has to grieve alone. 💜

End Overdose Jersey City

🗓️ August 28th 10am-4pm

📍 Journal Square Path Station at 1 Path Plaza, Jersey City, NJ

Join our Recovery Junction Recovery Center for our 3rd Annual International Overdose Awareness Day in Jersey City! No registration required. We will be hosting naloxone demonstrations, sharing stories of hope, and honoring loved ones lost. Make sure to stop by and visit a resource table from one of our many community partners.

Prevention Links is a private, non-profit organization with a history dating back to 1971. With community being defined as any environment where people live, work, or learn, the goal of Prevention Links is to pull together all available resources to eliminate the deleterious effects of drugs, alcohol, violence, and inadequate educational and health institutions in our communities

Our mission is to foster healthy sustainable communities by empowering people through education, collaboration and by serving as the linkage to resources.



Thank You to Our Sponsors