Wood County Prevention Coalition
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We are a coalition of compassionate community members working together to coordinate high quality programs for the prevention of youth substance abuse in Wood County.
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Helping youth be drug-free, responsible, and productive citizens.
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Mark your calendar now for our next Wood County Prevention Coalition/Addiction Task Force meeting: Friday, March 25, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
Carol Baden, Community Health Advisor for RecoveryOhio, will join us! Her presentation is entitled, "Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's RecoveryOhio."
Bill Ivoska, PhD, will also present the outcomes of the 2022 Wood County Youth Survey. You won't want to miss out on our County's latest trends related to youth substance abuse.
Meeting notices with a Zoom link will be sent out, but please invite others to attend as well. Those not on our email distribution list should contact Tina Bradley at tbradley@wcesc.org to be added. All are welcome!
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Major General Barrye Price, PhD., President and CEO of CADCA joined us at our December 2021 Coalition meeting!
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Drug-Free Communities Grant Updates
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Happy 2022, and welcome to this uniquely beautiful season!
For those who were able to join us at our December 10, 2021 meeting, you already know the exciting news... Our Coalition is graduating from CADCA's National Coalition Academy later this month. Wood County Prevention Coalition Coordinator Tina Bradley, President Francesca Leass, and Wood County Educational Service Center Prevention Education Manager Angela Patchen will travel to National Harbor, MD later this month to receive this honor during CADCA's National Leadership Forum. Our extreme gratitude to each of you who provided data, interviewed, shared insights and/or participated in forums last summer. You made this landmark achievement possible for our Coalition.
October 23-31, 2021 marked last year's Red Ribbon Week. During this important week, our Coalition provided banners for each of Wood County's public schools. Spear-headed by Wood County Educational Service Center's Prevention Specialists, some of the many activities within the schools, that week, included spirit week observances, dodgeball tournaments, the distribution of drug-free statement bracelets, contests, and students pledging to live drug-free lives.
A few noteworthy announcements related to marketing... Check out our new brochure and promotional flyer at the bottom on this newsletter (simply click the photos to access these items). If you would like a supply of both (or either), please email tbradley@wcesc.org. Also, take a moment to watch our Coalition's commercial! It was made possible by Prevention Education funding from the Wood County ADAMHS Board, aired in the fall of 2021, and will run again this year. And, if you have not perused our new website, it is worth your effort to do so. For those who remember our old website, you will surely see the upgrade! Lastly, WCPC merchandizing items were distributed by Prevention Education staff at various events over the past months to include the Wood County Fair, Pemberville Free Fair and the trunk-or-treat at NAMI's AfterBurn.
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2021 Wood County Fair Display for WCPC
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WCESC Prevention Ed. Specialists distributing WCPC promo items last Fall
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Poster Contests Marked a Few of Wood County's Many
Red Ribbon Week 2021 Activities
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Various Drug Disposal Options Available
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Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs reduces the risk of accidental poisoning and substance misuse, abuse. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, medicines are the most common poison exposure category in the U.S. and unfortunately, when medicines are not stored or discarded properly, people can get sick and/or die.
In Wood County, there are various mechanisms available for easy drug disposal available. Most notable are the drug drop boxes and Deterra packets.
Wood County boasts five drug drop box locations (no questions asked) that are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Those locations are:
Bowling Green Police Division
175 W. Wooster Street
Perrysburg Police Department
300 Walnut Street
Perrysburg Township Police Department
26611 Lime City Road
Wood County Sheriff's Office
1960 E. Gypsy Lane Road
North Baltimore Police Department
203 N. Main Street
Deterra Drug Deactivation System is an easy-to-use drug-disposal kit--deactivating drugs--effectively, safely and quickly. Wood County Prevention Coalition has an ample supply of Deterra--available free of cost. These packets are great for parents, grandparents--anyone who wants to dispose of unused drugs easily and safely in the privacy of one's own home. To arrange (in advance, please) for your free Deterra pick-up (at the Wood County Educational Service Center), contact Tina Bradley at tbradley@wcesc.org or (419) 354-9010, ext. 174.
Please help us spread the word about these options for safe, free (no questions asked) drug disposal. Your efforts could save lives!
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Volunteers logo labeling Deterra for the Coalition - Fall 2021
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Free Youth Prevention Activity Books and Anti-Vape/Nicotine Posters...
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Coffee mugs, key chains and bumper stickers are fabulous promotional tools for our Coalition as they alert others of our presence and mission. A recent assessment of stock materials, however, revealed a lack of educational giveaway items for the youngest members of our community. That recently changed when a healthy supply of youth activity booklets entitled, "Why Animals Don't Smoke" was acquired. These booklets are being distributed in Wood County elementary schools, agencies serving youth/families and will be made available at future events where the Coalition will have a presence.
For those in Wood County, we welcome you to request a supply (free of charge) for your children, students or clientele--in an effort to educate youth about the dangers of smoking. To request your free activity books, simply contact tbradley@wcesc.org.
We also have a free supply of anti-vape and anti-nicotine posters available to agencies/organizations in Wood County. These 11” W x 17” H posters are in unique sets of four and can be flipped to display in both English and in Spanish. Just contact Tina at the email address above if interested in receiving a supply of these posters.
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Non-Federal Monies Awarded for 2022
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December 2021 was an exciting time for the Wood County Prevention Coalition (WCPC)! In addition to receiving official word of graduation from CADCA's National Coalition Academy, notice was provided of two other grant awards!
The WCPC is the proud recipient of a $3,000 grant from The Bowling Green Community Foundation for a project entitled, "Safe Celebrations 2022." This collaborative endeavor brings together the Wood County Educational Service Center Prevention Education staff, Bowling Green Police Division and Bowling Green High School (BGHS), and provides added ways in which BGHS students can be safer during landmark moments in their lives--specifically, Prom and Graduation. Grant funding will provide for added police coverage during BGHS Prom and Post-Prom events, a targeted media campaign, in-school signage and banners educating about the dangers of drunk driving/parent hosting of parties where alcohol is served and informational "Parents Who Host Fact Cards" for all parents/guardians with students graduating in 2022. These dollars will be matched with Drug-Free Communities dollars.
The WCPC also received notice of a $15,000 grant award to grow problem gambling prevention efforts in 2022. This grant will feature a media campaign, staff training and educational elements to prevent underage gambling. It will also leverage Wood County ADAMHS funds awarded to WCESC Prevention Education to expand the prevention efforts to Bowling Green State University and the public at large. This grant was made possible with support from Prevention Action Alliance and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
We will keep you apprised as we receive other sources of non-federal funding!
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Below are links to a few resources of potential interest:
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To contact Tina Bradley, M.P.A., Wood County Prevention Coalition Coordinator:
(419) 354-9010 Extension 174
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Wood County Prevention Coalition | Website
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