Newsletter

Spring 2022

Wood County Prevention Coalition

MISSION

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.

VISION

Helping youth be drug-free, responsible, and productive citizens.

Mark Your Calendar

Mark your calendar for our next meeting: Friday, June 10, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at the Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Drive, Bowling Green.

Amy Carles, Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, will join us that day with a presentation revealing a host of resources related to utility issues (this is extremely valuable information for all with clients).

Also, Jennifer Lovelace of the Wood County Health Department (WCHD) and Bennett Minchen of Masimo will do a presentation on the Bridge Device which is a non-drug withdrawal option WCHD is now using for opiate withdrawal.

Meeting notices 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!

Download the 2022 WCPC Meeting Schedule

Drug-Free Communities Grant Updates

Spring is upon us! In this season, there are added opportunities to inform, connect and strategize--all in the name of prevention! Here are a few examples of how the Coalition actively collaborated this past Winter:

Provided "Tobacco Stinks" lollipops (for distribution) to Wood County Prevention Education Specialists, Family & Community Partnership Liaison, Bowling Green State University Alcohol & Other Drug Advisory Committee (for the St. Patrick's Day downtown booth) and the Wood County Juvenile Detention Center. And, we utilized Wood County Educational Service Center Living Classroom volunteers to assemble multi-flavored packages of these lollipops!
Delivered a large supply of "Why Animals Don't Smoke" Activity and Coloring books to The Wellness Connection at Bowling Green State University for the Pajama Party and Big Playground events. These same books were also given to Wood County Health Department, area churches, Children's Resource Center, Wood County public elementary schools, various childhood daycare centers and parochial schools, Wood County's Juvenile Detention Center, the Cocoon Shelter, the general public and several other agencies/individuals.
Launched Bowling Green Community Foundation and Drug-Free Communities-funded Safe Celebrations 2022.This project brings together Wood County Prevention Education staff, Bowling Green Police Division (BGPD) and Bowling Green High School Administration. The project educates students and their parents on safely celebrating prom/post-prom and graduation. And, it provides for added police presence on prom night.
Partnered with the Wood County Addiction Response Collaborative (ARC) to do a Safe Drug Disposal Program at the Wood County Committee on Aging (Bowling Green site). ARC presented and the Coalition provided free Deterra packets and drug drop box magnets to those who attended. More of these events are scheduled for the Spring!
Leveraged the Coalition's Prevention Action Alliance Problem Gambling grant funds alongside the anti-gambling dollars awarded to WCESC. We teamed up with Wood County Educational Service Center's (WCESC) Prevention Education Program to launch a problem gambling media campaign, fund the purchase of educational supplies and training for Prevention Education Specialists.
Provided City of Bowling Green Police Division and Rossford Police Department programmable age verification calendars for retailers to help determine if a customer is old enough to legally purchase tobacco and alcohol products.
Contracted with Wood County Sheriff's Office to do alcohol, vaping and tobacco compliance checks.

If your agency is interested in a collaborative activity with the Coalition, please contact us! We welcome the opportunity to discuss your ideas further!

Partnering with Madison Weilnau and Kaleb Smith of the Wood County Addiction Response Collaborative on a safe drug disposal program

Our spring intern from BGSU--Grace Scharte displaying some of her creative handiwork for our Safe Celebrations project

WCESC Living Classroom volunteers assembling packages (February 2022)

2022 Wood County Youth Survey Results

Wood County's survey first launched in 2004 and takes place every other year. In the fall of 2021, students in 5th-12th grades in all 10 of Wood County's public school systems participated in this survey. Tabulation of results began late last year with publication occurring in February.

Wood County is notably fortunate to have this wonderful mechanism to gauge youth substance use and mental health issues. Coalition staff found out first hand--during last year's attendance of CADCA's National Coalition Academy--many coalitions do not have such a survey in place yet.

Check it out!

Our 2022 Video Release was produced and filmed by recent Bowling Green State University graduate Josiah Barnes. He contacted us late last year, asked if we had any volunteer videography projects available, and we took him up on use of his superb talents. Thank you, Josiah!!!

Volunteer videographer, Josiah Barnes

Scenes from our 2022 Video Release

Join Our Advocacy Committee!

The Wood County Prevention Coalition (WCPC) is establishing an Advocacy Committee in order to educate lawmakers about prevention and relative public health issues. Volunteers are our best source of advocating for prevention and matters related to sound public health. Legislators, public officials and citizens often take a volunteer's word far more seriously than that of paid Coalition staff. Advocates lend their voices in an effort to improve others’ lives.

Time commitment is tailored on your ability to participate. WCPC staff will provide guidance and support in your efforts. Our Coalition's President, Francesca Leass, recently served as an advocate, representing us virtually at CADCA's Capital Hill Day. Like her, your efforts can result in a safer, healthier Wood County, Ohio! Perhaps you and/or someone you know is interested in this worthy endeavor. To learn more, please contact Tina Bradley, Drug-Free Communities Grant Coordinator.

If you cannot participate on our Advocacy Committee, there are other ways you can advocate on behalf of the Wood County Prevention Coalition...

Follow us on Twitter (WoodCPCoalition);
Like and share as many of our Twitter posts as possible;
Like/follow us on Facebook (WCPCoalition);
Like and share as many of our Facebook posts as possible;
Follow us on Instagram (wcpcohio);
Like and share as many of our Instagram posts as possible;
Share our seasonal newsletters with co-workers, friends and family; and/or
Help us recruit Advocacy Committee members by telling others about this opportunity.

In advance, thank you for your worthy support of this vital cause!

Coalition President Francesca Leass served as an advocate during CADCA's virtual Capital Hill Day--representing us in dialogues with legislators.

Recent CADCA NCA Graduation

Pictured (left to right) Pat Castillo, VP of Training, National Coalition Institute, Jeannie Hovland, CADCA Board Member, Tina Bradley WCPC Coordinator, Francesca Leass, WCPC President and Barrye L. Price, President and CEO, CADCA

On January 31, 2022, the Wood County Prevention Coalition graduated from the CADCA National Coalition Institute in the Potomac Ballroom of the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center, National Harbor, MD. Coalition Coordinator Tina Bradley and President Francesca Leass were in attendance to receive this honor. CADCA President and CEO General Barrye Price addressed the graduates and Jeannie Hovland, CADCA Board Member and Member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe served as keynote speaker.

The National Coalition Academy (NCA) is a comprehensive training program developed by CADCA’s National Coalition Institute and teaches leaders “what they need to know” (the core competencies) and “what their team needs to do” (the essential processes) to establish or maintain a highly effective anti-drug coalition.

The NCA is designed specifically for coalition staff and volunteer leadership. It combines three weeks of virtual classroom training, three reinforcement on-line sessions and access to a web-based workstation. The Academy’s training curriculum is organized within SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework.

The Wood County Prevention Coalition completed the year-long training and met the requirement of developing essential products (1) a community assessment, (2) a logic model, (3) a strategic & action plan, (4) an evaluation plan and (5) a sustainability plan.

Save Lives: Dispose of Unused, Expired Medications

One might ask what difference the disposal of unused, expired medications might make. According to the results of our 2022 Wood County ADAMHS Youth Survey, students' abuse of prescription painkillers is on the rise in comparison to prior years. Understanding youth access to these drugs is the key to preventing accidental poisoning, overdose and addiction. Properly secure your medications and ensure you dispose of all unwanted, expired items.

Three Great Options for Safe Drug Disposal

1) Mark your calendars for the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day--taking place Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get added information here.

2) Deterra is a safe, easy-to-use, at-home drug deactivation option. To learn more, watch this Deterra Drug Deactivation System Tutorial video. Wood County, Ohio residents and agencies in need of Deterra packets... The Wood County Prevention Coalition has them available to you--FREE of cost. Contact us to arrange pick-up of your packets, today.

3) Wood County is also fortunate to have six prescription drug drop boxes! The graphic below provides added detail. These boxes provide safe, 24-hours-a-day/365-days-a-year (no questions asked) medication disposal.