It's hard to believe it, but the Virtual We Are The Majority Rally is just a week away!

To make it easier for youth and families to tune in, viewers can text RALLY to 56525 and get text reminders and streaming information sent straight to their phones!

We'd like to ask everyone reading this newsletter to help us get out the word about this event that will help encourage youth to be resilient and make healthy choices during these difficult times. They deserve this encouragement, and they need it as they face heightened stressors and have lost the ability to see and socialize in person with friends.

You don't have to share these posts alone. There are videos on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages that you can share, and we've created a set of social media posts for all of those platforms that you're free to borrow and use.

This year's Virtual We Are The Majority Rally speaker is Mike Nicholson, owner of Phlex Fitness and founder of the M. Nicholson Hip-Hop Fitness program. Mike is a true innovator in dance fitness and a celebrated public speaker, which makes him the perfect person to share a message about resiliency and coping to middle and high school students struggling with COVID-19.

In addition to words of inspiration, Mike will teach young people a few of the hip hop dance moves that have attracted 6,500 members to Phlex Fitness's weekly classes. In addition to getting viewers on their feet, Mike's virtual fitness class will also discuss the relationship between exercise and mental health and demonstrate how dance can be used as a positive coping mechanism to resolve stress.

Outside of the Virtual We Are The Majority Rally and Phlex Fitness, you can find Mike Nicholson volunteering at Columbus area schools, hosting special fitness events to raise money for underfunded school programs and sports teams, or spending time with his family, including his wife Emily and his children, Skyler and Evander.

See for yourself! Catch one of Mike's classes on Facebook, YouTube, or learn more about him on his website. And of course, join Mike during the Virtual We Are The Majority Rally on May 15 at 5 p.m.

Abby Collier is the winner of the first ever We Are The Majority Rally Speech Contest! Though she was supposed to give her speech on the Statehouse steps at the in-person rally, Abby will instead be featured in our virtual rally on May 15 at 5 p.m.

When asked to give a preview of her speech, Abby said, "My speech is about how much of an impact my dad being a police officer has made on myself. I share why I have learned how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle and the consequences of not doing so."

In her own words, here's a little bit more about Abby, a seventeen-year-old junior at Dublin Coffman High School:

"I am an ambassador for Dublin ACT Youth Council, (ACT stands for Adolescents and Community Together) this group promotes the drug and alcohol free lifestyle among their peers. I have been involved in this group for three years now and have been an ambassador (a leadership position) for two of those three years...For Dublin ACT, I lead a committee which focuses on educating the parents in the Dublin community about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and how parents can be involved in their children's lives regarding substance use. Being a part of this organization and being able to see how much of an impact this group makes has been a very rewarding experience."

Dr. Georgiann Diniaco is the adult ally for Dublin ACT. You can learn more about the group on their website.

Our office continues to telecommute in order to combat the spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. We’ve also canceled all in-person events between now and May 31st. For a full list of which events have been canceled and all other updates about how we’re responding to COVID-19, please visit our website.

We've made many of our events digital ones, including:

We will continue to evaluate telecommuting and events on an ongoing basis moving forward. Check our website and this newsletter for updates.

The beginning of the next fiscal year is rapidly approaching, which means it's time for members of the Statewide Prevention Coalition Association to renew their membership. However, in light of current events and in an effort to grow coalition capacity across Ohio, we'll be waiving all membership fees for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 1st to June 30th. Whether you're a current SPCA member or want to become one, now you can get one year of membership for free.

Executive Director Position for Urban Minority Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Outreach Program of Franklin County, Inc. (UMADAOPFC)

Job Description

UMADAOPFC is a substance abuse education, prevention and recovery non-profit agency in Columbus, Ohio. The agency focuses on the needs of the African American and at-risk target populations in Franklin county. We provide a foundation to build and rebuild violence and substance free lifestyles, for youth, families and communities.

We’re looking for a highly skilled executive director to help us fulfill this important undertaking. Reporting to the board of directors, the executive director will oversee the strategic and operational efficiency of our programs and staff. This seasoned leader not only understands current trends in the field of substance abuse prevention, but has proven experience in grant writing and developing/implementing a fundraising plan. Prior experience managing and hiring staff is essential, and established relationships with local African American and at-risk communities. Above all, he or she will be comfortable in a leadership role that demands clear communication and decisiveness.

For duties and responsibilities as well as skills and qualifications, please see the posting on ADAMHFranklin.org.

When our life situation becomes stormy, the calm that matters most is the peace we can access internally. This series of talks will provide steps you can take to build your internal reservoir of solace when it’s not available in the outside world and how you can manage difficult emotions. Through acknowledging and accepting our feelings, comforting ourselves in times of difficulty, and recognizing our common humanity, we can weather the difficult challenges that come our way.

Finding Calm in the Storm is a four-part series on resiliency. In order, the parts cover dealing with difficult emotions in times of crisis, managing sadness and grief, managing fear and anxiety, and managing anger and frustration.

Video gaming and gambling have converged for some time now as evidenced by loot boxes and social casino games. But what is the latest research on these and other trends? Do we know how the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed growing digital consumption and an increase in e-sports betting?

Julie Hynes, Executive Director of the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling, will present a webinar covering key things you need to know about youth gaming and gambling, specific risk factors for youth, and how we can address—and leverage—these increasingly important issues.

After attending this webinar, you’ll be able to: 

This 90-minute webinar on Wednesday, May 13th at 11:30 a.m. will provide Ohio based prevention providers with a framework for reviewing your existing prevention services and planning for how to move into a virtual environment. The webinar will provide information and planning tools to use when considering moving each of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention strategies online.

This 90-minute webinar on Wednesday, May 20th, at 11:30 a.m. will provide Ohio based prevention providers with the information and skills to facilitate engaging online meetings and prevention services. We will explore challenges and tips associated with working in online platforms and how to best use them in prevention work.

We're dedicated to our mission of leading healthy communities in the prevention of substance misuse and the promotion of mental health wellness. To that end, we've created fact sheets and infographics that you can use and share to educate your community about prevention. These fact sheets work well in print and online.

We've created resources on the following topics:

As we all adjust to a new normal and cope with the full impacts of COVID-19 we want to remind parents and preventionists across Ohio that we have tools, research, and expertise to support Ohioans of all ages. Prevention Action Alliance wants to share these practical tips that you can use immediately to support a happy, healthy, safe, and drug-free family, home, and community. We’re helping youth emerge happy, healthy, and resilient….because Everyone Has A Role in Prevention.

These Practical Principles, like the one below, are based on the Developmental Asset Framework established by Search Institute. Many factors influence the development and well-being of young people. Young people who have support from their family and community and who hold positive values and good self-esteem are more likely to succeed and make healthy choices. This is true even when traumatic events affect them.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has compiled lists of products and resources for tackling behavioral health challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are resources for supporting public health workers’ mental health, practicing self-care through yoga, leading during times of chaos, providing telehealth services, using text messages as part of treating substance use disorders, and more.

Behavioral healthcare providers are a crucial part of people’s overall health and wellbeing. It isn’t always easy for employees to work or provide services from home for extended periods of time. Employees or clients may not have access to phones, internet, or cell service, and it can be difficult to keep up with all the changes telecommunications companies are making during this time.

The Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has a reference sheet on telecommunications, including where to get free Wi-Fi for those who need it, up-to-date information about how telecommunications companies have changed their policies, and how people with low incomes can get discounted phones and internet.

The Drug Enforcement Agency recently announced the launch of the Secure Your Meds campaign to address the risk of medicine languishing in home medicine cabinets. Medicines left unsecured at home are high susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse, and the DEA is asking families to secure their medicine to keep it safe, secure, and out of reach of children and others in the household.

The DEA has postponed its 2020 Spring Take Back Day due to COVID-19. The federal agency said it will be rescheduled when the health crisis recedes and emergency guidelines are lifted.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?