Meet Our Board President Bobbie O'Keefe Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page. National Youth Advocate to Speak May 20 at Prevention Action & Advocacy Summit Prevention Action Alliance to Address Racism’s Impacts on Health and Communities at Virtual Event The Rev. Dr. Starsky D. Wilson, the new president and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, will be the keynote speaker May 20 at the Prevention Action & Advocacy Summit on Racism: Promoting Equity Through Culturally Competent Prevention. The virtual summit will explore the impact of racism on health and well-being, on communities and how prevention should be part of the solution to this national crisis. “Racism is a public health crisis that has a negative impact on the physical and mental health and well-being of Black Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Indigenous people and other people of color—especially children. It contributes to serious health issues, such as increased risk of substance misuse and mental health conditions, as well as maternal and infant mortality, diabetes and heart disease, said PAA Executive Director Fran Gerbig. “We are honored to have the Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson of the Children’s Defense Fund address how we can protect our young people from systemic racism and violence, and build a better future for them, their families and our country.” About Our Opening Keynote Speaker Wilson recently joined the Children’s Defense Fund as its leader in December. Previously, he headed the Deaconess Foundation, a faith-based grantmaking organization supporting child well-being in St. Louis through philanthropy, advocacy and organizing for racial equity and public policy change. Under his leadership, Deaconess constructed and established the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being. From 2008 through 2018, Wilson pastored Saint John’s United Church of Christ of St. Louis, where he led activism on many issues. After the police killing of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Mo., he co-chaired the Ferguson Commission. In 2015, they released the “Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equity” report, calling for sweeping changes in policing, the courts, child well-being and economic mobility. Prevention Action Alliance established the Prevention Action & Advocacy Summit to provide education and understanding around emerging issues in prevention. The summit educates, empowers and advocates for culturally competent solutions in prevention. A Day To Learn and Have Conversations This year’s virtual summit will address racism, its impacts on public health, people and communities and how prevention should be part of the solution. Its goal is to provide Ohio's prevention professionals and community stakeholders a space to learn, have conversations, share resources, and serve as a call-to-action for change that is competent, just and equitable. In addition to Dr. Wilson’s opening keynote speech, the virtual event will feature presentations from: Simone Crawley, founder and CEO of Crawley Cultural Consulting. Dr. Chenelle Jones, assistant dean of Community Engagement at Franklin University. Dr. Terrance Dean, assistant professor at Denison University. Closing Keynote Speaker Dr. Wanda Boone, Executive Director of Together for Resilient Youth, Other highlights include a performance by Honey Bell-Bey and The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word and a call-to-action message from U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (Ohio 3rd Congressional District). Additional Event Details The Prevention Action & Advocacy Summit on Racism will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 20. The cost is $49 per person. The event is sponsored in part by UMADAOP of Dayton and Summit County Community Partnership. Continuing education credits are pending. Scholarships are available on a limited basis. The deadline for submissions is May 7. For more information and to complete the application, go to preventionactionalliance.org/paas-scholarships. Learn More & Register Q&A: Get to Know Our Board Bobbie Corley O'Keefe, Esq., President of the Board of Directors Bobbie is the owner/attorney of O’Keefe Family Law in Westerville. She has been volunteering with Prevention Action Alliance for nearly five years. How did you get involved with PAA and what was your first impression of the organization? My introduction to PAA was from Tony Coder, who was formerly with PAA, now executive director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. Tony was doing a National Public Radio call-in program on marijuana and I happened to hear it while driving. A gentleman called into the program and was advocating for legalization, stating that nothing bad ever happened to anyone who used marijuana. Having personal and family history with drugs and addiction that were completely counter to what the caller stated, I felt compelled to pull over and call into the program myself (I’ve never done that before or since.) I shared some personal experiences, and Tony asked if I would be willing to speak with him “off the air.” We chatted very briefly, and then he asked if I would be interested in getting to know more about the organization. I said, “sure,” and then I met with Tony and then executive director, Marcie Seidel. Shortly afterward, I was asked if I would be willing to serve on the board. I was very positively impressed with how hard working and committed all of the staff, management and board members were to the mission and activities of PAA. I was very grateful to find like-minded people who understand the damage addiction can do to individuals, families and communities, and who also want to make positive and lasting change to help others. What surprised you the most about working with PAA? I worked in community mental health as a communications coordinator right out of college. This feels like a lifetime ago, but deinstitutionalization had just occurred and there was a glut of federal funds flowing to community mental health and addiction services. It was nice to work in a public service environment when funding for important programs was not a problem. Certainly, that is no longer the case. What surprised me the most about working with PAA was how much the executive team and staff could accomplish on a shoestring budget. Even a cursory review of PAA’s website illustrates how active PAA is in creating, maintaining and managing many extremely effective programs that are geared toward every possible audience. I’m proud to be affiliated with PAA for that reason. What might someone be surprised to know about you? I spent many years in my youth and adulthood as a competitive swimmer. Raising a family and managing my own business has taken me away from that activity; however, now that my children are grown and once I recover from some recent physical challenges, I have my sights set on getting back to the sport I love. What do you wish other people knew about PAA? PAA is a fountain of information–all people have to do is ask. Executives and staff of PAA are incredibly knowledgeable about all subjects related to prevention. I really wish others would look to PAA as a valuable resource and really listen with an open, nonjudgmental mind to the many important messages the organization delivers. What do you do when you aren’t working or volunteering for us? I love to swim, hang out with my husband, kids and dogs, travel, walk, hike, read and visit with friends. What would you say is the greatest challenge PAA is facing in the next five years and why? All social service organizations today, including PAA, face the challenge of finding new sources of funding. However, given the increased public attention on mental health and addiction issues, people are finally starting to see the critical need for prevention services. PAA has begun to focus its attention on finding new and creative funding sources. It has brought highly qualified marketing and development staff on board to lead the way. In addition, PAA is embarking on a strategic planning process that will undoubtedly assist in addressing this and any other challenge that may come our way. News You Can Use Don't Delay, Renew Today! The State of Ohio announced a deadline of July 1 to renew any OCDP Prevention credentials that are under the current pandemic extension. Renewing now will help you avoid possible delays from an anticipated high volume of renewals in June. It's easy to renew your credentials. Just visit elicense.ohio.gov, the State’s online management system for professional licensing. For OCPSA, you must meet the renewal requirement of 20 hours; 3 hours in Content Area 6-Professional Growth & Responsibility which focuses on the foundations of prevention and current prevention science, 1.5 hours of Prevention Ethics and the remaining hours must be prevention related.  To renew a OCPS or OCPC, you must meet the renewal requirement of 40 hours; 6 hours in Content Area 6-Professional Growth & Responsibility which focuses on the foundations of prevention and current prevention science, 3 hours of Prevention Ethics and the remaining hours must be prevention related. If you have any questions about renewing your license, review the frequently asked questions page at elicense.ohio.gov. You also can contact the help desk for technical assistance and help logging in at (855) 405-5514 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit ocdp.ohio.gov under Renewal or Laws & Rules for renewal requirements. Information on CE Tracking can be found under Continuing Education. Action Alert! Keep Prevention Funded for Schools In Ohio House of Representative’s most recent update to the budget the representatives have removed language submitted by the Gov. DeWine and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services that added prevention services to the $1.1-billion Student Wellness and Success Funding Initiative. The reason for doing so is unclear, but we are working to find a solution. Please contact your state senator to work with us to add prevention services back into the Student Wellness and Success funding. To find your senator, click here. If you have any questions, contact J.P. Dorval, PAA's advocacy and public policy liaison. Your Opinion Is Important! Take Our Marijuana Education Survey Prevention Action Alliance in partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services is seeking input from organizations and coalitions across Ohio working to prevent marijuana misuse on needs regarding marijuana education in their communities. Survey responses will be used to shape a successful statewide awareness campaign. Local input is crucial to create a campaign that educates Ohioans on the risks of marijuana use. In appreciation for taking this brief survey, the first 200 survey respondents will receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card soon after the survey closes on May 15. Thank you for your help to create a healthier Ohio! Take the survey. Observe National Prevention Week, May 9-15 The 10th anniversary of National Prevention Week (NPW) will be May 9 to May 15. Each day of the week has a dedicated theme. The observance, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is the perfect time to remind your family, friends, social networks and community about the importance of positive mental health and substance use prevention. Everyone Has A Role in Prevention You may not be surprised to learn how devastating the pandemic has been for individuals with substance use disorder and mental health challenges. In the face of such difficulties, Prevention Action Alliance offers hope and practical tools for families, schools and communities to address these problems. When the world shut down last March, we sprang into action quickly creating the Everyday Prevention series. Built on evidence-based principles, these tips provided solid, actionable items for families to support the mental health of their children and teens. As we begin experiencing the full impact the pandemic has had on mental health, we need to empower Ohioans with the knowledge and skills to prevent substance misuse and promote mental health. Will you support your fellow Ohioans in creating a healthier Ohio? We all have a role to play in prevention. Will you play your role by donating today? Donate for Prevention We're Hiring! Communities throughout Ohio and the United States rely on us at Prevention Action Alliance to provide them with resources and expertise to help them prevent drug misuse and promote mental health wellness. In turn, we rely on our dedicated staff to carry out that mission. Do you want to join a team of passionate professionals working together to improve health and wellness? We're currently looking for a prevention coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Services. This role manages and supports events, activities, deliverables, and projects associated with the Ohio College Initiative, the Ohio Youth-led Prevention Network and other youth and young adult programs and services. Serves as a point-of-contact for consumers, partners, funders, grantees and agency leadership Learn More & Apply Upcoming Events April 30 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Alcohol: New Challenges. New Strategies Alcohol is the most used substance by youth and adults in the United States. To increase educational opportunities for Alcohol Awareness Month for Alcohol Awareness Month, join us for two virtual presentations: Officer Jermaine Galloway, aka Tall Cop, with “Environmental Alcohol Prevention Strategies,” from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and Dr. David J. Hanson with “Back to Basics on Alcohol Education” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. –– May 7 at 5 p.m. We Are The Majority Rally The We Are The Majority Rally is a youth-led movement celebrating the fact that the majority of youth do not misuse alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, and it shares messages of hope, inspiration, and solidarity with youth across our state. Young people who participate in the WATM Rally learn that it’s normal for youth to avoid drinking, smoking, or using other drugs and that they’re not alone when they prioritize their health. Special guests this year's virtual event include Gov. Mike DeWine and design expert and host of Netflix's Queer Eye Bobby Berk. May 20 at 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Prevention Action & Advocacy Summit: Promoting Equity Through Culturally Competent Prevention This year, our virtual Prevention Action & Advocacy Summit will address racism, its impacts on social determinants of health, and how prevention should be part of the solution. The goal of the summit is to provide Ohio’s prevention professionals, community stakeholders, and partners a space to learn, have conversations, share resources, and serve as a call to action for change that is culturally competent, just, and equitable. Join us for a day filled with engagement and learn from our incredible speakers. Give the Gift of Prevention Are you looking for an easy and unique way to celebrate your coalition members? Prevention Action Alliance is launching a new Prevention Gift Line with you in mind. Affordable, quality gifts to celebrate the role that everyone plays in prevention. These are perfect for staff, volunteers and board members. Don't Forget National Prevention Week–May 9 to 15! Shop PAA Prevention Action Alliance | 6171 Huntley Road, Suite G, Columbus, OH 43229 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Customer Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!