Educate. Empower. Advocate. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page. Coalitions in Action Collaborations Strengthen Prevention Efforts Ohio’s strong network of coalitions has long known the benefits of collaborating to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors in their communities. The Statewide Prevention Coalition Association (SPCA), a network of Prevention Action Alliance (PAA), boasts more than 100 members across the mental, emotional, and behavioral health spectrum working to build healthy communities every day. Research continues to support the concept of coalitions as a strong tool for creating community change. A newly published study in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry identifies community coalitions as a “promising structure for tackling local health inequities”. This is especially true when they include multiple local stakeholders who are focused on addressing change at a systemic level Collaborations strengthen macro-level prevention efforts, as well. As a statewide prevention agency, Prevention Action Alliance often has the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of partners to lead healthy communities. One such recent collaboration has developed with RALI (Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative) Ohio to support local community efforts to prevent prescription medication misuse. Over the past five years, RALI Ohio has provided thousands of at-home medicine disposal kits to coalitions and community groups. This spring, PAA began partnering with RALI Ohio to offer a free one-year digital subscription to the Prescription Drugs & You Member Center to any organization that receives at-home disposal kits. “Coalitions serve as an impact multiplier," said James Syphax, PAA community-based prevention manager. "When the work of few is combined with the efforts of many, their efforts are greater than the sum of their parts.” This partnership supports the work of community organizations that are already implementing safe medicine disposal strategies. By layering the community change strategies of information dissemination and reducing access to a substance, this partnership promotes a change in community norms as it relates to safe medicine usage, storage and disposal practices. Syphax said, "RALI Ohio’s willingness to partner demonstrates a commitment to strengthening safe medicine usage, storage and disposal practices in Ohio. We are grateful for their dedication to provide tangible resources to Ohio communities’ medicine disposal efforts and look forward to future opportunities to collaborate." On Mission Highlights from Annual Board Meeting Prevention Action Alliance’s Board of Directors met for its annual meeting last week at the Grange Insurance Scioto Audubon Education Center in Columbus. This meeting kicks off the new fiscal year and gives board directors the opportunity to network in person with their fellow directors and PAA staff members. As a sign of the times, board members who could not attend were given the opportunity to attend virtually. President Bobbie O’Keefe installed new Executive Committee members Claudia Khourey-Bowers as secretary and treasurer and Pat Willis as the member-at-large. New board directors included: Kyle Clark, prevention education director of the Wood County Educational Service Center; Perci Garner, executive director of the Tuscarawas Society for Children and Adults; Chris Lane, vice president of Operations for BASEC Management, Inc. (Tuscarawas County); and Dalon Myricks, retired CFO and deputy director from the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (Franklin County). Reports recapping FY2021 were given for the Development, Governance, Nominations, and Investment and Finance committees. Informational presentations were given to educate and update board directors. Derek Siegle of the Ohio HIDTA Program of Cuyahoga County, and a PAA board director, presented the Impact of Marijuana Legalization: Lessons Ohio Needs to Learn. He used data from Colorado to illustrate the harms caused by the legalization of marijuana and to combat “confusing messages being presented by popular culture, media, and proponents of medical marijuana to perpetuate the false notion that marijuana is harmless.” In addition, Kaitlyn Kendall-Sperry of the Benefactor Group of Columbus updated the directors on the organization’s current strategic planning efforts. Next steps in the planning process include transforming strategic priorities into actions. The final plan should be ready to present to the board’s Strategic Planning Task Force for approval in September. Q&A: Get to Know Our Board PAA Welcomes New Directors Perci Garner is the executive director of the Tuscarawas Society for Children and Adults, a health nonprofit dedicated to meeting the needs of disadvantaged and disabled children and adults. He also is the host of 99 MPH Podcast. Perci also serves as vice president of the Dover Rotary, as well as being a board member for the Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation and YMCA. A former professional baseball player, he made his MLB debut for Cleveland Indians in 2016. Chris Lane is the vice president of operations for BASEC Management, Inc. He describes himself as a restaurant operations executive who focuses on servant leadership in creating meaningful connections between business and community. Chris is interested in combatting substance abuse and promoting mental health wellness in youth and veteran populations. He also serves on the United Way of Tuscarawas County and the Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug Coalition. Tell us how you got involved with Prevention Action Alliance and what was your first impression of the organization. Perci: I was referred by Jodi Salvo of the Tuscarawas County Alcohol Drug Coalition. She shared that it was a great organization that fights to educate people about drug prevention and mental wellness. As I experienced what drug abuse can do to a family, I am passionate about helping people by sharing my story. As a retired pro athlete, I want to use my platform to impact my community in a positive manner. Chris: I began my work with PAA in mid-2020 in response to alcohol deregulation bills being fast-tracked through the state legislature in response to impacts from COVID restrictions on businesses. I worked very closely with the PAA team and I was immediately impressed with the professionalism, the breadth and depth of knowledge of not only the subject but the legislative process, as well. Why are you interested in our organization? Perci: A great challenge prevention organizations are facing is reaching the youth. I know it’s a focus of PAA right now, but we have to brainstorm ideas that can effectively inspire the youth to say no to drugs and practice mental wellness. Chris: I am most interested in PAA as a service to my children and all of the children of Ohio. They need a broad representation of community members that take prevention, treatment and education very seriously but also understand the obstacles and challenges that come with life experience. Who or what caused your decision to work with the organization? Perci: I have personally experienced drug trafficking and substance abuse in my immediate family that has caused deaths and time in prison. Chris: Jodi Salvo and Fran Gerbig were all instrumental in my decision to work with PAA. Also, the growing rapid expansion of attempts to normalize substances to our youth, veterans and at-risk populations. The short-sightedness of many legislative attempts to help businesses disregard the long-term harms and impacts of our most vulnerable, and as a business owner, I want to represent the business needs but also take into consideration those risks. What would you like to gain from your service to the organization? Perci: I would like to gain an understanding of marijuana and also learn effective techniques to share with young people the negative impact of substance abuse. Chris: I would very much like to gain a greater knowledge of the prevention process while also sharing my skills as a community leader and influential speaker. Wolf-Delawder Joins PAA Staff Brittany Wolf-Delawder has joined Prevention Action Alliance as the prevention assistant in hopes to widen her knowledge and experience in prevention. Her position supports all PAA’s professionals. From a young age, Brittany has known that she wanted to make a difference in the lives of those around her. Her passion to do so started in high school as a mentor and followed her to the University of Dayton. She was involved in campus service groups involving communities in need and volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Optimist Club, TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms) and Active Minds. After graduating from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor’s degree in human services and a concentration in child and family studies, Brittany is ready to embark on a path to helping our community. Brittany typically spends her time away from work browsing thrift stores, antique markets or searching for inspiration in nature. News You Can Use Get Set: Five Tips To Gamble Responsibly In recognition of Responsible Gaming Education Week, Sept. 19–Sept. 25, Get Set Before You Bet has compiled five tips on how to play responsibly. Set boundaries: By setting boundaries on time and money spent, you can lower your risk of getting carried away when gambling. This can be especially helpful for those who lose track of time or the amount of money they spend when playing a game. Taking regular breaks and knowing when not to chase your losses are other great ways to set limits. Balance gambling with other hobbies: Gambling should be a fun form of entertainment. To keep it that way, it is important to not let it monopolize your time and energy. Balancing gambling with other activities like reading, exercising, or spending time with friends and family can help keep the activities responsible. Create deposit limits: When gambling online, deposit limits can ensure you play within your set boundaries. A deposit limiting tool works by notifying the operator of the maximum you are willing to wager and if you try to play beyond the chosen limit, you will be notified and stopped by the operator. Implement game banning technology: If you find it hard to avoid using apps or going online to gamble, consider implementing game banning technology onto your various devices. Technology products like GamBan, GamBlock, or GAMSTOP can help block access to online gambling providers. Consider self-exclusion: Similarly, if you struggle with avoiding going to your local gaming operator despite a desire to stop gambling, you might want to consider enrolling in a self-exclusion program. This excludes you from the gambling location of your choice for anywhere from one year, five years, or life in Ohio. This would also include being excluded from their mail and email advertising. This could free up time and space to focus on other activities and relationships or even get help if you think you might need it. Make sure you follow Before You Bet on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to receive more responsible gaming resources, and use the hashtag #RGEW. If you’re a community partner who’s interested in a free toolkit, with customizable resources on responsible gambling, please visit BeforeYouBet.org. To Ease The Transition Back To School Kids are often stressed about going back to school, but it's different with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 still impacting us. While some stress is OK, young people coping with strong negative emotions may turn to risky behaviors. As parents, teachers and adult allies, we need to know how to make the transition back to school easier for students, especially this year. Read This Know! Tip. Subscribe to Know! Tips for advice in promoting health and wellness for our youth. Prescription Drugs & You Campaign Membership, Product Sale Is your community ready for National Drug Take Back Day (NDBTD) on Oct. 23, 2021? PAA’s Prescription Drugs & You™ Campaign can strengthen your community’s Rx disposal efforts by providing ready made resources which promote medicine safety. Is staff time stretched thin? An annual digital subscription provides access to community and media engagement resources and a social media toolkit that you can schedule at the beginning of the month. At $49.99, the digital subscription is priced to support even the smallest budgets. Interested in print materials? PAA offers a variety of booklets, flyers, and fact cards which are ideal to distribute at your local drug take back event. Use the code SafeRx20 for an early bird special of 20% off all Prescription Drugs & You print materials for orders placed before Sept. 15, 2021. Register for Ohio FASD Forum Webinar The Ohio Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Steering Committee 5th Annual Forum will be held virtually Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's theme is "Taking the Next Steps for Ohio Families." Larry Burd, Ph.D., director of the North Dakota FAS Center and a professor of pediatrics as the University of North Dakota, will be presenting the keynote address. The forum also will feature special guest Hope Taft, former First Lady of Ohio. CEUS will be applied for. Register Mark Your Calendars Social Media with Andy Duran, Aug. 26 Ohio Adult Allies Education Grant Deadline, Aug. 26 Ohio Opioid Awareness Day, Aug. 31 Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 5-Sept. 11 OSU Wexner Medical Center Suicide Prevention Conference, Sept. 9-Sept. 10 Ohio Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Steering Committee 5th Annual Forum, Sept. 17 Cincinnati Children's Pediatric Mental Health Symposium, Sept. 17 Responsible Gaming Education Week, Sept. 19-Sept. 25 Coalition Academy, Sept. 28-Sept. 29 Prevention Action Alliance | 6171 Huntley Road, Suite G, Columbus, OH 43229 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!