GCPC October 2023 Newsletter

October 2023

GCPC News and Updates

GCPC Vision: Genesee County Prevention Coalition (GCPC) envisions a healthy and thriving community.

GCPC Mission: Genesee County Prevention Coalition (GCPC) executes innovative strategies and unites communities in preventing substance misuse and promoting mental wellness throughout Genesee County.

The Genesee County Prevention Coalition maintains regular office hours Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you need assistance outside of these hours, please call 810-285-9047 to make arrangements. Our primary goal is to maintain access to prevention services and resources to our community. Please reach out to us if we can be of assistance in providing information and support for addressing substance use and mental health concerns.

GCPC Community Partner Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, October 10th, 2023

8:30 am to 10:00 am

COMMUNITY PARTNER PRESENTATION

Dinah Lee Schaller, LCSW, SSW, CDCI (she/hers)

PT Coordinator - Mindful Flint Initiative

Crim Fitness Foundation

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://crim.org/mindfulness/

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvc-2qrj8jH9EfjynUs5CS4TrP0utD2Itb

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

UPCOMING WORKGROUP MEETINGS

Underage Drinking: Tuesday, November 7th, 9:00-10:30am

Prescription Drug: Tuesday, October 17th, 9:00-10:30am

Marijuana/Vaping: Tuesday, October 24th, 9:00-10:30am

Work group meetings are held on Zoom.

Meeting links and agendas are emailed to work group members a day prior to each meeting.

To join a work group contact Andrea Keller at [email protected] or call 810-285-9047.

Partners in Prevention

Save the Date

8th Annual Meeting

November 29th, 2023

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Nominate a Partner in Prevention!

The Genesee County Prevention Coalition is gearing up for our 8th Annual Meeting in November. Each year the coalition presents a Partner in Prevention Award to a nominated individual and/or organization. This prestigious award is a way for the Genesee County Prevention Coalition to recognize an individual or organization that continues to exhibit commitment to the Genesee County Prevention Coalition's Vision and Mission as well as maintains several characteristics that include:

Having a major impact on the community, such as increasing protective factors and reducing risk factors.
Demonstrating exceptional commitment to reduce mental health and substance use disorders.
High level of participation in community engagement, community events, youth involvement, and creating a catalyst for change.
Utilizes an equitable approach to identify gaps and barriers that exist and takes actions to reduce these gaps and barriers in mental health and substance use disorders.
Has a major impact in making physical, social, and cultural change to reduce mental health and substance use disorders in the community.
Committed to being aware of and educating their peers on the issues that affect our community regarding mental health and substance use disorders.

If you would like to nominate an individual (youth or adult) or an organization for the 2023 Partner in Prevention Award, please complete the online nomination form by Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

Nomination form: https://forms.office.com/r/w1XC1h9erz

DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Genesee County Michigan – Saturday, October 28th, 2023, the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Genesee County Prevention Coalition (GCPC) encourage all Genesee County residents to clear out their medicine cabinets and dispose of their unused prescription medications at one of the drop box locations listed below. Properly disposing of prescription medications has shown to be an effective strategy to prevent misuse and reduce access to the non-medical use of prescription and over-the counter medications.

The Fenton City Police Department 311 S Leroy St, Fenton, MI 48430, will be hosting the Genesee County Prevention Coalition and is the only location that will be accepting liquid medications, patches, and needles/sharps. Disposal services are free, anonymous, and no questions asked. In addition, community health/wellness agencies will also be present to share information and resources for substance use prevention, treatment and recovery support services. There will also be free Naloxone and Fentanyl test strip distribution and training to learn how to respond to an opioid overdose.

Please direct any questions to Anthony Nicholas at [email protected].

Everyone is invited to Lunch 'N' Learn!

GCPC is excited to host in-person Lunch 'N' Learn events at our location to organizations interested in learning more about the advertising services and programs in the Partners in Prevention Portal (PiPP). We will provide a light lunch as well as an opportunity to network and register your services in the portal. Please complete the registration form to reserve a spot. The dates and times with location address are listed below.

Partners in Prevention Portal (PiPP) Link:

www.theGCPC.org/partners-in-prevention-portal

Click the form link below to reserve a spot at the upcoming Lunch 'N' Learn on Wednesday, October 18th, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Lunch Location: G-4428 Fenton Rd, Flint, MI 48507

Lunch 'N' Learn Reservations Form Link

October Lunch 'N' Learn Sponsor

TRAVERSE PLACE

Traverse Place is one of the programs of Reach Resource Services, formally known as Genesee County Youth Corporations. Traverse Place is a transitional living facility that houses homeless youth, ages 17-21. The program is a 21-month program that empowers youth to take control of their lives in positive and purposeful ways. The program focuses on education, employment, housing, and life skills. Our goal is for our youth to be self-sufficient and able to live successfully upon exiting our program.

Traverse Place provides our residents with safe and stable housing while assisting them in developing the necessary skills to get on their feet. Resident candidate must complete the resident application, attend an assessment session with the Traverse Place Program Coordinator and Case Managers, complete a phone counseling session with the Traverse Place in-house counselor, and provide us with two references for possible admission into our program.

Once accepted into Traverse Place, residents are required to obtain employment, attend school if they have not yet graduated, and put at least 60% of their income into an escrow account that will be returned to them upon exiting the program. Compliance with house rules such as completing chores, abiding by curfew, being substance free, non-violent and attending life skills training are necessary to maintain residency. Our services are free, voluntary, and confidential. You can learn more about Traverse Place and the other services offered through Reach Resource Services, by visiting our website at www.reach-traverseplace.org.

Lunch 'N' Learn Sponsorship Opportunities

Current Partners in Prevention Portal (PiPP) registrants are offered an opportunity to sponsor a Lunch 'N' Learn event. This would allow the PiPP registrant a 10-minute presentation slot and newsletter article to feature their organization's programs and services. We plan to continue these events on a monthly basis.

Contact Erin Gagnon at [email protected] or 810-285-9047 to sign-up for a sponsorship & presentation opportunity.

Michigan Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance Letter of Support

For more information, please visit the Keep Michigan Kids Tobacco Free website at https://www.keepmikidstobaccofree.com/ or feel free to contact Dr. Brittany Tayler at [email protected].

Making It Count Community Development Corporation (MICCDC)

Detroit-Wayne-Oakland Tobacco-Free Coalition

Pledge to End Menthol

Sign the pledge to End Menthol and other tobacco flavoring at http://endmenthol.org/takeaction.html.

Youth Prevention Initiatives

Youth Substance Use

Prevention Month

GCPC is pleased to announce a new prevention campaign we are utilizing to address specific youth prevention strategies as outlined in our DFC and STOP grant work plans.

The One Choice Prevention initiative is a data-driven message that has been incorporated into local prevention initiatives and activities in a growing number of states and countries. It offers a clear health standard of no-use supported by the science of the developing brain while also promoting teen self-care and autonomy. The idea is for youth to feel empowered to make "One Choice" to protect their developing brains from substance use and that anyone and everyone can make One Choice; youth who have never used any substance, youth who may have used in the past but are making One Choice today, and youth with substance use problems actively making One Choice, including those in early and long-term recovery.

One Choice is an initiative of the Institute for Behavior and Health. They offer a wealth of resources that GCPC is excited to be branding & distributing. Look for more details to come soon!

National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a safe & effective ingredient found in many over the counter (OTC) cough medicines, but approximately 1 in 31 teens reports abusing excessive amounts of DXM to get high.

Go to StopMedicineAbuse.org for tools to share Medicine Abuse Awareness.

Prevention Education Opportunities

AAA Shifting Gears Webinar

Teens admit no one should drive drunk, but many don’t believe cannabis causes impairment. That’s why AAA developed Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth About Marijuana and Driving, a program designed to educate teens about the impact of cannabis on your ability to drive.

AAA invites you to join us for a 45-minute online session presenting Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth About Marijuana and Driving. Sessions will be held Tuesday, October 3, Tuesday, October 10, Tuesday, October 17 and Tuesday, October 24. Each session will begin at 11:30am.

This learning module:

Provides evidence-based information about preconceived ideas about cannabis use.
Explains the physical and cognitive processes that are affected by cannabis.
Explains the effect of cannabis on the brain.
Discusses alternate methods of transportation.
Demonstrates a driver’s susceptibility to this impairment and potential severe consequences that can occur related to driving.

To attend this webinar, please email Gary Bubar at AAA at [email protected] and specify which Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth About Marijuana and Driving session you plan to attend:

Tuesday, October 3 11:30 a.m. EST
Tuesday, October 10 11:30 a.m. EST
Tuesday, October 17 11:30 a.m. EST
Tuesday, October 24 11:30 a.m. EST

A Zoom link will be sent the day preceding your preferred session. Please ensure that you are able to access Zoom for your preferred session.

We sincerely hope that you will join us at Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth About Marijuana and Driving.