March 2021
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March 2021: Spring Is Near
Spring is a time of new beginnings and possibilities. Take this time to embrace the sunshine, warmer weather and the spring flowers starting to bloom. Show yourself compassion and gratitude of how far you have come and where you are going this spring.
OSAP Highlight
Cal Keuning is a sergeant with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. He has worked for the sheriff’s office for 21 years and is assigned to supervise Allendale Township.
One of his passions in law enforcement is community policing. Being a community policing sergeant in a township allows him to have close one on one contact with the township administrators, citizens, and businesses.
He is a member of a group called Reducing Ottawa Area Drunk Driving or “ROADD”. This group concentrates on reducing drunk driving and preventing youth substance abuse (more info on ROADD click here). In his position, he stresses the importance of transparent communication with your children teens, and young adults. He feels sitting down with your child to talk with them about the dangers of substance abuse can be an important step in forming a relationship where they will turn to you for guidance when faced with difficult choices.
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Community Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Behavior
Please use the link below to complete the regional Gambling Disorder Prevention Grant survey. The survey should only take few minutes to complete this survey. You can take this survey whether or not you participate in any form of gambling.

Your responses will assist the Lake Regional Entity (LRE) in gaining a better understanding of the needs in our community as it relates to prevention and treatment of Gambling Disorders.
Link to the survey: Click Here
Is Marijuana Bad For Your Brain?
Marijuana effects our brains in many ways, and impacts everyone differently: why we all experience getting high differently. The most significant impact happens before our brains are fully developed, around the age of 26.
 
 
This TED Health talk (Anees Bahji) shares the science behind marijuana use, and how its effects vary across age groups.

To listen to this podcast: Click Here

The BRY Lunch Series March 2021
Tuesdays 12-1 PM
3/16 Social Media, Suicide Prevention and Safe Messaging
3/23 Using Your Breath to Create Mental Wellness
The Building Resilient Youth lunch series is back with a slate of educational, inspirational and actionable topics that will make your Tuesday lunch hour into a weekly event you won't want to miss.
March topics include: Social Media, Suicide Prevention and Safe Messaging and Using Your Breath to Create Mental Wellness. Click here to register. See you Tuesday at noon!

Crisis Resources--available 365 days/year
If you feel like you are in a crisis, or that anyone in your family is in crisis, here are some important numbers:
  • 24 hour Ottawa County Hotlines: in Grand Haven: 616-842 HELP (4357); in Holland: **616-396-HELP(4357) all other areas 1-866-512 HELP(4357)
  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
  • Arbor Circle in Holland: 616-396-2301
  • Catholic Charities: 616- 796-9595
  • Wedgewood Christian Services: 616- 930-5004
  • Ottawa CMH: 616-392-1873
  • DHHS Warmline: 1-888-733-7753 10am-2am help for anxiety, depression, and trauma, staffed by peer support specialists.
  • AA meetings online: https://www.aaonlinemeeting.net/
  • NA meetings: https://virtual-na.org/
  • Alanon meetings: https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/
  • Resource help: http://211.org/
  • Positive Options is ready to serve you if you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. It offers free pregnancy testing, options counseling and early ultrasound (upon eligibility). Visit mypositiveoptions.org or call a center near you. (Holland - 616 396-5840; Grand Haven - 616 842-7510; Allendale - 616 895-1893; Allegan - 269-686-7111)
Ottawa Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Contact Leigh Moerdyke at lmoerdyke@arborcircle.org


Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OSAPCoalition
Talk Early. Talk Often. Learn How. www.talksooner.org