Spring 2022 Outreach Recap
This spring, SAPCA partnered with the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), the Sexual Assault Center, the Keep It 360 Peer Advocates and volunteers to conduct outreach at a series of community events. Team members shared information and resources with over 1,000 families during several community cookouts hosted at sites throughout the City; with elementary school families that attended the Alexandria Council of PTAs Spring Fling and the William Ramsay Elementary School Health Fair; and through food distribution events hosted by ALIVE!
Through these events, 400 reusable grocery bags, 300 locking medicine boxes,100 gun locks, and information about the Lock and Talk program were distributed to community members.
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SAPCA thanks the volunteers that helped connect with our community during these events:
- Brett Lundeen
- Odelis McSween
- Illiana Moses
- Kellen Schalter
- Latavia Taylor
- Carolyn Williams
Interested in volunteering with SAPCA? Contact April Pavis-Shroeder at [email protected] to learn about opportunities to get involved!
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Celebrating Safely
Please choose to celebrate safely this spring and encourage friends and family members to do the same by ensuring youth celebrations are substance free.
Learn more about the facts and consequences of alcohol here.
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City of Alexandria Recognizes First Annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day
On May 10, the City of Alexandria joined communities around the nation in support of the first annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day to raise awareness about fentanyl-laced illicit drugs, ways that residents can prevent substance misuse, and treatment resources to manage substance use disorders.
Street drugs are often laced with fentanyl -- an inexpensive and deadly substitute that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine -- without the consumer’s knowledge. Cutting fentanyl into counterfeit prescription pills, called fentapills, and falsely marketing them as Oxycodone, Percocet and Xanax has also become common.
Last month, the City issued a warning following twelve reported opioid overdoses in the city, six of which occurred in school-age youth who reported smoking little blue pills that they believed were Percocet. SAPCA and the City's Opioid Work Group encourage residents to quickly and widely spread potentially lifesaving information about fentanyl and take action to prevent medication misuse and abuse by sharing these key facts about fentanyl with teens, parents, and community members:
- Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin.
- It only takes 2 mg of fentanyl, the equivalent to a few grains of sand, to cause an overdose.
- Fentanyl is tasteless and odorless.
- Drugs purchased on the street do not contain an ingredient list -- fentanyl has been found in counterfeit pills purchased online and in unregulated marijuana and vaping e-liquids.
Learn more facts about prescription and over-the-counter medication here.
For life-threatening situations, call 9-1-1 immediately. To share information regarding the illegal sale of opioids or other drugs, call the Alexandria Police Department at 703.746.6277
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Responding to an Opioid Overdose
If given in time, Narcan® (also known as Naloxone) can save the life of someone who is overdosing from opioids. Administering Narcan and using fentanyl test strips are both harm reduction strategies that support individuals that use drugs to reduce their risk of harm. Fentanyl test strips detect the presence of fentanyl in unregulated injectable drugs, powders and pills.
Narcan and fentanyl test strips can be picked up for free by visiting the Alexandria Health Department or by calling 703.746.4888. Alexandria residents can also request fentanyl test strips and Narcan to be mailed to them by emailing their name and mailing address to [email protected]. There is no cost for the strips, Narcan or mailing.
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SAPCA Recognizes Alcohol Awareness Month Art Contest Winners
In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, SAPCA hosted an art contest encouraging middle and high school youth to create and submit art that celebrates ways youth can be alcohol free. SAPCA is excited to announce the winners of this contest. Please join us in congratulating the winners of this contest:
First place: Santiago Jimenez
7th grade student at Hammond Middle School
Second place: Jeanela Macedo
8th grade student at GW Middle School
Third place: Samiyah McGill
7th grade student at Hammond Middle School.
Santiago, Jeanela and Samiyah will each receive a $25 Target gift card and a SAPCA swag bag for their winning artwork. Check out their entries below.
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Say no. Be you.
"My art is saying what to do instead of choosing alcohol. The reason I chose to enter the art contest was to represent the school with my artwork and to show that Hammond [Middle School] is alcohol free."
- Santiago Jimenez, first place winner
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What to do instead of underaged drinking.
"My entry relates to Alcohol Awareness Month by providing healthy distractions and [a] hotline number to call for anyone struggling with an addiction to alcohol. I expressed the theme through underaged drinking because as a young person, I want to help anyone young or old and to let them know that there is help. The form of art is a vision board."
- Jeanela Macedo, second place winner
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Stay Back.
"The reason why I chose to participate is that I've seen the things alcohol and drugs have done to people and I wanted to make everyone realize that that's not the only way to cope with your problems. There are other ways too."
- Samiyah McGill, third place winner
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Celebrating Keep It 360 Peer Advocate Program Graduating Seniors
Please join SAPCA in recognizing the graduating Alexandria City High School (ACHS) seniors that are Keep It 360 Peer Advocates, a group of Alexandria youth that work closely with SAPCA, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center.
Anna Harrington will be attending the University of Pittsburgh.
Nana Addo will be attending Sewanee: The University of the South.
Sylvia Rahim will be attending the University of Virginia.
Anna, Nana, and Sylvia, congratulations! We wish you the best as you start this next chapter!
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Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Community Leaders
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has announced its sixth class of 40 Under 40 Honorees, a program that recognizes adults age 40 and under who are shaping Alexandria for the future. The Chamber is also recognizing Alexandria's youth with the selection of two additional student honorees.
These youth honorees are:
- Kate Harbour, a junior at ACHS and SAPCA Board Member, and
- Sylvia Rahim, a senior at ACHS and Keep It 360 Peer Advocate
Please join us in congratulating Kate and Sylvia for receiving this extraordinary honor and thanking them for the positive impact they have made for our community.
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"I am truly honored to be receiving such an award especially as a youth honoree. Through receiving this award, it pushes me to achieve more things in the future so I can live up to this title." - Sylvia Rahim |
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"I'm so excited to have this opportunity and I'd like to thank all of the members of SAPCA that have helped me every step of the way! Receiving this award is something I could have never imagined." - Kate Harbour |
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Children Youth Community Plan Report Card Highlights SAPCA's Efforts
Every month, the City’s Department of Community and Human Services publishes a monthly “Children and Youth Community Plan Report Card” to share progress about the Children Youth and Family Community Plan (CYCP). April's report card featured SAPCA's efforts during Alcohol Awareness Month and year-round to support all Alexandria youth to be alcohol-free. Click here to view the April report card.
The CYCP is blueprint for improving outcomes for children who call Alexandria home. The Plan envisions a city where “All of Alexandria’s children and youth can thrive today and tomorrow” and sets three cradle-to-career goals. Learn more about the CYCP here.
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Help Spread the Word: 2022 Young Adult Survey
The City of Alexandria invites young adults ages 18-25 that reside in Virginia to complete the Young Adult Survey to provide input about their experiences and opinions about mental health and substance use. This anonymous survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and informs local efforts to meet the needs of young adults. Young adults that reside in the City of Alexandria and take the survey are eligible to be entered into a drawing for a $35 Target gift card or receive a $10 Target gift card.
Young adults can access the survey link by texting Virginia to 855-632-2201. The last day to complete the survey is June 30. To learn more, contact Emma Beall at [email protected]
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Upcoming Events & Resources |
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Save the Date: 2022 All-Night Grad Party
This year's All Night Grad Party (ANGP) will take place on June 4 from 10:30 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. This annual tradition, sponsored by the ACHS PTSA, is made possible by the generous support of local businesses, citizens, community organizations, and alumni and sends a clear message that the Alexandria community values the academic achievements of our students and cares deeply about their safety and well-being. Since our community began this tradition in 1989, there have been no drug or alcohol-related graduation night fatalities.
During this drug and alcohol free party, ACHS graduates will enjoy activities, food, and lots of prizes. Tickets for this event are $40 and will be available on the PTSA website under the ANGP tab.
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Share Your Input: Help ACPS Improve the Student Code of Conduct
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is seeking feedback for the Student Code of Conduct. This document outlines the behavioral expectations within ACPS and sets a uniform standard of expectations for students and families to promote positive behavior and strong attendance. The Student Code of Conduct:
- Serves as a resource to outline programs that promote positive school behavior.
- Describes the multi-tiered system of support that ACPS uses to intervene with students in need of learning new ways to behave at school.
- Outlines procedures for addressing concerns, such as bullying behaviors.
- Explains conduct that could result in disciplinary action using a restorative practices lens.
Please take a moment to share your feedback and comments about the Student Code of Conduct through this online feedback form. This form should take about five minutes to complete and will be available through June 12, 2022. ACPS will use the feedback received to help inform discussions around updates to the Student Code of Conduct for the 2022-23 school year.
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Volunteer Alexandria Hosts Breaks With Impact
Make a difference during Volunteer Alexandria's Breaks with Impact (BWI) program this summer. BWI is a chance for middle and high school students to learn about the issues facing their community and to do something about it. Participants will engage with non-profits, city agencies, and people from all walks of life as they earn service hours and explore career paths. Programs will take place in July and August. Click here to learn more and register.
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Alexandria Health Department Now Offers COVID-19 Boosters for Children Ages 5 to 11
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, authorizing a booster dose for individuals ages 5 to 11 years old at least five months after their last dose. On May 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also approved the change, which allows the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) and other providers to offer COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all Alexandria residents ages 5 and older. In addition, the CDC strengthened their recommendation that persons 12 years and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 years and older should get a second booster vaccine if it has been four months since their first booster.
Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to ensure that children are current with their vaccinations, especially as Northern Virginia is at a medium COVID-19 community level. There are multiple options for getting 5-to-11 year-olds vaccinated and boosted, including AHD vaccine clinics, pharmacies and pediatrician’s offices. Since minors cannot consent to immunizations, a parent or guardian must provide consent either in advance or at the vaccination site, depending on the provider.
To find appointments with providers such as pharmacies, visit vaccines.gov. For additional appointments at AHD and partner clinics, visit alexandriava.gov/Vaccines. For support in finding a vaccine, call the Alexandria COVID-19 Hotline on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 703.746.4988.
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COVID-19 Reminders
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) strongly urge everyone to help end the pandemic by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Every Alexandrian can take precautions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about how to protect yourself and those around you at alexandriava.gov/coronavirus
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Emma Beall, MPH
SAPCA Coordinator
O: 703.746.3670
C: 571.302.1022
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Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
123 N Pitt St, Suite 225
Alexandria, VA 22314
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