Spotlight On: Keep Your Meds Safe This Summer |
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The Keep Your Meds Safe initiative will make medication lock boxes and drug deactivation pouches available for free to the public at six pharmacy locations in Milwaukee County. The initiative will encourage individuals and families to safeguard medications by following three simple steps:
- Lock Them Up: Always safely store your medications
- Destroy Them: Use a safe disposal pouch for unwanted or expired medications
- Drop Them Off: Return unwanted meds to a designated safe disposal site
Nationally, about 50,000 children go to the emergency room each year because they got into medicines when an adult was not looking, and young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are the most likely to misuse medication not prescribed to them.
"Accidental poisonings and medication misuse can easily happen when a child, teen, or adult takes a prescription or over-the-counter pill, syrup, or gummy that isn’t meant for them," said Africa Lucas, Community Advocates Public Policy Institute Prevention Manager. "A good way to keep your family safe is to lock up your medications, or deactivate them or take them to a secure disposal site when you no longer need them."
Pharmacy partners aim to distribute 1,500 medication lock boxes and 3,200 drug deactivation pouches at no cost to patients throughout the summer.
"Almost every household has medication in the medicine cabinet, on the kitchen counter or a bedside table, or in a purse or jacket, where it’s easy for children and curious teens and adults to find and take," said Hayat Pharmacy Chief Clinical Officer Dimmy Sokhal. "Our pharmacists and care team want to help make our patients’ households safe by providing medication lock boxes and disposal pouches, and being a safe place to return medication. It’s easy to do and will keep your family, friends, and visitors safe."
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WI WINS Tobacco Checks Create Healthier Communities |
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The City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance partners with Neu-Life Community Development and the Milwaukee Police Department to conduct compliance check for the WI WINS campaign. The goal of WI WINS is to use positive reinforcement to create healthier communities by congratulating clerks who don’t sell tobacco to youth and educating those who do. We will continue to work together as a community because when we work together to keep tobacco out of the hands of youth, everyone wins. |
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Calling All Real Estate Agents! |
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The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention (MCSAP) Coalition is putting together efforts for safe disposal of prescription drugs in Milwaukee County neighborhoods. MCSAP is currently in search of real estate agents who would be willing to partner up and educate families and clients on where they can dispose of prescription drugs. If you are a real estate agent or know someone who would be interested in this partnership, please contact Alexandria Kohn. |
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Tribal Prevention Grant Connecting Resources and Child Care
Applications due August 8
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The Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board is offering this funding opportunity to implement child maltreatment primary prevention initiatives within tribal communities. The goal of this funding is to promote the well-being of children, families and communities in Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes. Click here for details. |
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Save the Date
Alcohol Policy Seminar
October 19 in Green Bay
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The Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project is organizing an in-person Alcohol Policy Seminar in Green Bay October 19 to provide training on Alcohol 101, health impacts, public policies, and more. Stay tuned for details. |
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Summer Webinar Series
Mondays through August 15
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Your Choice Prevention is hosting an encore of their summer webinar series through August 15. Their series will include free access to their popular webinars and free certificates of completion. Each webinar will be up for a week so you can work on your own time with flexibility. If you are interested in this program and would like to receive more information on webinars and dates, click here.
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Prevention Meets Harm Reduction: How Community Collaborations Work Across the Continuum
Tuesday, June 28 and Thursday, June 30
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The Great Lakes PTTC is providing a virtual series that will offer a training and education on the history and framework of harm reduction strategies. This series will explore how the goals and values of prevention can align with harm reduction and how individuals can enhance strategies of care in their communities. Part one of the virtual series will be held Tuesday, June 28, and part two will be held Thursday, June 30. Registration for this series is required. Click to register for part one and part two.
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August 9th Primary Election Webinar
Wednesday, June 29
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August 9, 2022, is the Partisan Primary Election. Join Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition and the League of Women Voters on Zoom to make your plan to vote. They will discuss: what’s on the ballot and why it matters; important deadlines; voter registration; voting by mail; voter rights and accommodations. This lunch and learn will be held June 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. RSVP here.
ASL interpreters will be available. To request other accommodations, register as soon as possible and include that information on your registration form.
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Environmental Strategies Webinar
Thursday, June 30
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The Alliance for Wisconsin Youth is offering this session with Rodney Wambeam of the University of Wyoming on prevention and environmental strategies, what they are, how to select them, and how to implement them. This free training will be held on Zoom on June 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. Register here. |
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Virtual QPR Question, Persuade, Refer Training
July 6, July 11 & July 13
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Community Advocates is offering QPR Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper workshops to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.
Community Advocates will offer this introductory session via Zoom at no cost. It's open to Milwaukee County residents and those who work with them. To register, click on the following dates:
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A Summer of Healing
Saturday, July 9
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The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention is offering the Summer of Healing initiative in which you can learn about community resources, holistic healing practices, cultural practices and self-defense techniques. This program will also have activities and prizes for youth and teens. The next program will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, at the Milwaukee Black Historical Society/Museum, 2620 W. Center St., Milwaukee. If you are interested in attending and have any additional questions, reach out to the Office of Violence Prevention through Facebook by clicking here.
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Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid
Friday, July 15 & Friday, July 29
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Community Advocates is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid workshops to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Community Advocates will offer this session via Zoom at no cost, twice in July. It's open to Milwaukee County residents and those who work with them.
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Virtual Adult Mental Health First Aid
Wednesday, July 20 & Thursday, July 21
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Community Advocates is offering Adult Mental Health First Aid workshops to help participants to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. Community Advocates will offer this introductory session via Zoom at no cost. It's open to Milwaukee County residents and those who work with them. To register, click on the following dates:
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10 Tips to Reduce Conflict:
Practical Verbal De-Escalation Techniques
Wednesday, July 27
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Community Advocates is offering a virtual De-Escalation Techniques training to teach participants how to defuse a situation and increase safety using verbal de-escalation techniques. This workshop is aimed toward individuals who encounter conflict in the workplace, at home, or in the community, whether you are a parent or educator, work in the helping professions, or otherwise work with the public in potentially tense situations. This online workshop is free and open to anyone who lives or works in Milwaukee County. It will be held Wednesday, July 27, at 9 a.m. Click here to register. |
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Wisconsin Peer Recovery Conference
Thursday, August 18 & Friday, August 19
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The Wisconsin Peer Recovery Conference will be held August 18-19 and will be an in-person event. This conference is an opportunity to learn about effective support within community services, mental health and substance use recovery. The Peer Recovery Conference registration will be open through Wednesday, August 10, with a registration fee of $100. Advocates, mental health professionals and peer specialists are encouraged to attend. To register, click here.
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The Southeast Region PTTC has created a resource toolkit for better engaging with LGBTQIA+ folks in your prevention efforts and community. Among the resources are on-demand webinars, virtual learning series, fact sheets, and more. Be sure to review and implement the most effective, evidence-based practices and resources in your prevention strategies. Click here for contents. |
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A Practitioner’s Resource Guide:
Helping Families to Support their LGBT Children
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This resource guide from SAMHSA offers information and resources to help practitioners in health and social service systems implement best practices to engage and help families and caregivers support their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children. Download it here.
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Addressing Trauma and Mass Violence Resources |
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The SAMHSA-funded National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed a range of resources in English and Spanish to help children, families, educators, and communities cope after a traumatic event and prevent ACEs. Topics include “Talking to children about the shooting,” “Helping teens with traumatic grief,” and “After a crisis: helping young children heal.” Access these resources at this link. |
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Milwaukee Prevention Journal Readers -- do you have:
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