Spotlight On:
How Will You Mark Red Ribbon Week?
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It's always a good time to talk about the benefits of living drug free, and
Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31), sponsored by National Family Partnership, is one of the better opportunities to raise awareness and show support for substance-free activities. This year’s theme is "Send a message. Stay drug free," and the organizers provide a number of ways you can send the message you care about building a drug-free community, including:
- Take the pledge: The National Red Ribbon Campaign Pledge is available for parents and for youth.
- Win $1,000: The Ninth Annual National Red Ribbon Photo Contest offers prizes for home and school decorations.
- Hear from storytellers: Natural High offers videos from 40 storytellers, including pro athletes, musicians, and creative leaders on why they live substance free. Discussion questions and activities are provided as well.
- Organize school activities: In addition to decorating, students can enter their ideas for the 2020 theme and potentially win $500, or hold a Red Ribbon Rally at school, write an article for the school newspaper, or create celebration days. Get ideas here.
- Wear red: Organize red-themed days and talk about why you’re celebrating Red Ribbon Week.
- Get social: Download Red Ribbon Week’s planning guide, which includes graphics, fact sheets, and social media tips.
- Take a picture: We’d love to hear how you’re marking Red Ribbon Week this year, especially if you’re getting creative. Take a picture and tag us on Facebook (@CAPublicPolicyInstitute) or email them to Amanda Clark at aclark@communityadvocates.net.
"On October 29, we will be hosting a mini-resource fair in the reception area of Community Advocates' downtown offices, where we'll give out prevention resources to our clients and visitors and talk about what all of us can do to prevent harm from substance abuse," said Amanda Clark,
53206 Drug-Free Communities coordinator. "It will help to reinforce the message that living substance-free is the best choice anyone can make."
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Changing Your Alcohol Environment Series Was an Eye-Opener
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Keynote speaker Rodney Wambeam of the University of Wyoming presented a history of alcohol in our society, from the wine, cider, and beer consumed by European settlers to the hard liquor of the frontier, Prohibition, and our current "day drinking" trend and "wine moms." Julia Sherman, of the
Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project, explored what elected officials, coalition leaders, and community members can do to shape their own alcohol culture by changing the norms and policies around drinking.
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Hold On To Your Butt MKE Creates Buzz
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Volunteers have collected almost 40,000 pieces of tobacco-related trash on Milwaukee beaches over the past decade—all of which threatens our water, parkways, kids, and wildlife. To create awareness of the harm posed by cigarette butts, wrappers, and filters, the
City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance
and partners launched the Hold On To Your Butt MKE campaign, with cigarette butt receptacles at four area beaches and other high-impact sites around town. The campaign held a cleanup and
press conference
at Bradford Beach last week, which drew TV crews and a lot of support. The Hold On to Your Butt MKE campaign is funded by the Fund for Lake Michigan, convened by the City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance, and supported by community partners including Milwaukee County Parks, Surfrider Milwaukee, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Plastic Free MKE, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, and the Bay View Neighborhood Association. To keep in touch with the campaign,
like it on Facebook
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Family Links to Strengthen Families
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Families are connected to programs and services that will help them set goals; identify their informal support networks; find ways to meet basic needs; and address other family challenges. Community support could include parenting education, case management, direct services or referring families to other services when appropriate.
Check the flyer for details about eligibility and services
.
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David Riemer Book Launch & Signing
Wednesday, November 6
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Is the New Deal Era dead? Not at all, argues David Riemer in
Putting Government in Its Place: The Case for a New Deal 3.0. In fact, it’s the perfect time to update it to address our current needs and disparities. Riemer, the founding director of
Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, will launch his book at Boswell Book Co., 2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6. RSVPs are encouraged to help us plan for the evening.
Register here.
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Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals
Thursday, November 14 & Friday, November 15
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Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals (DITEP) is aimed toward educators, school nurses, administrators, law enforcement, parents, nonprofit professionals, and youth-serving organizations. Participants will learn how to assess individuals for substance use and ensure a safe environment for all.
There is no cost to attend, and participants will receive a manual and lunch.
RSVP at this link
as space is limited.
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Wisconsin Department of Health Services 2020 Opioid Forum
May 5-7, 2020
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The
2020 DHS Opioid Forum
will be held May 5-7, 2020, at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells. It will feature workshops on prevention, treatment, and recovery topics related to opioids and other drugs. There will also be sessions focused on the intersection of trauma and substance use disorders. Health and human services workers, law enforcement, medical professionals, mental health professionals, public health workers, and substance use professionals are invited to attend. Be the first to know when registration opens!
Join DHS’s email list.
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Alliance for Wisconsin Youth Regional Prevention Conference
March 25 & 26, 2020
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The Alliance for Wisconsin Youth is presenting this intensive two-day training for coalition coordinators with breakout sessions on specific substances, prevention CEUs, and Comedy Sportz. It’ll be held at the Milwaukee Sheraton-Brookfield on March 25 and 26, 2020. Contact Jazzmyne Adams with questions at
jadams@communityadvocates.net.
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Circle of Support for Returning Citizens
Wednesday, October 23
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Circles of Support bring together returning citizens and community members for a shared meal and a restorative justice-style discussion. Community Advocates hosts once a month, but four other sites also host monthly circles.
Community Advocates’ next circle
will be held Wednesday, October 23, with a 5:30 p.m. dinner and circle to follow, at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee.
Check the flyer for details
.
To join, contact Amanda Smit at Project Return at
amanda@projectreturn.org
or 414-374-8029.
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2019 PATH Conference: Human Trafficking: Perspectives of Law Enforcement, Helping Professionals, and Survivors
Wednesday, October 23
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It isn’t too late to register for this human trafficking conference organized by
Outreach Community Health Centers and
Milwaukee County Housing Division. It’ll cover law enforcement’s response to human trafficking, outreach to those affected, and an overview of trauma-informed care practices for survivors. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn Milwaukee Riverfront, 4700 N. Port Washington Road, Milwaukee. Cost is $85, which includes breakfast and lunch.
Download the flyer for registration information.
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Southeast Wisconsin Reentry Employer Networking Expo
Thursday, October 24
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Employers looking for their next hire are invited to stop by the
Southeast Wisconsin Reentry Employer Networking Expo to learn about the benefits of hiring returned citizens. Agencies that support formerly incarcerated individuals as they transition into the workplace will be on hand to explain their work and the successes they’ve had in helping returned citizens find and keep work. This no-cost expo will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mary Mother of the Church Pastoral Center, 3501 S. Lake Drive, Milwaukee. Stop in anytime. Employers are encouraged but not required to
RSVP at this link.
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MICAH's 31st Annual Public Meeting
Thursday, October 24
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MICAH will be hosting its 31st Annual Public Meeting to celebrate and to hold candidates and elected officials accountable. This year's theme is "Running the Race for Justice" and the host venue will be Bay Shore Lutheran Church, 1200 E. Hampton Rd., Milwaukee. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 24.
Get details here.
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Boo-Tacular Harvest Fair
Friday, October 25
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MPD District 5 is organizing this family-friendly Halloween-inspired gathering from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, October 25, at MPD District 5, 2920 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee. Expect food, games, and resources, along with flu shots. Interested in donating or participating? Contact Officer Jocelyn Kalmanson at
414-935-7258 or
jklesc@milwaukee.gov
.
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18th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Saturday, October 26
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The national prescription drug take-back day is a convenient way to get rid of your unwanted medications, a key way to prevent overdose, misuse, and poisoning. New this October is the DEA’s acceptance of vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations. (The DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium ion batteries.) To find a drop-off location near you,
check out Dose of Reality’s website.
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Ninth Annual Latino Family Expo & Festival
Saturday, October 26
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El Conquistador
Latino newspaper
and partners are sponsoring this free, family-oriented festival that includes everything from a health, education, and job fair to a free indoor trick-or-treat, credit repair workshop, a fashion show, entertainment, and cultural exhibits. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, at Augustine Preparatory Academy, 2607 S. Fifth St., Milwaukee.
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2019 Prostate Health Education Event
Saturday, November 2
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Organized by the Medical College of Wisconsin, this event includes free prostate cancer blood test screening on site (PSA) plus you can talk to doctors, researchers and survivors. Includes free breakfast from Soul2Soul Catering and giveaways from Jammin’ 98.3 and the Milwaukee Bucks. All are welcome to attend this free community event. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 3456 N. 38th St, Milwaukee.
Please register at this link.
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"Helping the Good Do Better"
A Conversation about Non-Profit Advocacy with Tom Sheridan
Thursday, November 7
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A social worker by training and one of Washington D.C.'s top lobbyists, Tom's advocacy wins include The Ryan White Care Act, The Americans With Disabilities Act, Bono's One Campaign, and the creation of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. Tom will share his call-to-action for greater non-profit advocacy as found in his new book,
Helping the Good Do Better: How a White Hat Lobbyist Advocates for Social Change
.
Helping the Good Do Better
will be available for purchase courtesy of Boswell Books ($28 per copy).
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National Alliance for Grieving Children 2019 Fall Conference and Webcast on Children’s Grief
Friday, November 8
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30th Annual Children Come First Conference
Monday, November 11 & Tuesday, November 12
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Wisconsin Family Ties'
Children Come First Conference
is for those caring for, working with, or concerned about the well-being of children and young adults with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Some scholarship funding will be available for parents/primary caregivers who would otherwise be unable to attend. Youth (ages 12-26) who have a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health or substance use challenge will be able to attend the 2019 conference as well. This year’s theme is "cooperation." The conference will be held November 11 and 12 at Glacier Canyon Lodge at Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells.
Get details and register here
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Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force 2019 Karen Avery Forum
Tuesday, November 12
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Research into Action:
Youth Substance Use Data Support a Common Liability of All Drug Use
Wednesday, October 23
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CADCA
is presenting this webinar featuring Dr. Robert DuPont, Dr. Caroline DuPont, and Dr. Bertha Madras discussing their recent article, "Drug use among youth: National survey data support a common liability," which found that youth who used cigarettes, marijuana, or alcohol in the past month were more likely to also report using another substance than non-using youth. Dr. DuPont, Dr. DuPont, and Dr. Madras will discuss the implications their findings have for coalition work and how coalitions can promote a message of no use of any substance among youth. The webinar is scheduled for 12 noon on Wednesday, October 23.
Register here.
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Engaging the Faith Community in Substance Use Prevention Part 1
Tuesday, October 29
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Faith institutions have the potential to touch a broader range of the community than other sectors because they reach people of all ages, economic levels and ethnicities. This webinar from the Great Lakes PTTC will present a strong a clear rationale for the role of faith leaders in working across the continuum of care, including substance use prevention.
Details and registration here. Part 2 will be held on
November 5
.
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Cigarillos ("little cigars") may seem harmless, but they're a big threat, especially to young people. The state Department of Health Services developed this
new fact sheet on cigarillos to shed light on their use and impact.
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New Milwaukee East Side Survivors of Suicide Support Group
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Changing Internal Practices to Advance Health Equity
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This free, self-paced webinar sponsored by the
Region V Public Health Training Center will feature Megan Gaydos, Project Director at Human Impact Partners, and will focus on methods that health departments can use to address power imbalances and other factors in order to advance health equity. Its learning objectives are to describe the role of health departments in addressing power imbalances, racism and other forms of oppression at the root of health inequities; name three barriers and three antidotes to changing organizational culture; and identify five internal actions that health departments can implement to advance health equity.
Get details and sign up here. Find additional webinars at
this link.
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Halloween Food Safety Tips for Parents
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National Drug Take-Back Day Toolkit
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October 26 is national drug take-back day, which allows residents to safely and securely get rid of their unwanted medication so that it doesn’t fall into the hands of others. The US Drug Enforcement Agency has created a toolkit with posters, pamphlets, ads, and
more at this link. The
Dose of Reality website has Wisconsin-focused information.
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Our Partners & Allies Are Seeking...
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Milwaukee Prevention Journal Readers -- do you have:
- Job openings?
- Upcoming events?
- News to share?
- Suggestions?
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Community Advocates is supported by ReCAST MKE, a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services, under Grant No. 5H79SM063524.
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