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Be well and stay safe.
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Safe Halloween
I love Halloween! When my boys were young, I would spend all of September and October preparing costumes and decorating the house. We celebrated big with our neighbors and friends. Even when my kids got older I would don a costume just to hand out candy or host a dinner party.
So, how do we celebrate safely?
- Kathy Hanley
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The CT Department of Public Health has issued safety guidelines this year for Halloween. Activities are broken down by risk- low, moderate, or high, based on CDC recommendations. Lower Risk:
- Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
Moderate Risk:
- Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
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If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
- Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
Higher Risk (to be avoided):
- Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
- Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
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We wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween! |
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Regional Opioid and Other Drug Prevention and Policy Workgroup |
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THE OPIOID CRISIS AND THE HISPANIC/LATINO POPULATION:
AN URGENT ISSUE
This issue brief presents recent data on prevalence of opioid misuse and opioid overdose death rates in the Hispanic/Latino population; contextual factors and challenges to prevention and treatment; innovative outreach and engagement strategies to connect people to evidence-based treatment; and the importance of community voice.
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Over 114,000 pounds of unused prescription drug medications were collected and destroyed in 2019 in Connecticut. Getting unused medications out of our homes is an effective prevention measure we all can take.
Clean out your medicine cabinets this week!
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Visit drugfreect.org for tips on safe disposal and use their interactive map to find a drop box near you. |
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We thank our Local Prevention Councils across Region 5 who are helping to promote this important event
Saturday, October 24 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Stay tuned for our upcoming
Narcan Training Webinar dates!
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Drug Free Schools Committee
Resources for Youth, Parents and Families
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Care & Safety for You and Your Family During the COVID-19
(From the CT Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB)
Dear Families,
With schools closing, it’s also important to consider how you can keep your children who are old enough to stay home alone safe while you’re working. Please see the articles below that can help you discuss the COVID-19 outbreak with your children based on their age, and set rules and limits.
Also, when adjusting the environment for their increased safety, please don’t forget to secure alcohol, tobacco, prescription and over-the-counter medication, and firearms. Even well-behaved children make impulsive decisions based on natural curiosities that get them into trouble when bored.
Stay well!
CT Suicide Advisory Board
For the latest information about Connecticut, call 211, text CTCOVID to 898211 or visit ct.gov/coronavirus
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Region 5 Suicide Advisory Board Update |
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We hope you enjoy this video from their "Real Stories" feature
From individuals with lived experience, watch
"Advice for Family and Friends"
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QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Webinar Training
We have openings for this Friday's training. Please join us!
This training helps empower all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.
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Suicide Prevention is everyone's business.
Contact Western CT Coalition about hosting
a QPR training in your school or workplace at
203-743-7741
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If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can reach out the CrisisText Line by texting CT to 741-741 or
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK.
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Red Ribbon Week is next week!
THE 2020 THEME- Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free. TM
This year's Red Ribbon Week theme will help amplify the campaign's mission to encourage children, families and communities to live healthy, happy and drug-free lives. It also serves as a reminder that we are all empowered with shaping the communities around us through positivity, bravery and strength.
National Family Partnership (NFP), formerly the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, was established as a grassroots, nonprofit organization in 1980 by a handful of concerned and determined parents who were convinced they should begin to play a leadership role in drug prevention.
For more information on the Red Ribbon Campaign and NFP, click here
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Social Media Campaign
Join the #RedRibbonMaskChallenge by wearing a Red Ribbon-Themed Mask During Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31. Take a photo and tag us on Social Media at @RedRibbonWeek on Twitter and Facebook and on Instagram @RedRibbonCampaign. Use the hashtag #RedRibbonMaskChallenge for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Get your Red Ribbon Themed mask at www.NIMCOINC.com Winners will be announced in November
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Problem Gambling Awareness |
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PURPOSES OF GAM-ANON
To welcome and give assistance and comfort to those affected by someone else's gambling problem.
To communicate Gam-Anon's understanding of compulsive gambling and its impact on our lives.
To share our experience, strength, and hope in coping with the gambling problem.
To use the Steps and Tools of the Gam-Anon program which nurture our spiritual and emotional growth and recovery.
Click here for a listing of their Virtual Meetings, held Monday-Saturday |
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40 Developmental Assets Framework |
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The Developmental Assets® are 40 research-based, positive experiences and qualities that influence young people’s development, helping them become caring, responsible, and productive adults.
Over time, studies of more than 5 million young people consistently show that the more assets that young people have, the less likely they are to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors and the more likely they are to thrive.
There are two categories of assets: external assets and internal assets. External assets are the assets that center around positive experiences from the people and experiences in a young person's life. Internal assets are those that focus on individual qualities that guide positive choices and develop a sense of confidence, passion, and purpose.
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Lets explore External Asset #1 which falls under "Support"
"Family Support"
Family provides high levels of love and support
It’s important for parents and guardians to create a home environment that fosters loving words and actions, consistency, and openness.
How do we build this asset?
- Spend time with your children; make time for them one on one.
- Take an interest in what they are doing and listen attentively.
- Do things together as a family. During COVID there is no better time than to bond with family- play games, take a walk or hike, or read a book together.
- Share family history by going through old photo albums or home movies.
The 40 Developmental Assets® may be reproduced for educational, non-commercial uses only. Copyright ©1997 Search Institute®, 3001 Broadway Street NE, Suite 310, Minneapolis MN 55413; 800-888-7828; www.searchinstitute.org. All rights reserved.
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