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MELROSE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION |
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Kara Showers, MPH Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator City of Melrose Health Department 562 Main Street Melrose, MA 02176 Ph (781) 979-4128 Fax (781) 979-7696 Email: kshowers@cityofmelrose.org |
Substance Abuse Prevention Administrator City of Melrose Health Department 562 Main Street Melrose, MA 02176 Ph (781) 979-4130 Fax (781) 979-7696 Email: jnevin@cityofmelrose.org |
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OUR VISION: We envision a Melrose that is a safe, healthy, resourceful community--one that embraces substance abuse prevention efforts and is united on the path to positive solutions. OUR MISSION: The Coalition is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all in Melrose by fostering evidence-based substance abuse prevention strategies. Working collaboratively and providing resources, we take a leadership role in combating this problem by offering HOPE....health, outreach, prevention, and education. Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition: A Catalyst for HOPE Funding Credits: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov |
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COALITION MEMBERS The Coalition meets the second Friday of the Month. WORKSHOPS, EVENTS, AND TRAININGS For most recent listings, click HERE!! Questions? Email or call Janet at 979-4130 ACTION TEAMS POLICE ACTION TEAM: Point Person = Chuck Byrne. Met with Police Chief and Mayor Dolan to see how we can best move forward together in our substance abuse prevention efforts. Sgt Byrne conducted two focus groups with the Police Dept to identify their needs and concerns around prevention/substance abuse. Drug recognition training was brought to the Police and Fire Depts in May '07.
Currently, supporting the drafting and eventual dissemination of the Social host liability local ordinance initiative. For more information, click here. Also, try www.socialhostliability.org. Collecting local Police Department data to track trends, helping new School Resource Officer John Ross get settled in his new position, and upgrading the Tip Line are this Action Team's current focuses. Next meeting: TBD. SCHOOL ACTION TEAM: Point Person = Francesca Lograsso. Reviewing and improving the school district's alcohol and drug policy. Finalizing/publicizing new staff protocol for suspected drug/alcohol violations. Investigating incorporating assessment tool. Planning to internally advertise smoking cessation program, currently run by School Nurse Leader, Diane Ely, to middle and high school faculty and staff. Also finalizing plan for implementing of a Student Assistance Team at MHS. Next meeting: TBD GUIDING GOOD CHOICES ACTION TEAM: Point Person = Donna Macdonald. The curricula is designed to give parents and caregivers with children aged 8 -13 the knowledge and skills needed to guide their children through early adolescence. Two Fall 2007 GGC workshop series are complete. Three Spring 2008 sessions are currently running! A strategic planning/marketing consultant is in the process of being hired! See our home page for details. Next meeting: TBD.
YOUTH ACTION TEAM: Point Person =Nicole Lavery. This Action Team has just finalized their teen resource card. Will continue restocking our local pharmacies with Melrose ROCKS materials. Working with Healthy Alternatives ad-hoc committee. MADD's Shoulder Tap program initiative (www.youthinaction.org); up to 13 youth will participate in May 2008 in our surrounding communities. Next meeting: Shoulder Tap training = Tues, April 26th 12:30p-2:30p, Superintendent's Conference Room at MHS. Recruiting interested middle and high school students....R U interested? Click here!
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES AD-HOC COMMITTEE: Point Person = Ann Blotner. Focusing on giving Melrose youth "something to do". Open Gym nights at Tremont St. YMCA in March and April...click here for more info! Collaborating with Police Dept, YMCA, Youth Action Team, parents, Common Ground, North Suburban Family Network, Student Government. Next meeting: Thursday, April 10th, 8:45am, Superintendent's Conference Room at MHS. DATA ACTION TEAM: Point Person = Ruth Clay. 2007 Pride survey administration to 4th-12th grade parents and faculty/staff complete! Presentation to School Committee will be scheduled once data is back and presentation is created. Ongoing local data collection and analysis; follow-up with Police Dept and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. Next meeting: TBD COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS ACTION TEAM: Point Person = TBD.
FACE Youth Access campaign: This campaign was launched in June 2007
and continues. It targets parents and aims to
address underage access to alcohol in the home. Campaign bookmarks are
available at the Melrose Public Library. In addition, posters were
hung and billboards are up at Cedar Park and Oak Grove MBTA stations.
Newspaper ads ran in the Melrose Free Press and Melrose Weekly
News and MMTV has been running our PSA. Melrose ROCKS: Continuing with this campaign (launched in April 2006) to address access to prescription drugs. Conducting 1-on-1 key informant interviews with local doctors to better understand what providers see on a day-to-day basis with regards to the misuse of legal prescription drugs. Youth helped evaluate components to ensure this campaign is having a community-wide impact. Next meeting: TBD. COALITION MARKETING ACTION TEAM: Point Person = Kara Showers. Developed mission, vision, tagline, and logo. Ordered promotional materials and submitted column inserts to local newspapers. Distributed first annual report to many community members and all Melrose High School and Middle School parents! Working on newspaper submissions to the local newspapers. CONTACT KARA WITH QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: kshowers@cityofmelrose.org |
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