Healthy Communities Coalition outlines year-end results and plans for 2011
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 2:19pm
Healthy Communities has scheduled their winter and spring line up of special speakers on the 2nd Thursday of each month during their public meetings.
Each meeting also includes resource sharing, updates and discussion on issues of regional importance such as health and wellness, substance abuse prevention and recovery, education, job training, etc.
The Healthy Communities Coalition includes people of all ages and from every background and community sector who have come together with the common goal of enhancing citizens’ ability to improve their own communities. Community partnerships developed through the Coalition are extremely effective in causing positive change both at the systems level and at the individual behavior level.
Coalition Collaboration Leads to Results: Over the past year, coalition members, volunteers and partners collaborated so that nearly 20,000 youth and adults were reached with alcohol, tobacco and other drug use prevention education (ATOD).
— One hundred Stand Tall youth leaders trained intensively in ATOD prevention and leadership and life skills and led 170 activities in their schools and communities.
— More than 22,000 pills were collected during two county-wide prescription drug take back events in Lyon.
— Alcohol law compliance trainings were provided to servers in Storey, Mineral and Lyon; dozens of alcohol compliance checks were conducted; alcohol ordinances were improved.
— Nearly 500 young people in Lyon and Storey had added arts and culture experiences during elementary school and summer programs; over 100 volunteers participated in the Dayton Food Pantry, while an average of 1,000 people per month received food assistance at the Pantry.
— Roughly 600 coats and 95 Thanksgiving meal baskets were gathered and distributed by Stand Tall youth teams; nearly 1,000 children received holiday gifts of warm clothing and toys, over 1,500 free books were distributed at social services sites in Lyon, Storey and Mineral;
— Some 816 students were served through Project Success student assistance on issues such as hunger, suicide, drug use, and teen pregnancy prevention, and housing issues and graduation coaching.
— Nearly 1,000 people received free flu shots in Lyon and Mineral and 220 other types of free child immunizations were given in Lyon; at least 100 key community members were trained in suicide prevention skills in Lyon
— A new Lyon area support group for suicide loss was created; and 3 schools in Lyon and Storey piloted an innovative Office of Suicide Prevention crisis text line for students.
Upcoming Initiatives:
The Coalition members and partners are working together in the upcoming year to implement school gardens, to improve school lunches, to expand community gardens and farmers’ markets and nutrition education, and to expand access to emergency food, mental health and primary health services and graduation coaching and other student assistance services.
The Coalition members are also working together to add additional community support for military families and veterans and for recovery from alcohol, tobacco, prescription and other drug use.
The Coalition members will also work together to share emerging information about the health issues and legal issues surrounding Spice (synthetic cannabis), alcoholic energy drinks, and marijuana legalization.
Click here and for more information online and here for the Coalition's Facebook page.
List of December to April Special Presentations:
Thursday, December 9, 2010: Julia Peek of State Health (Epidemiology) on Healthy People Data for our area
Thursday, January 13, 2011 : Lise Mousel-Martini on Access Health Care: this group helps uninsured people get affordable healthcare
Thursday, February 10, 2011: Nevada Tobacco User's Helpline staff will explain all of their outreach to help Nevadans with tobacco cessation. The Helpline is a FREE telephone service - people who enroll in services at the Helpline are FIVE TIMES more likely to successfully quit tobacco than those who try to quit on their own.
Thursday, March 10, 2011: Donna Weidner, Nevada Works Workforce Liaison for Nevada Works for Douglas, Lyon, Churchill Counties will describe job opportunities for the region.
Thursday, April 14, 2011: Northern Nevada Hopes staff will describe their outreach services on HIV prevention, education and counseling.
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