Alliance For Healthy Communities Inc

Q1: JULY SEPTEMBER 2021 THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO SEE GROWTH IN PARTICIPATION AND COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WITH THE RECENT ADVENT HEALTH WESLEY CHAPEL PARTNERSHIP, THE COMMITTEE NOW HAS A BROADER REACH TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. THE COMMITTEE ALSO CONTINUES WORKING ON PROJECT DISPOSE OPIOIDS FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY (D.O.S.C.). PROJECT D.O.S.C. EXPANDED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES BY INCLUDING STEPS TO ACCESS TO NARCAN, DEVELOPING A LOCAL RESOURCE GUIDE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICATION TIMER CAPS TO SENIOR COMMUNITIES. ASAP WAS APPOINTED A SEAT AT THE PASCO COUNTY OPIOID ABATEMENT TASK FORCE TO BUILD A PLAN FOR THE FUNDING FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL LAWSUIT TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COMMITTEES CHAIRPERSONS, PARNIA ROGHANI AND CRYSTAL WILLSON, WILL BE IN ROTATION TO REPRESENT ASAP. THE FIRST MEETING TOOK PLACE OCTOBER 8, 2021. THE SUBSTANCE EXPOSED (SEN) NEWBORN TASK FORCES IN PASCO CONTINUES TO HOST A WEEKLY, VIRTUAL SERIES, CONVERSE WITH A NURSE, ON WEDNESDAYS. THE SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS ARE HELD VIRTUALLY, WITH A NURSE IN ATTENDANCE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM MOMS AND MOMS TO BE, SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THOSE WOMEN WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. TOPICS INCLUDED POSITIVE MEDICATION SAFETY, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, SAFE SLEEP AND MINDFULNESS. IN ADDITION, THE SEN TASK FORCE IS WORKING ON RE-VAMPING SEVERAL BROCHURES TO DISTRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE, PREGNANT, AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON TREATMENT AND RECOVERY, NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME AND MARIJUANA USE DURING PREGNANCY AND WHILE BREAST FEEDING. STAND YOUTH ADVOCATES MADDIE HORN AND JOCELYN MERIWETHER TOOK OVER THE JULY 27, 2021 ASAP GENERAL COALITION MEETING. THEY GAVE A PRESENTATION ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND HELD A PANEL Q & A SESSION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR YOUTH. MORE THAN 40 COMMUNITY PARTNERS WERE IN ATTENDANCE AND THEY INTERACTED WITH THE YOUTH. COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA FITZPATRICK WAS SO MOVED BY THE PRESENTATION THAT SHE VOWED TO ENGAGE THE YOUTH AT A COUNTY LEVEL AND BRING THEIR ADVOCACY TO POLICYMAKERS. THIS PANEL DISCUSSION TAKES PLACE EVERY JULY AT THE ASAP COALITION MEETING AND IS ALWAYS WELL RECEIVED THE STAND YOUTH COALITION HELD AN END OF SUMMER STAND SUMMER BASH AT SUNWEST PARK IN JULY. THE YOUTH ENJOYED TEAM BUILDING AND DISCUSSING UPCOMING ISSUES OF CONCERN IN WHICH THEY PLAN TO FOCUS ON, AS WELL AS DISCUSSED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE IN THEIR SCHOOLS. IN AUGUST 2021, THE FIRST ANNUAL STRONGER TOGETHER: WALK FOR RECOVERY EVENT ATTRACTED MORE THAN 300 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. PREVENTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN THE PASCO COMMUNITY WERE HIGHLIGHTED WITH VENDORS AND SPEAKERS, CULMINATING IN A WALK AROUND SIMMS PARK TO HONOR THOSE IN RECOVERY AND REDUCE STIGMA. SEVERAL VENDORS ON PREVENTION, RECOVERY AND TREATMENT RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. DETERRA BAGS AND NARCAN WERE ALSO AVAILABLE TO ALL IN ATTENDANCE. ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, NEW PORT RICHEY MAYOR ROB MARLOWE READ INTO RECORD A PROCLAMATION TO ANNOUNCE SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH IN THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY. ASAP TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR TREATMENT PROVIDERS WHO SUPPORT THOSE IN RECOVERY AND WHO WORK TO REDUCE STIGMA. THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZED AND HONORED LOCAL PROVIDERS TREATING THOSE IN RECOVERY WITH RESPECT AND CARE, THEREBY REDUCING STIGMA. THIS YEAR ASAP RECOGNIZED BAYCARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM MEMBERS TONI REYNOLDS, LANCE MOCK, MISSY COYLE AND SALENA PAXTON ALONG WITH JANELLE DICKSON, WESTCARE, AND JERRY BREWSTER, TRINITY CHURCH OF CHRIST. IN FOCUS GROUPS, THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY STATES THAT STIGMA IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS REACHING OUT FOR HELP IS DIFFICULT. OTHER NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS -CHANNEL 10 NEWS FEATURED ASAP FOR A SEGMENT ON OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY ON 8/31/2022 THAT REACHED 140,000 PEOPLE -ASAP HELD THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS VIA ZOOM OGENERAL COALITION ORECOVERY OSUBSTANCE EXPOSED NEWBORN OALCOHOL INITIATIVES OOPIOID/RX OCULTURAL COMPETENCE -ASAPS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT REACHED 34,003 PEOPLE IN THIS QUARTER Q2: OCTOBER DECEMBER 2021 THE ALLIANCE FOR SUBSTANCE ADDICTION PREVENTION AND PASCO HERNANDO STATE COLLEGE ARE HOSTED THE 11TH ANNUAL NATIONAL OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AS A VIRTUAL EVENT ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021 WITH OVER 200 IN ATTENDANCE. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS RYAN HAMPTON, A PERSON IN RECOVERY, ACTIVIST, AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK UNSETTLED: HOW THE PERDUE PHARMA BANKRUPTCY FAILED THE VICTIMS OF THE AMERICAN OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC. RYAN GOT HIS START AS A WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND HAS TAKEN HIS ADVOCACY SKILLS WITH HIM INTO RECOVERY, TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER POLICIES TO HELP SUSTAIN LONG TERM RECOVERY IN OUR NATION. HE IS AN AMAZING, NATIONALLY RENOWNED SPEAKER AND OFFERS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE FIRST 75 ATTENDEES RECEIVED A FREE SIGNED COPY OF RYANS BOOK. ADDITIONALLY LUKE TOMSHA, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PERFECTLY FLAWED FOUNDATION, A NON-PROFIT IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS SPOKE ON THEIR INNOVATIVE APPROACH IN SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH HARM REDUCTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES. PROJECT DEACTIVATE OPIOIDS FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY (D.O.S.C.) CONTINUES TO DISTRIBUTE DETERRA BAGS, INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND DECREASE ANY OF MISUSE AND OVERDOSE OF PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS. PROJECT D.O.S.C. HANDED OUT 700 DETERRA KITS. MEASUREMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SAFE USE SKILLS IN THOSE WHO USE THE KITS IS ONGOING. ANECDOTALLY, PROVIDERS WHO RECEIVED THE DETERRA KITS REPORT A GREATER FEELING OF SAFETY ON BEHALF OF THEIR PATIENTS AND CONTINUED WILLINGNESS TO HAND OUT THE KITS. ASAP PARTNERED WITH THE PASCO SHERIFFS OFFICE FOR THE DEA TAKEBACK EVENT ON OCTOBER 23, 2021. THE EVENT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAFELY DISCARD EXPIRED AND UNWANTED OVER THE COUNTER AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. ASAP PROVIDES EDUCATION AND RESOURCES ON MEDICATION MISUSE, BROCHURES ON MEDICATION SAFETY SECURE, MONITOR AND DISPOSE, AND RESOURCES IN PASCO COUNTY FOR PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. ON DECEMBER 7TH, THE ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES HELD THEIR ANNUAL BRUNCH MEETING WITH OVER 150 IN ATTENDANCE. ADULT AND YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR WERE ANNOUNCED AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR, THE HOPE SHOT. OTHER NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS -SUBSTANCE EXPOSED NEWBORN (SEN)S VIRTUAL NURSE SERIES REACHED 7O PEOPLE -ASAP SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS REACHED 29,790 PEOPLE -PROJECT DOSC HANDED OUT 307 MEDICATION DISPOSAL BAGS -THE ALLIANCE MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATED IN OUT OF DARKNESS WALK TO PREVENT SUICIDE ON NOVEMBER 13, 2021 Q3: JANUARY MARCH 2022 THIS QUARTER, THE OPIOID/RX COMMITTEE FINISHED THEIR WORK ON THE OPIOID RESOURCE GUIDE, PROVIDING LOCAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ON TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER. THIS GUIDE IS AVAILABLE IN PRINT AND DIGITAL FORM FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTION, INCLUDING PROVIDING DIGITAL COPIES AFTER THEIR TOWN HALL EVENTS AND ADDING THE GUIDE TO THEIR DEACTIVATE OPIOIDS FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY (D.O.S.C.) KITS. THREE THOUSAND PHYSICAL COPIES OF THE GUIDE WERE PRINTED THIS QUARTER FOR DISTRIBUTION. THE COMMITTEE ALSO SPENT THE QUARTER PLANNING A TOWN HALL EVENT, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 5, 2022, VIRTUALLY. THUS FAR, TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE VIRTUAL EVENT, HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, FROM PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY CENTERS. AFTER THE EVENT, THE OPIOID RESOURCE GUIDE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL ATTENDEES. THE STAND COALITION HELD THEIR YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAMBUILDING SUMMIT ON MARCH 21, 2022 AT TIME TRAP ESCAPE ROOMS IN NEW PORT RICHEY. FIFTEEN YOUTH ATTENDED. STAND PRESIDENT JOCELYN AND VICE PRESIDENT MADDIE PRESENTED TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT STAND ADVOCACY IN ACTION, DRUG TRENDS WITH A FOCUS ON THE PREVALENCE OF VAPING, AND MISINFORMATION IN MEDIA. THE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOND WITH OTHER COALITION MEMBERS AND STAND ADVISORS BY COMPLETING AN ESCAPE ROOM TOGETHER AND PRACTICING TEAM-BUILDING SKILLS. THE YOUTH HAVE ALREADY BEGUN PLANNING FOR THEIR NEXT YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, WITH LOCAL DECISION MAKERS AND ADVOCATES. THE ASAP COALITION ALSO CONTINUES TO WORK WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, LIVE TAMPA BAY AND THE HOPE SHOT ON COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGNS AND EVENTS TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS, OVERDOSE PREVENTION, REDUCTION OF STIGMA, AND INITIATIVES TO ASSIST WITH SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY POLICIES LOCALLY. ON MARCH 24, LIVE TAMPA BAY HOSTED THEIR REGIONAL LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON TO END THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. ASAP LEADERS AND BOARD MEMBERS WERE PRESENT TO TAKE PART IN COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION AND REGIONAL INITIATIVES TO END OPIOID OVERDOSE. IN JANUARY, ASAP ASSISTED WITH THE ALL 4 HEALTH COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) SURVEY DISTRIBUTION AND PARTICIPATION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK. THIS SURVEY HELPS ASSESS ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN IN THE