| Understanding Opioid Overdoses and Harm Reduction, Including Narcan Training |
Join Better Life Partners and the Hartford Community Coalition for a free online training on opioid use disorder and the effective use of naloxone to save lives. Attendees will have the option to receive free NARCAN® nasal spray after the event.
April 14Apr
7:00 - 8:00pmZoom Webinar with Q + A to follow
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| TECHNICOOL: Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet |
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This is a FREE virtual evidence-based training from Prevent Child Abuse Vermont for parents and adults in the community.
Learn the digital risks for children and strategize ways to keep children and youth safe in
digital environments.
Learn effective strategies for dealing with children exhibiting concerning digital
behaviors.
April 29Apri
8:00 - 9:00pm
Put your kids to bed, get in your PJ's, and join us to chat about internet safety!
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| National Drug Take Back Day |
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The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue.
According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2019, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Saturday, April 24Apr
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: WRJ CO-OP Food Store
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JOIN US: Hartford Weekly Prevention Discussion and Planning |
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HCC invites you to a weekly scheduled Zoom meeting regarding substance misuse and suicide prevention in the town of Hartford.
This is an opportunity to share your voice with us and how HCC might better our practice and planning to make Hartford a healthy community with wellness in the forefront for our friends and neighbors.
Every Wednesday morning from 9:00 - 10:00am.
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HCC is Hiring for the Summer! |
Our Take A Bite Out Of Hunger summer meals program is looking for a seasonal Program Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Driver. The program runs from mid-June to mid-August.If you or someone you know may be interested, please apply below!
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We are thrilled to highlight one of our remarkable volunteers, Bill Schellong!
Bill’s involvement with HCC began at the start of the pandemic in April 2020, delivering meals daily to local hotels - South On Five, Shady Lawn and anywhere else we needed him to go! Bill's work with HCC was instrumental last spring and summer and he continues to be our primary go-to volunteer deliverer - even into this Spring 2021, we called him to help transport daily meals from the Haven to some Veterans who were living at a local hotel.
Bill owns a business and is one of the Hartford High School football coaches. As the pandemic impacted his recruiting business, this volunteer work gave him an opportunity to look at the future and how he can serve in a capacity to help others. Bill believes the goals of HCC align with assisting those who are low income, unemployed, and homeless. Once he became active in this endeavor, the need became all the more real, seeing just how many people are in dire straits. He is always open to taking on other volunteer efforts.
If HCC were to be on the cover of his favorite newspaper or magazine in five years, the story would be about reaching out to those in need. Bill thinks there are many hidden gems in Hartford. There are long standing businesses like the Coolidge and Northern Stage and now with the new growth of restaurants and housing facilities, there definitely appears to be a rebirth of the town, which was long overdue. His favorite way to connect with others via social distancing is by text, phone, or email.
Thank you for everything you've done and continue to for HCC and our Town, Bill!
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Current Campaigns in Our Community |
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The student-led Getting to Y group at HHS analyzed the 2019 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey in March 2020. This group is working to address the high rate of alcohol consumption by their peers. Beginning last month, Getting to Y students have been adhering stickers to alcohol packaging in Hartford retail stores. The stickers highlight the risks and consequences of providing alcohol to minors.
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The Getting to Y students present Penny, one of the Cumberland Farms store managers, with a certificate of appreciation for their commitment to reducing underage drinking. |
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This is a personalized, evidence-based, online prevention intervention tool that is rolling out to HHS students in health classes. The units will cover alcohol and cannabis. Wanna try it out? Worried about someone's drinking or cannabis use? Play around with this program - we are not collecting data - it is meant to help YOU and create some personalized feedback for YOU to consider! Do us a favor - enter your age as 99, so we know you aren't a student.
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| Drug and Alcohol Facts Week |
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March 22 - 26 was National Drug and Alcohol Facts week. Hartford High School Students participated in a drug and alcohol facts trivia game in their advisories. Winners received an HCC swag bag. All other students were welcome to chat at the HCC table under the portico and pick up stickers, candy, and prevention materials.
The Getting to Y group developed the slogan #PugsNotDrugs which led to some smiles behind masks! They have also chosen to use the slogan #NotYet - the human brain continues to develop well into one’s twenties, making the adolescent and young adult years a critical time for establishing healthy behavior and habits. Substance use during these years creates the potential for a variety of long-term negative effects. 90% of people with addictions started using substances in their teen years. The longer one waits to drink alcohol or use other substances, the lower the risk of developing an addiction.
HCC plans to host another advisory trivia after April vacation at the Middle School.
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Lucky winners of the HSS Advisory Prevention Trivia
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There are many forms of cannabis concentrates. Most often it looks like wax, brittle or honey, and is placed in a vape and heated to extreme temps of over 600 degrees by a coil inside the device.
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| The date 4/20 has often been associated with marijuana use - today's cannabis is NOT your grandparent's weed! |
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Janet Potter, LMFT, QMHP, LADC (VT), MLADC (NH) Student Assistance Professional (SAP)
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Hartford School's Student Assistance Provider
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Janet Potter, Hartford's Student Assistance Provider. Janet's purpose in the middle and high schools is focused on substance use, bullying, violence prevention and early intervention.
Student Assistance Professionals are trained to provide education, screening, referral, and support services to youth who are at high risk for substance use and other risky behaviors. SAP's complement existing programs such as school-based health clinics, guidance programs, classroom substance abuse prevention curricula, peer leadership programs, and community mental health agencies. Students may be referred to SAP counselors by teachers, parents, peers, or may seek help themselves. The SAP will screen the students and may refer them to local human service agencies for formal assessment and treatment; SAP counselors follow-up with students to ensure they obtain the treatment they need.
SAPs
*Work with community resources to develop services for students*Meet with concerned families as needed*Increase awareness of substance use problems in the community*Give educational presentations to students and community groups*Allow teachers to concentrate on education instead of having to deal with substance use
Crisis Textline Text: “Home” to 741741
National crisis Hotline 24/7 800-273-8255
To meet with Janet:
HHS students schedule an appointment by clicking here
HMMS students schedule an appointment by clicking here
Hartford Middle School 802-295-8640 ext. 3306
Hartford High School 802-295-8610 ext. 2108
Please join the "Hartford Student Assistance Program" Facebook group for prevention resources
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TeenLine is a statewide program that provides information and referral services to connect area youth with a broad range of resources that enable them to live healthier lives and better fulfill their potential. TeenLine is not simply a phone line for youth, but a lifeline to essential services, which can be accessed by phone, online, and in-person. TeenLine is available both to youth in need of services, and adults seeking to support them.To contact TeenLine:
Call or Text: (802) 316-8126
Toll Free: (855) 273-8336
teenline@essexchips.org
TeenLine operators are available Monday through Friday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Call us if you need help, information, or even just someone to talk to.
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How to Lower Your Child’s Risk for Addiction
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A strong sense of self-efficacy is one of the most powerful protective factors parents can give their children.
Self-efficacy is one’s belief in one’s ability to succeed; to regulate one’s thoughts, emotions and life; and to cope with challenges in a positive way. Self-efficacy is also the foundation for so many other positive traits, including resilience, grit, fortitude and perseverance. Self-efficacy is what gives kids a sense of control, agency and hope, even when the world around them feels out of control.
Lack of self-efficacy is a risk factor for substance abuse and other negative health outcomes, but when converted into its opposite and equal force, a strong sense of self-efficacy, it can be one of the most powerful protective factors we can give our children.
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The Tips campaign profiles real people living with serious long-term health effects from smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. Tips also features compelling stories of the toll these smoking-related conditions have taken on family members. The new 2021 advertisements will begin running on national network and cable television, streaming radio and online.
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| COVID-19 Vaccination Updates |
You've been wearing your #MasksOnHartford and now we want you to #ShareYourShot! Email a photo of you getting your vaccine to masksonhartford@gmail.com for a chance to be featured on our social media accounts. Vaccinations in Vermont are open to everyone age 40+ as of yesterday, and open up to everyone age 30+ on April 12. If you have questions or need more information about making a free vaccination appointment, healthvermont.gov is the best resource. |
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Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young
adults. Young adulthood is the time when mental health issues
may first emerge. For many, it is a time of transition, when
people may leave home and face unprecedented stress,
change and pressure. Of course, effective treatment options
for mental health are available, but often there are long delays
between the emergence of symptoms and the reaching out for,
or connection to, counseling and treatment.
What is a key factor in getting help? Friends; they can play a
critical role in supporting those who may be struggling.
It’s reported that 76% of young adults will turn to a peer in a
time of crisis for support. This is a generation that is ready to
crack open the cultural conversation about mental health,
they just need some support and guidance to do it, and
Seize the Awkward can help.
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Having a hard time understanding all the different ways people identify today!? You aren't alone!Watch this video from Plan International about LGBTIQ+ terms! Using the genderbread person, they explain what is meant by sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.
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Opioid Overdoses Continue - and there IS something YOU can do about it!
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| Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. |
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Addiction knows no soci-economic status, age, race, ethnicity, gender identity
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Some signs of an opioid overdose
- unconsciousness
- very small pupils
- slow or shallow breathing
- vomiting
- an inability to speak
- faint heartbeat
- limp arms and legs
- pale skin
- purple lips and fingernails
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