Monday, December 6th, 2021
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Happy December and Happy Holidays!We hope you had a warm and relaxing Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We started off the day by distributing 100 meals prepared by the Sacred Heart Church with the help of volunteers and the WRJ United Methodist church.
Keep up to date by following us on Facebook and Instagram (@hartford_community_coalition). If you have questions about HCC or anything highlighted in the newsletter, please reach out!If you or someone you know would like a free bike helmet or medication lock box, please email kellyc@hccvt.org. We can meet you at our office in The Junction Marketplace. Prevent Child Abuse has many upcoming Parenting Programs, listed here. This is a great resource. Em and Kelly The HCC Team
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To get a meal delivered on Christmas Day, call (603) 667 - 8668.
To pick up a meal on Christmas Day, come by the Listen Center at 42 Maple Street, WRJ between 10:00am and 12:30pm.
To volunteer to bake cookies or deliver meals, sign up here:
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Youth Mental Health First Aid |
HCC is proud to offer youth mental health first aid training taught by certified trainers, Kelly Clements, MPH, and Emily Zanleoni, LCMHC, NCC.
Why should you sign up? Today, 1 in 5 adolescents will experience a mental health issue. 75% of mental health disorders begin by the age of 24. Despite the prevalence of mental health disorders, only 7% of youth receive screening or treatment.
Trainees will receive a 3-year certification to become a first aider to recognize signs and help refer to professionals.
We are currently accepting registrations for a future training. Contact Kelly at kellyc@hccvt.org to hold your spot.
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Free Training: Vaping 101 for Parents and Caregivers of Teens |
Topics of Discussion: Vaping 101: The new nicotine addiction
What is an SAP and how can they be a resource?
Vaping and addiction literature and recovery resources
Questions & answers
Facilitated by Janet Potter, HMMS and HHS Student Assistance Professional
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Town Hall Community Conversation: Retail Cannabis in Hartford |
Join HCC and the Hartford Selectboard for a community conversation about the potential future of retail cannabis in our town. Your voice on this topic matters!
Listen to key stakeholder panelists discuss this topic, followed by a Q & A.
Monday, December 13 from 6:00 - 7:30 in the Hartford High School Auditorium or virtually on cable via CATV.
If you have questions to submit before this event, email them to wecare.hartford@gmail.com
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Vermont Afterschool Youth Council |
Do you have a teenager in your life who might like to be part of a new, middle school youth council in Hartford? This is a paid opportunity for students to serve as a granting body, awarding money to their peers for projects that support community wellbeing. Council members can also apply for project funding. They begin after school on December 9th.
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Talk to Your Kids About Prescription Meds
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'Tis the party season - it's never too late to talk to your kids about taking meds that are NOT prescribed to them. Start with a video. Chat about it with your child. With his big and shining personality, 23-year-old Wyatt Williamson lit up every room he entered. He tragically passed away after taking a pill he thought was Xanax, but was actually laced with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. By sharing Wyatt's story, his mother Julie hopes to save other families from tragedy and heartache.
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A Parent's Plea: Don't Make My Job Harder
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Help public officials understand why parents, who are trying to raise healthy kids, cannot vote for those who commercialize marijuana, other illicit drugs, or support policies that advance the marijuana industry over kids. Here’s why.Legalization increases youth use. States with legal marijuana have the highest use rates among 12-25 year olds. States without it have the lowest rates. To see more reasons, click here.
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Bringing Awareness to Fentanyl-Laced Cannabis
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The state of Vermont has issued a warning that fentanyl-laced cannabis is in our state, resulting in a fatal overdose last month. What can you do?
- Know the signs of an opioid overdose
- Get Narcan, know how to use it, and show friends and family how to use it and where it is stored in case of an emergency.
- Narcan is free at Health Department sponsored distribution sites and all Vermonters are welcome to receive Narcan from one of these sites, even if they are not at risk themselves of a potential opioid overdose.
- Do not use alone. Tell a trusted person when you are using cannabis so that person is able to check in on them in case of an accidental opioid overdose.
- If the method of consumption of cannabis is smoking, it should be noted that an opioid overdose (if laced with fentanyl) may not occur immediately after consuming.
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As the Holidays Approach, Use Caution for Impaired Drivers
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Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and drugs affect the brain and can alter perception, mental processes, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time, and other abilities required for safe driving. Even small amounts of some drugs can have a serious effect on driving ability. What is drug-impaired driving? Driving under the influence of over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, marijuana, or illegal drugs. How common is drug-impaired driving? In 2020, 12.6 million people (ages 16 and older) drove after using illicit drugs. Of that total,11.7 million people were under the influence of marijuana.
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5 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health this Holiday Season
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We all feel stressed from time to time during the holidays.
The American Psychological Association found nearly a quarter of Americans report feeling extreme stress during this time of year. The National Alliance on Mental Illness found almost two-thirds (64%) of people with mental illness report the holidays make their conditions worse.
This year may feel especially challenging. If you feel anxious about finding a new “normal” this holiday season, that’s OK. It’s important to adjust at your own pace and take care of your mental wellbeing.
Here are a few tips from Mental Health First Aid to help you take care of your mental health this holiday season.
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- Focus on what you can control. Control what you can to take care of your physical and mental health.
- Keep healthy habits, no matter your holiday plans. Taking care of your physical health can help stabilize your mood, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, and improve long-term mental wellbeing.
- Make time for yourself. Spending time with family or friends can be overwhelming. If you need a moment to yourself, try sneaking away to a quiet room or going for an early morning walk.
- Create new traditions that work for you and prioritize your mental wellbeing.
- Ask for help if you need it. If you are feeling especially sad, stressed, anxious or depressed, ask for help. Talk to someone you trust, a mental health professional or a primary care physician for guidance and support.
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We want you to #ShareYourShot! Email a photo of you getting your vaccine to masksonhartford@gmail.com to be featured on our social media accounts.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Updates |
Weekly vaccine and booster clinics are available at Hartford High School on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00 - 7:00.
Appointments can be made online but walk-ins are welcome.
Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available.
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