Local Prevention Councils
LPC Appreciation Awards Presented at our 2010 Annual Forum
On November 18, 2010 ERASE presented its first-ever LPC Recognition Awards at its Annual Forum. Listed below are our winners!
HIGHLY ENGAGED MEMBERSHIP
AHM Drug, Alcohol and Violence Prevention Task Force
AHM was awarded the Highly Engaged Membership award because of its strong establish relationships with Law Enforcement, School systems, Parents and Youth; and its overall well-attended meetings by all participants.
NEW COLLABORATIONS
Bolton District Safety Committee
The Bolton LPC was awarded the New Collaborations award, because it recently merged with the Bolton Safety and Steering Committee to form a unique collaboration that will improve the health of Bolton’s youth.
CREATIVE PREVENTION PRODUCTIONS
East Hartford Local Prevention Council
East Hartford was awarded the Creative Prevention Productions award for its unique creation of “Prevention Idol”: Substance Abuse Prevention Contest. The youth’s performances were a reflection of why they choose to live substance-free. This activity was a huge success, which brought together many youth and their families from the East Hartford community.
RENEWED ENERGY FOR PREVENTION
East Windsor Wellness Coalition
This newly-revived LPC has already started in full force. In a short period of time, this LPC has redeveloped its name, initiatives and goals. East Windsor has been doing immense amounts of outreach work and is already a very productive group.
EMBRACING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES
Enfield Together Coalition
Enfield is constantly implementing evidence-based strategies through raising awareness, educating parents and youth and enforcing underage drinking laws; all of these informed by local Enfield survey data.
EMBRACING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES
Ellington Drug Abuse Prevention Council and Youth Services Advisory Board
Ellington is the #1 most surveyed town in the ERASE region, having implemented the ERASE survey in its school system every 4 years since 1996. Ellington utilizes the data produced by their numerous surveys to develop evidence-based strategies on true substance abuse-related issues within the community.
INNOVATION IN PREVENTION
Glastonbury Alcohol & Drug Council
The Glastonbury LPC is well-known for its creative “GLAD Saves” Underage Drinking Party Text Tip-Line program. This LPC is always coming up with new and original ways to address substance abuse in a teen-friendly way, and has had several successes; such as a Summer Radio Campaign, a Back to School billboard and a Public Awareness Campaign focusing on family norms.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Manchester Peer Advocate Team
Manchester takes pride in implementing the Mind-Body-Spirit Girls Circle Program to help 11-14 year-old girls understand a very negative, demanding and influential society. Manchester was awarded the youth empowerment award because this LPC specifically addressed the needs of a youth group which is so often in need of empowerment.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Somers Comes Together
Somers is a LPC which understands the importance of a community approach to raising awareness about substance abuse. Somers Comes Together works hard to keep ties with its Police Dept, School Systems, Parents and Youth to better the youth and the Somers community as a whole.
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
South Windsor Alliance for Families
South Windsor has always had a very active LPC. SWAFF was created by a merger between youth advisory boards to create a well-rounded group of community members all willing to work to reduce and prevent substance abuse in South Windsor.
POLICE & PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP
Stafford Cares
The Stafford LPC has made impressive progress towards taking a more “hands-on” approach within the community. Its partnership with the Stafford Police Department has provided Stafford Cares with a new perspective in tackling the issues of substance abuse locally. This LPC's membership is a group of very determined professionals who will go far in fighting substance abuse in Stafford.
MOST ENGAGED WITH THE FAITH COMMUNITY
Tolland Substance Abuse Task Force
Tolland was awarded the Most Engaged with the Faith Community award, because its strong established relationships with both the school system and primarily the faith community in town provides it the ability to get messages of prevention through its leaders into the faith community.
DIVERSITY IN PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Vernon Drug & Alcohol Prevention Council
Vernon was awarded the Diversity in Prevention Strategies award because of the numerous prevention strategies that it implements locally to affect community change. These strategies include policy enforcement, media campaigns, the SSNAP (Students Seeking New Achievements Positively) youth group and alternative activities. The Vernon LPC provides information and support to its community as well as changes consequences through increasing public recognition.
CONGRATULATIONS!
About our Local Prevention Councils
ERASE works closely with 13 Local Prevention Councils (LPCs) in our region to promote substance abuse prevention and early intervention at the local level. LPCs are made up of volunteer community members from diverse sectors in the community including the local Youth Service Bureaus, youth, parents, business leaders, educators, law enforcement personnel, religious organizations, healthcare professionals, concerned citizens and other organizations involved in prevention activities.
Local Prevention Councils work in each ERASE community to raise awareness about substance use and its impact on the community, families, older adults and youth development. They plan and implement educational sessions or local media campaigns for various groups in their communities. In addition they look to address local policies that can contribute to an environment permissive of risky behaviors.
LPC membership or volunteer work is an opportunity to make positive changes in your community, meet other committed community members and participate in engaging activities ranging from program planning to positive youth development activities.
ERASE administers small grants to each of the LPCs made available by The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The ERASE staff attends LPC meetings regularly providing guidance and support for these community coalitions on capacity building, needs assessments and environmental prevention strategies.